Possessiveness (1)
The dragonkin were a great race. Regardless of how they viewed themselves, others held much the same opinion. As mystical beings that were spirits and life itself, it was no exaggeration to say they existed on a different plane from ordinary creatures. Though they couldn't contract with other spirits because they were spirits themselves, they wielded a unique and deadly weapon known as dragon words in its place.
Dragon words. Strange abilities activated through the language of dragons, just as the name implied. They interfered with the target's mind, so a sufficiently strong will could resist them... but that was far from easy. No ordinary mental fortitude would suffice—only those with superhuman resolve could overcome it.
"Serena? What's gotten into you all of a sudden...?"
"...Stay still."
"Stasis (στάση)"
No matter how great Seong Hyun-jin was, he couldn't instantly break free from a dragon word without any preparation. Suddenly robbed of his freedom, he looked at Serena with a bewildered expression. He'd escaped one voluntarily before, but the atmosphere now felt like he absolutely shouldn't this time, leaving him frozen in place.
Serena simply tugged his arm, dragging him along. Hyun-jin, unable to resist, followed while asking in confusion,
"Serena, what the hell is this...?"
"......"
Serena didn't answer. She just quietly pulled him forward.
True to its reputation as the academy's most luxurious dorm, Terra Hall's rooms were vast, complete with couches so plush you could fall backward onto them without a care. Serena led Hyun-jin right up to one and pushed him down onto it like he was collapsing.
Having no idea what was happening, Hyun-jin cautiously called out to her in a soothing tone.
"...Serena?"
She muttered her words like a soliloquy.
"...I could tolerate you craving affection from Master somehow."
Serena leaned down, locking eyes with the seated Hyun-jin. He gulped at the sight of her jealousy-fueled gaze—a fierce possessiveness toward him she'd never shown before.
"But fooling around with other girls? I can't stand that."
"...Huh?"
As Hyun-jin stupidly blurted his confusion, Serena thrust her face forward.
"Sere... mmph."
Her lips crashed against his. It happened in an instant. And it wasn't just a simple press of mouths.
"Mmph...!?"
"Smack... haa... mmph..."
Serena extended her tongue first, forcing his lips apart and entwining it with his. Back when they'd shared deep kisses before, Hyun-jin had always taken the lead, with Serena mostly on the receiving end... but now, she dominated completely. Even when she'd gotten into it previously and reciprocated actively, it paled compared to this aggressive, rough intensity.
In the darkened, quiet dorm room, the sounds of lips, tongues, and saliva mingling rang out explicitly. Without Terra Hall's soundproofing, they surely would have echoed down the corridors.
When Serena finally pulled away after thoroughly ravaging his mouth, both were breathing raggedly. Caught off guard by the intense kiss, Hyun-jin's lust surged unbidden. But even sensing his state through the mood, Serena didn't release him.
"...Honey."
She called him with the endearment she used only when alone, laced with affection. Yet it sent chills down his spine for some reason. Shaking off the odd sensation and suppressing his boiling desire, Hyun-jin replied.
"...Yeah?"
"You're mine, right?"
Serena dropped all formality. The girl who used polite speech even with social inferiors and family alike... was so lost in passion that she'd switched to casual address. Hyun-jin felt a twinge of fear, struggling to keep his eyes from wavering.
"Right? You're mine?"
Seeing her raw possessiveness, he answered affirmatively for now.
"Yeah...?"
"Then..."
Serena slowly climbed onto the couch. More precisely, she knelt right where he sat, straddling his lap.
"!?"
Her soft breasts and firm thighs pressed against him, their texture vivid through the thin fabric. She'd returned to the dorm first and changed into comfortable sleepwear instead of her academy uniform, making the sensation even clearer.
Hyun-jin stared in fluster, but Serena seemed oblivious, spreading her arms to embrace him and whispering in his ear.
"Don't smile at other bitches."
"Uh...?"
"You're mine. My man. My..."
Serena continued.
"...future husband."
"......!"
"I love you, honey."
Confessing sweetly, she pecked his cheek.
"I really love you."
Repeating her love, she kissed the other cheek. Her adorably loving display melted away Hyun-jin's earlier tension, softening his expression.
After her confessions and kisses, she lifted her head to meet his eyes again, thumping her chest with her fist.
"Every time you smile at another girl, I feel like I'm going insane. It hurts here, right here."
"Th-that's..."
"This feeling is so foreign... I can't control it."
Serena gazed at him and asked,
"Do I really need to make a baby for some peace of mind? Would that help?"
"Th-that's way too soon..."
Hyun-jin, who charged headlong even against Karin's wrath, found himself slamming on the brakes at her words—they were that extreme.
"Yeah, it's early. I know, honey."
Serena lowered her head, pressing her forehead to his. Her smooth, pale skin touched his, and he unconsciously lifted his eyes slightly.
"So understand how I feel. This is really hard for me... If I vent it all on you, you'll hate it... But bottling it up is tough too..."
"......"
