Esa Promesa

The Kingdom of Emar was known as the land protected by a dragon.

This reputation stemmed from the fact that Ethan I, the kingdom’s founder, had forged a pact with a dragon, securing its protection. Diver was only the second king since Ethan I to form a contract with the guardian dragon. Thanks to this, I, too, had ended up forming an acquaintance with the elusive creature.

“I knew you’d come back alive this time too.”

Whether this was good or bad, I wasn’t sure but at this moment, it certainly didn’t feel good. Watching this dragon nonchalantly devour a cake after using my life as a bet made my blood boil.

“I never imagined that even Lord Lasfame would wager on my life.” 

The guardian dragon, who supposedly had a fondness for humans, didn’t furrow his brow at my insolence. Instead, his sharp golden eyes, slitted like a predator’s, softened with amusement.

“Gambling is all about timing. When I heard you’d been dragged off by Diver, I couldn’t contain my excitement.”

“……”

The people of this country would never know. The guardian of their kingdom, the king of dragons himself, was not only a compulsive gambler but also someone with an insatiable sweet tooth.

“So you joined the wager because you couldn’t resist the opportunity?”

“I have no interest in human currency, but the reactions to the outcome are quite entertaining.”

In other words, he had participated in the bet just to see how the losers would react. At moments like this, I couldn’t understand why Diver and Lasfame were such a perfect match but constantly at odds.

“Well, that’s your preference, Lord Lasfame, so I won’t argue with it.”

“I’m pleased to hear you respect my tastes. Now, would you care to explain why you ran toward me like a lovesick fool the moment you saw me?”

“I didn’t. I almost tripped, that’s all.”

This dragon had an uncanny ability to rewrite reality.

The truth was that after being doggedly shadowed by a certain goldfish poop for a week, I’d seized a rare moment of freedom, stumbled upon Lasfame as if by fate, and nearly tripped over a rock while trying to speed past him.

“Is that so? Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Ah! No, wait oh, I’ve missed you terribly, Lord Lasfame. Terribly.”

It was humiliating, but I had no one else to turn to. If Lasfame didn’t help me, I’d be stuck. As I clung to him pathetically, Lasfame gave a satisfied smile, picking up the fork he had set down moments earlier.

The cake, a limited-edition specialty from the capital, gifted to him as a bribe by a courtier desperate to avoid my constant presence disappeared into the dragon’s mouth. Good. Lasfame had accepted the bribe. If he’d gone so far as to eat it, he wouldn’t just back out now.

“Please keep His Majesty away from me.” 

Lasfame tilted his head. …No matter how many times I see it, dragons really are otherworldly. Even a slight gesture like that somehow looked striking. He was so handsome that his feigned ignorance didn’t come off as annoying; it was just infuriatingly charming.

“Don’t you always work closely with Diver for official duties? Seems unremarkable to me.”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. You’re fully aware that if it were just during working hours, I wouldn’t have to ask for your help.”

I clenched my fists, recalling the hell that had begun a week ago with one slip of the tongue.

“For the past week, His Majesty has been following me around from the moment I open my eyes in the morning to the second I go to bed at night. He’s even tried to come to my quarters!”

Every day was torture.

Diver followed me not only during work but also when I went to the dining hall for meals, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. On the first day, he even tried to enter my quarters, and I had to practically shove him out by force.

“Except for following you to your quarters, isn’t this just his usual behavior?”

“Usual? I have no personal time left. Even my breaks are gone.”

“And now?”

“You know perfectly well he left me alone because I’m here with you.”

Lasfame gave a sly smile. Diver despised Lasfame, which was why he hadn’t barged in yet, knowing I was with him.

“I’m going to die soon anyway, so I don’t understand why His Majesty insists on making my life miserable in my final days.”

“He told you he likes you, didn’t he?”

“And that’s exactly what’s making my life miserable.”

“…Hm.”

“Think about it, Lord Lasfame. Imagine you have someone you love, but that person is dying and begs you to let them go. They even plead with you pitifully. What would you do?”

“You’re asking me to consider this from a human perspective?”

“…Not exactly. I’m just curious.”

“Do you want my answer?”

