I'm Not Your Husband, You Evil Dragon!-Chapter 55: Why Eden Still Exists

Erza's POV

"...Wait," Yuuta said, sitting up on the edge of his bed. His gaze sharpened as he looked at me. "Didn't you say the dragons won the war? Then how is Eden still untouched? Wouldn't that have been destroyed too?"

I paused for a moment, staring at the floor as I tried to gather my thoughts. The walls of Yuuta's apartment felt too close, as if they were closing in on me. The weight of my memories felt heavier here.

"...Eden couldn't be destroyed," I murmured, barely above a whisper.

Yuuta blinked, clearly confused. "What do you mean 'couldn't'?"

I closed my eyes, feeling the familiar sting of the past rising within me.

"Long ago—before any of us were born—there existed the Primal Dragons. The Ancients. They shaped the world we know—the skies, the seas, the very soul of this land."

I paused, my voice faltering just for a second.

"They watched as something new emerged. Humans. Fragile. Weak. Struggling to survive on little more than roots and berries. At first, our ancestors thought they would disappear with the next harsh season. That they were nothing more than a fleeting speck in time."

Yuuta, ever attentive, said nothing, but I could feel his eyes on me as I continued.

"But they didn't vanish. They adapted. They fought. They grew stronger. They built villages, carved out places for themselves where no monster dared step foot. And those villages... they became something more. They flourished. Music, art, spirit—things we dragons couldn't even understand."

A small, sad smile tugged at my lips, though the pain was still raw beneath it.

"Our ancestors were curious. They descended into these villages, took on human form, and tried to understand. And the humans... they didn't scream. They didn't attack. They welcomed them, offering food, stories, laughter. And in return, the Primal Dragons shared their knowledge."

Yuuta's expression softened, but I could see the curiosity in his eyes.

"The Primals grew to respect them. To love them, in their own way. Not because of their strength. Not because of their magic. But because of their will to survive. The hope that burned in their hearts. It was... something rare. Something precious."

I clenched my hands, my breath hitching as I spoke of the past.

"But then... a war broke out. Not with the humans, but among ourselves. The Red Primal, the Dragon of Fire, and the Blue Primal, the Dragon of Water—two forces, both proud and hot-headed—clashed in a feud that ended in destruction. And in their wake... they destroyed the village where humans had made their home."

Yuuta's gaze dropped to the floor, his jaw tightening as he processed the weight of what I was saying.

"Over ninety percent of the humans died in an instant. Everything they had worked for, everything they had built... was reduced to ash."

The room fell into a heavy silence. I could feel the sting of tears at the back of my throat, but I held them back.

"The Primals were horrified. They had destroyed something irreplaceable. So, as a way of repenting, they decided to offer the survivors a gift—a place where no monster could ever tread. A land called Eden. A sanctuary. A land of peace."

I lowered my voice, as if sharing something sacred. "They cast divine magic to protect it. No dragon, no monster, no creature born of blood and fang could enter. Eden would remain untouched by the outside world."

I looked up, meeting Yuuta's eyes. "That's why Eden still exists. No matter what wars we dragons fought, no matter how many lands we conquered, Eden remained. Untouched. Protected.

"And that," I added quietly, "is how humans survived the war."

Yuuta didn't speak right away. His eyes were distant, as though considering everything I had said. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice soft.

"...You said humans were fragile. But from what you've told me, they sound like the strongest and smartest species of all."

I swallowed hard, a knot tightening in my chest. "Maybe that's why we feared them the most."

He didn't respond immediately. Then, finally, he asked, "So, the humans you fought in the war... the ones you killed... they weren't from Eden, were they?"

I shook my head slowly, my hands trembling slightly. "No. They were illegal settlements. Humans who had crossed the line. They were experimenting with cursed magic. Using dragon bones to create weapons. Breaking sacred pacts. They were a threat. To us. To everyone."

"We couldn't let them spread their corruption. So, when they lost... they ran back to Eden. But the moment they crossed that barrier, they were safe. We couldn't touch them anymore."

I paused, and my voice softened. "But that's how they survived. That's why they lived through the war."

Yuuta was quiet for a long while. He didn't speak, but I could tell that my words had weighed heavily on him. The room felt heavier, as if the very air was thick with the history I had just shared.

I blinked away the moisture that had gathered in my eyes. It was strange. I hadn't told this story to anyone before. Not like this.

