Undoubtedly, Adria was going through painful days.

Of course, it hadn’t been very long since those painful days began.

In terms of days, it had only been about five days?

However, even though it was only five days, which might not be a long time for merchants traveling far and wide, Adria experienced hell during those days.

More precisely, since the rumor that ‘the Lord of Lartania is getting married’ reached the Merchant Group.

Since then, Adria had to endure the mutterings of the Crimson Dragon, who continuously cursed the person marrying the Lord of Lartania almost 24 hours a day, making the expression ‘day in and day out’ seem like an understatement.

Moreover, the occasional screams and the incessant whining of the Crimson Dragon, holding onto her, quickly broke even the iron-willed Adria.

Adria finally came to the Lartania domain to confirm the truth of the rumor.

And.

“Of course, right? You’re not getting married, are you!?”

“…As I’ve repeatedly said, I bought the Proposal Ring because I had to, by chance.”

Unlike Adria, who looked very relieved by his words, Kim Hyunwoo looked at her with a very strange expression.

For good reason, because from Kim Hyunwoo’s perspective, who didn’t know the context, Adria’s question in her emaciated state made him imagine all sorts of strange things.

So, seeing Adria genuinely relieved,

he cautiously asked,

“…But, why are you curious about that…?”

“Yes? Ah…”

Adria, who had been looking relieved, then puzzled, suddenly made an expression as if realizing how she must have appeared to Kim Hyunwoo.

“No, it’s just… Ah, come to think of it, are you not going to use the Proposal Ring then?”

In the end, she changed the subject, unable to find a suitable response.

It was an awkward change of topic, obvious to anyone.

However, seeing the troubled look in Adria’s eyes, Kim Hyunwoo decided to go along with her.

“Well, I don’t plan to use it right away. There’s no one special around, anyway.”

“Is that so?”

“Still, I plan to use it within six months.”

“What?”

“Yes?”

“No, didn’t you just say there was no one special?”

“That’s right?”

“…Then why is there a six-month limit?”

Kim Hyunwoo, wondering if he had heard a similar story somewhere before, answered her question.

“Because it would be a waste not to use it. This Ring is quite expensive.”

“Oh…oh…”

Adria, whose expression suddenly soured, quickly spoke.

“Should I sell that Ring for you? As you said, it would sell for a high price.”

“……”

Kim Hyunwoo, who wondered if he had mentioned the Ring’s performance, shook his head.

“No, there’s no need for you to worry about it that much.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t really want to sell the Ring.”

Of course, the Ring wasn’t immediately useful, but selling it was truly out of the question.

If selling the Ring could get him a Red Stone, he would gladly do so, but at this point, selling the Ring would only yield Gold Coins.

In other words, entrusting Adria with selling the Ring now would only be worthwhile if it brought in millions of Gold Coins, so he had no intention of selling it.

‘Besides, if necessary, I have a place to use it.’

Thinking that, Kim Hyunwoo declined Adria’s offer politely.

Adria,

“Ah…”

with a very thoughtful expression, and a slight hint of resentment in her eyes, glanced at Kim Hyunwoo once.

“…I understand. Then, I’ll just- I’m very tired today, so I’ll rest for now.”

With those words, she turned and walked away without looking back.

“……”

Watching her leave the office in silence, Kim Hyunwoo fell into strange thoughts.

‘…Does she like me?’

Of course, Kim Hyunwoo wasn’t the kind of person who was seriously full of himself.

However, Kim Hyunwoo was sure that any man would think so after seeing Adria’s behavior a moment ago.

Adria’s current behavior was enough to make Kim Hyunwoo misunderstand.

But seeing Adria’s behavior directly, Kim Hyunwoo was lost in strange thoughts.

‘…Still, it’s a bit strange?’

Of course, everyone has hidden sides, but Kim Hyunwoo thought he knew himself quite well.

