WBRS 18

Chapter 18 

…Now that I thought about it, even if I had prepared an answer in advance, I probably still wouldn’t have been able to say it properly.

It felt like it would be better to just blurt out whatever came to mind.

“Sorry, I lost it. It’s probably somewhere in my room.”

But even that didn’t seem like a good idea.

As if proving my point, a strange flash flickered across Dean’s crimson pupils as he listened to me.

“Well, that’s odd. I can’t feel my energy anywhere in the ducal estate. In cases like this, there are only two possibilities. It’s either completely gone… or completely destroyed. Otherwise, this wouldn’t happen.”

Ugh—he already figured everything out?

I hadn’t expected him to bring up “energy” of all things.

Pinned down by his sharp observation, my already pale face turned even paler.

As I fell silent, a cold quiet filled the room. Dean’s shadow, blocking the sunlight, didn’t move at all.

A faint summer breeze slipped through the slightly open window, but only for a moment before Dean spoke again.

“Ruceline, I’ve said this before—you’re really bad at lying.”

His voice was softer than before. It was clear he had chosen to let me off the hook again.

“If you had just said a maid stole it, I would’ve understood. That necklace would look like a large ruby to anyone who didn’t know better.”

Dean knew I would never say something like that. And yet he still said it, which meant he was disappointed.

“My maids wouldn’t do that.”

“Of course. They’re your maids.”

I puffed my lips out in annoyance, and Dean reached over to mess up my hair slowly.

“If you’re going to deceive someone, at least do it properly. Thoroughly. Selfishly.”

With that, he sat down on the sofa opposite me.

I had hidden the handkerchief that had been on the table inside the drawer just in case… good thing I did.

…But was he really just going to let this go? Not ask more about the necklace?

Strangely enough, that suited me just fine.

Even if Dean pressed further, I had nothing else to say.

“So that damned ‘Mangdeok’ guy came, huh?”

“…It’s Mangdeok.”

“Whatever.”

He really hated that name.

Annoyance was clearly written all over him.

“Anyway, tell me. How did you fail? Honestly, I didn’t think you could fail at all.”

“I… just failed somehow.”

Even I knew how ridiculous that sounded.

It was obvious I was avoiding the answer.

But what else was I supposed to say? That Mangdeok broke the necklace, shattered the dagger, and even turned into a human?

After I had confidently insisted he wasn’t a beastman multiple times?

Given Dean’s temperament, if he found out the truth, he would probably release wolves across the entire empire just to hunt down the last remaining snake egg.

Even Dean seemed to find my answer absurd. He let out a short sigh and rubbed his forehead.

“…Ruceline, sometimes it’s better to just be honest. Or say you don’t want to talk about it.”

“…Sorry.”

But I still couldn’t tell the truth.

This was for my sake, not Dean’s.

The idea that a supposedly extinct snake beastman existed—and that he was stronger than the red wolves—

If I said that out loud, I would instantly be labeled insane.

And that was absolutely unacceptable.

“I was looking forward to it.”

His voice suddenly dropped low, and when I looked up, Dean had closed his eyes.

“Do you remember what I said the day you hunted your first monster in the training grounds when we were kids?”

I nodded quietly.

Of course I remembered.

The day I killed a monster on my own, covered in its filthy blood, laughing like an idiot from joy.

And what he said then:

“You’re so beautiful, Ruceline.”

It was strange. Not “good job,” not “well done.”

It wasn’t even a simple compliment.

It was something spoken from the heart.

“I realized I’ve never really praised you properly. So this time…”

He trailed off as he slowly opened his eyes.

His red pupils looked faintly lonely.

“I was going to tell you—good job. For killing that snake on your own and reclaiming your freedom.”

Hearing that twisted something inside me.

I had vaguely known it. Dean liked my “strength.” That rare, blood-like edge in a fragile rabbit beastman.

But I thought it was just admiration between friends.

Maybe it wasn’t.

“Dean…”

I realized something then.

Dean and I might not see things the same way.

I chose my targets carefully. He didn’t.

Not that we needed to be the same—but I had hoped he at least disliked indiscriminate killing.

“Soon it’ll get harder to kill things. The more attached you become, the harder it is.”

Dean reached into his coat and pulled out a dagger.

“It seems the necklace isn’t the only thing missing. I won’t ask why. But this is the last dagger I can give you.”

The final one.

Not that he had no more—but that I would get no more chances.

Should I just tell him Mangdeok is a beastman?

Dean knew I wouldn’t kill humans… maybe he would understand.

“Dean… what if Mangdeok is a beastman?”

“What?”

“If he’s human, I can’t kill him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Beast, human, monster—it makes no difference.”

He looked at me like I had said something absurd.

“Why are you asking that suddenly? That snake isn’t a beastman, right?”

“Right… no. Just wondering.”

“If you can’t kill him, I’ll do it.”

“No. This is my problem. I’ll handle it.”

It became clear then.

Dean and I were fundamentally different.

He didn’t discriminate between lives he killed. I did.

“Isn’t the prince’s birthday party in six days?”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe he’ll show up this time. Now that he’s finally an adult.”

We both thought the same thing.

Maybe things would be different this time.

“Stayed locked away in the palace training all this time? I wonder what he’ll look like. He is royal, after all—the blood of dragons.”

Dragons no longer existed in this world.

Only their descendants remained: the imperial family of Fernando.

Not dragons, but humans carrying their power.

Because of that, they were neither fully human nor fully beast.

People feared and revered them.

In six days… if Kilis didn’t appear again, I would have to attend the party hiding my wrist under cloth.

“So, miss. Do you think that ‘Mang-whatever’ will show up again?”

Honestly, Mangdeok…

I shook my head slowly.

The cycle of the mark pain had already reset.

Even if he came last night, it wouldn’t be because of the cycle anymore.

‘He tried to kill me. He probably won’t come again.’

“If he doesn’t come, you’ll have to cover your wrist.”

“…This?”

Dean handed me a soft purple handkerchief.

It matched my eye color.

“The one you’re using now is too soft. It’ll come undone at the party.”

“…You said you didn’t think I’d fail.”

“And I didn’t. I was talking about your ability. Your soft personality, though—that was predictable.”

He tied it firmly around my wrist.

It held better than the previous one.

“Ruceline. No monster prince or damn snake can take you unless you allow it. So keep your head up.”

His voice deepened.

“I’ll look into your mark separately. I trust you, but time is short.”

I didn’t stop him.

Somehow, I didn’t think Kilis would be caught by Dean anyway.

Then Dean smiled slightly.

“I don’t care if he’s a prince or a snake. If he gets in your way, I’ll kill him all the same.”

…Yeah.

That was definitely his real intention.