Comment by Introvert on Black Chain - Chapter 85

This manga/novel is all about the gaslighting male lead trying to get redemption for killing his companion/consort. He is the one who really sent the scarf to her to hang herself.

ML agrees because MC is seriously injured and needs first aid fast, he didn’t have the time to fight with Terrell. 3rd tiger bro and gang die a quick death, and MC is quickly given first aid. She was unconscious for 5 days, and ML is by her side every single day, nursing her. MC woke up and her first question to him was 'is the white dragon's daughter safe' and ML feels immense regret that this was how he brainwashed her in the past life - not asking about her own condition first and instead have to care about protecting the royal family/dragon clan first a.k.a 'others before herself'. In between the chapters, there were many references back to the 14 years MC suffered and how ML did not care about her previously, and he starts to care now. MC is troubled by this because she thinks ML is doing this in the fit of a moment and does not really care for her actually. Eg, somewhere in between chapters, Rottingen got ambushed and raided.

MC quickly went to help the women and children of the city/getting them safe, while the ML kills the enemy. MC also can protect herself because of the companion skill. ML quickly went to find the MC and check in on her, asking her why she was so selfless and tells her to stay out of the fight to get out of harm’s way, and the MC went thinking like how is it funny that he is concerned about her now vs compared to the 14years she had spent by his side, where he did not care whether she was injured or not.

ML brought her roses the next day when checking in on the MC and MC looked weirdly at him. ML thought he has done something wrong and asks is she doesn’t like roses and MC said, she likes roses however ML said in the past that roses does not suit her and she suit forsythia (sort of ugly flower). ML looked shocked as he doesn’t remember that for that moment. MC said never mind, since he could not remember that since it was only affecting her after all. However ML finally remembers that in the past he really did say roses does not suit her (as if saying she was not pretty/showy enough for the flowers) and he regrets it immensely. He told her she is prettier than the roses and he is sorry, he was wrong that he said that before. He starts to give her flowers – seasonal/not seasonal ones.

MC and ML goes to the imperial palace. People start to judge MC (like why a lowly lair warden is able to stand next to the majestic black dragon). Doesn’t help that ML is showering MC with LOTS of affection, always looking for her and helping her do things. MC knows she is being judged but didn’t care anymore because she thinks, again, this has nothing to do with her. Many attended the celebration of selecting the companion for yellow dragon – Tyrell included. At the same time, many old nobles/counsels approach ML and tell him to refrain from acting like that to MC (showing affection), as MC isn’t of noble class. ML doesn't give a da** but anyway, asked MC if she wants a title, and MC thinks there are no use to those big title names and told him she can do anything for him, but she doesn’t want anything from him. MC realised that the reason he asks if she wants a title is because people are saying she is just a commoner etc. ML while arguing about this point with her, accidentally let slip that ‘don’t talk nonsense just because you are a commoner’.

Hearing this, MC told him if he doesn’t like it, he can just dispose her or let her go live her own life. ML starts to grovel at her feet again, saying no, he didn’t mean that, and asks her to marry him again (a.k.a be by his side legitimately), and she says NO. Tyrell in the meantime got killed by ML (bite and throw the tiger around like a plaything). While Tyrell was getting played to death, the army general told MC that since ML announced to everyone (through his fit of rage when Tyrell mentioned MC) that MC is his companion, then Rottingen must prepare for another war to come from the imperial city. The siege ended with Tyrell dead and ML was not really harmed because his dragon skin is so thick, so the harpoons did minimal damage. ML starts to search for MC but couldn’t find her. He gets anxious because he knows MC hates to be pegged as his companion. When he finally found her, she was trying to hang herself. ML quickly saves her and started saying he was wrong, and he was sorry that he dared get angry for her honour. MC says she can’t stand it, and anyway, ML would kill her again in the next 10 years. So it is better to die now.