“To be honest, yes.”

The difference between a human’s perspective and a dragon’s intrigued me, so I waited for his answer. Lasfame’s lips curved into a gentle smile at my reaction.

“I wouldn’t let them go.” 

I hadn’t expected a reasonable answer, but hearing it, I was at a loss for words. It was such a perfect reflection of Diver’s personality that I couldn’t help but think: If only Diver had loved Lasfame instead, they’d truly be the couple of the century.

“Ah, I see. Well….”

“And then I’d swallow them whole.”

“……”

Lasfame calmly finished his statement while spearing a syrup-glazed fruit slice with his fork and placing it into his mouth. Watching him chew slowly, savoring the taste, left me in a stupor. What was I even expecting? I shouldn’t have asked.

“You don’t seem to consider telling Diver about your curse as an option.”

Lasfame had seen through my curse the moment we first met. Without hesitation, I answered honestly.

“You know it would only complicate things. Besides, I have no desire to stay in the palace any longer. I want to live a peaceful life now.”

“If you were only performing the role of advisor, a peaceful life might still be possible.”

“Lately, I have been focusing exclusively on the ‘advisor’ role, and I’m still busy.”

It wasn’t a lie. Although I technically held the title of a royal bodyguard, it was little more than an honorary position. All my duties revolved around being an advisor.

I bit my lip. Thinking back on everything that had happened since I first entered the palace as a commoner advisor, meeting Diver and guiding him until now, made my hands clench unconsciously.

“I always thought I was doing my best to educate His Majesty properly. But lately, I can’t help but wonder if I taught him wrong or gave him bad advice. He doesn’t even understand his own feelings. He’s mistaking whatever he’s feeling for ‘love’ and using it to justify keeping me here. And if one day, His Majesty meets someone he truly loves and behaves with them the way he’s been acting with me, that would be an even bigger problem.”

“Teian.”

“Yes?”

“I know you’ve lived longer than most humans, but when I look at you like this, you seem just as young as Diver.”

What? His sudden comment left me speechless. While I tried to decipher his words, Lasfame stood up.

“Are you leaving?”

“I am.”

My heart sank at his words. My plan was on the verge of falling apart.

Originally, I had intended to coax Lasfame into leaving the palace with me after he finished his cake. I needed to transfer my wealth for the next life into multiple bank accounts under different names. But if Lasfame left now, not only would my chance to escape be gone, but my rare moment of freedom from Diver’s suffocating presence would vanish as well.

“No, you can’t leave, Lord Lasfame!”

“While your desperate plea flatters and excites me.”

I instinctively started to follow his line of sight when.

Bang!

The door burst open.

Startled, I shot to my feet and turned around to see Diver standing in the doorway, having barged in without so much as a knock. His piercing glare was directed at Lasfame, but as soon as he felt my gaze, his eyes snapped to me.

Before I could even scream, Diver strode into the room.

“See you around, Teian.”

The gentle farewell, coupled with his indifferent stride out of the room, made tears prick the corners of my eyes.

Bang!

As soon as Lasfame exited, Diver slammed the door shut behind him. The sound reverberated through the room, confirming what I already knew: my plan was ruined. My chance to shake off Diver is gone.

Feeling utterly defeated, I slumped back into my chair, too drained to even bother acknowledging Diver with the usual courtesies. I let my body sink deep into the seat, completely devoid of the energy or will to face him.

Seeing me like this, Diver rushed to my side in a few strides.

“Teian? Are you okay?”

The concern in his voice felt out of place, like an ill-fitting garment. Diver, who once would have barked threats of treason and execution for such disrespect, now looked genuinely worried about me.

The feeling of the cake I had just eaten seemed to lodge itself in my throat. It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand his reaction. From Diver’s perspective, unaware of my curse, I was a dying man. Naturally, every little movement I made must feel monumental to him, worthy of his anxious attention.

Yes, it was just as he claimed, he was acting as though he cared because he liked me. But I wasn’t fooled.

Diver’s behavior stemmed from pity and a faint sense of guilt for how he had treated me in the past. That much was clear. It had nothing to do with the supposed affection he professed.