Chapter 8 : Black Dragon Olivia (6)

Back at the Demon King’s castle, Olivia’s first order of business was to douse Dante in a solution made from dragon blood. “Douse” being a polite term for what was essentially a full-body soaking.

“Whoa! Stop! Stop it! How many bottles are you going to waste?! Do you know how much this stuff sells for in the human world!?”

“Why would I care?! I have a warehouse full of this stuff! Now shut up and show me your neck.”

“Hey! Where do you think you’re touching?!”

“Where do you think?!” Olivia snapped, roughly pulling down Dante’s collar to expose his shoulder. Then, with surprisingly gentle fingers, she applied the medicine to the cut. The wound healed instantly, leaving no scar. His skin was smooth and unblemished, so fair it looked as though it might bruise at the slightest touch.

‘Calm down, dragon heart. There will be plenty of opportunities later.’ Olivia mentally chided herself, taking a deep breath.

“Dante, what did you learn today?” she asked, her voice stern.

“Life is all about who you know.” Dante beamed, giving her a thumbs-up.

“…Well, that’s part of it! But there’s something more important.”

“…Mars is a jerk?” Dante tilted his head.

Olivia mentally facepalmed, appealing to a higher power. ‘Oh, vast and boundless patience, help me not to strangle this child!’

“To listen to your master… more carefully… perhaps?”

She’d vehemently opposed Dante going alone. He’d ignored her and gone to the Achaian Empire anyway. And today, if she hadn’t arrived in time, he would have died.

“I know this already, but you’re so reckless! A sword at your throat, and not a single tear.”

“Well… I’ve always been told I have guts… but not as much as you, of course.”

“Watch your mouth.” She playfully flicked his forehead.

“And… I trusted you.” He blushed slightly, fidgeting with his hands. “I knew that even if I was in danger, you would come for me.”

He looked down, a shy smile playing on his lips.

“It might sound presumptuous, but… you’ve saved me so many times before… I just knew you’d come again. That’s why… even facing that emperor… I felt safe…”

“Sorry, that was probably out of line. Just pretend you didn’t hear anything. Like you usually do when I say something stupid.” He tried to laugh it off, but Olivia remained silent, gazing intently into his eyes.

“…Olivia?”

Trust. Humans tossed that word around so easily, so carelessly. Whether to gain someone’s confidence or for some other ulterior motive, they trusted complete strangers, different in every way. Olivia had always found it absurd. How could they offer their hearts so freely, when betrayal could be lurking around any corner? Dragons operated on contracts, on clearly defined agreements.

Yet, the word “trust” coming from Dante resonated differently.

It sounded… nice.

It was the same word, yet it felt different. He was simply relying on her power, wasn’t he? And yet…

“──I see.” A smile touched Olivia’s lips. “Then stay by my side. Don’t even think about going anywhere else.”

Even dragons were not immune to the power of love.

“If you promise me that…”

She placed her hands on his shoulders, leaning in close, their breaths mingling. And in that moment, Dante saw a fire burning in her slitted, red eyes. Desire, possessiveness, jealousy, and… love. A complex mix of emotions, swirling together in a captivating dance.

Slowly, like a serpent constricting its prey, Olivia wrapped her arms around him. Resistance was futile against her superior dragon strength.

“I will always honor that trust, no matter what.”

“…That sounds romantic, but also terrifying.”

‘And please stop touching me.’

“…Thank you,” he mumbled, barely audible. He’d never heard those words before. Olivia, hearing him nonetheless, grinned and ruffled his hair.

“I love you to death, you little brat.”

“Hey! My hair!”

‘I’ll never let you go. I won’t give you to anyone.’

(Image: Olivia’s true form – a strikingly beautiful woman with horns. Even in dragon form, she’s quite majestic.)