<Chapter 34>

In most conventional relationships, the woman would be the one people worry about.

But Viretta Medleridge was anything but conventional.

She was the kind of person who, upon meeting someone for the first time, would propose a dragon-hunting expedition. Normal concerns had no place in her world.

Thus, Lanken’s words, while earnest, didn’t faze her. However, she was left dissatisfied with the exchange. Puffing out her cheeks slightly, she pouted.

“Aren’t you worried about me? What if Iola tries something?”

“That’d be a win for you. You wouldn’t resist anyway.”

“What are you saying?! Do you think so little of me? We’re an unmarried couple! I’d at least pretend to resist.”

“Goodnight. If anything happens, ring the bell.”

Lanken shrugged at Viretta’s flustered outburst, leaving one last word of caution—for Iola—and then exited like a storm, leaving only traces of his presence behind.

Once Lanken’s whirlwind departure left the room in peace, Iola, still lying on the bed, let out a quiet laugh.

“Lanken sure says amusing things.”

“Y-yes, haha. He’s quite the friend who takes jokes too far.”

“You’re lucky to have such a close escort. By the end of this journey, I hope to grow closer to him.”

Speaking warmly, Iola rested his head on the pillow, pulling the blanket up to his shoulders and letting out a contented sigh.

Seeing Iola settle in so naturally, Viretta’s still-flushed cheeks deepened in color as a new wave of fluster overtook her.

“Are you really going to sleep already?”

Iola nodded, lifting the blanket slightly as if inviting her to join. His casual gesture left Viretta stomping her feet in frustration.

“Right there? Together? Seriously?”

While they’d slept near each other before—on the back of a carriage or around a campfire—this was the first time they’d share a bed. And in a room so deliberately designed to set the mood, lying next to him felt like an entirely different matter.

Watching her bounce nervously, Iola gave her a gentle smile.

“Are you feeling a bit uncomfortable? Don’t worry. We’re engaged, after all. It’s not like this will start any bad rumors.”

“Yes, we’re engaged, but aren’t we planning to break it off?”

“That’s the plan—but only after we’ve slain the dragon.”

Something about that response struck a chord in Viretta’s mind.

Her flushed face gradually regained its natural tone as a cool sensation crept over her. Slowly, she began retracing her thoughts, piecing together the discomfort she felt until a possibility surfaced.

She took a deep breath and carefully sat down beside Iola, folding her hands in her lap.

“Iola… do you not believe we’ll actually break off the engagement?”

“…”

Silence filled the room. Iola closed his eyes briefly, as though weighing his words, before opening them and responding with a calm voice.

“I trust your intentions, Viretta.”

“But you can’t imagine a future where we’re no longer engaged, can you?”

Again, Iola gave her a serene smile.

That reaction confirmed her suspicions.

Speaking the thought aloud solidified what had been a vague concern lingering in her heart.

Iola’s demeanor often gave off a sense of detachment. When trust is betrayed, people naturally react—shock, anger, or sadness. But Iola exhibited none of those emotions.

When truths were revealed, or when the foundations of his knowledge crumbled, Iola didn’t seem rattled in the slightest.

It wasn’t the reaction of someone naive or unworldly. If anything, it bordered on indifference.

Though outwardly trusting and respectful, his subsequent reactions carried a subtle dissonance.

Iola’s expression grew thoughtful, his smile becoming one of mild discomfort.

“…If we’re being objective, then yes, you could say that. No one can ever be certain of how things will end.”

Even so, he admitted the truth candidly.

“I will slay the dragon.”

“Yes. I believe in your determination, Viretta. But that’s your perspective and your decision.”

Iola gently reached for her hand, holding it cautiously.

“Whether I believe in the outcome… well, that’s something else.”

“But you just said you trust me.”

“How could I possibly know the conclusion? I trust in what you say, but that doesn’t mean I take every word as an absolute truth. I believe it’s possible.”

His words were complicated. Viretta couldn’t grasp the full meaning immediately, and it frustrated her.

She had thought Iola truly believed in her, but now it felt like his trust wasn’t as solid as she’d imagined.

Only one thing needed clarification.

“Do you think it’s impossible for me to slay the dragon?”

“No.”

His answer was firm. That alone comforted Viretta, keeping her from breaking into tears.

That was enough. If he believed in her ability to slay the dragon, she couldn’t fault him. Differences in the finer details were understandable.

“With someone as bold as you, Viretta, it’s possible to slay a dragon. However…”

Still lying down, Iola paused, his lips pressing together momentarily before speaking again.

“However, the likelihood of failure is much higher. I assumed you knew that.”

“I do. The chances of failure are high. But unlike ordinary people who let that stop them, I’m different.”

Viretta believed in her success.

Even if something began as boastful words, once they left her lips, they became a truth—a prophecy she was determined to fulfill.

It was simply her nature. Viretta had an uncanny ability to believe in the impossible.

Because, after all, it wasn’t impossible.

If there was even the smallest chance, believing in it was only natural.

In other words, even knowing failure was probable, Viretta was the type to bet everything on success.

People who lose their fortunes at gambling often think the same way. “This time, I’ll win that 0.03%!” they tell themselves, placing all their money on the line.

“I don’t understand you, Iola. I thought you always trusted others.”

“I do.”

He spoke softly.

“I do trust. I believe in everything. That’s the choice I’ve made. I… yes.”

In contrast, Iola was the type who predicted failure but couldn’t abandon hope.

Like someone buying a lottery ticket, fully aware that 99 out of 100 times it wouldn’t work, yet unable to let go of that slim chance of success.

Iola’s faith worked like that.

The unique thing about him was that he genuinely believed every word he heard.

To him, every statement sparkled with the possibility of being true.

“This might sound strange. Since the opportunity has presented itself, let me share my story. You are my fiancée, after all, and you have a right to know.”

Sitting up against the headboard, Iola gently guided Viretta to join him.

While lying together was too much, refusing to sit beside him felt unnecessarily harsh. Viretta climbed onto the bed, sitting next to him. Pulling the blanket up to her knees and leaving only the bedside lamp on, the atmosphere turned calm and intimate.

“First, I should explain how I came to be engaged to you.”

“Wait, don’t tell me—”

Love?

Intrigue?

Conspiracy?

Her heart raced at the enticing introduction. Iola’s serious expression sent her mind into a whirl.

“I was originally destined to marry into one of the noble families of Saha.”

Of course. Nothing about Iola ever came easy.

It seemed inevitable that his story would circle back to their engagement being an accident. Yet his tender touch on her hand stirred her heart, submerging her unease.

“My name is Iola Jin, son of the Jin family. We hail from Najin, the mercenary city of Saha.”

In the dim light, Iola began his tale.

“When my father, leader of the Dusk Mercenary Corps, met my noble mother, their union was celebrated. Everyone anticipated their child would be remarkable.”

In the flickering lamplight, Iola’s expression carried a tinge of melancholy. Viretta instinctively reached out, as if to soothe his sorrow.

“And for a time, I fulfilled those expectations. I was born of noble lineage, excelled as a warrior, and, though it feels immodest to say, possessed a fair amount of intellect.”

“That much is obvious.”

Even from their brief time together, Viretta had no doubts about his exceptional abilities.

“The great nobles of Saha sought to make me their son-in-law and heir. At that time, no one could have imagined I’d enter into an arranged marriage with the second daughter of a merchant family from a foreign land.”