The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 9 Part 2
If Rahil’s condition had only 2–4% magic mixed in, Anais had a much higher amount—around 16%. Thus, the effect wasn’t strictly limited to Rahil—altering the target was feasible.
For Anais, the idea was horrifying. The thought of feeling something for another against her will wasn’t a blessing—it was a nightmare. As Emilio noticed the fear on Anais’s face, he frantically continued explaining.
“I mean, it’s possible, but even for a dragon, it wouldn’t be easy to accomplish! Because divine power is mixed in. I’d need the help from the high priest too, but…”
To alter it so Anais would feel that way toward someone other than Rahil, they’d need the temple’s help. There would be no priest or priestess who’d grant such a request, especially fearing the emperor’s wrath. Probably. Unless, of course, they were kidnapped and coerced by a dragon.
Anais likely had the same thought. At the very least, if the priests were involved, it would buy them some time. Still, with unease lingering on her face, Anais looked at Rahil.
“That won’t happen. Because that dragon…”
I’ll make sure to kill him.
* * *
Kirthalos was thinking about Radiel. She was a woman whose only remarkable feature was her long black hair. Why did I fall in love with her? He couldn’t even recall why he had spared her life and brought her to his lair in the first place.
‘She said she was growing her hair to sell it.’
He didn’t fully understand, but it seemed humans bought and sold such things. It was a peculiar part of human culture, one Kirthalos neither needed to know nor cared to understand.
He had transformed into a dazzlingly handsome human male to seduce her, but after her initial confusion, she wasn’t swayed.
Yes, she wasn’t swayed.
No matter how many forms he took or how sweetly he whispered, she merely watched him with calm, unwavering eyes.
She had a strange resignation and a peculiar pride. No matter how hard he tried to break her down, she wouldn’t crumble. It was this mysterious, unyielding pride that ultimately allowed her to endure.
Kirthalos finally remembered why he had kidnapped her in the first place. It was her gaze. Her eyes as she looked at him had captivated him. Among her otherwise unremarkable features, that was the one thing that lingered in his mind.
“Anais.”
Could she really be Radiel? Magic claimed that she was, but Kirtharos now found himself uncertain.
It was the goddess who had taken Radiel’s soul when she died of illness. When she discovered traces of dragon magic lingering in Radiel’s spirit, the goddess had glared fiercely at Kirthalos.
The gods had decided among themselves not to interfere in human affairs anymore—at least not directly. This was a rule that had changed when a new ruler took over the heavens.
Because of this, the dragons had thought the world would eventually become theirs. But the cunning gods had given humans even greater weapons, allowing them to stand against dragons.
And so, in the current era, the strongest being in the world could very well be a human, not a dragon. Faced with that accursed reality, Kirtharos couldn’t even muster a bitter laugh.
To think a mere human’s sword aura could pierce his skin! The blood he had shed had defiled the palace he had built for his beloved Radiel, and now he was even left homeless, reduced to a fugitive.
Was the goddess involved?
Kirthalos wasn’t sure. Radiel wasn’t someone significant enough to influence the fate of the world, nor did she possess any special powers.
Even so, the goddess had descended to personally collect her soul. Moreover, when she took Radiel away, she became enraged upon seeing the traces Kirthalos had left.
“Anais…”
He murmured the name, still unfamiliar on his lips, unlike the name Radiel. Her face wasn’t similar, and her name was entirely different, but the way she looked at him reminded him of Radiel.
Are they the same? Or not? Is she her?
He was confused, but he had waited too long—far too long. Now he knew what loneliness was. Dragons, by nature, weren’t beings that could originally feel such emotions.
‘Even if she’s not Radiel, it doesn’t matter.’
What was important was that he wanted her. He didn’t want to wait any longer. Even if she wasn’t Radiel, Anais was similar to her. The differences could be adjusted by making Anais conform.
After all, he couldn’t clearly distinguish humans. The only human he could recognize was Radiel. He wondered if he’d be able to distinguish this woman named Anais as well.
When Radiel died, it was painful, but his emotion was closer to anger than sadness. After all, he had failed to keep her.
She had been confined by him, but she didn’t remain the shining jewel he had hoped to possess. What he possessed at that time was, something akin to a gemstone that had lost its luster, occasionally shining at unexpected moments.
“Radiel… Anais…”
He recalled how he had captured her gaze and, for a very brief moment, held her in his palm. Her blue eyes blue eyes seemed reminiscent of Radiel’s.
He didn’t pull her forcefully, fearing she might wake from the dream. Seeing her open her eyes and scream might incite a desire to kill her.
“…The Duke will see you now.”
A butler, who had the audacity to make him wait in a guest lounge, delivered the message. Kirthalos lifted his indifferent eyes to the butler and stood up.
His wounds weren’t healed enough for him to be moving around, but he was impatient. He desperately wanted to hold Anais, who reminded him of Radiel, in his arms.
‘I wonder what scent she has.’
“Very well.”
With a cold expression, he followed the butler. While his attendant followed behind him with a blank face.
***
