The conversation continued for quite some time.
Noah told Akari everything he knew about Ophelia. Or at least, everything he thought she wanted to hear.
He spoke about Ophelia’s achievements at the academy, her exceptional talent, her strength, and the respect she had earned from others.
Of course he conveniently left out every argument they had ever had. In fact, he found himself exaggerating some of her better qualities.
’I seriously can’t believe I’m praising her this much... If Ophelia ever hears this, she’ll probably become even more arrogant.’
Still seeing the happiness gradually return to Akari’s face, Noah felt it was worth it. He was a man after all. If a beautiful milf- no, a beautiful lady like Akari could smile because of him then he was happy.
Eventually, the conversation shifted.
He carefully brought up Lionel Thornveil.
Or rather. "The former Duke Thornveil," as Noah privately preferred to think of him.
When he finished explaining everything he knew, Akari simply lowered her gaze and nodded.
"So...Lionel remarried."
Her voice remained calm. There wasn’t the slightest trace of surprise. Nor bitterness.
Noah blinked. "...That’s it?"
Akari looked back at him.
He hesitated before asking, "Aren’t you... angry? Or at least a little sad?"
Akari smiled faintly and slowly shook her head.
"No. Our marriage was arranged from the very beginning. It was an alliance between two ducal families. Nothing more."
She spoke without resentment.
Almost as though she were simply recalling an old historical fact.
"Lionel and I respected each other. But...We never truly loved one another as husband and wife should. So...I can’t blame him for choosing to move forward after everyone believed I had died."
She looked toward the garden.
"If anything... I’m relieved he didn’t spend his entire life trapped in the past."
Noah quietly nodded. He wasn’t particularly surprised. Political marriages among great noble houses were common.
Love was often a luxury rather than a requirement. With that topic finished.
Noah finally leaned forward slightly.
"Akari. May I ask you a few questions now?"
Akari, who still wore a gentle smile after hearing about Ophelia, looked at him and nodded.
"Of course.I expected you would."
Her fingertips lightly brushed the blue scales along her neck.
"Especially after seeing... this."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"I imagine my appearance has raised quite a few questions."
Noah nodded honestly.
"There are... several things I’m curious about."
He organized his thoughts before asking the question that bothered him the most.
"How did you end up here? Were you pulled into this place through a labyrinth like I was?"
He paused briefly.
"As far as everyone in the outside world knows....you died during the demon invasion of House Thornveil."
Akari remained silent for several seconds.
Then she slowly shook her head.
"No. I didn’t arrive here the same way you did."
She lowered her gaze.
"It would be more accurate to say...someone brought me here. And trapped me here."
Noah’s pupils contracted.
’Someone...?’
His mind immediately began racing.
’Someone powerful enough to imprison a Duchess... Who could possibly do that?’
Akari continued before he could interrupt.
"I still don’t know why the demons attacked House Thornveil. It made no sense. The residence of a Duke is one of the most heavily defended places in the Empire. For demons to launch such an assault...was both incredibly reckless and unbelievably daring."
Her eyes gradually darkened as old memories resurfaced.
"But...They weren’t ordinary demons. They were among the highest-ranking demons I had ever encountered. Their strength exceeded anything we had anticipated."
She slowly clenched one hand.
"Even Lionel, his father and I who were strongest...struggled against them."
A brief silence followed.
"In the end...I managed to kill one of them. But the battle pushed me beyond my limits."
Her fingers gently traced the sapphire-blue scales on her neck.
"It was during that fight...that my bloodline awakened."
Noah instinctively looked toward the scales.
"...A bloodline? What kind of bloodline?"
Akari stared quietly into the distance.
When she finally answered. Her voice was calm. Yet carried unmistakable pride.
"The bloodline of a dragon."
She paused.
"A Storm Dragon. A dragon that governs lightning and storms."
Noah’s brain stopped functioning for several seconds.
’D-Dragon...? What the hell?!’
He stared at her in complete disbelief.
"W-Wait! So...Does that mean... You’re actually a dragon now? Not a human?"
Akari couldn’t help smiling at his reaction. She softly shook her head.
"No. Not entirely. My bloodline only awakened partially. I’m still fundamentally human. The dragon blood merely transformed parts of my body."
She touched the scales on her neck once more.
"I’ve spent the last sixty years training. Learning to control its power. And attempting to awaken it completely."
A quiet determination appeared in her eyes.
"I believe... I’m very close."
Noah slowly pieced everything together.
Then another memory surfaced. The storm. The rain. The terrifying silhouette hidden among the thunderclouds.
His eyes widened.
"...Wait. Last night’s storm..."
He pointed outside.
"Don’t tell me..."
Akari gave him an apologetic smile.
"...Yes. I created it."
She lowered her head slightly.
"I’m sorry. My training caused you unnecessary trouble."
Noah’s jaw slowly dropped. He remembered the violent winds that had shaken the forest.
The endless lightning. The massive tornado that stretched into the heavens.
And those enormous glowing blue eyes watching him from within the clouds.
He swallowed hard.
"...Then...The gigantic shadow I saw inside the storm....was that also you?"
Akari nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
A faint smile appeared on her face. "That...was my dragon form which I am still struggling to use perfectly."
The room fell silent.
Noah simply stared at her. His mind replayed the image from the previous night. The colossal silhouette hidden within the storm clouds. The brilliant lightning illuminating eyes.
Those enormous glowing eyes. A chill ran down his spine.
’So... I spent the entire night only a few kilometers away from a dragon... No wonder that storm felt like the end of the world. But now I am sitting beside the same dragon.’
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