VBNWDW - Chapter 62
Chapter 62
The man was killed in the morning. The urgent letter summoning her back arrived in the afternoon.
A heavy stench of blood still lingered over the hastily constructed execution ground. Members of the Council families had tried to intervene but were blocked by Duke Ander, who cited military orders. She then had it loudly proclaimed throughout the city how this man had delayed the rescue and attempted to harm the Queen.
At this, the surrounding people of Nia City glared with fury. Some went so far as to hurl abuse directly at the bound Niles.
What they saw as an insignificant delay was paid for with the lives of Nia City's people. If they had arrived sooner, fewer would have been sacrificed. How could the people of Nia not hate him, not curse him?
Even the members of the Council families who were listening nearby felt their faces flush with shame, hiding themselves away, not daring to argue with these commoners.
Their only recourse was to plead with the Queen, hoping she would stop Ander's decision. But Her Majesty said nothing, only watching them in silence, as if to remind them that she was the intended victim of their scheme.
The Council family members were helpless. They couldn't very well storm the execution ground to rescue the man, not when that black dragon was still perched on the Queen's shoulder, regarding them lazily with its molten-gold eyes, as if selecting a suitable little snack.
And so, that exceptionally talented Gifted, Niles, was forced to kneel at the chopping block and beheaded.
He was the first Gifted in history to be killed in such a manner. His severed head was fought over by the furious commoners, kicked and booted about.
Duke Ander did not stop them. The people, having just endured a terrifying war, needed such an outlet for their rage.
Upon seeing him killed, the man from the same family turned ashen. He took only his ring, not even bothering to retrieve the body, and rushed back to Anthelia alone.
After all, he was just a Gifted who had sided with the Roy family. Once dead, he had no more value. The most crucial thing now was how they would explain this to their family and minimize the punishment.
Later that afternoon, the messengers from the Council and the Temple arrived. They had spared no expense, using an intermediate wind mage just to deliver the message that they hadn't realized how perilous the border was. The Council and the Temple were worried for Her Majesty's safety and hoped she would begin her return journey today.
Metis knew, of course, that their concern for her safety was false. If they were truly worried, they wouldn't have let her accompany the main army to Nia City in the first place. What they truly feared was the little Queen slipping from their grasp, no longer under their control. That was why they were so desperate for her to return to her cage.
However, Metis was currently in no position to defy the orders of the Council. She could only hastily summon Talia before her departure.
"Your Majesty," the pale-faced Duke called out in a low voice.
Having experienced so many major events in just a few short days and with no adequate rest before having to get busy again, the woman's voice was hoarse and her eyes were bloodshot. Still, she held herself steady, leaning in toward the Queen.
Metis pressed her lips together. The instincts etched into her royal bloodline told her she should now feign a tolerant and considerate demeanor, ordering the duke who had just sworn fealty to her to go rest immediately, to make her feel the royal family's thoughtful concern.
But she was out of time. The carriage sent by the Council was already waiting behind her, eager to stuff her inside.
Metis could only purse her lips and quickly explain that she was leaving. Then she instructed, "You must find concrete evidence of their illegal gold mining."
Although the Ander Family knew about the matter and had been pressured by other families to provide assistance, they had always been far from the center of power. They were allocated only a small amount of gold and didn't even know where the mine was located. They only had a few letters that mentioned it, which was far from enough for Metis to use the situation to achieve her goals.
Therefore, the Ander Family had to find more tangible, irrefutable evidence for her.
Talia nodded immediately.
Next, using her body as a screen, Metis flipped her hand over to reveal the sixth-tier scrolls she had prepared. It was half the number she had originally planned; the dragon had rushed to make them just now.
Although Metis's personal treasury was substantial, when it came to magical items, there wasn't much she could produce. Most of it consisted of things like crowns, holy swords, and magic staves.
After all, the royal family, with its waning influence, had long since lost the favor of powerful mages and was unable to purchase scrolls from them. When faced with danger, they could only deplete the scrolls accumulated by their predecessors. As a result, after searching for a long time, Metis had only been able to find a single third-tier scroll.
