“I am your bride!”
In the earliest memory, those words were clearly meant to protect oneself from the fierce and terrifying divine dragon.
It was also the words that created an unbreakable bond that lasted through such a distant passage of time.
Was it a confession, or was it a curse?
Litania thought it might be both.
“I don’t remember proposing to you, Litania.”
“The Emperor has granted permission for our marriage. By imperial law, no other conditions are necessary.”
“I see. Then if I were to quit being the empire’s guardian dragon, would our marriage vow be nullified?”
“Yes. But I won’t let that happen.”
Litania dismounted and approached Orbis. Standing beneath the picturesque landscape adorned with autumn’s vibrant colors, Orbis appeared even more massive than the distant tower.
“I need a knight to protect me.”
“You already have many escort knights at your disposal.”
“Not anymore. They’ve all been incorporated into the Imperial Knights.”
“Oh my.”
“Well, it’s good for them. Thanks to that, the only knight I have left now is just Orbis.”
Litania smiled brightly and extended her hand towards him.
“Will you protect me? My knight.”
Orbis quietly looked down at the small bride with pink eyes.
The little bride who once feared and despised him had grown stronger and more resilient through repeated lives she couldn’t even remember.
Although the countless times she was broken and shattered by the fierce dragon who didn’t know how to love were certainly painful.
It was because she accepted that painful past without erasing it that she could gain this present moment.
“It doesn’t seem like you need my protection.”
“Huh?”
“I am the one who responds to your prayers.”
Orbis’s eyes curved elegantly.
“I will protect you for a lifetime. My bride.”
The scent of earth wafted strongly from the ground that had been as still as a model garden. An overwhelming fragrance emanated from the garden flowers that had looked like paint applied to a palette.
“Back then, I told you that we didn’t need human promises.”
“Orbis?”
“But I think I should get used to human life too.”
Orbis took Litania’s hand and gently bent down to kiss her lips.
The vow’s kiss that they didn’t do during their first marriage.
Even though it was just a touch, it felt like warmth was seeping into her heart.
Whoosh.
Yellow and red leaves that had fallen from branches flew towards the round sky, carried by the swirling wind.
The wind that surrounded the two of them sounded just like applauding cheers.
The season when they first vowed to spend their lives together had returned.
To promise a second eternity.
[This is the timeline separator]Holding Orbis’s hand, Litania entered the main palace.
The scenery of the dragon castle was similar to what she remembered from before, but slightly different.
The corridor was carpeted with crimson and gold threads woven together, just like before. There was still a large window on one side, allowing the afternoon sunlight to shine through well.
However, the difference was that on the other side, paintings drawn by Orbis were hanging in a row.
‘I think there used to be tapestries hanging here before.’
As all the paintings lined up along their footsteps were portraits of herself, Litania felt awkward and rubbed the back of her neck.
“It feels a bit strange to have only my face hanging in the corridor.”
“The only thing I know how to draw is your image.”
“Why don’t you try practicing self-portraits now?”
“Hmm?”
“It would be nicer to see pictures of both of us together, wouldn’t it?”
Usually, noble mansions have paintings of previous generation heads hanging, but since Orbis is the only master of the dragon castle, both in the past and future, there’s no need to record history through paintings.
However, if they keep records of the time spent together, it becomes memories.
“Originally, happy homes have family photos hanging, right?”
“Photos?”
“It’s a technology that captures people or landscapes as they are. It doesn’t seem to exist in this era yet, but it will come later.”
Litania shared her knowledge about photos with Orbis. For Orbis, who knows all the knowledge of the world, stories of a world he didn’t know were quite interesting.
“It certainly has its conveniences.”
“Right? Though the lack of the artist’s subjectivity is both an advantage and a disadvantage.”
“Still, I prefer to draw your image myself.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want such tools to possess your image.”
“…Are you jealous of tools right now?”
When Litania asked with an incredulous expression, Orbis pouted slightly.
“Is that not allowed?”
“Narrow-minded men aren’t charming.”
“They say you become like the one you love, don’t they?”
“Are you saying it’s because of me now?”