Hearing MC said that she rather died now got ML groveling at her feet once more, vehemently asking her to not die and it was all his fault. No matter what, it is all his fault. He starts to blame himself on her past death again, and he knew that because he killed her before, MC will never forgive him and will never trust him. He asks MC what should he do? The whole world would know why he killed Tyrell by the next morning. He wants to treat her preciously. He said sorry that he was only doing this now. He takes out a ring and put it on MC and cries, saying he will neverp let her go and will do whatever the MC wants.

MC settled all her tasks – looking after Denise, handling the jewels from the noble ladies, ensuring enough food going around in the city, she thought she doesn’t have much else to do. ML approaches her and told her she didn’t really have to do anything actually. MC replies that she is doing her salary’s worth. ML then asks her to join him for desserts (overheard MC and Silas talking about sweets) but MC remembers he doesn’t like sweets, so why ask her to join him? And anyway, she says he doesn’t like to join her for meals anyway. ML is puzzled because he thinks he never said so. However when MC asked when did he have a meal with her before she passed away, he couldn’t remember.

MC then continued saying, in the past, she would always ask if he has eaten and he always replied he ate, or he wasn’t hungry. Doesn't that mean that he doesn’t want to dine with her? That is why MC says she doesn’t want to eat with him now, because they are not that close. ML starts having a pained expression again and unable to meet his eyes. He says he will wait until she wants to eat with him instead. He then asks her how does he wait, and MC doesn’t understand this, because she knows how ridiculous it was to wait, as she has waited for 14 years. ML continues to say sorry and he will make up for it. He will try and like the sweets she like, so go eat with him. MC gives up and said then let’s go, and asked to bring Silas.

ML knows that the MC that looks at him worriedly when he fought Soruk existed somewhere, but MC wouldn’t tell him that she cares for him. MC laughs it off, saying she is a highly sought-after politician and strategist by many countries, does she not know what it means to be tied to him? It means in the event that the emperor accuses ML of treason, they both will die as there is no way ML would let her go. ML says he is not letting her go because ‘HE LOVES HER’, not because of any political motivations. MC of course, does not believe in his so-called love, and she refused to be dragged along with it.

So, since she entered into a political marriage with him, then she will see to it that there would be an heir. (I have no idea why she would think about a heir to secure her position actually) She recalls back that previously she waited until she was 37 years old, and then it was too late to have children, so nobles turned their backs on her by then. So, she thinks now, she is back to 23 years old, she should seize this chance. ML thinks inwardly it was a good thing back then, that he killed all those da** nobles, and then told MC to do whatever she wants – use him to get a successor if she wants to solidify her standing in the empire a.k.a be an empress (after the rebellion). ML starts saying he loves her again and again and well, they do the deed for days.

ML corrects her and say they are going to be a family, so since she is going to be a mother, they should parent their kid together. ML asked, so what would MC teach their kid? MC seems stumped at this thought, because her initial thoughts were not aligned like this. ML asks her to think about it after they ascend the throne, there is no hurry now (he’s anxious that she’d run again if he forces her to answer). Meanwhile, MC and ML decide to recruit surrounding territory to back them up in the upcoming war. MC motivation is she doesn’t want to die by treason, so she would work hard to win the war. ML thought she probably thought back about her own death again, where people falsely accused her of treason and ML sending her the scarf. ML then told her never again would he kill her, and would not let it end that way. MC starts to nonchalantly guilt trip him say hanging is a bit painful but once you done it once, doing it again is no big deal…and ML starts to freeze up once more, shaking etc. So, MC changed the topic to recruiting surrounding lords again. ML couldn’t even reply because he was traumatised by MC and said he would do as what she says. He then repeats he will do whatever MC wants and will never send her away like that again.

ML invites Tenus to join the manhunt for the criminal in H.H. In between, Tenus ask again how ML turned back time and ML said ‘try killing your companion’. ML understands that even if he turns back time, there is no turning back. MC doesn’t trust him and that became the reason she is obsessed with wanting a successor. He laments that they are still misaligned and could not turn back at all. Tenus didn’t ask further. He agrees to join them on the manhunt as he detest these type of people that bullies the weak.