Dragon King's Harem Chapter 409. Is There Still a Chance Between Us?

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 409. Is There Still a Chance Between Us?

She didn’t answer immediately, her eyes drifting to where our hands were loosely clasped. Her fingers twitched, and for a moment, I thought she might pull away. Instead, she sighed softly, her voice tinged with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. “Yes… it’s strange.”

Her gaze flicked up to meet mine again, and this time, there was a hint of pain in her eyes. “But I guess I just hate what you did to my tribe, not you. On the other hand, I can admit I would probably do the same thing if I were you. Or worse… I won’t be a hypocrite.”

I stayed silent, letting her speak. She paused for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts, before continuing. “And I know if it was my father who won the war, your fate would be worse. He would probably kill you, and Lady Evelina…” Her voice faltered, a bitter edge creeping in. “She would have suffered a worse fate than me.”

The mention of Evelina made my chest tighten. Glasha wasn’t wrong. Her father had been ruthless. If he had triumphed, mercy wouldn’t have been part of the equation. I nodded slowly.

“I don’t blame you for the war,” she said finally, her tone softer now. “I’m mad, but I know I can’t blame you.”

I paused, her words circling in my head as I tried to find the right response. “So…” I started, hesitating for only a moment. “Is there still a chance between us?”

She flicked her gaze back to me, her expression unreadable for a moment before a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “You surely showed something different from what you showed in my tribe.”

I chuckled softly. “You also showed something different from what you showed when I first caught you.”

Her brow arched slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “Oh? And what do you mean by that?”

“My act simply depends on how you act in front of me,” I said honestly, leaning back slightly in my chair. “My personality is a different thing from that. I don’t like rough methods, but I’ll take them if I need to. As simple as that.”

Her smirk lingered, but her eyes remained guarded. “And now? No rough methods?”

“None,” I assured her, my tone steady. “Not unless you force my hand.”

The room fell into a comfortable silence for a moment. Our shared history was still present but not as suffocating as before. Glasha leaned back slightly in her chair, her hands resting on the armrests as she studied me.

“You’re different,” she said finally, her voice quieter now. “When I first met you, you were… terrifying. You didn’t hesitate. You were ruthless. I didn’t think you were capable of sitting here like this, talking to me like this.”

“And yet, here I am,” I said, a small smile playing on my lips. “Because there’s more to me than what you saw on the battlefield. Just like there’s more to you than the defiant warrior who tried to take my head.”

Her lips twitched again, this time almost forming a genuine smile. “I guess we’re both more complicated than we let on.”

I nodded. “And maybe that’s a good thing. It means there’s a chance we can understand each other.”

She didn’t respond right away, her gaze dropping to her lap as she seemed to wrestle with her thoughts. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer than before. “I don’t know if I can ever fully forgive you for what happened to my tribe. But… I think I can try.”

“That’s all I ask,” I said, my tone sincere. “Just a chance to prove that I’m not the monster you think I am.”

Her gaze flicked back to mine, and for the first time, I saw a glimmer of something that looked like hope. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

“Fine,” she said, her tone still guarded but less icy. “But don’t expect this to be easy.”

I smiled faintly, leaning forward slightly. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Glasha.”

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You’re impossible, Dragon King.”

“Maybe,” I said, standing and offering her my hand. “But at least I’m trying.”

She hesitated for a moment before taking my hand, her grip firm but not hostile. As our hands clasped, I felt a spark of something—respect, understanding, maybe even the faintest trace of trust. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to give me hope. And for now, that was more than I could have asked for.

I stared at her for a moment longer. Her guarded walls were still there, but cracks were forming, and I wasn’t about to push too hard. Still, something inside me told me this was a chance I couldn’t waste.

Slowly, I let my other hand rise, hovering for a moment before touching her cheek with the barest hint of hesitation. Her skin was warm under my fingertips, and for the first time, she didn’t flinch. She didn’t pull away or stiffen. She just stared back at me, her dark eyes unreadable but calm.

“Tonight…” I began, my voice quiet, almost unsure. “Join me for dinner. With me and the others.”

Her brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. “Dinner?” she repeated, as though the word itself was foreign to her.

“Yes,” I said, nodding. “Nothing formal. Just… dinner. Eat with us. Talk with us.”

She tilted her head, her gaze sharp and searching. “Why? What’s the point?”

“The point is,” I said, letting my hand fall back to my side but keeping my eyes locked on hers, “you’re part of this now. Whether you like it or not, you’re one of us. And I want you to feel that. Even if it’s just for one meal.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought she might outright refuse. But then her expression softened, just a little. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

“I’m not asking you to be ready,” I said gently. “I’m just asking you to try.”

She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “You’re persistent, Dragon King. I’ll give you that.”

“It’s one of my better traits,” I said with a faint smile. “So, is that a yes?”

She hesitated again, her gaze flicking away from mine for a moment before returning. “Fine. But don’t expect me to be… social.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, my smile widening slightly. “Just be yourself. That’s all I ask.”