THDG Chapter 2: Facing a Crisis as a “Married Couple”

“Dragon God-sama, where would you like your dinner to be served?” the head butler asked.

The ground was already cloaked in night.

The untouched sandwiches from lunch had been cleared away, yet the Dragon still sat atop the stepladder. His book hadn’t progressed even a single page.

“Tonight’s menu is a lavish special course, in honor of your wedding anniversary.”

“I see.”

The Dragon answered indifferently, though deep down, he was so delighted that he wanted to clap the butler on the back in appreciation.

“In that case, having it brought all the way here would be a hassle. I’ll go to the dining hall.”

“Thank you very much.”

Placing a bookmark in his book and leaving it on the stepladder, the Dragon made his way to the dining hall.

Perhaps sensing the occasion, the servants had prepared a small, two-person table instead of the usual long dining table. A white tablecloth draped over it, with winter-blooming yellow roses elegantly arranged in the center.

Elliot was already seated.

Noticing the Dragon’s arrival, he stood up and gestured toward the seat across from him. “Please, have a seat.”

But there was something awkward about his expression.

Come to think of it, Elliot had gone out somewhere in a carriage that afternoon. He had seemed normal when he visited the library earlier—had something happened after that?

The Dragon kept his suspicions off his face but pondered the possibilities.

“Today marks one year since we were married. Once again, thank you for marrying me.”

“Ah.”

As soon as the hors d’oeuvres arrived, Elliot lowered his head formally. The Dragon gave a curt reply.

“And… I…”

“…?”

“—No, never mind. It’s nothing.”

Elliot mumbled something, then shook his head.

It was unusual for someone like him, who always spoke his mind, to hold back.

—What was he about to say?

Even as a Dragon, when in human form, he required food for nourishment. His sense of taste functioned just like a human’s.

But tonight, no matter what he ate, everything was flavorless.

—On our wedding anniversary, of all days. What is this? Could it be…

The sound of his fork tapping against the plate rang sharply.

The book he had been reading earlier was about an aristocratic woman who, despite being married, fell into an affair with a younger man.

If such things happened even in human marriages…

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The fork clattered repeatedly against the plate.

—Then it wouldn’t be strange if the man who married a Dragon took a lover as well…!?

Or perhaps he already had one.

Not just a lover—maybe even a potential mistress.

Given Elliot’s serious nature, he was probably agonizing over whether to actually go through with an affair.

Is that it?

Elliot (26) glanced at the Dragon as if wanting to say something, then averted his eyes.

Seeing Elliot like this, the Dragon (421) maintained his composed exterior while internally spiraling into panic.

The head butler (63) attempted to ease the awkward atmosphere but failed miserably.

Dinner ended under a suffocating tension.

As Elliot stood up after barely touching his post-meal coffee, the Dragon murmured in a voice only he could hear,

“Do as you please.”

“Eh—”

“I understand. I must not be able to give you what you truly desire, can I?”

Despite living under the same roof, his husband had never once made a move on him.

If he had really thought it through, the answer was obvious.

Elliot must have had no desire to embrace a dragon in human form.

Especially when that form was male.

He had only married the Dragon for the power to protect his people. That was all.

It had never been out of affection.

If his husband had never visited the bed he shared with a waiting Dragon—

who could blame him?

“Until the Demon Beast King is resurrected, this marriage cannot be dissolved. That much is clear.”

“…That’s true, but—”

“Then, take a lover. It would be better for you.”

“Dragon God-sama!? Why would you say such a thing—”

“Because you never came to me!”

The Dragon’s voice rose despite himself.

Elliot blinked in confusion.

“…Came where?”

“…You know exactly what I mean.”

“…?”

“Not once. Not a single time have we shared a bed.”

“Ah…”

“It’s fine. I understand. You could never bring yourself to touch a man who is truly a dragon. That’s why—find a lover.”

“—You’re wrong.”

Elliot spoke slowly, as if to convince him.

He stepped closer and placed a hand on the Dragon’s shoulder, looking him straight in the eyes with quiet insistence.

“You’re wrong, Dragon God-sama. I… I want to be with you too.”

“Stop it. You don’t have to be considerate of me.”

Elliot hesitated.

He briefly averted his gaze, but then, as if steeling himself, he looked back and spoke.

“Please, believe me.”

