I brought Flora straight back to the duke’s estate.
The room I had prepared for her was filled entirely with red roses.
The intricately carved rose vines on the walls seemed to writhe, and outside the window, a rose garden in full bloom exuded a rich, sweet fragrance.
This place was a small world made just for her.
Her own prison, and her own palace.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
My voice echoed through the room.
Holding Flora’s hand tightly, I sat on her lap, gazing at the rose garden as I continued speaking.
“This place was prepared for you. From now on, we will be together here, forever.”
The way my eyes reflected in hers burned like flames, and a smile laced with possessiveness lingered on my lips.
Every emotion within me was tangled up in her, clinging desperately.
“…Peridot.”
The way she called my name sounded sweet and lovely.
My heart pounded even faster at the voice I had always longed for.
“All of this… is it really for me?”
Her gaze slowly traced my face—my eyes, nose, lips, and down to my neck.
Every glance overwhelmed me, squeezing my heart tighter.
“Yes, everything is for you.”
I whispered softly, bringing her hand to my cheek.
Her touch was warm and gentle.
It was the warmth I had always craved.
“This collar…”
She spoke with a faint smile.
I gently ran my fingers over the white leather collar around my neck.
“The magic you placed on it has faded, but I kept wearing it, always thinking of you.”
Locking eyes with her deep violet irises, I whispered in a low voice.
“I can’t live without you. And if I can’t have all of you… I won’t be able to bear it.”
Smiling brightly, I stood up, opened a drawer, and took out a collar tinged with a crimson glow.
It was a one-of-a-kind collar, crafted from platinum.
A cold yet intense red light shimmered faintly from it.
“Will you accept it?”
My gaze shifted to her neck.
The cold metal of the collar felt chilling against my fingertips.
Flora’s eyes wavered slightly.
Her lips curled into a smile—cold, yet laced with a strange heat.
“You always manage to surprise me, Peridot.”
She slowly leaned in, her eyes fixed on the collar in my hands.
And then, her voice, carrying an unfamiliar tremor, asked—
“…Is that truly how you feel?”
I nodded.
There was no need to hide it.
My blind love and obsession for her had already consumed me, and by now, they had become the very purpose of my existence.
“I want all of you to be mine.”
Flora gazed at me in silence for a moment.
Her deepening eyes seemed to be contemplating the meaning of the red collar in my hand.
Then, slowly, she leaned in toward me.
“If that is what you desire, I will gladly accept it.”
As her fingers brushed against the back of my hand, a warmth spread through my entire body.
Unable to suppress the overwhelming emotions, I smiled.
“If you intend to bind me…”
Her breath caressed my ear.
“…Then I will entangle you even more deeply.”
We stared at each other’s lips.
No more words were needed.
We kissed, claiming each other as much as we desired.
Without breaking our kiss, I carefully fastened the collar around her neck.
The moment the cold metal touched her pale skin, a sharp sound resonated.
The collar clicked into place so perfectly that no seam was visible.
When the kiss ended, a transparent thread stretched between us—
a bond as thick as the connection we shared.
Flora slowly pushed me onto the bed.
Her eyes burned like flames, and a subtle smile curled on her lips.
“You belong to me as well.”
Her hand gently traced the white collar wrapped around my neck.
Her warm touch slid down my throat, leaving behind an oddly sharp sensation.
At that moment, I realized—
the broken enchantment of the collar had been restored.
In the past, I wouldn’t have noticed.
But after using the Dragonheart, my sensitivity to magic had heightened, making it unmistakably clear.
Flora ran her fingertips over the red collar around her neck, smiling as if she were proud.
Now, both of us wore shackles that bound us to each other.
A fate built upon possession and obsession—one that could never be severed.
Her lips tickled my neck.
“I love this collar. And the white one you’re wearing, too.”
Her touch grew bolder, her delicate fingers slowly tracing down my collarbone.
“Now, we belong to each other forever, Peridot.”
Flora’s whisper in my ear was laced with deep desire and madness.
Every time her warm breath touched my skin, my heart pounded wildly.
