DM Chapter 187

Chapter 187

That he’d even woken up in the middle of it was a first. Normally, in the dream, he went until he was utterly exhausted.

The Asad in the dream was rough and unrestrained, sparing Kinain not at all.

It wasn’t bad, but thinking about how much more careful Asad had been when he’d first had this dream made him feel strangely troubled.

Dreams are supposed to be expressions of desire… is that what I want?

The moment Kinain finished tidying himself and returned to the bedroom, Asad returned with perfect timing. Seeing Kinain up and dressed, Asad looked surprised.

“You’re awake?”

“Yes, just now.”

Kinain nodded calmly, while inside he let out a sigh of relief. A moment later and he’d have had a hard time making excuses to Asad.

“Where did you go?”

“I had business…”

His evasive glance was suspicious, but Kinain had his own guilty conscience, so he didn’t press.

Just then, a long finger rubbed at the corner of Kinain’s eye.

“You look tired. You should sleep more.”

“I’m fine.”

Kinain shook his head, but as Asad said, he was tired.

Of course he was. Dreaming himself drained with erotic dreams every night, and during the day…

“Is it because you’re overdoing it with the wedding preparations?”

He was busy preparing for the wedding in three days.

Of course, the ones getting married were he and Asad.

…Still, I can’t quite believe it.

Long ago, he had once imagined a wedding with Asad. Back then it wasn’t Asad but Helio.

Kinain knew the kingdom would never permit his marriage to Helio. So he had resolved to give up everything and leave the kingdom, to live alone with Helio somewhere no one knew him. If there was a temple there, fine; if not, that was fine too. No splendid gifts or wedding clothes, no one’s blessings — just being with Helio would have been enough.

In the end, he never even got that humble wedding, and they parted. But back then, the wedding Kinain had imagined was only something like exchanging vows in a small hut. Now, preparations alone had taken a whole month. That this was the shortened version made him realize just how grand a dragon’s wedding was.

Just yesterday, he’d tried on dozens of wedding outfits. The rare, beautiful fabrics stored in the dragon’s treasure vault were already immense, and with what the four spirit clans had sent, the scale was staggering.

“Kinain! Try this on first! It’ll go perfectly with this ornament!”

Ramu, who had been driven out of the palace when Kinain lost his bride-candidate status, was once again serving him at the dragon palace. It was the first time since they’d first met that Kinain had seen Ramu look this delighted. Kinain, on the other hand, had lost his soul the moment he changed into his fifth outfit.

Right, and when I got back I fell asleep like I’d been knocked out.

At the memory of yesterday, his body shuddered. The person beside him reacted immediately.

“Surely you’re not overdoing it. We should postpone the wedding…”

“Why postpone it? I’d rather it were sooner!” Kinain blurted out, startled, without thinking.

Asad’s eyes widened slightly at the unexpected answer. But the surprise lasted only a moment. Kinain stared at Asad’s complicated-looking face. He seemed pleased, or perhaps reluctant about something.

“Asad, do you want to postpone the wedding?”

“Of course not!”

He’d asked thinking it unlikely, but the reaction was more vehement than expected. Asad seemed conscious of himself and lowered his voice.

“It’s just that I…”

“You…?”

“…Never mind. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

The dejected face pained him. He’d heard that people feel melancholy or anxiety before a wedding, but he hadn’t known dragons were included.

“Asad, bend down.”

Asad didn’t ask why and bent his head at once. Soon, soft lips settled on his cheek.

*Mwah.* Kinain kissed him loudly on purpose and smiled.

“Don’t worry. You know my wish.” The wish Kinain had made: *Make Asad happy.*

With that magic, Asad could never be unhappy.

“So… mmph!”

Kinain couldn’t continue. Asad had kissed him again. Their tongues and saliva mingled with wet sounds.

After a moment, Asad bit lightly at Kinain’s upper lip, then pulled back just enough for their lips to nearly touch. He gazed at Kinain with eyes that had grown dark.

“Your Highness, I love you.” It was the forgiveness he had promised.

“Your Highness, I love you.”

The problem was that those words reminded him of the dream he’d had that morning.

In the moment Kinain went blank, a hot tongue pushed between his parted lips.

The kiss, gentle at first as a caress, grew increasingly desperate and rough with time.

“Ah, wait…?”

When the breathless Kinain turned his head aside, Asad followed at once. Kinain stroked the back of Asad’s head with one hand, meaning *slowly.* But the meaning didn’t seem to reach him.

“Ah…”

When he came to his senses, Kinain was lying on the bed. Asad was straddling him, holding his chin so he couldn’t turn his head, devouring his lips.

*Ah, good.* Kinain murmured inwardly. As their skin touched and their saliva mingled, an unbearable joy filled his heart. As if resonating with it, sweet pheromones flowed from Kinain’s body.

