[After the Event—Leif’s POV — Leif’s Chamber]

I stood by the window, watching the glittering crowd trickle out of the garden. The music had died down, and the last flickers of lantern light painted the courtyard in soft gold. A satisfied smirk tugged at my lips—my show had been a hit.

"Wow... that was... spectacular! " gasped a noble lady as she fanned herself dramatically, her pearls nearly flying off. "I’ve never seen anything like that in my life!"

"Nor have I," added another, clutching her pearls. "The way those jewelry pieces shimmered! The way they glowed under the moonlight—like they were dancing! But..." Her voice dropped into a breathy squeal.

"The way the Grand Duke proposed to Lord Leif—KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

And then it happened. The entire flock of noble ladies screamed in unison—like a pack of teenage fangirls in the front row at a boy band concert.

Glass. Shattered. I blinked.

. . .

. . .

Wow. My ears. They’re gone. Rest in peace, my poor eardrums.

Their eyes sparkled like stars on caffeine, lips trembling, and fans flapped like they were trying to take flight.

"I never knew love between two men could look so beautiful," one declared, hand over heart, voice trembling like she was witnessing divine revelation.

"I agree!" another nodded so hard her curls bounced. "The way he knelt—the look in his eyes—when he kissed him, saints above! I ascended. I literally ascended!"

"And now," a third whispered, eyes wide and dreamy, "I finally understand why His Majesty legalized same-sex marriage. It must’ve been because of the Grand Duke. He probably asked the Emperor for it!"

Gasps all around.

"Oh, how romantic!"

"True love conquers all!"

One of them gasped, hand fluttering to her chest. "It’s a pity I’m a noble. I wish I were a maid... serving them. Daily. "

"Me too!" another swooned.

" Me three! " a third echoed, practically fainting into her fan.

"Me—faints!"

Their carriages rolled away, taking the chorus of delusional devotion with them, leaving behind only echoes of "shipper screams" and broken glass.

I leaned against the window, staring into the quiet courtyard.

Wow. So this is what it feels like to be a fandom’s OTP.

I finally get it now—why girls back then used to lose their collective minds when two pretty men made eye contact in a drama. The screaming, the edits, the "ship has sailed" comments—yeah, it’s all making sense now.

Except this time, I’m the ship. And apparently, I’ve just set sail as the Empire’s first-class luxury cruise.

A warm hand suddenly wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against a firm chest.

"Mm?" Alvar’s voice was low against my ear, smooth enough to melt glass. "What are you looking at?"

I sighed dramatically. "Just... a group of delusional species."

He followed my gaze, and when I glanced at him—

SHINE. SPARKLE. BLINDING.

Dear heavens, my eyes.

My retinas are suing for damages

First, he was dazzling because he’s the male lead. Now, he’s practically glowing at 100 percent brightness mode —all because he’s happy. And somehow... I didn’t mind the blindness. Seeing him that happy made something inside me go soft.

"So..." I said, turning my head slightly toward him, "you disappeared earlier because you were planning that grand surprise?"

He smirked, his eyes glinting. "Of course. I wanted to make sure the entire empire knows you’re mine."

I raised a brow. "Possessive much?"

"Only when it comes to you."

I smiled despite myself. "But don’t you think it’s a little too soon? We’ve only been dating for four months, Alvar. Marriage is kind of—well—fast."

He blinked—once, twice—and before I could even blink once , I was lifted off the ground like a feather.

"Alvar—!"

He pressed a kiss against my neck, his breath warm against my skin.

"I realized something about you, my Leif—you change your mind faster than the weather. So before you get any second thoughts... I’d rather tie you to me forever."

I chuckled, heart hammering. "You’re talking like if we don’t get married soon, something dangerous might happen."

He flinched slightly too honest for his own good—and walked toward the couch, still holding me as if I weighed nothing. He settled me onto his lap. His arms encircled me like I was something fragile and precious.

"I just want you to be mine," he said quietly, taking my hand and brushing a kiss against my palm. "So... let’s focus on our marriage and on my upcoming birthday, let’s get engaged."

I smiled, saying. "I already said, Yes."

He snuggled closer and as I leaned into his chest, feeling his heartbeat steady and warm beneath my ear, I couldn’t help but only smile.

