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Chapter -16…………………………………-
“Why is he surprised?”
No, even his surprised face is so handsome it’s almost blinding—but somehow, that makes me more uneasy.
It feels like the same anxiety you get when you see three characters immediately go wildly out of character the moment you possess someone’s body. Huh? Why am I suddenly so uneasy?
Watching the crown prince look at me with a surprised expression, I quietly clenched and unclenched my fist.
‘In the original story, there shouldn’t be any connection between him and Erina, right?’
Don’t tell me there’s some hidden setting or something! Damn it, you useless author!!
I muttered complaints about the author in my head as my irritation rose reflexively. Meanwhile, the crown prince—still looking genuinely surprised—shifted his gaze away.
“I didn’t expect to meet you here, Captain of the Royal Guard.”
“It is an honor to greet Your Highness.”
Gawen bowed deeply and respectfully. The crown prince gave him a slight nod and continued in a calm tone.
“I didn’t think I would meet someone who left an impression during the recent welcoming ceremony in a place like this, but it’s not a bad encounter.”
“I’m grateful for your words.”
“It seems you are accompanied.”
I felt his gaze turn toward me and quickly lowered my head again.
“She is my younger sister. Erina.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness Prince Consort Shurandis. I am Erina Marvas.”
I gently gathered the hem of my dress and performed a proper greeting. If anything, maybe I had the benefit of being a possessor, because whenever etiquette was required, my body moved on its own. It wasn’t something I consciously did—it felt more like it was ingrained in me, almost reflexive.
“I am also pleased to meet you, Lady Marvas. I have heard of you, but rumors do not convey everything.”
At his gentle voice, I lifted my head. Our eyes met directly.
“…Wow.”
I’d already been thinking he was ridiculously handsome, but this was different. The impact of his faint smile, filled with goodwill, was enormous.
The description of the crown prince—and dragon who never left the human world, Shurandis—in the novel went like this:
- A being of overwhelming presence, with silver hair that shone like it held moonlight, and gray eyes where a mysterious radiance flickered—so striking that anyone who saw him would immediately realize he was not human.
It was exactly as described in the novel. Silver hair and gray eyes were common enough combinations in fantasy stories, but Shurandis was different.
It was like a faint rainbow shimmering across the surface of a soap bubble, or like he was emitting light from within himself—an uncanny, mystical glow.
I couldn’t think of any better way to describe him.
‘When Russell used the Dragon’s Eyes, his pupils became slit like a reptile… but Shurandis doesn’t even have that. And yet he feels so different…’
One thing was certain: Shurandis was not human. Even someone who didn’t know he was a dragon would instinctively recognize it—like the difference between a cat and a dog. Even though he appeared completely human.
The crown prince’s gaze landed on me. No—it wasn’t just that; it lingered as if he were examining something.
‘…What?’
It felt like he was expecting something… Was that just my imagination?
Just as I tried to study his expression more closely, a smile slowly formed on his face.
“Oh, pardon me. You are so beautiful that I found myself staring.”
“I, I am honored by your words.”
I could tell it was a polite way of smoothing over an awkward moment, but I couldn’t help feeling slightly pleased.
‘Well, of course. Erina’s older sister is that beautiful.’
Even if she’s a villainess, beauty is a requirement in romance fantasy novels! And Erina’s appearance is the kind that makes you admire it every time you look in a mirror.
“It seems you have not yet awakened…”
“Yes, I have not yet undergone the awakening ceremony because I have not reached the appropriate age.”
At his sudden shift in topic, I stiffened.
‘Right. This guy is a dragon.’
Even though he had not left the human world and was considered a “human-origin dragon,” he was still a dragon.
Just knowing the nature of dragon power could elevate a commoner into nobility—so the Dragon’s Eyes, which embodied all such abilities, would not be ordinary.
Perhaps he could even see how Erina would awaken.
Or maybe he was simply curious because Gawen and Russell had both awakened before seventeen, while I was an exception.
“Oh, I may have said something inappropriate. I apologize.”
“It is fine, Your Highness. It is simply true that I have not yet awakened.”
If taken the wrong way, it could certainly sound unpleasant—but by normal standards, I was simply not yet of age for the ceremony.
