Chapter 1: The Stylist Gets Dumped
MY name is Mayna Spring, and I am a hairstylist. Contrary to what the name suggests, however, we do much more than simply style hair—we trim it, maintain proper grooming, choose hairstyles to suit a given client, and more.
Personally, I’m proud of the work I do. It’s fulfilling, and I love it. But when it comes to most other things—romance included—I can’t say I’m interested.
Or at least, I wasn’t… until five days ago, when I met a man at the royal banquet who changed my perspective ever so slightly.
“At last, I’ve found you. You’re my Bondmate,” he said to me, his eyes glistening.
His name was Ray Alide, and he was a Dragonkin. He was a knight from the neighboring kingdom of Vaxwald, the land of dragons, and he was in attendance as the Prince’s bodyguard.
“What’s a Bondmate?” I asked.
“For a Dragonkin, it is our destined partner. A soulmate,” he explained with a radiant smile.
“O-Oh my,” I stammered bashfully.
The sudden confession caught me off guard, but I admit, I swooned a little. With blond hair, golden eyes, and an amicable personality I never would have expected from a Dragonkin, Ray seemed almost like a handsome prince from a fairy tale. And although I was a grown woman of twenty years, I had absolutely no prior experience and, quite frankly, was in over my head.
My parents ran a local barbershop, so I grew up learning about hair care from an early age. Then, just two years ago, I was chosen to serve as the personal hairstylist for the Princess of our great nation of Myulan. Since then, I’ve found myself far too busy to go on dates or deal with anything of the sort.
“Not to say that all Dragonkin have a predetermined Bondmate, mind you. Quite the opposite, in fact. The vast majority of us learn about love the same way your people do: through trial and error. But for those who are privileged to have a Bondmate, it is a tremendous blessing,” Ray explained, smiling as though he could scarcely contain his joy.
“That’s fascinating,” I replied, “but… I mean, I don’t know anything about you… and I’m not even nobility or anything! The only reason I’m at this banquet is because Princess Patricia wanted me to be on standby in case of a hair emergency. I’m her personal stylist, you see.”
Granted, I certainly looked the part; I was wearing a suitably formal dress, with my perfectly maintained raven locks elaborately coiffed for the occasion. Ultimately, however, I was a mere commoner.
“Oh, that doesn’t bother me. I may be Vaxwald nobility by birth, but to me, one’s social status hardly matters,” he answered without hesitation. After a moment, he furrowed his brows. “That said, this conversation probably should have waited until after I introduced myself, now that I think of it. I’ve gotten ahead of myself completely... I hope you can forgive my lack of discretion.”
Though he was clearly elated to have found his one true Bondmate, he possessed the wherewithal to prioritize my feelings, something I appreciated. The two of us took a step back and introduced ourselves, with Ray conducting himself like the perfect gentleman. It was clear he was making an effort not to keep harping on about the Bondmate thing, lest I feel pressured.
Then, three days after the banquet:
“You’re going back to Vaxwald the day after tomorrow, right?” I asked.
During his stay at the Myulan Castle, Ray had consistently found time in his schedule to come and visit me, and it was around this point that I had started to grow attached to his presence.
“Yes, I’ll be returning with His Highness Prince Dario. Not to worry—I promise I’ll write you letters, and I’ll come see you whenever I can. We can take it slow, and if I someday win your heart, I hope you’ll consider visiting me in Vaxwald, even if it’s years from now.” He paused, then added, “Honestly, I’m half-tempted to skip the wait and take you home with me right now.”
The way he said it, I wasn’t entirely sure he was joking.
As things stood, I was honored to be the sole stylist in attendance to the Princess of Myulan, and I wasn’t eager to give that up just yet. However, I didn’t see the harm in visiting Vaxwald someday, as Ray had suggested. I was curious to see what hairstyles were in fashion among Dragonkin women, and I wasn’t opposed to the idea of opening my own salon there someday… with Ray at my side...