The dragon had been lying beside her then, watching Metis in silent disdain.
Fortunately, her contract partner was a space-attribute dragon. Even though it was its first time encountering scrolls created by humans, it mastered the method of making them in ten seconds—using its spatial abilities to store magical skills in special parchment.
The sixth-tier scroll Her Majesty had used to cleave the earth yesterday was the dragon's first creation. The effect was undeniably perfect, sparing the Queen the embarrassment of facing a Great Mage's full-powered attack with a third-tier scroll, having its meager sparks blown away by the wind, and ultimately needing the dragon to save the day.
"This… this is too valuable, Your Majesty!" Upon seeing what was in her hand, Talia couldn't help but raise her voice in a cry of alarm, despite others being present.
These were sixth-tier scrolls. Even Duke Ander herself possessed only one as a last resort.
She quickly shook her head, refusing. "Your Majesty, you need these more than I do."
Seeing Talia's reaction, Metis grew more pleased, but also felt a sense of helplessness. If she had a choice, who would hand out a pile of sixth-tier scrolls as gifts? If previous members of the royal family knew, they would probably leap out of their coffins to curse her for being a spendthrift.
But the current Queen could only trade with the dragon, having it create scrolls to bestow upon the Ander Family—the first to pledge loyalty to her—to guard against a potential war and retaliation from the Council families.
Metis forced a slight smile and said, "I have its protection. I won't need these."
Talia followed her gaze to the little black dragon sleeping soundly on Metis's shoulder.
Before a dragon, sixth-tier scrolls were indeed nothing special.
Metis pushed the thought aside and stuffed the scrolls directly into the other woman's hand. Looking into her eyes, she said gravely, "Talia, don't forget what happened this morning. Only the living have value."
Talia thought of the abandoned corpse and nodded solemnly.
"Protect yourself and your family. Wait for me to find a way to bring you back to Anthelia."
"If you have the chance, try to win over the Gael family as well, and share some of these scrolls with them."
Talia's expression was serious as she agreed to everything. She knew she was now thoroughly part of the Queen's faction and ought to serve her loyally.
She said in a low voice, "I will contact the Gael family in a while. Their family is even more… they should agree."
Metis nodded slightly. The people behind her were already urging her on, the whipped horses neighing loudly.
Talia put away the scrolls and, in a reverse motion, took out a flask of wine and two cups. Her eyes were resolute as she looked at Metis and said in a deep voice, "Time is short, and your subject was unable to prepare more. I can only offer this fine vintage from my family's collection to see Your Majesty off."
The amber liquid poured into the cups, swirling into ripples.
She left the rest of her words unsaid, merely looking at Metis with eyes full of expectation, as if waiting for the promise she had made last night.
The winds of Nia City had terrified them. The Ander family had had enough. During their sleepless nights, not a moment passed when they did not long for their homeland.
Metis nodded slightly and accepted the cup. Just as she was about to tilt her head back and drink, the little black dragon suddenly spoke up. "What's that? It smells so good, Metis."
It shifted its body, perching upright on Metis's shoulder. Its shrunken bone wings fluttered unconsciously, its molten-gold eyes fixed on the cup.
The little black dragon turned its head to look at Metis and asked again, "Can I have a sip?"
Both Metis and Talia were stunned. The Duke raised her empty cup, wanting to do something but not daring to speak, only looking at the Queen, at a loss for words.
Metis, too, was a bit bewildered. The dragon rarely showed interest in human food. It had tried a few bites last time and never brought it up again. Why would it suddenly speak up now?
She sensed a subtle wrongness but couldn't pull out her notes on draconic habits, nor could she think it through. The people behind her urged her on again, the long whip cracking impatiently in the air.
"Metis?" The little black dragon blinked, its eyes as brilliant as jewels in the sunlight, without a single impurity.
Talia chimed in at the right moment, "It's a fruit wine, not very strong. Even the children in the Ander family sneak a sip or two."
Metis pursed her lips and raised the cup to the little black dragon's mouth, cautioning, "This is wine. Just try a sip first. If you like it, we can drink more when we get back to Anthelia."
