I'm Not Your Husband, You Evil Dragon!-Chapter 36: Final Test

I was this close__literally one tongue flick away—from licking Zeke's polished shoe when a sharp voice cut through the tense silence.

"Enough."

The word crashed through the room like a gavel striking oak, freezing every muscle in my body.

My tongue, hovering in humiliation, snapped back as my head whipped toward the doorway.

There, in the shadowed threshold, a figure stepped forward. The slow, deliberate tapping of a cane echoed off the cold marble, each strike landing like a hammer on my rattled nerves. The man moved into the light, and the air grew heavier, thicker.

The headmaster.

He paused, letting the tension stretch like a bowstring, his sharp eyes flicking from my kneeling form to Zeke's smug face, still flushed with the thrill of his twisted power play.

"Enough, Zeke," the headmaster said, his tone cold and unyielding, like a winter wind.

"The Kounari family has passed this test."

For a heartbeat, I just knelt there, my mind stumbling over his words, trying to piece together this sudden twist.

I slowly rose to my feet, wiping the bitter taste of near-submission from my mouth as my heart pounded a chaotic rhythm in my chest.

Zeke, still leaning against his marble pedestal, chuckled as he dabbed at his split lip, his eyes dancing with a mix of relief and twisted amusement.

"Oh, you should see your face, Kounari," he crooned, pushing himself off the wall. "Surprise, rage, confusion... it's priceless."

My fists trembled at my sides, every fiber of my being screaming to lash out, but the headmaster's icy gaze held me in place.

"What... what the hell is going on?" I managed to choke out, my voice rough, the echoes of my desperation still ringing in my ears.

The headmaster stepped closer, his polished cane clicking with each measured step. His eyes, sharp and discerning, flicked from me to Zeke, then back again.

"This was a test. A test to evaluate the lengths parents are willing to go for their children."

I felt my heart drop, my mind scrambling to comprehend his words. My knees still ached from the cold marble, my pride still bruised from the twisted performance Zeke had demanded.

"A... test?" I echoed, my voice rising with each syllable.

"I was about to humiliate myself for life, and you're calling it a test?"

"Yes," the headmaster said, as if this was perfectly reasonable.

"You see, the ring. That ring holds deep emotional value, memories that can't be measured by gold or platinum.

Zeke's role was to demand it, to push you to your breaking point. Most parents refuse, choosing pride over sacrifice. But your wife... she gave it up without hesitation, for Elena's future. That alone speaks volumes about the kind of mother she is."

I opened my mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. I felt like a fish gasping for air. "So... you set this up all and that women too?

Yes Zeke said.

I felt my hands clench again, the cool metal of my wedding ring pressing against my palm, grounding me as my mind raced to keep up.

"And as per you, Mr. Kounari," headmaster continued, his gaze piercing,

"chose to risk everything—your savings, your dignity, even your physical safety—for her sake, for your family's honor. You could have walked away, but you didn't. You chose to fight for something priceless, despite the humiliation, despite the cost. That is the measure of a man. That is what we seek."

I opened my mouth to respond, to demand more answers, but he cut me off with a sharp, almost predatory smile.

"Despite your wife's 'mistake,' you stood by her, ready to sacrifice everything. That shows not just loyalty, but true, unbreakable love and kindness. And that... that is why you passed."

I glanced at Zeke, my anger flaring again, but the headmaster held up a hand, silencing my unspoken rage.

"There is a reason for this harsh test," he said, his tone shifting to something deeper, something almost nostalgic.

"This academy, "Morning Star Academy... its roots stretch deep into history, back to a time when nobles ruled with arrogance and crushed anyone beneath them. Back then, power meant privilege. But even now, in this so-called modern world, some things haven't changed. The strong still trample the weak when left unchecked.

That's why this academy was never meant to serve kings or noble bloodlines. It was built for the gifted—for those with true potential, no matter their name or status.

We tested you and your wife not out of doubt, but to understand the soil from which Elena bloomed.

As for Elena... she's already spoken, not with words, but with brilliance. Her mind alone lit the path to her seat in this academy."