And the original Kim Hyunwoo he knew would have easily had his heart rate exceed 200 beats per minute by now.

In the first place, being single until his mid-20s, he would have been ecstatic if a woman extended her hand to him.

Moreover, Adria, the head of the Merchant Group, was objectively and subjectively pretty.

If Adria had been born with that face in the real world, Kim Hyunwoo could bet she would have become a celebrity.

However, even though Adria, with her stunning looks, showed signs of interest whether it was a misunderstanding or not, Kim Hyunwoo felt no emotional disturbance.

It wasn’t just that there were no ripples; it was as calm as a mirror-like lake.

“What’s this?”

Therefore, Kim Hyunwoo felt something was strange.

Adria was in despair.

No, actually, when she first heard from Kim Hyunwoo, it wasn’t a desperate situation.

But the moment Kim Hyunwoo said he would use the Proposal Ring within six months, her despair started again.

[Of course, the Lord would have such a person. He wouldn’t be interested in someone like me in the first place. He must have erased me from his memory completely, not even leaving a fragment, but still-]

Adria felt like she was going insane from the incessant voice of the Crimson Dragon echoing in her head.

In the past, when they had a one-sided contract, Adria could subtly sever the connection if the Crimson Dragon acted weird, but now the contract was mutual, so she couldn’t do that.

Thus, Adria, who was suffering, thought,

‘I can’t take it anymore…!’

Finally, her patience ran out.

Of course, just because her patience ran out didn’t mean her loyalty to the Crimson Dragon had waned.

No matter how much the Crimson Dragon tormented and mentally tortured her, the Crimson Dragon was her benefactor who saved her life.

Therefore, instead of hating the Crimson Dragon, Adria decided to end the root of this situation.

“Dragon Lord, pull yourself together and listen to me properly.”

[I’m anyway-]

“From now on, quickly decorate the house like last time.”

[…Why?]

The Crimson Dragon’s question.

However, Adria, without answering her question, took out a scroll from the office desk.

It was a Teleportation scroll she had prepared in advance to replenish the one used up because of Merilda and Rin.

Taking it out, Adria’s two eyes burned red.

“Dragon Lord, please use some magic.”

[Uh, what kind of magic?]

“Any magic that can hide my presence, use all of it.”

Adria spoke firmly.

“Today, I will bring the Lord before you.”

With those words, Adria opened the door without hesitation.


Late at night, the only people in the Lord’s castle were a few guards and Elena and Lani, who lived in the castle.

Most of the guards were stationed on the first floor, and Elena and Lani also used rooms on the second floor, so the only one using the third floor, where the office was, was Kim Hyunwoo.

Originally, that is.

“Hoo-”

Merilda entered the room with a tense expression and looked at Kim Hyunwoo.

He was sound asleep.

Seeing him, Merilda rolled her eyes restlessly.

‘Boss, remember. This is not just a meaningless task; it’s a very important process. The timeline of the plan depends on how well this process goes. Seriously.’

Recalling Ryu’s words, Merilda sighed deeply several times, then began to wake Kim Hyunwoo very carefully.

And.

“Hmm…huh?”

When he blinked his eyes open at the sensation of being shaken,

“…Huh?”

Kim Hyunwoo saw Merilda, who had climbed onto the bed, along with a notification window stating that an unknown hero had visited.

Her silver hair gleamed in the moonlight.

Her red eyes, contrasting with her hair, shone like rubies under her dark circles.

“What…?”

Caught off guard by the sudden situation, Kim Hyunwoo looked bewildered, but Merilda swallowed slightly and curved her lips into a smile.

She clenched one fist lightly.

And.

“Me,o-”

At that moment, as Merilda was about to say the line she had practiced for days,

“Gak-!?”

Merilda’s head was thrown back.

Her hair floated as if something invisible had grabbed it.

And.

“What are you doing, you frustrated beast…!?”

From behind Merilda, the owner of the hand grabbing her hair began to appear.

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