I'm Not Your Husband, You Evil Dragon!-Chapter 30: Echoes of a Dream

Some flashy anime intro filled the room with light and sound—something loud, something familiar.

Elena joined her, her eyes lighting up as she snuggled beside Erza, already humming along with the theme.

I watched them for a moment—my little family—and felt a strange peace settle over me.

But exhaustion was winning.

My body ached in places I didn't know could ache.

My knuckles were still bruised and sore.

Tomorrow... Elena had her interview.

I yawned and dragged myself toward the bedroom.

By the time I sank into the mattress, my eyes were already drifting shut. The world dulled. My breath slowed.

And then

Darkness.

But it wasn't the peaceful, drifting kind. It was thick. Heavy. Waiting.

And in it—

Boom.

A blast echoed far away, shaking through the black like a stone hitting water.

I gasped and opened my eyes—

but this wasn't my room.

The ceiling above me was unfamiliar.

The air felt still, unnaturally quiet.

"Elena? Erza?" I called out, my voice hoarse, shaky.

"Where are you...?"

No answer.

Panic stirred in my chest as I sat up slowly, scanning the space around me.

Nothing looked familiar. Not the walls. Not the floor.

Not even the light.

I sat up slowly, confused.

Beneath me was a royal red carpet, so soft it barely felt real. The walls were lined with golden trim, massive portraits, and towering vases filled with strange, glowing flowers.

The ceiling stretched so high it disappeared into shadows, lit by floating chandeliers that pulsed with warm, golden light.

My body... it felt light. Too light.

I looked at my hands.

They were see-through. Translucent.

Like mist.

"What... is this place?"

A strange weightlessness gripped me.

"Where am I...?"

Confusion clouded my thoughts as I glanced at my hand—only to find it fading, transparent...

Read latest chapters at freёweɓnovel.com Only.

Like a spirit, or something not meant to exist in the physical world.

Then—voices.

I turned just as two women passed down the corridor.

At first, I thought they were human. But then I noticed the horns curled elegantly from their foreheads, the subtle shimmer in their eyes... and the swaying tails behind them.

Dragonkin. Dressed as palace maids.

They didn't see me. They walked past without a glance, chatting softly.

"Have you noticed?" one asked. "The prince... he's colder than before."

The other nodded. "Ever since the queen disappeared. He's changed."

The first maid lowered her voice. "He doesn't speak. Doesn't rest. Just trains. Like he's waiting for something."

They paused. A shadow passed over both their faces.

"I hope... she comes back soon."

Queen??

And then—

BOOM!

Another explosion rocked the air. Both maids jumped.

"That came from the training ground!"

Without thinking, I followed them.

Even in this strange form, it was hard to keep up—they were faster than any human. Their steps barely made sound as they glided through the long halls of this surreal palace.

After several turns, we reached an open arena.

I hid behind one of the thick marble columns and peeked around.

What I saw took my breath away.

A boy.

No older than Elena.

Standing in the center of the training field, alone.

But the power around him... it was like staring into a storm.

Black energy swirled around him like a living beast, pulsing and shifting.

Violet sparks flickered in the air, crackling along his skin.

He wasn't just training, he was fighting something invisible. His sword moved with terrifying precision, cutting through the air as if it offended him.

The ground trembled with every swing.

His hair was black. His eyes glowed a deep, haunting violet.

I leaned forward, trying to get a closer look.

And then—

He looked at me.

Not through me—at me.

A subtle shiver crawled down my spine as our eyes met. I tried to steady my breath, to remind myself that this wasn't real. That none of this could be real. I was nothing but a shadow, a flicker of something forgotten. No one should be able to see me.

And yet... he did.

There was something unnerving in his gaze—calm, unreadable, but heavy. Like standing in front of a storm that hadn't yet broken. The kind of silence that comes right before thunder.

I told myself to stay calm. This was a dream.

Just a dream.

But the way he looked at me—it wasn't dreamlike at all.

It was real.

Too real.

His eyes didn't blink. Didn't waver.

They studied me, as if I were prey. As if every heartbeat, every breath I took, was being counted.

