Chapter 132
“Oh? And why would you think that was a lie? Are you saying that with the Dragon of the Emperor’s eyes, you can see whether a man is telling the truth or not?”
Hyeon smiled brightly without any sign of fluster as he spoke.
Lutan stepped in between her and the envoy from the Kingdom of Ryeo at once, separating them. Yoseph also came to his senses and blocked her from the front.
With the two men standing in front of her, Roina could hardly see anything ahead.
Lutan was tall to begin with, and although Yoseph wasn’t quite as tall, he had grown a bit more now that most of his secondary growth had completed.
Hyeon gave a nasal huff as if displeased and stroked his chin. He seemed to lower his eyes a bit, and with the red makeup around his eyes, it didn’t look sorrowful—it looked sensual.
Since coming to this world, she had never seen a man wear makeup before, so it always felt unfamiliar whenever she saw it—but the man before her suited such adornment exceedingly well.
“Aren’t you the one lying to Lady Roina?”
“What,”
“Lady Roina, do you know why this man is called the Dragon of the Emperor?”
“……I do. That he’s the legendary golden dragon, at least.”
Pfft—a soft deflating sound.
Hyeon had a look on his face like he expected that answer. He drooped his brows and shrugged his shoulders. Even so, he snuck a glance at her, and their eyes met again.
The violet eyes tinged with red gave off a strange and mysterious aura.
And once more, the back of the black-haired man appeared before her.
As if he didn’t like Hyeon looking at her, Lutan had completely blocked her from view.
“How far are you going to overprotect her? I bet you haven’t even told her about your mana, have you? What are you going to do if you die? Can I just run off with her then?”
“Hyeon.”
“Lutan, Lady Roina is not your possession. Some things never change—then or now. I told you, didn’t I? Next time we meet, be prepared to lose her.”
“……You, what are you—”
“Young Lord Yoseph, it seems we’ve finished most of what we needed to discuss. I’m pleased to have made a good friend. I’ll take my leave now.”
Hyeon offered a smooth farewell and ignored Lutan entirely.
Lutan clenched his teeth as if enraged.
From the way they naturally called each other by name, it was clear that there was a relationship Roina didn’t know about.
Roina looked back and forth between the two, flustered.
Neither seemed willing to properly explain the situation.
“If you wish to hear more, Lady Roina. Please come find me. I’ll leave the method in your pocket.”
Hyeon said this and winked with one eye.
He spun the small statue beside him three times, and a gap opened in what appeared to be a wall, forming a door.
He disappeared from the room the same way he had arrived.
As soon as he left, Yoseph sank heavily onto the sofa.
A sigh of relief—he had tensed up without realizing it, caught off guard by the unexpected exchange.
“Lutan, what was that all about earlier?”
“He’s someone who enjoys spouting nonsense just to toy with others. Ignore it.”
Nonsense—it seemed too specific to dismiss so easily. She stared quietly at the Great Archmage, but he kept his mouth shut and said nothing.
He simply repeated again that she should be cautious of him, that she shouldn’t get close.
“If you’re not going to say anything, I’ll just have to find out in my own way. Are you okay with that?”
“Roina… it really is nothing. Everything will be resolved before you even have to worry about it.”
“So there is something, then?”
“…”
Lutan didn’t respond to her words. Feeling frustrated, Roina grabbed his arm and continued speaking. If she left him alone, it felt like he would run away again. Recently, the Great Archmage hadn’t been having any deep conversations with her. It was like he was afraid—afraid of emotions, and everything else—and was trying to avoid them altogether.
“Why are you being so secretive? You said you loved me, didn’t you?”
At those words, Yoseph, who was in the same room, widened his eyes. He thought, he had suspected it, but still—were the two of them really in that kind of relationship? It was different to see it than just imagine it. Yoseph felt a dull ache in one corner of his chest. And at the same time, he realized that part of him was pleased by their conflict. That contradiction in himself felt unfamiliar.
“Roina, I want to protect you. Isn’t that enough?”
“No. I don’t want to be someone who just receives your protection without knowing anything.”
Why did you accompany me today without a word? Have you been following me all this time? Unspoken questions swirled within her.
Don’t lock me up. I’m sick of control and restraint. In the end, that was what she wanted to say. No matter how nicely it was packaged as protection, it was the same. Protection that didn’t respect her will was nothing more than confinement.
Roina let go of Lutan’s arm. When would he finally begin to see her as someone on the same level? She wanted to be someone who played her part, someone he could rely on. But he never seemed willing to open his heart to her.
Yes, the love he offered was selfish and arrogant. There was no effort to persuade her, no attempt to make her understand. Realizing that, Roina suddenly felt a surge of anger.
“Don’t follow me this time.”
Roina took Yoseph’s hand and led him out the door. Yoseph let out a surprised sound, but still followed her without missing a step. The Great Archmage remained standing there blankly at her words, and Roina moved forward without hesitation.
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