Late at night, as Guinevere opened her eyes in the dark room, she internally swallowed a curse.

‘Was I… sexually frustrated?’

“Are you awake?”

The immediate question as she opened her eyes made it seem as if he had been watching her. Guinevere, feeling irritated without knowing why, abruptly sat up. As she hurriedly gathered and put on her clothes, she felt ridiculous.

“Where are you going?”

Guinevere silently tightened her robe and grasped the dagger lying on the table. While she tucked it into her waist, Siod remained quiet.

Seated at the table, Guinevere glared in Siod’s direction and spoke.

“Talk.”

“About what?”

“Tell me everything you know.”

They should have talked first. But late into the night…

‘…Was I bewitched by something?’

Perhaps that face was the problem. Guinevere glared at the shamelessly handsome face and gritted her teeth. Even in the darkness, the faint moonlight elegantly outlined Siod’s silhouette.

Guinevere tightly shut her eyes.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen immediately.”

“…”

“Since Lord entrusted this task to me, no one will interfere. Dragons are fundamentally lazy. The problem will be after the egg hatches… but I can handle it.”

“Explain so I can understand clearly.”

“A dragon’s egg needs to be incubated for 100 years with the mother continuously supplying magical energy. It’s no small task, as it can’t be left alone for even a moment. It’s especially difficult for dragons who spend more days sleeping than awake.”

Guinevere listened quietly. It was crucial information.

“However… an egg that should have hatched by now hasn’t. The problem is that this egg is precious, born after 3,000 years, and Lord’s daughter is incubating it… She’s angry because the egg isn’t hatching.”

“When is that egg supposed to hatch?”

“If there hadn’t been a time regression, it would have hatched 50 years from now, but well. Now, no one knows for sure. This is a first even for dragons. No one in the dragon valley thought the egg would be affected since they weren’t affected by the time regression.”

Guinevere tapped her fingertips on the table and said,

“Then that dragon might come seeking revenge in 50 years? Or even tomorrow if the egg hatches?”

“Don’t worry. I can win.”

“What are the chances of your Lord intervening?”

“I told you. Lord entrusted this to me, so that won’t happen. But if someone turns back time again, he would intervene.”

Guinevere let out a deep sigh of relief.

‘So we just need to prevent time regression.’

She hadn’t been able to sleep properly since learning that the dragons had moved. Although she couldn’t fully trust Siod’s words, she felt her tension involuntarily easing.

However, Guinevere stiffened at Siod’s next words.

“And… Lord also knows that you and I have conceived a child.”

“What?”

Guinevere exclaimed in shock. Siod glanced around nervously before mumbling a response.

“Because I asked if it was possible for a child to be born between a dragon and a human…”

“Wait, then does your Lord also know that William is the culprit behind the regression magic?”

“No? Lord thinks you’re the culprit. That’s why I stepped in.”

But it might only be a matter of time before it became known. Guinevere hastily spoke.

“Tell him I’m the culprit.”

“…”

“Say that I personally turned back time because the child died.”

“Vera…”

Siod called her name as if sighing. Guinevere had changed a lot. The woman who had seemed endlessly selfish had somehow become a mother, and he…

“Answer me.”

“…I’ll do that.”

He didn’t dislike that change. Rather, he found himself unable to look away. The fact that it was their child who had caused her to change was enough to elevate some of his emotions.

Was it because he was too elated? Siod unwittingly wanted to speculate on an uncertain possibility.

“There’s one way for that child to be safe.”

“What is it?”

“To be recognized as one of the dragon race.”

If that were possible, far from being threatened, the child could receive protection from all dragons. Siod quietly continued.

“I searched through the records and found a story of a child born of a human and dragon mix awakening dragon blood.”

There was a meaningful statement among Lord’s words.

‘Only eggs laid in dragon form, and the hatchlings born from those eggs, live as normal dragons. Children born in human form never awaken.’

If it truly never happened, he wouldn’t have mentioned it at all. Siod found one case among the old records.

“If our child awakens dragon blood, even Lord will have to recognize the child as part of the dragon race. There’s a precedent.”

“How can they awaken?”

“The records say that a mixed-blood child awakened on the day they mastered dragon language magic.”

Guinevere sighed. It meant they had to teach magic again after all. She had wanted to let the child do as they pleased in this life.

“William hates magic.”

