Dragon King's Harem Chapter 420. Marissa's Feelings

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 420. Marissa's Feelings

‘What’s wrong with me?’ she wondered, biting her lower lip as she continued to watch him. The urge to reach out and brush the hair from his face was almost overwhelming, but she held back, afraid she might wake him. It was weird, really—this sudden throbbing in her chest, this strange warmth that spread through her whenever she looked at him now. It hadn’t always been like this.

Back when she agreed to marry him, it was purely a matter of survival. Her father had been branded a traitor by their tribe’s queen, and her noble status had been hanging by a thread. Marrying Argod had been a way to protect herself, to ensure that she wouldn’t be cast out or targeted. She had done what she needed to do, no more, no less.

At the time, Argod hadn’t seemed to mind. He hadn’t asked for love or affection, only respect and loyalty. And she had given him that. She had thought that would be enough.

But now… things felt different.

Her eyes traced the line of his jaw, the curve of his lips, the way his hair fell messily over his forehead. He looked… normal. Not just a king or a warrior, but a man. Her husband.

‘When did that happen?’ she wondered, her fingers twitching slightly as she resisted the urge to touch him again.

She remembered the way he had looked at her earlier, the warmth in his eyes when he said she was important to him. It hadn’t been a grand declaration of love or anything, but it had been real, genuine. And for the first time, she had seen him not as a king or a protector, but as a man who cared for her.

‘He’s changed,’ she thought, her heart giving another strange little flutter. ‘Or maybe I’m the one who’s changed.’

“Mmm…” Argod mumbled in his sleep, his brow furrowing slightly before smoothing out again. The mumble sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn’t help but smile again.

Slowly, carefully, she shifted closer to him, resting her head on the pillow beside his. Her heart was racing now, every beat echoing loudly in her ears. She wasn’t sure why she was doing this—why she felt the need to stay when she had every reason to leave. But something about being here, beside him, just felt… right.

“You’re such a pain,” she whispered softly, her voice barely more than a breath. “Always making things more complicated.”

He didn’t respond, of course—he was still fast asleep. But somehow, talking to him like this made her feel a little better, like she could finally get the thoughts out of her head without worrying about how he’d react. There were things she’d been holding back for a while now, things she hadn’t dared say out loud before.

Her fingers lightly traced the edge of the pillow, her eyes still fixed on his face. “You’re not exactly easy to deal with, you know,” she whispered, her voice soft, almost fond. “You’re stubborn, bossy, and half the time, I don’t even know what you’re thinking.”

She smiled a little to herself, the corners of her lips twitching upward. “But you care… more than you let on. You’ve always cared. Even when you don’t say it, I can see it in the way you act.”

Her chest tightened slightly, the strange warmth she’d been feeling earlier spreading through her again. She tried to brush it off, tell herself it was nothing. But deep down, she knew that wasn’t true.

Her mind drifted back to the first time they’d met—back when she had only seen him as a means to an end, a way to secure her place after her father’s fall from grace. She had told herself back then that it was purely practical, that there was nothing more to it than mutual benefit.

But somewhere along the way, things had shifted.

She didn’t know exactly when it had happened. Maybe it was the way he always made sure she was safe, even when he didn’t have to. Maybe it was the little moments when he let his guard down, showing her glimpses of the man behind the title. Or maybe it was just the way he looked at her sometimes—like she was more than just a responsibility or a partner in name only.

‘I’ve fallen in love with him, haven’t I?’

The thought hit her like a punch to the gut, leaving her breathless. She hadn’t meant to. Hell, she hadn’t even realized it until now. But there it was, clear as day.

‘I love him…’

The words echoed in her mind, and for a moment, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. It was terrifying, admitting it to herself. But at the same time, it felt… right.

Carefully, she leaned in, her heart pounding in her chest. Her lips brushed against his in a soft, fleeting kiss—a silent confession, one she wasn’t ready to say out loud just yet. It was over in a second, but the feeling lingered, warm and comforting.

“Goodnight, Argod,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. With that, she closed her eyes, letting herself drift off into a light nap beside him, the warmth of his presence lulling her into a peaceful sleep.

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I blinked and woke up, the haze of sleep still clinging to me as I tried to get my bearings. I didn’t know how long I’d been out, but damn, it was a good nap—one of those deep, dreamless sleeps that leaves you feeling refreshed. Judging by the faint glare of the sun filtering through the curtains, it was probably late afternoon, maybe even evening.

I shifted slightly, and that’s when I noticed her—Marissa, lying beside me, fast asleep. Her head rested on the pillow just inches from mine, her hair spilling around her like a dark halo. The sight caught me off guard. She hadn’t left like she said she would. Instead, she stayed.

I didn’t move right away, didn’t want to wake her. There was something peaceful about seeing her like this, her face soft and relaxed, the usual sharpness in her expression gone. It was rare to catch her looking so unguarded.

‘She stays…’ I wondered, my mind still groggy from sleep. Not that I was complaining. It felt… nice, having her here. Comfortable even.