Like a lion watching a rabbit, not out of hunger...

but out of curiosity.

As if wondering how long it would take for me to run.

Then, without a word,

without a sound—

he vanished.

Gone.

Gone. Just like that.

My heart dropped.

I turned instinctively, searching for where he'd gone—

and froze.

He was right there.

Standing inches away.

Staring.

I couldn't move. My body refused to obey.

Something ancient wrapped around me like invisible chains.

"You..."

His voice was low. Calm.

But it carried weight—like a whisper echoing through stone halls that had long forgotten the sound of life.

"You're not from here," he said.

"Spirit? Phantom? What species are you?"

His eyes never left mine.

Eyes that didn't belong to a child.

Too ancient.

Too still.

Cold. Empty.

They didn't just resemble death.

They felt like it.

Every breath I tried to take scraped like glass down my throat. My chest tightened, burning. My legs screamed to run, but the fear had rooted them to the floor.

Then—

Gasp.

I jolted awake.

Back in my bed.

Soaked in sweat. Heart pounding.

The TV still hummed in the other room. Erza and Elena's voices were faint.

I touched my chest, still trying to calm my breathing.

That boy...

That power...

Who was he?

And why...

Why did his eyes feel so familiar?

I could still feel the weight of that dream, even after waking.

It clung to my chest like fog. Not frightening, exactly... but strange. Familiar, in a way I couldn't explain.

That boy—his presence, his aura—it was burned into my memory.

His eyes... they weren't just terrifying. They felt like something I'd seen before.

But where?

A sudden vibration pulled me out of my thoughts.

My phone.

I reached for it groggily, blinking at the bright screen.

7:40 a.m.

My eyes shot open.

The interview's at 10:00.

"Damn it!"

I scrambled out of bed, heart thudding as I rushed into the living room.

There, sprawled on the couch like lazy cats, were Erza and Elena.

Elena was snuggled up against Erza's side, blanket halfway falling off the edge. The TV was still playing something—some flashy anime with bright colors—but neither of them was really watching.

"Elena," I called softly. "Come on, wake up."

She stirred but didn't open her eyes. "Papa," she mumbled, half-asleep, "I already remembered the questions..."

Then she yawned and pulled the blanket over her face again.

I let out a quiet sigh. "You can't slack off now, Elena. You said you wanted to do well."

Beside her, Erza groaned softly, sitting up and rubbing one eye with the back of her hand.

"Relax," she said sleepily. "Dragons have sharp memories. Just review with her an hour before. She'll be fine."

I didn't argue. Honestly... she was probably right.

Erza stretched a little, her fingers brushing back her hair as she looked at me.

And then—

Something caught in my throat.

The moment her hand lowered and her eyes fully opened...

I saw it.

That same color.

Violet. Deep, ancient, fierce. Like a fire that had no heat—just presence.

The exact same eyes I'd seen in the dream.

I blinked.

My breath stilled.

She was right in front of me... yet suddenly distant. Unreachable.

Her gaze wasn't cold. It was calm. But behind it—something stirred. Something immense.

Erza tilted her head at me.

"...What?" she asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

I swallowed.

"I... I just thought of something," I lied quickly.

But inside, a hundred questions were swirling.

Was it a coincidence?

A trick of the light?

Or something more?

That dream...

Those eyes...

Her.

I turned away before she could ask again, pretending to grab a glass of water.

But one thought wouldn't leave me:

What is Erza hiding?

Back at the Castle

"My prince pardon the interruption," a servant called, bowing low as he stepped into the training hall.

The prince stood alone, sword in hand, his breath visible in the cold air. He didn't look back.

"What is it now?" he asked, voice calm but sharp.

The servant hesitated. "His Majesty, your grandfather, has summoned you. At once."

"Tch. That old man never lets me train in peace," the prince muttered, sliding his sword back into its sheath with a metallic hiss.

He turned and walked past the servant, cloak trailing behind him.

In his mind, darker thoughts stirred:

One day... I'll end you, old man.

And you...

The one who abandoned me... who cast me into the dark like I was nothing...

Pathetic Father.

You'll pay. I swear it.

To be continued...