“Asad…”

The moment he called his lover’s name in a heated voice—

Asad kissed Kinain’s cheek lightly and rose.

“I’ve got a good idea.”

“Huh?”

“…”

Kinain was confident he could manage his expression at any moment, but this time he wasn’t sure he’d managed it.

The place Asad brought him to in his arms was familiar to Kinain too.

“This hot spring also has the effect of relieving fatigue, so it should help.”

“…Thank you.”

Kinain knew this place’s effects well too. He’d come often when he’d lost his sight, and a month ago as well.

Would it work on frustration, too?

Staring blankly at his face reflected on the water’s surface, he felt Asad’s hand reach for his upper garment. Not with sexual intent — he was trying to attend to Kinain the way he had a month ago.

“Asad.”

“Yes.”

Kinain caught the wrist of the hand trying to undress him and spoke in as natural a tone as he could manage.

“It’s fine. I’ll wash on my own.” Then Asad made a troubled face.

“What if you slip and fall again?”

At the sincere worry, Kinain swallowed a bitter smile.

Of course, Asad’s behavior had good reason. Whether because his muscles had stiffened from lying down so long, or because his soul and body weren’t fully joined yet — for a while after waking from his long sleep, Kinain hadn’t been able to properly hold even a spoon.

In the end, Asad had waited on him like a servant, and feeling sorry, Kinain had tried doing things alone and made many mistakes. Falling hard in the bath had been one of them.

Your Highness!

At the memory of Asad’s face when he’d seen him fall, he wanted to take back what he’d just said. But Kinain smiled as if nothing were wrong.

“That was a month ago. I’m fine now.”

“But…”

“Asad! Where are you?”

Just then, a voice calling for Asad came from far away.

“Isn’t that Jet?”

“Who is that?”

Asad played dumb. But soon Jet and Targen appeared.

Seeing the water — which looked like they were practically embracing — Jet squeezed his eyes shut. Targen, on the other hand, stood there blankly until he was suddenly hit by a wave of water.

“Leave.”

Asad growled. Targen trudged out with his eyebrows drooping limply.

Jet spoke without opening his eyes.

“Asad, I know you’re busy, but I need to ask a favor. Large monsters have appeared in the Scale Clan’s territory and they’re struggling to subjugate them. I think we’ll need your help.” “Ha, why should I—”

Asad frowned, about to snap, then closed his mouth. He’d felt Kinain’s gaze.

“That’s good. Help them while I wash.”

“Your Highness, I…”

“Go.”

At Kinain’s firm tone, Asad couldn’t insist any further.

“…If anything happens, you must call me.”

Asad left, looking back at Kinain with every single step. The pitiful, tender sight shook Kinain’s heart again, but he bit his tongue and endured.

Before leaving, Jet bowed his head slightly to Kinain.

Thank you.* — *It’s nothing. Good luck.

Watching the smiling Kinain, Jet felt half moved.

Until now, Jet had thought a human must never become a dragon’s mate. But after everything, he’d learned how narrow and foolish his thinking had been.

Kinain was the perfect mate he’d always dreamed of. Upright, wise, and with a kind heart… At that moment, a large hand seized Jet by the scruff and dragged him out.

“Eeek!”

“Don’t look unless you want to die.”

“I was just saying hello!”

“Don’t greet him. Don’t come near him. Don’t make His Highness memorize a name like yours. A filthy alpha like you — how dare you linger?”

Baring his teeth and threatening, he seemed a completely different being from the one beside Kinain.

Honestly, it wasn’t Asad he felt sorry for now — it was Kinain.

How had such a good human ended up with a dragon?

Meanwhile, Kinain, unaware of Jet’s thoughts, stood there until Asad’s figure disappeared.

At last, the smile slowly faded from his face.

“Haah, what am I doing?”

Kinain sank into the bath with a gloomy face. The hot spring that could heal any wound couldn’t clear the clutter in his heart.

Wanting to never be apart from his lover for a moment — he felt the same. Why wouldn’t he? Thinking of everything they’d been through, even clinging to each other all day wouldn’t be enough.

And yet Kinain had to keep his distance from Asad.

Not for his sake — for Asad’s.

Lifting his head to the sky, Kinain smiled bitterly. Clouds were gathering in the sky that had been clear all along.

Unlike himself, who could read Asad’s heart just by the weather, Asad couldn’t know Kinain’s heart unless he was told.

So it was fortunate. How could he say it?

That he was frustrated.

That at this rate, it wouldn’t be strange if he pounced on Asad at any moment.

*Smack!* Kinain struck his own cheeks hard with both hands.

“Endure! At least until the wedding!”

Surely even Asad wouldn’t be thinking of just holding hands on their wedding night… probably.

For the past several years, Kinain had lived without thinking about the future. Looking forward to something like this had been a very long time.

And not to the wedding — to the wedding night.