The little black dragon behaved itself, nodding and truly only leaning down to take a small sip.
Metis then drank the rest of the wine. They exchanged a few more hurried words before parting ways.
The brilliant sunlight fell, casting dappled spots of light in the dense forest. Birds took flight with a flutter, shaking the verdant branches.
The Gifted who had rushed over before couldn't stand the scorching border weather. Seeing Metis heading back, they used the excuse of protecting her to leave Nia City with her.
The people from the Temple, however, mindful that the situation in Nia City was not yet stable, remained in the city to help. They would return later with the main army.
A line of carriages pressed over the dirt road. There weren't many soldiers around. To get back to Anthelia sooner, the pampered Gifted had only taken a few soldiers with them to serve as guides, scouts, and carriage drivers.
No one spoke. Only the faint chirping of insects could be heard as the forest's tranquility spread.
Sitting by the window, Metis kept her eyes lowered, staring at the book in her hands with a somewhat grave expression.
Leaning against the other side was a silver-haired woman with half-closed eyes, her posture languid. Her black, jewel-adorned dress outlined her fine figure. Sunlight fell on her enchanting profile, and the corners of her eyes glistened.
Metis took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on a heavily underlined sentence.
Dragons are naturally fond of alcohol, but have extremely low tolerance. Never, ever, ever give a dragon alcohol!
The forcefully written words were so heavy they nearly pierced the page. Metis didn't know what the first Queen had experienced, but it clearly wasn't a pleasant memory.
Yet such a profound warning had been tossed into a corner by later generations, because aside from the first Queen, no one had ever seen a dragon drink. They would only sleep on piles of gold coins and gems, waking up occasionally to chat with humans when the weather was nice.
Metis was silent for a moment, wondering just how low "extremely low tolerance" was. A single sip of very low-alcohol fruit wine shouldn't be a problem, right?
But she looked up and saw Yueqing, a smile in her eyes. She had changed into her human form the moment she got in the carriage. Metis knew this black dragon's favorite thing was to shrink down and nap on a pillow placed on her lap—preferably with some gold coins added. It could sleep contentedly for a whole day like that. The current situation was truly abnormal.
"Metis," Yueqing spoke first, her voice carrying its unique, lazy tone. The hem of her dress swayed as she lifted her leg.
"Lord Yueqing," Metis replied, pursing her lips. She saw the other woman's bare foot press against her calf. The cool temperature felt as if black scales were transmitting their chill through the thin fabric.
"Why aren't you talking?" Yueqing tilted her head, her silver hair falling like silk. She asked again, "Are you in a bad mood?"
Metis had intended to say it was nothing, but when she met those molten-gold eyes, she changed her mind. "A little."
"Is it because of the Council and the Temple?"
The cold sensation crept up from her calf. The hem of her dress was pulled, revealing the fair skin beneath.
"Yes," Metis managed to answer, clinging to a thread of reason.
"Will you make them pay the price they deserve?" Yueqing's tone remained lazy, as if she were commenting on a leaf falling from a tree outside—so very casual.
"Of course," Metis did not hide her intentions.
"Then what about mine?"
Metis paused, but before she could ask, the black dragon added, "I made so many scrolls for you, and you still haven't given me my corresponding payment."
Her Majesty couldn't help but smile. This creature was truly drunk, to have so bluntly steered the conversation back to its payment. But then she thought the dragon couldn't be that drunk, since it could still clearly remember that it had just made many scrolls.
Yueqing emphasized, "They were all sixth-tier scrolls. They're very valuable in your human world."
"Yes, so valuable that money can't even buy them," Metis continued, playing along.
"So you'll have to pay a very high price, then?" Yueqing blinked. It was a simple action, yet it exuded an extremely bewitching charm, a sort of allure that seemed to emanate from her very bones.
"What does Lord Yueqing want?" Metis was very patient, whether she was dealing with the little black dragon or Lord Yueqing.
The person opposite her suddenly leaned closer, as if sizing her up, contemplating what kind of payment she should demand.
Metis didn't move an inch, even as the other's breath fell upon her thin lips.
