I'm Not Your Husband, You Evil Dragon!-Chapter 34: "The Ring That Held Her Heart"

We left the academy in silence.

Elena was the only one who made a sound, snoring softly in the back seat, her tiny head resting against the window, the remnants of a sugar rush still visible on her lips.

I glanced at Erza in the passenger seat. She stared straight ahead, her face blank, fingers absently twisting the fabric of her dress.

I'd seen Erza angry. I'd seen her smug, teasing, even genuinely amused (once, when I slipped on a wet floor and nearly took down a whole stack of groceries).

But this... this silence felt different. It felt like she was holding her breath, afraid that if she let go, something inside her would crack.

We pulled into the apartment parking lot. I gently lifted Elena from the car, her warm little body a comforting weight against my chest.

She stirred, muttering something about "spinny noodles" before nuzzling into my shoulder.

I carried her up, laid her in bed, and pulled the covers up to her chin. She let out a tiny sigh, gripping her plush lizard, Blazy, before slipping back into her dreams.

When I returned to the living room, I found Erza standing by the balcony, her arms resting on the rail, eyes lost in the sprawling city lights below.

The cool breeze rustled her hair, framing her face in a way that made her look almost fragile—an odd contrast to the fierce warrior I knew.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching her for a moment.

"Long day, huh?" I finally said, trying to keep my tone light.

She didn't respond, just kept staring out into the distance. I could see her fingers gripping the cold metal a little too tightly, her shoulders stiff, like she was bracing herself against something I couldn't see.

"You know, you can talk to me, right?" I tried again, softer this time.

Still nothing.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. If there's one thing I've learned about Erza, it's that you can't force her to open up. She's like a dragon—proud, fierce, and stubborn. But even the mightiest dragon has a weak spot.

Then an idea hit me.

I pulled out my phone and quickly ordered a few drinks bottles. Something strong, the kind that hits hard and fast, stripping away the walls people so carefully build. I figured if I couldn't break through her defenses with words, maybe a little liquid courage could.

While waiting, I whipped up a quick snack—an omelette with a bit of cheese and some crispy chips. Nothing fancy, just something to keep the mood from slipping into complete darkness.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. The delivery guy, bless his speed, handed me the bottles, and I quietly set them on the small table beside the balcony. I poured two glasses, the rich, dark liquid catching the light as I set one in front of her.

"Wanna have a drink?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

She didn't move at first, just kept staring at the skyline, her hair swaying gently in the cool night air. But then, without a word, she reached for the glass and downed it in one go.

I blinked. "Uh... wow. Okay. That's one way to start."

Erza sat on the couch, quietly drinking.

One sip turned into two, then three—until she was downing the bottle like a soldier returning from a lost war.

The soft clinking of glass against her teeth cut through the room's silence. She wasn't drinking for the taste or the buzz. No, she was drinking to forget.

I watched her for a moment, the tension in her shoulders, the way her jaw tightened with each gulp.

This wasn't the fierce, unbreakable queen I knew. This was a woman unraveling, thread by painful thread.

Finally, after her second bottle, she broke the silence.

"You know, mortal...?"

Her voice was slurred, soft and unsteady. The alcohol dulled her tone, but not the weight behind her words.

"The first day you came into my chamber..." She paused, hiccuping, "I was this close to killing you."

I blinked, unsure if I should laugh or be scared.

"But then..." she trailed off, staring at the glass. "You... you slept with me."

I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "That time... it was a mistake."

"No," she said, shaking her head with drunken sincerity. "I actually liked it. For the first time in a decade... I felt something. Warmth. Comfort. Something real, love."

Her eyes softened, almost glowing from the memories.

"After we slept, I fell asleep in your arms... like a child in a lullaby. It felt so peaceful and safe."

I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the cracks in her armor—the loneliness, the fear, the longing.

"But then..." Her expression darkened, and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. "You disappeared without telling me a single word."

Her voice broke, and I felt a sharp pang in my chest.

"I searched the entire castle. I searched the oceans. The skies. Even space... but I couldn't find you. Not a trace. I thought I'd lost it—lost you, and the only feeling that ever mattered."

She wiped her eyes roughly, trying to smile through the pain, but it came out twisted and sad.

"But I found you again. And I came to you. I didn't care about the consequences... I just wanted to feel that warmth again and love."

I reached out, hesitating for a moment before gently resting my hand on her shoulder. "I'm happy you found me too."

She sniffled, leaning into my touch. "I love you, Yuuta. I love being with you."

My heart twisted. This was the same woman who'd once stood over me, blade to my throat, eyes cold as winter steel. But now, she clung to my touch like a lifeline.

"But I'm afraid..." she whispered, her eyes brimming with fresh tears. "I'm afraid I'll lose all of this. I don't want to lose you. Or Elena. I want to stay with you, like this... forever."

Without thinking, I pulled her into a tight hug, feeling her body tremble against mine.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to leave you again."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Promise me?"

I nodded, my chin brushing her hair. "Promise. After all... family sticks together."

"Family sticks together, Erza."

The moment those words left my mouth, her eyes widened. Her lips trembled—then, without warning, she broke into tears.

For a moment, her grip on my shirt tightened, her breaths shaky. Then, suddenly, she broke again. Tears streamed down her face, soaking my shoulder.

"Yuuta... please," she said, her voice shaking. "Yuuta, help me..."

I stiffened. I'd never heard her sound so broken.

"What happened?" I whispered, leaning back to meet her tear-streaked gaze.

It seems like she is finally going to say, why she was distracted.

She clutched my shirt tighter, her voice cracking.

"The Vice Headmaster... he took my ring."

"What?"

"My ring. The only treasure my mother gave me." Her voice broke into sobs. "He took it from me."

I felt my chest tighten. "Erza... tell me everything. Start from the beginning."

She nodded slowly, struggling to find her breath, her fingers still twisted in my shirt like a scared child.

"I've always felt like a burden... ever since I came to this world." That's why I want to help you even it's little.

"No," I said firmly, holding her tighter. "You're not a burden. I've enjoyed every second with you."

She tried to smile, but it broke halfway.

"Zeke... the Vice Headmaster. He said Elena was rejected from the academy. That's why.... hiccup .....the Headmaster didn't ask any questions. I didn't believe him at first... but then

he said, 'It doesn't matter what you believe. The truth won't change.'"

My fists clenched, a dangerous heat building in my chest.

"I saw how happy you were when Elena got in... so I asked him for help. I begged him. And he said... if I gave him my ring... he'd secure her a seat. I... I didn't have any other option. I looked at you and Elena, and I gave it to him."

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"But later... I regretted it. That ring was my only treasure from my mother."

She broke down completely, sobbing in my arms like a lost child. The alcohol had stripped away her pride and power, revealing someone vulnerable—someone innocent.

I held her tightly, whispering softly, "It's okay... I'm here now."

She fell asleep in my arms, still clutching my shirt like a lifeline.

And me?

My blood was boiling.

Zeke... you greedy bastard, you use dirty move.

You made my wife cry.

I don't care what position you hold. novelbuddy.cσ๓

You made her feel small. You stole her light, her ring.

No matter what it takes—

I'll make you pay.

Just you wait.

To be continued...

[End of Chapter].