So I didn’t mind much and gave a small nod. Besides, he had apologized immediately—and more than anything…
‘He’s handsome, so I’ll let it slide.’
Beauty is wealth. Rather than getting angry at someone like this, it’s better to enjoy the view a little longer.
But it seemed the crown prince interpreted my response differently. Looking genuinely apologetic, he watched me for a moment before speaking again.
“Though it was not my intention, I apologize for my rudeness. May I have the opportunity to make amends?”
I was stunned.
‘Wait—he’s a dragon, right?’
The position of crown prince itself is a role given to a dragon. And even if a dragon is rude to a human, no one would dare say anything about it.
More importantly, in the original story, Shurandis never did this with Erina!
‘Well… it’s more accurate to say there were no scenes where just the two of them met…’
This is confusing. Extremely confusing! Three characters already feel wildly out of character, and I’ve basically already waved goodbye to the original plot—but I still can’t get used to this!
Why does the original even exist at this point? If this was going to happen, they might as well have just done a proper isekai transfer!
‘What am I supposed to do with this inconsistency?!’
After silently cursing the author again, I quickly spoke up.
If nothing else, the surrounding murmurs were becoming unbearable as people watched the crown prince of all beings apologize to a mere noble girl (though rank meant nothing in front of a dragon).
“That is not necessary, Your Highness. To say that your words were rude—no one would dare think such a thing.”
“But…”
“I am already honored simply by your words.”
I said it all smoothly without even blinking, and instinctively bowed my head again.
It felt good to have my eyes and mind soothed by such a handsome face, but first I needed to get through this situation. Attention from a potential male lead candidate? Way too stressful.
‘You already helped the heroine’s awakening!’
So please just treat me like “the knight commander’s younger sister” and move on, okay?
But from everything I’d experienced since possessing this body, reality rarely went the way I wanted.
“Then I suppose I have no choice.”
The crown prince’s eyes curved smoothly. The light in his gray gaze shimmered even more brilliantly.
“I am impressed by your consideration. In the name of Shurandis, if you request it, I will grant you a single favor.”
At that, I was shocked. Gawen was shocked. Everyone around us was shocked.
“W-What? The crown prince is offering a favor in the name of a dragon?”
“Oh my goodness…!!”
I stared at him in disbelief. A promise in the name of a dragon? That’s basically a binding oath!
‘He only made that kind of promise to the heroine!’
As I internally screamed and tore at my hair, the crown prince tilted his head with an enigmatic smile, as if unaware of my turmoil.
“I am a dragon who was once human. I have not yet left the mortal world, so I am not a complete dragon either. Unlike what you may think, I am…”
A hint of mischief appeared in his gray eyes.
“More changeable than you might expect.”
…Is that something you’re just casually admitting?!
Even you’re out of character now?! Are you all out of character?!
Still, a single favor is undeniably a good thing… but!!
‘I want the real Shurandis back!!’
Oh heavens, damn author—you bastard! Why is everything out of character the moment I get possessed? Did I offend you in a past life?!
“Thank you for your grace, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Perhaps trying to help me recover, Gawen spoke on my behalf. Only then did I manage to regain a bit of my composure.
“T-Thank you very much, Your Highness.”
As I hurriedly bowed, a soft laugh brushed against my ears.
…He laughed? Shurandis did?
I quickly looked up. It wasn’t my imagination—the brilliant gray eyes indeed held a trace of amusement.
“May fortune be with you.”
Leaving those brief words behind, he turned and walked away. As he moved, the crowd parted as if controlled by an invisible force.
As Shurandis stepped forward, something rose from the shadows. It looked human—but wasn’t. A twisted form, half human, half reptilian.
‘So that’s a dragon’s retainer.’
It should have looked grotesque, but for some reason I didn’t feel disgust. Instead, it felt almost sacred.
At that moment, a low humming voice echoed in my mind, making me flinch.
‘…Crown prince?’
It was definitely his voice. He must have used dragon power to transmit it to me—but why go this far?
‘It almost sounds like he’s reluctant to end the conversation…’
But that can’t be. In the original story, Erina and Shurandis barely had any connection at all.
