Chapter 07
[It’s a side effect.]
“Can you explain it in a way I can understand?”
[Because future memories are being forcibly attached to a past timeline, the surrounding mana gets distorted. That’s what causes the side effect.]
“It didn’t hurt much for something called a side effect.”
[Because it’s not an illness of the human world to begin with. It’s just how causality manifests when a worldline is twisted.]
Honestly, I only understood half of that.
[Anyway, I know humans are too foolish to understand, so just remember it as a side effect—]
“Hey, don’t hit me!”
The moment I smiled sweetly and raised the crystal hammer, Kaisesus panicked.
“Anyway, you’re saying there’s no problem with my health?”
[Yeah. If anything, it should feel refreshing. It’s just distorted mana returning to its normal flow.]
Now that I think about it, I did feel strangely light after coughing up blood.
Unlike when he refused to explain why he told me the original plot, he was oddly helpful this time. As expected, violence solves problems.
“Alright. So when does this side effect happen?”
[Even I don’t know that.]
We stared at each other blankly.
“…Didn’t you warn me earlier when I coughed up blood? You said there would be a price.”
[That was…]
Kaisesus blushed.
[…to look cool.]
Ah, so this was dragon puberty. The dreaded “edgy black dragon” phase came early. I guess I’ll let that slide.
But random coughing up blood is a problem.
And it wasn’t just coughing blood—I even passed out.
‘Still… I doubt I’ll collapse in front of people again.’
I decided not to worry about things I couldn’t control.
[So can I go back now?]
“Go where?”
[Back into the ring.]
A brief silence followed.
“Now that I think about it, why is it a ring in the first place?”
[Because it was made from my magnificent horn. As a juvenile, I can’t enter the White Forest.]
When I gave him a “really?” look, Kaisesus puffed up angrily.
[I want to grow up faster too!]
“Yeah, yeah, little Kaisesus. Do whatever you want.”
[Hmph…!]
In a huff, the small dragon flapped his tiny wings—and then rolled forward.
Roll.
The ring form of Kaisesus fell onto the table.
I picked it up and slipped it onto my left ring finger.
A small laugh escaped me.
“I’ve gone and picked up a dragon… not a dog or a cat.”
While I was happily admiring my useful “dragon pickup,” I heard a click.
The bedroom door opened.
I turned.
A man stood there.
He looked even more gaunt than before, yet somehow still carried a strangely tragic atmosphere.
“Shubel?”
At the sound of his name, Shubel—who had been walking in with unfocused eyes—stopped.
Blink.
His eyes slowly closed and opened again, as if checking whether this was real.
Then, like a scene from a film, everything etched itself sharply into his mind.
The lifeless eyes regained focus. Light returned—fragile, trembling light—and it widened as it saw me.
“Elisia…?”
A trembling voice, full of disbelief.
He rushed toward the bed.
And from his eyes—
Drop.
A tear, like a gemstone, fell.
‘W-wait.’
…Tears? Tears?!
As I stared in shock, Shubel grabbed my arm with trembling hands.
“Are you really awake? You didn’t… leave me, did you…?”
What kind of line is that? Did I die and come back as someone’s grieving wife?
I snapped out of it and smacked the back of his hand.
“I’m fine, so let go. It hurts.”
“Ah… sorry. I was just so happy.”
He carefully released me, his face pale and exhausted, like someone who had suffered greatly.
Somehow, it felt strange.
‘Were we always this close?’
Because I knew the original Shubel, this version felt unfamiliar. In the original story, he had shown me absolutely no interest.
Complete indifference. Strangers bound only by marriage.
That was our relationship.
‘So why has he changed?’
I felt strangely awkward, so I looked away.
But Shubel grew flustered.
“Wife?”
Had he just called my name earlier?
“Are you hurt? No, you coughed blood—there’s no way you’re okay. I was foolish. I should call a priest immediately—!”
“I’m fine.”
“But—”
“Shubel. Look at me.”
I grabbed him quickly before he dragged in a priest.
Maybe too quickly—I ended up grabbing his collar.
Our distance closed instantly.
‘This is dangerous.’
Not for me—for him.
A proper noble young lord like him looked extremely flustered, eyes wide like he might short-circuit.
‘How is he going to survive in this harsh world like this?’
I’d forgotten that on my first day in the Preston estate, he had once casually said, “Shall I kill them?”
Maybe I should train him a bit before I leave. For safety reasons.
“I’m really fine.”
I said firmly.
“See? Nothing wrong with me.”
According to Kaisesus, it was just a side effect—nothing harmful.
There was no way a medical exam would find anything.
Shubel lowered his gaze while I still held his collar.
His face, half-shadowed in thought, looked almost pure.
‘This guy is unfairly good-looking.’
Then he looked up again, eyes full of sorrow.
“You don’t have to act like that in front of me, my lady.”
“…Huh?”
“I know you are strong. But at least in front of me… I wish you wouldn’t endure everything alone.”
What is he talking about?
I stared at him, confused, as he looked up at me from below—despite the fact that I was the one holding his collar.
‘Wait… when did this angle happen?’
I slowly tried to back away, but my back hit something soft.
Ah. The bed.
We were in the bedroom.
And the realization hit at the same time as I saw Shubel’s slightly unhinged eyes.
For the first time, I understood.
He was my husband.
“YOU BASTARD! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING TO MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW?! GET OFF HER!”
A voice—definitely Bella’s—but completely unlike her usual noble tone.
Bella had somehow stormed into the room and was smacking Shubel’s back.
Shubel immediately switched to a deadpan expression, then smiled faintly.
“Mother, I am your son.”
“I don’t care! My sweet daughter-in-law is way cuter than you!”
“…Well, that’s true.”
Why are you agreeing?!
In the end, Shubel reluctantly stepped back, looking disappointed.
I decided not to ask why he looked disappointed.
“Are you alright, dear?”
“Yes, Mother. I’m fine. Really, completely fine.”
Bella had already reverted to her elegant noblewoman persona, holding my hands tightly.
I smiled brightly to prove I was fine.
But for some reason, she looked even more pitiful.
“You’ve become so mature… you’ve learned to swallow everything.”
My head spun.
‘I’m seriously fine, I said?!’
Well… I did cough blood.
And faint.
…Yeah, I did look like a terminal patient.
I groaned internally.
In the end, despite the doctor confirming I was fine, I was placed under extreme overprotective care by my in-laws.
“Wife, it may be best if you ride on my back.”
“…I’m just going down the stairs.”
“That is not acceptable. You might feel nauseous.”
What kind of nonsense is this?
“Change the cutlery color for this section—”
“I’ll carry it. Please conserve your strength, young mistress.”
Even holding a fork got it confiscated.
“Cough!”
“Eek! Young mistress! Call a priest and a doctor immediately!”
One cough and the entire duchy flipped upside down.
…Is this even right?
In the end, I declared in front of everyone:
“I am perfectly fine.”
“….”
“I said I’m fine.”
“….”
“I’m healthy! Cough!”
“Turn up the heating!”
“Daughter-in-law, breathe! Breathe!”
“My wife… please don’t leave me…”
It was just a cold.
But the overprotectiveness of my in-laws was getting completely out of hand.