“It would be faster to show you than to explain.”

Elliot took a deep breath.

“Dragon God-sama… would you come to my room tonight?”

“A-Ah…”

It was the invitation he had been waiting for.

Yet, for some reason, the Dragon couldn’t bring himself to feel overjoyed.

Still, he meticulously bathed, carefully groomed his hair, and considered his attire.

Wearing a nightgown would seem far too expectant, so he settled for his usual look—a shirt and slacks.

That night, he stared into the mirror more than he ever had since descending to the human world, repeatedly checking to make sure he wore an expression of complete indifference before finally heading to Elliot’s chambers.

Elliot sat alone at the edge of his large bed.

The only light came from the lamp on his bedside table.

“Come, sit,” he said, still not looking at the Dragon.

The Dragon shut the door firmly behind him and wordlessly sat beside Elliot.

Though the Dragon was tall, Elliot was even more well-built—at least half a head taller, with a noticeably broader frame.

“…So?”

Since Elliot remained silent, the Dragon prompted him.

“Why did you call me here?”

Elliot, looking like a reprimanded child, kept his gaze lowered.

“I wanted you to believe me.”

“Believe what?”

“That the reason I never came to you wasn’t because I didn’t want to be with you, but because of this—”

He reached for his belt.

“First, promise me one thing,” he said, unfastening the buckle.

“You don’t have to accept me. But… no matter what you see, please don’t hate me.”

“Do not underestimate me.”

The Dragon wasn’t entirely sure what Elliot was trying to say, but upon seeing the anxiety on his face, he spoke firmly.

“I will never hate you, and I will always accept you. …My heart was set the moment you told me you wanted to be my mate.”

“Dragon God-sama…”

Elliot murmured, seemingly moved.

With that, he unfastened his pants and retrieved it from his underwear.

The Dragon froze.

It was far larger than he had anticipated. No, it was enormous.

—It’s…

　　　　　　　　　　　…huge.

The Dragon was at a loss for words. Before him was something that could only be described as huge.

“Dragon God-sama…?” Elliot called out hesitantly, bringing the Dragon back to his senses.

“I apologize. This must be unpleasant for you.”

“That’s… not… the case… but…”

But it was big. Unreasonably big. So big that he didn’t even know where to look.

Elliot was saying something—“Because of this, I have never had any experience…”—but the Dragon could barely register the words over the sheer size of it.

“When I was a child, I once bathed in a communal bath with a girl from my village. She saw between my legs and started crying, saying, ‘There’s a monster between Elio’s legs!’ That experience left me traumatized, and I became hesitant about… these things.

“My comrades would tease me for being too serious, saying I should loosen up before defeating the Demon Beast King. They once dragged me to a brothel, but there, too, I was rejected. They said it was too big, that there was no way it would fit, and even gave me my money back before kicking me out.

“Even women who had worked in that trade for years refused me. If even they turned me away, how could I possibly show this to you, Dragon God-sama?”

The Dragon had not been listening to most of that, but the words “Dragon God-sama” snapped him back. He lifted his head.

“Ah, no, I see… Is this… normal for humans?”

“…No, I seem to be an outlier.”

“I see…”

“…………”

“…………”

“…Doesn’t it get in the way? In your undergarments?”

“Well, I have custom-made ones.”

“I see…”

“…………”

“…………”

An awkward silence filled the room.

Elliot glanced at the Dragon, who remained frozen in place, then quietly put it away.

“I apologize for showing you something so unsightly.”

“No—why?”

“For the past year, I have wanted to hold you. But if I recklessly pursued it, I would only end up hurting you. That is the last thing I want.”

“Elliot…”

“So please, just forget about this—”

The Dragon grabbed Elliot’s arm.

“Wait. Have you already forgotten what I said?”

Even after four hundred years of life, he had never anticipated this situation. But now, there was no turning back.

“I will accept you, no matter what. Do not decide these things on your own.”

“But…”

“There is no issue. I am a Dragon God. Compared to me, something like this is no different from an infant’s.”

“I think that’s an exaggeration…”

Elliot hesitated, gazing at the Dragon as if to confirm.

The fire in his eyes burned as intensely as it had when they first met.

The scorching emotions the Dragon had felt in that moment returned, overwhelming him.

Blushing, he nodded.

“I, too… have always wanted to be embraced by you.”