Only with Your Heart

TL: Leila

Editor: QianMin

Proofread: Karen

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Lukrov – Fourteen Years Ago

Lukrov had always thought that if the world – let alone a country – was destined to perish, it would be fine with him as he didn’t have any attachments to this life.

A few years ago, an evil dragon suddenly appeared in the sky and began to wreak havoc, burning hundreds of villages and brutally devouring thousands of people.

The people were horrified and forced to live in fear.

So what?

Why do they care so much?

Ever since he lost his parents more than fifteen years ago, Lukrov’s life was already built on shivers, fear, and loneliness.

Every day was a battle for survival, and there was never a moment when he could feel at ease. Even now that he was the head of an army assigned to defeat the evil dragon, it remained the same.

The only reason Lukrov persevered to live on was because he wanted to repay his parents for risking their lives to save him.

There was no other reason to live, not even one.

Not even one.

There was none.

◌◌◌◌

One dawn at the beginning of winter, the cold morning dew was moistening the area.

“Oh, Chizuru, you will ride my horse this morning, won’t you? I’ll hold you gently from behind and whisper love songs to you all day long. You’ll melt and fall in love with me!”

As I came out of the camping tent, I frowned as I saw the big red-haired man wandering around Chizuru, delivering an exaggerated speech.

Even though it was early in the morning, the sun had already risen in the sky.

While I was already perfectly dressed and ready to go, the big red-haired man …… was still lightly dressed in just a tunic and pants.

As the head of a force that defeated evil dragons, Roan was a constant headache for me. He was frivolous, noisy, self-conscious, and …… skilled, but all he did all day was seduce the shrine maiden, Chizuru.

He was an utterly disgusting man.

“But if I ride with you, I’ll get in your way. I’m not used to it yet… Lukrov always gets angry with me.”

Chizuru shrugged her shoulders as she looked up at Roan.

“Lukrov-dono, huh…”

It seemed that neither of them had noticed my presence yet. At least Chizuru probably had not noticed. As for Roan, well, it was a mystery.

“He’s a little crazy, you know. How can he ride with a pretty girl like you and just lecture you all the time? Don’t worry about it, Chizuru. You can start riding my horse today. I’ll be happy, and you definitely won’t be a burden.”

“But, but …….”

Chizuru was hesitant, but I could see that Roan’s suggestion somewhat flustered her.

Chizuru was a burden to me?

Me? Always angry? 

Since Chizuru’s arrival in the world – and it hadn’t been that long – I began to feel more at ease with her by my side.

Chizuru rode on my horse and walked next to me. Additionally, even if I didn’t reply much, she continued to talk about this and that – her words would tickle my ears.

Her jewel-like eyes were always looking up at me, and she would amuse me with her gentle smiles, her giggles, her sulks, and her anger.

It was like an addictive aphrodisiac that slowly but surely penetrated my whole body.

And like many addictions, I found myself unable to live without it.

That was exactly what Chizuru was.

My addiction.

She was a very important person that I needed to have in my …… life.