He could tell everything she said was sincere. She never showed it usually, so he hadn't realized. She wasn't the jealous or obsessive type to begin with, making it even less obvious. Love changes people, they say. The Serena Eldark who adored him so much was now jealous, bottling it up without expression.
Feeling guilty, Hyun-jin apologized earnestly.
"...Serena, I'm sorry. I should've paid more attention. I was too thoughtless."
"You're just saying sorry with words?"
She puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Words won't cut it."
Could anyone imagine this? The cool, haughty dragon princess puffing her cheeks in front of a guy, sulking for comfort and acting cute. Hyun-jin knew this was a sight for his eyes only—permitted solely to her man, Serena Eldark, and no one else.
That realization brought a pleased smile to his face. His bonds now free, he wrapped his arms gently around her waist and asked,
"What should I do then, princess?"
"...I need proof that you're my man."
"Proof?"
Serena nodded.
"Proof that you're mine."
"Hmm, what could serve as good proof...? Oh, we never got couple rings—maybe now's the time?"
She shook her head. Not that.
Hyun-jin looked at her quizzically. Suddenly, Serena brought her hand to the nape of her neck and tugged her sleepwear aside slightly.
"...Serena?"
"Here."
Exposing her pristine white nape, she pointed precisely with her finger.
"Mark me here."
"......"
She'd just used polite speech. Her reason had returned. Yet she showed no intention of retracting the embarrassing request, silently pointing at her neck.
"F-for real...?"
Hyun-jin asked one last time, but Serena remained resolute. Sensing no escape, he decided to go for it—hesitation wasn't his style. Whatever happened next, he'd handle it.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to her nape, sucking on the soft, pale skin like candy.
"Ngh..."
Serena winced slightly at the sting but had no intention of stopping him. If anything, she seemed to want more, resting her hand lightly on his head and drawing him closer.
"Phew..."
When Hyun-jin finally pulled away, a vivid red petal bloomed on her nape. He stared at the blatant mark of affection, then lifted his head to look at her. Serena smiled with deep satisfaction.
# "...Huh."
"Th-that's..."
The next day, the first-year combat department students' faces were a mix of bewilderment and shock. It was because of Serena Eldark—one of the department's two most famous figures and by far its most popular girl.
It wasn't some sudden outburst from her. Serena was preparing for class as demurely as ever. But her classmates were flustered by the stark red mark on her nape.
Academy students were all adults; they weren't so clueless about what it was.
"Bug bite...?"
"...Isn't that a hickey?"
"H-hey...!!"
The boys erupted in hushed panic for saying it aloud. And it wasn't just them—the girls were thrown into chaos too. Serena was both an object of admiration and envy, after all.
"S-Serena?"
A few girls who'd chatted with her before couldn't resist their curiosity and approached.
"Th-that on your neck... what is it?"
"Hm?"
"It's all red..."
Serena was hypersensitive to gazes and their implications. She knew the combat department girls envied her. Just as boys resented and jeered at Hyun-jin for being close to her, she faced the same from them.
Hyun-jin might act eccentric, but his looks—thanks to his elven blood—were top-tier. And now everyone knew his strength too, making the handsome powerhouse quietly popular with girls.
Hyun-jin ignored the gossip, but Serena heard what they said about her man. How dare they. She'd seen them lust openly after him multiple times.
She disliked Ciela, Yeonhui, and Elena for their closeness... but hated even more those who spewed filthy desires aloud. It felt like they were dirtying her treasure with vulgar mouths.
That's why she'd asked Hyun-jin last night. To mark unmistakably whose she was—even academy uniforms couldn't hide it.
"Oh? It's still there, huh."
She'd done it so no one would doubt.
"My honey must've left it yesterday... Didn't realize it'd show. Should've covered it."
"......Huh? Your honey?"
Serena glanced at the classroom door. Right then, Hyun-jin—having sparred with Elena and Clarice at dawn, slept in a bit, and arrived late—pushed it open wearily.
"Yaaawn."
Seeing him stretch with a big yawn, Serena stood and approached, weaving past the still-clueless girls.
"You're here early, Serena. No wonder I didn't see you."
"You slept in, didn't you? Should I have waited?"
"......?"
Hyun-jin blinked twice at her using an endearment publicly. A bit flustered but pleased, he replied happily.
"What, no need to hide anymore?"
"Figured it's better out in the open. Tired of the weird rumors."
"What rumors?"
Serena looped her arm through his. The blatantly affectionate gesture widened everyone's eyes, but she ignored them, pressing closer.
"Sour grapes from people who can't have you, popping up everywhere."
"Oh? Suits me fine."
His casual response made boys—and girls—gasp. So that vivid hickey on Serena's nape was...
"Wh-when did...?"
"...H-ha..."
Hyun-jin's doing. A claim that she was his. And Serena's intent in not hiding it was obvious: He's mine now—back off.
Hyun-jin naturally passed the girls to sit, with Serena still clinging. She shot them a glance, lips curling into a warning mouthed silently.
This man's mine.