Chapter 366- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (05)
But why did the dragon claim they had deceived him?
Previously, the dragon had stated that he wanted the noblest, purest, and kindest person in the kingdom. That was why the king had reluctantly offered up the princess. Could it be that the princess didn’t truly embody these qualities?
For a moment, everyone turned their skeptical gazes toward Bernice.
Bernice gritted her teeth, feeling as though her composed expression was on the verge of crumbling.
Although the dragon had declared that she didn’t need to fulfill the marriage contract, she didn’t feel even a shred of relief. Wasn’t this just a roundabout way of saying that her character was inferior to Norris’s?
What made it worse was that while she had initially felt a mix of fear and discomfort about being chosen by the dragon, there had also been pride and self-importance.
After all, wasn’t she the most noble, beautiful, and virtuous woman in the kingdom? That was why the dragon had chosen her in the first place. And now, the dragon had publicly humiliated her.
Anger simmered in Bernice’s heart as she scanned the murmuring commoners, wishing she could order all their heads chopped off.
Yet, to maintain her image, she had to swallow her fury. Bernice was, after all, only an eighteen-year-old girl, and her composure was already slipping.
Unable to muster the strength to feign concern for her brother, she managed a forced smile at those around her before leaving in haste.
However, on her way back, a sudden thought struck her: the dragon choosing her brother might actually be a good thing. No matter how highly Norris was praised now, he would still be taken away by the dragon.
Living with a non-human being—let alone one as terrifying as a dragon—surely meant his days were numbered. As long as she ensured Gardner didn’t intervene to rescue him, the throne would inevitably become hers.
Thinking of her future as the queen of the kingdom, Bernice’s mood brightened considerably, and her steps became noticeably lighter.
Meanwhile, Norris paid no attention to what Bernice might be thinking. His mind was entirely preoccupied with the dragon’s words of praise conveyed through magic.
Was this how Mu Jin truly saw him?
Pure, kind, brave, loyal…
No one had ever praised him like this before, and Norris felt as if his heart was floating. When he finally came to his senses, he couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. Being publicly praised by the dragon made his face flush with heat, but the dominant emotion was undoubtedly joy.
The dragon hadn’t lied to him—it had truly changed the marriage arrangement and declared its intention to be with him. The thought of becoming Mu Jin’s partner filled Norris with uncontrollable excitement.
However, when he turned and saw the sorrowful expression on his father’s face, guilt crept into his heart. While his family was deeply worried about him, he was secretly rejoicing. Norris felt ashamed of himself for being so selfish and tried to suppress his emotions. Pressing his lips together, he stayed silent and composed.
This unexpected calmness only made the old king feel more heartbroken. He assumed his son was enduring this situation for the sake of the kingdom, displaying a restraint unlike his usual impulsive self by accepting the dragon’s demands. The king blamed the kingdom’s weakness for their inability to resist the dragon’s will.
The thought weighed heavily on him, and he suddenly felt as if he had aged another ten years. His posture slumped, and with a sigh, he slowly walked back toward the palace.
Watching his father’s frail and sorrowful figure ahead of him, Norris’s eyes filled with guilt and love. He couldn’t help but wish for a way to resolve everything—a solution where he wouldn’t have to give up his beloved Mu Jin, yet could also spare his father the heartache.
Lowering his head, Norris followed Owen in silence back to the palace.
After spending a restless and uneventful day, night fell, and Norris lay on his soft bed. His thoughts, however, were consumed by Mu Jin.
For some reason, Mu Jin’s image kept flashing through his mind. What was Mu Jin doing now? Was he in his dragon form or human form? Was he still in that magnificent golden hall?
Norris thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but as his mind wandered with these questions, he unknowingly drifted off.
In his dreams, he found himself once again in that golden palace he had been longing for. However, the surrounding scene was hazy and unclear.
Norris didn’t realize he was dreaming. All he knew was that, for some reason, he was back in the Abyss, standing before the dragon, who had already transformed into his human form.
Mu Jin was still dressed in a silver-white robe, just as in Norris’s memory—petite and adorable. At this moment, he was smiling gently at Norris, his eyes filled with affection that made Norris’s heart race uncontrollably.
Before seeing him, Norris had been consumed with thoughts of Mu Jin, certain he had countless things to say. Yet now, standing face-to-face, he found himself at a loss for words.
The memory of the dragon’s public declaration of love for him earlier that day, along with the many words of praise, kept replaying in his mind, making it impossible for his heart to calm down.
Blushing furiously, Norris held Mu Jin’s gaze, the two of them slowly drawing closer to each other. Mu Jin chuckled softly at his lover’s bashfulness and asked, “Were you happy hearing what I said at the square today?”