Looking back, I was stupid to even consider planning my life around some guy I had only known for three days. But love is blind, as they say, and first love all the more so.
On the day Ray was scheduled to leave Myulan, his attitude toward me drastically changed.
When I went to say goodbye and see him off, he turned to me with a frown and clipped out, “I’m sorry, but I need you to forget everything that happened between us over the past few days. It turns out you’re not actually my Bondmate.”
“What?” The almost icy look in his eyes made me recoil slightly. “I’m not your Bondmate?”
“Yes, it would appear I was mistaken.”
His tone was too casual for someone who had previously struck me as dutiful and steadfast—someone who, twenty-four hours prior, had gazed at me with eyes that said I was his whole world. I could scarcely believe it. All the romance between us seemed to evaporate, just like that.
“I admit, I’m obviously not a Dragonkin, so I don’t have all the details, but… is that even possible?”
“Again, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding I’ve caused, but the fact of the matter is, I made a mistake. I no longer feel any attraction to you, and I must ask that you forget whatever feelings you may have had for me. This is farewell, Mayna.”
✦ ✦ ✦
And with that, he climbed astride his horse, joined up with Prince Dario and the other knights, and rode off.
Meanwhile, I was left standing there, staring blankly after him. “What?” I said in a tiny voice. “Forget my feelings? Where did this even come from?”
First he drops all this “Bondmate” stuff on me, then he wins me over, and now this? It felt like a rude awakening from what was once a happy dream.
As the Dragonkin riders slowly shrank into the distance, I simply stood there, my fists shaking with formless rage—not at Ray, but myself. How could I have been so stupid? I always told myself I’d never let a man pull one over on me like that. Why did I let myself get so carried away?
I grit my teeth in frustration. Apparently, I was a lot more gullible than I realized.
“I guess I should be grateful this happened before things got serious... Maybe I’ll just chalk it up to experience...” I grumbled to myself.
Just then, Princess Patricia wandered over with her attendants. Similar to myself and Ray, she had come to bid farewell to Prince Dario.
“If they can morph into dragons, then why don’t they just fly home? Don’t you find it silly, Mayna?” she asked me, wearing a sweet, almost cherubic expression befitting her sixteen years.
“Indeed,” I replied halfheartedly.
“His Highness complimented me on my hair again today. He said my plaits were ‘quite beautiful’! And it’s all thanks to you!”
“I’m glad.”
“He was ever so surprised to learn I have my very own personal stylist! Of course, surely even nobility would think it decadent, or so I imagine. After all, most simply ask a servant to handle it.”
“Our profession is still somewhat of a novelty. Yes, I need to work harder... No more wasting time on romance...”
“Mayna? Are you all right? You seem a bit gloomy...” She blinked for a moment, then clapped her hands together. “I’ve got it! You must be sad to part with that fair-haired knight, aren’t you? He did call you his Bondmate, after all. And you looked rather happy about it, I must say!”
“L-Let’s not go there...” I was ashamed to think of how giddy and carefree I had been.
Reluctantly, I explained to Her Highness about how Ray had changed his tune.
“A mistake?” she repeated, eyes wide, brows furrowed in puzzlement. Meanwhile, her three attendants snickered to themselves, likely pleased to know the handsome knight had lost all interest in a lowly hairstylist such as myself. After all, his undivided attention had warranted a fair bit of envy in my direction.
I wasn’t bothered by their scorn, however. Personally, I was ready to wash my hands of the entire affair.
“I’m just going to devote the rest of my life to my work... I never should’ve wasted my time on a man when I still have so much training ahead of me... From now on, my heart and soul belong to hair and hair alone... It’s for the best...” I muttered dispassionately, my shoulders slumped, misery radiating from every inch of my being.
“Why, you look utterly crushed! Poor dear... Are you quite sure you’re all right?” She frowned, her tone sympathetic. Even her attendants seemed to pity me.
There was no need, of course. My job was my whole life’s purpose. Only my career could bring me true happiness.
...You believe me, right?