"...So that's it," I said quietly, almost to myself. "That's why Eden still stands. Protected by magic. Untouchable. While everything else... fades away."

Yuuta finally broke the silence, his voice gentle. "Thank you, Erza. For sharing that with me."

I nodded, feeling the tension in my chest start to ease, just a little.

The air was quiet, heavy with understanding, but there was a shift in Yuuta's gaze. It wasn't pity. It wasn't sadness. It was something else. Something softer.

"So... you fought for Other species," he said, his tone thoughtful. "The elf and monster. Even after all of that... you still fought for them."

I looked at him and nodded again. "I did. It was the only thing I could do."

Yuuta seemed to think about that for a long time, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he said softly,"You may be seen as a cold, ruthless queen in the eyes of others, but to endangered species, you were their protector."

Those words... they made me happy. For once, someone doesn't see me as just a weapon or a monster.

Yuuta got up from the bed, his movements calm and familiar.

"Let me make coffee for you," he said with a soft smile.

I watched him as he walked away. Something about his voice so normal, so... him made my chest loosen. He wasn't acting strange anymore. That alone was enough to make me feel safe. Like maybe, just maybe, things were okay again.

A few minutes later, I followed him into the living room. The air smelled like freshly brewed coffee, warm and a little bitter. He was already sitting on the couch, holding two cups. I quietly took a seat beside him, not too close, but close enough to feel the heat from his body.

The silence between Yuuta and me was still lingering—soft, raw, almost healing—when suddenly...

CRASH!!

The sound was like thunder splitting the sky.

A blade tore through the apartment window, shattering it into a rain of glass. Cold night air screamed through the room, throwing papers and curtains into a frenzy.

Yuuta shouted and flinched, throwing his arms up to shield himself. A lamp fell over. The coffee table cracked. Elena's room door creaked open slightly from the pressure.

I didn't move.

Because I knew what was coming.

The figure landed hard on the floor—graceful, deadly. She straightened slowly, katana drawn, boots crunching softly over broken glass.

"Erza."

Her voice was like a blade itself.

My eyes locked with hers. Cold. Focused. Not a flicker of hesitation.

Fiona.

Her black hair whipped behind her like a flag of war. She took one step forward, her blade rising.

"This time... I'm going to kill you."

Yuuta backed up, completely thrown. "W-What the hell, Fiona?! Are you insane?!"

From the other room came the sharp, panicked cry of a child.

"Pappa!! M-Mamaaa!!"

Elena.

Yuuta froze. "Elena...!"

I stepped forward on instinct, slipping between them and Fiona, letting my aura flicker to life—crackling quietly like an oncoming storm.

"Lower your weapon," I said calmly. "You're scaring her."

Fiona didn't blink. "I warned you before. One mistake. And I wouldn't overlook it again."

"What mistake?" I asked, eyes narrowing.

She tightened her grip on her katana. "You know exactly what I mean. The port. Three investigation ships. Gone. Ice magic. Two thousand people dead."

Yuuta looked like he'd been slapped. "What?!"

Fiona's tone was sharp. "They were government vessels sent to investigate the Black Viper incident. And they were ambushed. Wrecked. Sunk. A dragon was spotted. Ice everywhere. We pulled the satellite footage."

"I wasn't even there," I said, my voice flat. "Ask him. I haven't left this place."

Yuuta jumped in, "She's telling the truth—she's been with me whole day! She didn't do this!"

Fiona narrowed her eyes, pulling a glowing tablet from her jacket. She tapped the screen.

"Then explain this."

A grainy video began to play. It was night. Waves crashed. Then, something enormous soared through the air—wings like glaciers, body glittering like sapphire in the moonlight.

The dragon unleashed a storm of ice. The ships below shattered on impact. Explosions lit up the sea.

I stepped forward, staring.

"...That's not me," I said, my voice barely audible.

Fiona's gaze didn't shift. "That's what you say."

And then... I saw it.

Something in the corner of the video. Small. Floating above the destruction. A figure.

The feed zoomed.

Silver robes. Long pale hair. Eyes that practically glowed.

My heart dropped.

"...What are you doing there?" I whispered. My voice broke on the next word.

"Grandfather...?"

Fiona's expression finally shifted—just a flicker of confusion.

Yuuta looked between the screen and me. "Wait... who is that? You know him?"

I took a step back, my breath catching. The pieces were shifting too fast.

Why was he there? Why now?

"Grandfather....?"

To be continued...