Norris nodded lightly, and when he saw the smile on Mu Jin’s face, his heart skipped a beat—twice. Especially when Mu Jin spoke, his soft, dewy lips curved slightly into a pout, almost as if he were asking for a kiss.
Was Mu Jin asking for a kiss? Should he respond? After all, his beloved had just publicly confessed his love for him in front of everyone at the square. Shouldn’t he also take the initiative to do something in return?
The memory of their previous kiss, sweet and fleeting, lingered vividly in Norris’s mind, filling him with longing. He could almost hear the rapid drumming of his heart in his chest.
No, he thought. He was a man, after all. How could he remain so passive in front of the one he loved?
Norris gave himself a little pep talk, then leaned down toward Mu Jin. Closing his eyes, he puckered his lips, preparing to take the initiative and respond to Mu Jin’s kiss. However, just as he struck this pose, he heard a burst of laughter from the person in front of him.
Mu Jin’s laughter interrupted Norris’s attempt, leaving him momentarily stunned. When he opened his eyes, he saw Mu Jin gazing at him with a broad, amused grin. “What are you doing? Were you asking me for a kiss?” Mu Jin teased.
Hearing this, Norris froze, completely dumbfounded. Had he misunderstood? Had he been overly presumptuous?
So, his beloved wasn’t asking for a kiss after all—it had all been in his head. Embarrassment surged through Norris, but it was quickly overtaken by a sense of disappointment. What had he been thinking, puckering his lips like a fool? Now Mu Jin was laughing at him.
Norris’s face flushed bright red as he awkwardly looked away, unable to meet Mu Jin’s gaze. Seeing his lover’s rare display of bashfulness, Mu Jin found the scene amusing but also endearing. It filled him with an irresistible urge to act.
Knowing that teasing Norris further might provoke him to anger, Mu Jin quickly called out, “Norris!” As Norris turned his head, Mu Jin cupped his face with both hands and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
Norris’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, as though it might start emitting steam. The reaction from the shy, inexperienced young man was just too delightful. But instead of being satisfied, it only stirred Mu Jin’s desire to tease him more.
Without thinking, Mu Jin wrapped his arms around Norris’s neck and offered him another kiss. Norris was stunned for a moment, but soon he was caught up in the moment. He even shifted from being passive to taking the lead, kissing Mu Jin so passionately that the latter was left breathless, collapsing into Norris’s embrace.
Holding Mu Jin tightly, Norris felt an overwhelming sense of joy and contentment. The softness of the person in his arms, paired with his warm affection, made his heart feel full. At that moment, he realized how deeply he adored the one in his embrace—whether as a human or a dragon. He even felt a reckless urge to give up everything just to be with Mu Jin.
But as Mu Jin regained his composure, he blinked playfully and asked, “Aren’t you curious how you ended up here?”
Norris was startled by Mu Jin’s words. Only then did he recall that he had been back at the palace, asleep in his bed in the royal chambers. Why, then, had he opened his eyes to find himself once again in the dragon’s palace?
Before he could ask, the person in his arms kindly explained, “That’s because we are in your dream.”
Norris’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t expected such an answer from Mu Jin. The surroundings looked so vivid and realistic that it hadn’t occurred to him this might be a dream.
So, everything that had just happened was a dream? Why was he dreaming about Mu Jin? Perhaps it was because thoughts of him had consumed his mind during the day, leading to dreams of him at night. He must have missed Mu Jin too much during the day, and now his longing carried over into his dreams.
Mu Jin could easily guess what Norris was thinking from the look on his face, and he couldn’t help but find it amusing.
“There’s a type of magic that allows one to enter dreams—it’s a unique skill of us dragons. I missed you, so I came into your dream to see you. What’s wrong? Are you not happy to see me in your dream?”
“Of course I’m happy!” Norris exclaimed in a rush, his tone eager to reassure. Seeing Mu Jin genuinely made him feel overjoyed. He had assumed it would be a while before Mu Jin sent someone to bring him back, allowing them to reunite.
He hadn’t expected to see the one he longed for so soon, even if it was in a dream. How could he not feel utterly delighted?
What’s more, if this was a dream, there were no restrictions on what they could do. He didn’t need to worry about returning to the palace or fulfilling any obligations.
With that thought, Norris visibly relaxed. He looked at Mu Jin and asked, “When I came to the palace earlier, I lost consciousness, and when I woke up, I was back in my royal chambers. Was it you who helped me return?”
When Mu Jin nodded, Norris gave him a sincere smile and said, “Thank you.”