Guinevere said, rubbing her face.

“That’s because you made him do something he couldn’t. If we teach dragon language, it’ll solve the problem.”

Would it really? As Guinevere pondered, Siod approached her. He embraced her shoulders and said,

“So let’s live together.”

Guinevere remained still for a moment, then ended her deliberation and pushed him away, saying,

“William is at the academy. So you should go to the academy too. I could recommend you for a professor position.”

“What? Can’t we just reveal that I’m the father and all live together?”

“William is my son. What have you done to deserve a place?”

Siod was dumbfounded.

“You want me to teach dragon language without revealing I’m the father?”

“Are you saying you want to play father now? There’s a limit to shamelessness. And I never said I’d accept you.”

Siod stood there with his mouth stupidly open, then said,

“Then, why did you sleep with me?”

“Because I wanted to.”

Guinevere was unapologetic. Siod stood there, not knowing what to do, then covered his mouth, feeling a surge of emotion. Overcome by sudden shame, he snapped his fingers, and light enveloped his naked body, creating clothes.

Guinevere exclaimed in admiration.

“How did you do that? Teach me too.”

‘This wicked woman who only knows pure magic.’

Siod swallowed the curse he couldn’t bring himself to utter aloud.

“I won’t teach you.”

Siod retaliated pettily. Guinevere glared at him and said,

“Don’t confuse William by revealing he’s part dragon. He’s already a sensitive child.”

“But still…”

“There’s no need to teach dragon language or whatever. This time, I’ll let him live an ordinary and happy life. I only expect one thing from you. Protect him from the sidelines.”

Siod furrowed his brow and said,

“If it becomes known that you’re the culprit, you’ll be in danger first. So I’ll stay by your side.”

“I can protect myself.”

Siod sneered at this.

“You’re underestimating dragons?”

Despite his sarcasm, Guinevere remained firm.

“Protect William.”

“…”

“He’s my everything.”

Faced with her sincerity, Siod had no choice but to take a step back. He kept feeling like he was losing, but he couldn’t win.

“Hah, they say love makes you lose.”

Siod tucked a strand of Guinevere’s fallen hair behind her ear and said,

“I must love you, Vera.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Nonsense? How can you say that?”

Siod put on a hurt expression, but Guinevere paid no attention.

“If you really love me, can you swear?”

“Huh?”

“Can you swear on all your magical power that you’ll protect William no matter what happens?”

Siod couldn’t answer. A dragon’s oath was no simple matter.

Originally, even a ‘magician’s oath’ was modeled after the ‘dragon’s oath’. The problem was that while breaking a magician’s oath only resulted in the death of the magician who broke it, breaking a dragon’s oath would drive the dragon mad.

“I can’t do that.”

If a moment came when he had to choose between saving William or Guinevere, he would unhesitatingly choose Guinevere. So no matter how much she begged, he couldn’t make such an oath.

“An oath sworn on magical power isn’t something to be made lightly. You should know that, right?”

Guinevere didn’t respond. Feeling an ominous premonition, Siod asked,

“…Don’t tell me you did?”

Guinevere smirked. She found the sight of Siod’s contorting face quite amusing.

“Are you crazy? No, what kind of oath did you make?”

Siod pressed. Guinevere spoke nonchalantly.

“I swore to do my best to ensure that a girl named Larisa lives happily for a long time.”

Siod was appalled. Even if one were to make an oath, it shouldn’t be such a vague one.

“Have you lost your mind? Where’s the oath-taker? Cancel it immediately!”

Despite Siod’s temper, Guinevere remained calm. She twirled her hair and answered.

“She’s dead.”

Her tone was serene. That made Siod even angrier. Now it couldn’t even be canceled. It seemed insane.

“Why on earth did you make such an oath? Are you so desperate to die?”

“It was necessary to bring a daughter from a woman named Marina.”

“‘Happily for a long time’? How can a promise be so vague? You should have specified a concrete period, like her 20th birthday. And what does ‘best’ mean? Why would you make such a meaningless promise…”

As Siod was about to launch into a long lecture, Guinevere brushed back her hair irritatedly and said,

“Who doesn’t know that?”

“You mean you knew and still did it?”

“Yes. Because it’s all our wish. Marina’s, mine, and William’s.”

Siod closed his mouth.

“What on earth happened all this time?”

“…It’s a long story.”