I felt a strange calm wash over me, my anger slipping away like sand through open fingers. It made sense now. This wasn't just a twisted prank. It was a trial, a rite of passage. A test not just of wealth or power, but of character.

"You wanted to see if we'd break," I said slowly, the realization settling like a stone in my chest. "To see if we'd fight for each other."

The headmaster nodded, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Exactly. We seek families who won't simply throw money at a problem, but who will stand together, shoulder to shoulder, even when the odds are against them. That is the kind of strength we want to nurture."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the ring in my pocket, its cool metal pressing against my palm. My mind replayed Erza's tearful face, her whispered apologies in her sleep.

My anger was gone. Replaced by a deep, bone-weary exhaustion and a strange, newfound respect for the ancient traditions this academy still clung to.

"Congratulations," the headmaster said, gesturing to his assistant, who stepped forward with a crisp white envelope, the Morning Star Academy seal glinting in the dim light.

"Elena is accepted into Morning Star Academy. Classes begin in one month. We hope to see you there."

I took the envelope, my hands still shaking, my mind struggling to process everything.

The Headmaster bowed his head and said, "We are extremely sorry for troubling you."

Zeke and that woman followed his lead, bowing deeply in front of me.

It was hard to believe—just a while ago, they were my enemies. Now, they stood before me like respectful citizens.

I took a deep breath and said, "No, Headmaster. I understand. Everything you did... it was for Elena's future."

The Headmaster gave me a small, relieved smile. Then, without another word, he turned and left.

As the headmaster turned to leave, he paused at the door, glancing back at me with a final, knowing look. "Next time, Mr. Kounari, trust your instincts. They served you well today."

I watched him disappear into the shadows, his cane tapping a slow, steady rhythm as he departed, and felt a strange, surreal calm settle over me.

I turned back to Zeke, my jaw tight. "Can I get the ring back now?"

He reached into his pocket, pulled it out, and tossed it to me. I caught it instinctively, the cool metal pressing into my palm. "By the way," he said, flashing me a bloody grin, "nice punch. Right on the chin."

I took a shaky breath, my heart still racing. "Thanks," I muttered, slipping the ring into my pocket like it was the One Ring. "Next time, let's skip the theatrics."

I had my ring. My family was safe. And for the first time in hours, I allowed myself a shaky, relieved laugh.

"What a damn test," I muttered, slipping the ring back onto my finger, where it belonged. "Next time... just send a form or something."

"This world never stops surprising me... but I'm just glad Elena got accepted. That's all that matters right now."

"I can't wait to tell Erza about the ring. She'll probably go, 'Oh my prince! You found my precious ring! Thank you so much!', yeah, I need to see that reaction. Let's go!"

To be continue....

[Author's Note]

Hey, dear readers.

Today, I want to be honest with you.

Recently, more than half of our readers vanished. Maybe I made some mistakes... maybe I'm still figuring out this crazy world of storytelling. Or maybe the story just didn't hit the mark yet.

But I'm not giving up. If you're reading this now, know that your support means everything. And if you've got feedback—any at all—I'd love to hear it. We want to make this journey better, together.

[Scene – A Quiet Evening at Home]

Elena sat by the window, staring out at the rain. Her small voice broke the silence:

"Papa... did we lose everything?"

I walked over, knelt beside her, and smiled gently.

"Not everything, Elena. I'm still here. We're still here. And as long as I can write, this story isn't over. We'll rise again—you'll see."

From across the room, Erza looked at me with that soft, rare smile of hers.

She whispered under her breath, "That's why I love you..."

I blinked and turned.

"Wait, did you just say something?"

Erza immediately looked away.

"Nope. Didn't say a thing."

"No no, I definitely heard something just now."

She raised an eyebrow with a smirk.

"If you keep pushing, don't blame me if you wake up frozen to the ceiling tomorrow."

I held up my hands in surrender.

"Alright! Message received, Ice Queen."

Elena suddenly burst into laughter, wiping her tears.

"This is why I love this novel! Even when things are sad, it always makes me smile."

[Author's Note – Final Words]

To everyone still reading—thank you.

You're the light keeping this story alive. We may have stumbled, but the journey's far from over.

Take care, stay strong, and from all of us—Yuuta, Erza, Elena...

We love you all.