If this man can make emperors bend and nobles faint... then maybe there’s no one in this world safer—or scarier—to belong to.

And honestly?I kind of love that.

***

[The Next Day—Thorenvald Estate]

The next morning, I woke up shining brighter than the sun itself. No, seriously—I was radiant.Because overnight, our jewelry orders had exploded .

Enormous piles of letters and scrolls cluttered my desk—each one an order for the Trivium Core Stone collection . It was so overwhelming that even Father had to roll up his sleeves and help me sort through them.

As expected, last night’s event was on every front page. Headlines like

"Grand Duke’s Fiery Proposal Stuns the Capital!" "Two Men, One Ring, Infinite Screams!"

You know—typical empire-level fangirling.

But then... came other news. And this one—shattered my very soul into a million tiny, trembling pieces.

"W-What!?"Mother gasped, clutching her chest like she’d just been hit with divine lightning."The Divine Dragon... awakened?!"

DA-DA-DHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I stood there frozen, my smile cracking. My brain? Blue-screened. Every nerve screamed one word— ’RUN.’

Because the "Divine Dragon" they were talking about...was currently perched on my shoulder, in the form of a smug, fluffy kitten .

Zephyy yawned, stretched, and telepathed lazily.

"Tch... slow humans. I awakened days ago. And now they realize it? Tch tch tch tch..."

I shot him a nervous glare. "Will you stop ’tch-ing,’ Zephyy?! This is not the time to sound like a broken clock!"

Zephyy rolled over and curled into a ball, utterly unbothered. "Wake me when they stop overreacting."

Yeah. Great. The divine being

reincarnated as my shoulder accessory is taking a nap .

Alvar, meanwhile, remained perfectly calm—because of course he did. He stood beside Mother, voice steady and serious.

"Yes, Mother. While we were tracking down the bastard who kidnapped Leif last month, our knights discovered the cave rumored to be the Divine Dragon’s resting place."

He paused.

"When they went inside... it was empty."

The entire room went dead silent. Mother’s eyes widened.

"Empty? Then—then the prophecy—"

Father’s hand tightened on the desk’s edge, his expression grim.

"It means... the Divine Dragon has found its original master."

I froze.Sweat slid down my neck like melting ice.

I awkwardly raised my trembling hand like a nervous student. "Um... may I—may I ask a question?"

Alvar turned to me, his expression softening into that maddeningly gentle smile."Of course, my love."

"Right. So—uh—hypothetically speaking—what happens if the Divine Dragon wakes up?"

Father sank into his chair, his voice low and heavy.

"Leif, if the Divine Dragon has awakened, it means its soul has recognized its true master. The bond is sacred. Which means, by all means possible, we must find that master before anyone else does."

"...Why?" I asked, trying very hard not to glance at the ball of blue fluff on my shoulder.

Alvar stepped closer, his tone solemn but calm."There’s an old legend about the Divine Dragon, Leif. I’ll tell you the short version."

He rested one hand on the desk, the light from the chandelier catching in his eyes.

"Long ago—before the Empire even had a name—there existed a dragon born from the very core of the world. They called it Zephorian , the Eternal Flame. It ruled over storms, light, and life itself. But the dragon was not a beast of destruction—it was a guardian, bound to the soul of the one whose spirit shone the brightest."

Mother whispered, breath trembling, "The Chosen Vessel."

Alvar nodded slowly.

"When the dragon chooses its vessel, its power merges with that person—granting them unmatched strength, wisdom, and divine will. And the legend says—" he paused, gaze flicking toward the window as if the world itself might be listening, "—that whoever becomes the dragon’s chosen vessel is destined to become the Higher Saint ."

Mother said calmly."The Highest Saint of all ages... the one who will guide the empire’s fate."

CRACKLE!!

BOOM!!

A thunderclap split the sky outside as if to punctuate his words.

Alvar’s voice dropped, heavy with reverence.

"The master of the Divine Dragon carries within them the world’s purest energy—too divine for any mortal body to contain. That’s why, Leif... the chosen one is said to walk the line between man and god. A vessel of light—never meant to rule an empire, but to judge it ."

The room went utterly still.

And me?

That’s the exact moment I realized—

I. AM. FUCKING. DOOMED.