“It’s possible.”

But even my last hope was shattered. Melanie quickly denied my words. 

“Once in the past, I heard the story of a man with a twisted soul.” 

Melaine’s eyes darkened. He lowered his voice and added words as if hesitating. 

“And the end of him was death.”

The atmosphere was terribly depressing.

I wondered where the hell he heard that.

“Where did you hear that?”

“My friend, an owner of a bar I frequented told me about it.” 

I thought I heard it wrong for a moment. I couldn’t hide my bewilderment because the source he told me with a serious look was such a credible place. 

“That’s a believable story.”

It was even a little funny that he was so serious about such rumors. It sounded like a joke. 

But maybe I was the only one who felt that way since Lionel seemed to listen to Melanie. 

‘Why are you taking that so seriously?’

Except for me, the air became very shaken by the grim expressions. 

“So tell me. What was the curse you said you received?” 

“Why are you asking that?” 

“Because knowing the contents of the curse might be helpful.”

I shut my mouth for a moment. I didn’t understand Melanie’s willingness to help me. 

“Why are you…?” 

Melaine was definitely trying to kill me. Even after that, he threatened Lionel with a strange sound. His offer to help me was something a passing dog would laugh at. 

My voice went out quite sharply, and for some reason, Melanie looked a little hurt. 

“I’m sorry.”

Melaine dropped his head without any excuses. 

“I’m also sorry for trying to hurt the human being you care about. It’s natural that you don’t trust me, but I mean it. I want to help you.” 

Melanie rose from his seat in a daze. 

“I’ll go back for now. I’ll return later.”

Melaine’s figure rose into the air and gradually faded. 

It was the same as when Laroque disappeared. 

I was thinking about telling him not to come again, but I just chose to keep my mouth shut. 

Even if he was calm, my opponent was a dragon. I couldn’t figure out why he was showing that attitude, so I had to refrain from doing anything that would offend him. 

“I’m sorry, Lindel.”

Melanie left as if he were running away. 

After he disappeared, I cast my eyes at Lionel. He made eye contact with me without saying a word. 

Lionel didn’t say a word while Melanie and I were talking. I didn’t know what to start with. 

But the resentment inside me naturally escaped through my mouth. 

“How did you know that he was a dragon?”

“I knew it from the beginning. That Melanie Crostan is a dragon.” 

He must have known him well, seeing him call Melanie by his full name. My brows furrowed at the calm response. 

“So why did you leave the dragon alone with me?”

Lionel pulled one of my hands toward him and massaged it with both hands. 

Contrary to his indifferent face, his voice was very careful. 

“Because he won’t hurt you.” 

“But he was going to kill me as soon as Sir Lionel left?”

For a moment, Lionel frowned strongly. 

“I didn’t know he was that stupid. It’s my fault.” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” 

“You don’t have to understand. It doesn’t matter.”

I wanted to ask what’s important then. But before I could open my mouth, Lionel replied first, as if he had noticed what I was trying to say. 

“Melanie Crostan is needed to save you. That’s all that matters to me.” 

Lionel lifted my hand in his hand and kissed my palm lightly. It had a very reverent atmosphere, similar to what it was like during an important ceremonial moment.

But that didn’t ease my complex mood.

Even when I looked at him with a sullen face, Lionel looked at me with an incomprehensible smile. 

“I will do anything to save you.” 

“What do you mean save me?” 

“Because you’re not always honest. So I have no choice but to do this.”

Although he obviously spoke the same language as me, I couldn’t understand a word of what he said.

I took a deep sigh and had to organize my thoughts.

Lionel seemed unwilling to answer any further, so it was better to ask something else.

“What do you mean you know more than I think?”

“I mean it literally. I’m unfortunately pretty smart, and I have a good memory.”

“Is that unfortunate?”

“Yes. Very much.”

“I am well aware of Your Majesty’s excellence, but I did not expect you to dislike it.”

I said it quite sarcastically. It was because I was getting annoyed at the dubious answer. However, Lionel rolled his eyes and smiled at my disrespectful attitude.

I made an even more disgusted look at his smile.

Lionel burst into laughter for the first time since coming here. What was so funny? 

After that, I asked Lionel a few more questions, but he only gave me the same incomprehensible answers as before.

When did he become so strong, or why he needed Melanie to save me? He did not give me an answer.

Until the carriage back to the Imperial Palace was ready, Lionel just desperately held my hand with a faint smile.