“That would be the result, I suppose.”
“Oh my goodness.”
Although she shook her head as if dumbfounded, Litania didn’t let go of Orbis’s hand.
It would have been absolutely impossible before to bicker with each other so naturally like this.
The beautiful and powerful divine dragon.
A supreme being transcending humans.
Who could have imagined that such a being would walk side by side with her like this, exchanging playful words?
“I rode Lapis and rushed here in one go, but it’s not gentlemanly to only blame the bride who came to get married as soon as we meet.”
“There’s no need to be a gentleman today.”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you say you came to get married?”
As they reached the end of the corridor, a heavy door decorated with red leather opened by itself.
That place, which used to be Litania’s room before, was filled with a breathtaking red sunset as if welcoming its long-absent owner.
“On the wedding night, a gentlemanly husband isn’t necessary, is it?”
“…Pardon?”
Litania’s ears turned red as she understood belatedly.
They didn’t hold a ceremony for the second marriage. There was no officiant, no congratulatory speech, no applause from guests. It wasn’t necessary.
So she had forgotten.
The fact that newlyweds spend their first night together after the wedding ceremony.
“Um, we didn’t sleep together even when we first got married, you know?”
“That’s why we absolutely can’t skip it this time.”
His long golden hair flowed down along his loosely tilted body line. His blue eyes reflecting the red sunset looked just like deep water containing fire.
“Take this opportunity to find out how ungentlemanly your husband can be.”
It had been a very long time since Litania felt fear from Orbis’s smiling face.
[This is the timeline separator]Gardener Rico hurried across the central garden. Wearing an apron stained with soil, he diligently pruned garden trees, removed withered flowers, and swept fallen leaves.
On the other side, Chef Pepper brought assistant cooks to harvest fruits. They carried wooden boxes filled with the fresh and sweet scent of ripe apples, pears, and plump grapes from the orchard to the kitchen.
“Move quickly! Those who are late won’t get dinner tonight!”
“What about lunch?”
“No lunch either!”
“Pepper has become cruel!”
It wasn’t just Pepper who had become sharp due to anxiety because Litania, unable to get out of bed due to the shock of her wedding night, skipped breakfast.
“Pepper, you idiot! I told you to prepare something easily digestible!”
Hazel, who usually just snacked on nuts from the food storage, was guarding the kitchen entrance.
“The lady is in an extremely tired state! Do you think she can eat such sweet and rich food?”
“When you’re sick, eating delicious food is the best!”
“Don’t think the lady has an iron stomach like you!”
“Tsk, if you’re so unsatisfied, why don’t you make it yourself!”
Even while growling, Pepper’s hands were neatly peeling fruit skins, thinly slicing the fruit flesh, and tossing them into the pot.
Hazel, while uttering what sounded like curses or scolding, tightly tied the apron strings around his waist and scurried to Pepper’s side to assist him.
The rhythmic sounds of pots boiling on the cooktop and knives passing over wooden cutting boards could be heard.
Despite the two thunderous voices echoing from both sides, the dragon castle’s kitchen was at its liveliest since Litania’s departure.
The hot heat of the flames carried the aroma of freshly baked food all the way to the corridor beyond the dining room.
Snow, who had brought tea leaves prepared by Rico from the herb garden, saw Pepper and his crew cooking while shouting at the top of their lungs in the kitchen and narrowed his eyes.
“Those fools, at it again. Can they cook with their mouths?”
Although he clicked his tongue, Snow didn’t dislike seeing the bustling kitchen scene.
Because the one who breathed life into the stifling and stagnant dragon castle was the person he cherished the most.
“I wonder if Lady Litania can drink herbal tea?”
It was Snow’s routine to serve her tea before sleeping, but last night, Litania couldn’t receive the boy’s tea service because she was spending her wedding night with Orbis.
“Master, really! I told him so many times to be considerate and respectful to Lady Litania!”
The boy muttered complaints about his master who ignored his advice as he climbed the stairs.
He didn’t yet know that no bride would wish for her husband to be considerate and respectful on their wedding night.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