But just then—
A knock shattered the stillness of the room.
The strange, intimate atmosphere between us instantly dissipated.
I couldn’t hide my irritation as I responded in a low, dry voice.
“Who is it?”
From beyond the door came a familiar voice—the butler’s.
“Your Grace, the Sage has come to see you.”
The moment I heard the Sage’s name, I forcibly suppressed the frustration of being interrupted and adjusted my clothes.
Though my mood was soured, I knew I still needed the Sage’s help in the future.
Just as I was about to rise from my seat, Flora approached, handed me my staff, and firmly grasped my hand.
In a hushed voice, she whispered to me—
“To interrupt at a time like this… truly, how tactless.”
Her words carried a sharp edge, and I responded by pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.
“I’ll be back soon. Just wait for me a little while.”
As I opened the parlor door, a familiar face appeared, as if he had been waiting.
A wrinkled face, a long white beard that reached down to his knees—
the Sage smirked knowingly the moment he saw me.
“It seems I’ve interrupted at a rather inopportune moment.”
His gaze swept over me, lingering on the faint red marks imprinted on my collarbone.
The instant I felt his eyes on me, rather than embarrassment, a strange sense of satisfaction welled up first.
I caught myself smirking and quickly adjusted my expression.
“My, my, you’ve fallen completely, haven’t you?”
The Sage scoffed.
“So that’s why you’re even wearing such a lecherous thing.”
His eyes flicked to the collar around my neck, his tone dripping with amusement.
I took a short breath, ignoring his jab, and instead asked firmly—
“What do you want?”
The Sage shrugged, his sly smile never fading.
“Aren’t you the least bit curious about the heart coiled inside your chest? From the looks of it, you’ve been using it recklessly—even drinking poison to push it to its limits.”
The moment he spoke, a forgotten unease resurfaced in my mind.
Memories of the past three days—fighting on the battlefield without sleep or food—flashed vividly.
The Sage chuckled and continued.
“So, I came to check on you myself. If I left you alone, you’d be so distracted by that young lady that you’d never show your face again.”
With that, the Sage stepped forward and reached for my chest.
But just as his hand neared—
The door burst open.
Flora rushed inside, her breath ragged.
Without hesitation, she threw her arms around me, glaring at the Sage with icy sharpness.
“What do you think you’re doing to Peridot?”
Her voice was cold and resolute, her violet eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.
The Sage, amused by her reaction, let out a low chuckle.
“The magic in that collar… Eavesdropping, surveillance… you’ve crafted quite the impressive piece. In this area, you might even surpass me.”
His teasing words only made Flora’s gaze grow even sharper.
I gently stroked her back, trying to calm her.
“It’s all right, Flora.”
The moment I leaned into her warm embrace, the lingering anxiety within me began to fade.
But the Sage was right—I needed to check my condition.
“I’m really fine. Just wait a little.”
Reluctantly, Flora stepped aside, but she did not take her wary eyes off the Sage.
The Sage paused in front of me and traced a magical sigil in the air.
The energy flowing from his fingertips slithered through my veins like a sharp, invasive blade—deeply unpleasant.
Flora, watching from the side, failed to hide her displeasure but remained silent.
A moment later, the Sage let out a sharp laugh.
“Well, well. You’re not even a half-elf anymore. At this point, you’re barely human!”
Flora’s expression twisted in shock.
“What the hell are you talking about, old man?”
Still grinning, the Sage explained,
“For some reason, your body has become closer to that of a dragon. At this rate, you might as well be a polymorphed dragon yourself.”
His words were laced with sarcasm, but I couldn’t fully comprehend what he meant.
Transplanting a Dragonheart—
could that really turn a person into a dragon?
It made no sense.
Yet the Sage spoke with certainty.
“Well, whatever the case, it doesn’t seem like you’re going to die. That’s the good news. Though, if the mages in the Tower find out about this, they’ll be all over you.”
With that, the Sage rose from his seat, leaving the parlor as if he had lost interest.
Watching him go, I thought to myself—that was just like him.