I slowly opened my eyes at the intriguing words. Varen continued in a strangely uncertain voice.
“There’s a small island in the south of the continent. Golden waves crash there, and it’s full of life.”
“A place like that exists?”
“The island of Solmare lies closest to the sun. There’s no winter — it’s warm forever. You hate the cold, so you’d like it.”
Just hearing it seemed to warm my body. Smiling, I looked up at Varen.
I thought I sensed tension in his voice, but his expression was even stiffer.
“Varen, why are you asking with such a nervous face?”
“...It’s where the Dravergh spend their honeymoon.”
I knew it. From the description alone, it sounded like a warm-climate resort.
Apparently even here there was an island famous for honeymoons.
I laughed freely and leaned my head against Varen’s chest. Thump-thump — an irregular, fast heartbeat echoed.
“Seriously, you want to marry me that badly?”
“Yes.”
“I’m human and you’re a dragon?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“I’m a man and you’re male too. We can’t have children.”
“I don’t care.”
The questions and answers stayed perfectly consistent. Stubborn didn’t even begin to describe it.
With a pleasant smile, I closed my eyes again.
Then a different scene spread before me — time alone with Varen on the fantastical island he’d described.
If no one lived there, we’d have to prepare meals ourselves. If Varen caught fish, cooking would be my job.
He absolutely refused human food though. I wondered if they had red salmon there.
“Ceryl, answer me.”
A sweeter voice than the fantasy interrupted it.
Now I didn’t know anymore whether species differences mattered, or the need for the Dravergh line to continue.
Last night I’d agonized endlessly about how to distance myself from Varen. But I’d only reached a conclusion I couldn’t tell Morpha.
Without Varen, even this incredible fantasy world felt like it had no place for me. If I could stay beside him, the name of our relationship didn’t matter.
He kept asking for an answer, but saying it aloud felt embarrassing. So I only gave a small nod.
That tiny motion was enough — Varen hurriedly sought my lips.
“Haa... Ceryl, Ceryl....”
His unusually desperate voice called my name. I stroked the back of his head soothingly and accepted him.
Safe space, reassuring scent. Sweetness filling my mouth.
Strong arms pulling my whole body close... wait?
“Mmph— w-wait....”
“Haa... ha, Ceryl, why....”
“Why is your tail out.”
The golden, plump tail I hadn’t seen in a while slipped beneath my legs. Still damp, it lifted my lower body before I could even react.
Seating me lightly atop himself, Varen returned to the kiss. It was embarrassing to be held against his broad chest like a child, but I wrapped my arms around his neck anyway.
Yet the tail subtly binding my legs and the hand naturally slipping inside my clothes were impossible to ignore.
I grabbed Varen’s hair and pulled him away with all my strength. I couldn’t believe he’d become this excited just from the promise of going to the resort together.
“Y-you...!”
“Hah... what is it, Ceryl. Embarrassed?”
“Of course I am! We’re outside!”
“No one’s here. If someone approaches, I won’t let them.”
“That’s not— mmph....”
I had no way to stop the dragon rushing me like he was in heat. When I turned my head to avoid his lips, his thick hand held my jaw in place.
My mouth completely captured, any words dissolved into muffled sounds.
The sound only heated Varen further. Whatever tension he had before was gone — his hands moved without hesitation.
If this went any further, I’d be dragged into the storm myself. Gathering the last of my reason, I broke free and buried my face into his neck.
“Haa! N-no! Not here...!”
He never yielded, but when embraced he calmed somewhat.
Breathing hard, one arm wrapped my waist while the other held the back of my head.
“Haa... You said... you’d become my mate....”
Instead of kissing, he bit my ear and sucked gently, then nipped at my neck.
My ankles bound by his tail, I couldn’t even struggle — only tremble and endure it.
Still I fought to keep my head clear. Intimacy with Varen was still awkward to me; doing it outdoors was even worse.
“P-please... not outside....”
“No one’s here. Don’t worry.”
“Still... if someone comes....”
“Anyone who comes close, I’ll kill them all. So relax.”
That was not reassuring at all.
His large hand slipped under my shirt and touched me carefully despite the bold entry.
The sensation threatened to drag me in too. I tightened my arms around his neck and shook my head.
“Please, Varen... not outside....”
“...Haa....”
“With walls and a roof... somewhere like that... okay?”
It was a conditional refusal, not rejection. Perhaps because of that, Varen unexpectedly stopped.
His fist trembled inside my clothes, and beneath me he was still restless, but he struggled to restrain himself.
I also tried calming him, patting his back repeatedly and murmuring soothing words.
It had the opposite effect.
“Stop... touching... Ceryl... I can’t hold back....”
“...Sorry.”
“I want to strip you and enter you right now... I’m barely enduring it....”
“...I’m really sorry.”
For a moment I wondered if easing things would help, but remembering the inn’s lesson, I abandoned the idea.
Give him an inch and he’d rush ten steps. Better to keep my hands off entirely.
Yet even after holding him quietly for a long time, his breathing didn’t settle. I carefully lifted my head to meet his eyes.
“Varen, are you okay? Maybe we should talk—”
“Stay still. Seeing your face excites me.”
“...Okay.”
He pressed my head back into his neck and told me to keep quiet, saying even my voice might push him over the edge.
So I held him silently, calming him until the bright moon faded and morning finally rose.
***
“I’ll kill you! Give Ella back! Give her back!!”
Even though I had explained Theo beforehand, Kallen rushed the moment she saw the gray hair.
Margon — who at least had a positive memory of Theo — grabbed and restrained her.
Theo glared at them.
“Tch, like I’m pleased either.”
“Hey, what did that kid do wrong? It’s all your fault.”
“I told you, I never wanted—”
“Be quiet and walk.”
When /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ I shoved Theo’s back to stop his complaints, he turned his head with a dissatisfied look.
I mouthed to Margon, take care of Kallen.
Behind me, Noance stretched and yawned widely.
“Ever since you people arrived, it’s been noisy.”
Beyond the indifferent voice came Kallen’s crying.
She knew nothing could be done right now, yet the girl who lost both her savior and best friend still cried easily.
Leaving the bitter scene behind, we entered the innermost tent — Adeline’s guarded space.
“Welcome, Dravergh. How was your sleeping arrangement? Uncomfortable, wasn’t it?”
Adeline stood as if she’d been waiting the moment she saw Varen.
Varen hesitated at the warm greeting, so I smiled and answered first.
“Uncomfortable? Not at all. Thanks to you, we slept well.”
In truth, we spent the night in the forest holding each other.
I greeted her politely and sat in the prepared chair.
