Chapter 02
In different parts of the Lupel Empire, dragons were asleep. But one of them, the black dragon Akelans, who had been resting in the dragon’s spring, suddenly woke up. As he awoke, his long hair fell as he gazed at Hasollan.
Startled, Hasollan quickly tried to sit up but was struck by a terrible headache, forcing her to lower her head again.
“Ouch… my head…”
“Don’t rush,” a relaxed voice said, carrying a hint of laughter.
Leaning lazily against the wall, Akelans watched her. His beauty was overwhelming—so perfect that it could make anyone feel defeated. No one could resist his handsome features, his calm demeanor, and the wisdom he had accumulated. Hasollan was no exception.
“You have wine dripping from your eyes,” he teased.
But this was not the Akelans she last remembered. He was no longer the ruler sitting on the throne in full royal attire. Instead, he appeared as a carefree man, completely at ease. He smiled at her.
“Want to sleep some more?”
What is going on?
Hasollan seriously considered the possibility that she had gone insane. She had spent years obsessing over one being—wasn’t it possible that she had finally lost her mind? She forced herself to look away from Akelans and stared out the window. Birds were chirping.
“…Oh.”
It was morning. A fresh, cold morning. A normal morning, not one where an old lady kept shaking her awake. It felt so comforting. But if it was truly a fresh start, why was the face she had barely escaped from standing right in front of her?
“What’s with that expression?”
The dragon mumbled as he watched the human woman stare at him blankly.
“Huh…?”
Hasollan pointed at him. Why was he…?
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember?”
“Uhh…?”
“You really shouldn’t drink so much,” Akelans sighed.
She drank so much she couldn’t even remember.
“You woke me up. This is the first time I’ve been woken by a drunkard.”
“No way!”
Hasollan screamed but immediately regretted it as her head pounded again. Akelans raised an eyebrow. His ridiculously handsome face studied her closely.
“You called me.”
“I… I did not…!”
Hasollan desperately shook her head despite the pain. There was no way. She would never wake him up. To the people of the Lupel Empire, Akelans was a blessing—but to Hasollan, he was a disaster.
“How…?”
“You woke me.”
Akelans answered bluntly, unimpressed by her denial. He almost seemed offended.
“And quite rudely, too.”
“Rudely?”
“Yes. Extremely rude and disrespectful.”
Hasollan was both horrified and confused.
“Then… Why didn’t you just stay asleep? Or punish me immediately?”
If she had been so rude, why did he even bother waking up?
“How do you wish to be punished?”
What kind of question was that? Hasollan let out a long breath. She didn’t know exactly what she had done wrong, but Akelans was meant to be a ruler—his status was far beyond hers. If she had committed such a grave offense, then she should be punished with death.
Death. What else was there for her?
“If my crime is as great as you say, then please punish me with death,” she said, bowing her head.
She had nothing left. If she died, she could simply wake up again in the wagon where the old lady would shake her awake. And if she died for real, that was fine too. There was nothing left to hope for.
“How old are you?”
How old was she now?
She had died at thirty-seven, returned to being twenty-three, and had lived through five repeated days. So… twenty-three? Or thirty-seven?
“…Twenty-three.”
“And your position?”
She had held many prestigious roles—an imperial advisor, and a close aide to the emperor. She had held high status. But the one title she had not been given was the one she had wanted most.
“I am the Dragon Spring Administrator.”
Akelans silently observed her as she kneeled before him.
“A young, newly appointed official talks about death so easily, as if she has lived a lifetime.”
Hasollan remained motionless.
“Where did the boldness go? You called me a dog and shouted at me to come out. Was that just the alcohol talking?”
Hasollan bit her tongue. Oh no. Did she call him a dog?
“You were interesting, so I woke up. And now you speak of death?”
Akelans let out a small laugh.
“You should value your life more.”
Hasollan cursed under her breath. Like hell, I should. And who was it that ruined my life in the first place?
Well… technically, this version of Akelans hadn’t done anything to her yet.
“You recognized me right away without asking. That means you must be useful.”
“Anyone would recognize you. If they have eyes, they’d see you. If they have ears, they’d hear the power in your voice. It’s not special.”
Hasollan spoke politely but firmly. She had learned how to speak like this in the imperial palace—carefully, without angering those in power, while erasing all traces of herself.
‘Don’t act like you know me, you bastard.’
Of course, she only thought that in her head.
She just wanted to stay away from him.
But Akelans kept watching her quietly.
“Twenty-three is quite young, yet you speak like an old politician.”
Hasollan didn’t flinch. She kept her gaze lowered like she always did before the emperor.
“I like you.”
Her heart dropped.
No.
No, no, no.
But it was only because he had just woken up and she was the first person he saw. He would soon return to the capital and meet elegant, dazzling people, and forget about a mere administrator.
“That’s how it should have been 14 years ago.”
A deep regret washed over her.
Why had she fought so hard to stay by his side back then? Her devotion had been taken for granted, used, and discarded.
“…I’ll report your awakening to the palace.”
“There’s no rush. Sober up first,” Akelans said, amused.
Hasollan did not laugh.
“Should I leave you alone?”
He stood up, but his large frame barely fit under the low ceiling.
“Is this place always so… cozy?”
Hasollan was too tired to respond right away.
“…Excuse me?”
“Never mind. Get some rest.”
He turned and walked away.
Hasollan silently cursed.
Bastard!
Later, as her hangover faded, Hasollan began questioning her intelligence.
How could I have woken up my own worst nightmare? Twice?!
She ate her meal—delicious venison stew with soft potatoes and carrots, perfectly seasoned with salt. The warmth reminded her that she was alive.
She was twenty-three again.
I got my youth back! This is a miracle! I should live properly this time!
She even thanked the gods.
But then… she had to remember that she also woke up him.
I’m an idiot.
Frustrated, she slapped her cheek.
“Ack! What the hell are you doing?”
A large hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Oh, how she hated how close he was now.
“Let go.”
“Why are you hitting yourself?”
“I’m trying to sober up.”
“Don’t do that,” Akelans said, frowning.
Hasollan stared at him coldly.
“It’s none of your concern.”
“It is.”
Their eyes met.
Not this time, she thought.
“I will report your awakening to the palace.”
“No,” Akelans interrupted.
“What?”
“I’m not ready to deal with all those people yet. You’re enough.”
He stared at her intensely.
“You alone are enough.”
For the first time, Hasollan hesitated.