Yueqing stared at her, then suddenly laughed and said, "Your eyelashes are so thick."
In the sunlight, the woman quietly looked back at her. Her thick, curled lashes trembled, casting a pale gray shadow on her lower eyelids, like the fluttering of a butterfly.
Yueqing's gaze moved downward. "Your eyes are beautiful, too. They sparkle, like gems."
This was the second time Metis had heard a dragon use the word "sparkle" to describe her. It made her wonder if that was why the dragon treated her so differently.
They were extremely close, their breaths mingling, almost touching the fine hairs on each other's cheeks. Molten-gold eyes met pale gray-blue ones, each reflecting the other's image.
"Metis, I want your eyes," Yueqing said again, her tone as casual as ever, as if she didn't realize how strange her words were.
Metis couldn't quite tell if she was making a deal with a dragon or a greedy demon from a story. Legend had it that they would start by asking for something you considered trivial in exchange. Once you tasted the benefits and fell deeper, they would start making exorbitant demands, eventually even seeking to claim your soul.
Would this dragon be like that? From a few gold coins to her eyes… what would be next?
"Alright," Metis heard herself answer softly. Her quickening heartbeat was a warning, yet she chose to step into the dragon's trap.
Hearing this, the triumphant black dragon laughed. She raised a hand to cover Metis's eyes and said, "Then your eyes are mine."
"Alright," Metis answered once more. Her world went dark, and her other senses sharpened. She could taste the faint aroma of fruit wine on the other's breath.
Time had been tight before, so Metis hadn't savored the wine. Now, she was experiencing its flavor in the other's presence.
Duke Ander's prized vintage was indeed excellent.
Such was Her Majesty's assessment.
The dragon suddenly drew closer to Metis and murmured, "Metis, I want to drink more wine."
Metis thought that they would reach the next city-state in a while, where they would stay for the night. She just didn't know if the wine there would suit the dragon's taste.
She was about to speak when her slightly parted lips were sealed.
The wicked dragon had its own way of tasting the fruit wine ahead of time.
Metis reached back, her hand pressing against the soft cushion, sinking deep into it as she struggled to keep herself from falling backward.
Her chin was lifted, the line of her neck taut. Even though her mind was blank on such matters, Her Majesty still responded with clumsy movements, allowing the wicked dragon to take what it wanted.
Strands of silver and gold hair fell against each other, eventually tangling together, as if they were always meant to be inseparable.
Clearly, the dragon didn't know much either. After prying her lips apart, it just bumped around inside, occasionally hitting her teeth in its haste.
But dragons had an extremely strong aptitude for learning in all aspects. In a moment, it understood. The deliciousness wasn't just inside. It nibbled on her soft lips, as if savoring a delectable treat.
At some point, a cool breeze slipped in through the lifted carriage curtain, rustling their skirts. The black and white hems swayed and intertwined.
The hand covering her eyes slid down to cup her cheek, cold fingertips brushing past her earlobe.
Metis wrapped an arm around the other's waist. The thin, firm texture of skin pressed against her palm, feeling as if it could be easily snapped, yet also as if it concealed immense power.
The black dragon knelt on her lap, imperiously stealing all her breath.
The sounds from outside the carriage were clear: the axle grinding over gravel, the difficult fall of hooves, the coachman cracking his whip, sending sharp snaps through the air.
The wet sounds of lips parting and meeting echoed by her ear.
After an unknown amount of time, Yueqing finally released her. She lowered her head, resting her forehead against Metis's, and said hoarsely, "I regret it, Metis."
"I should have exchanged something else with you."
Her gaze remained on those soft lips, which were now covered in a moist sheen and slightly swollen from the rough treatment.
"I should have traded for this."
Metis tilted her head back slightly, her ragged breathing not yet settled. A peachy-pink mist veiled her enchanting face, and her pale gray-blue eyes were even more captivating, like the clearest, most sacred Lantis Lake, misty and shimmering with moisture.
"No, I want this too," Yueqing amended again, willfully abandoning the multiple-choice question.
Metis, however, laughed. "If I recall correctly, Lord Yueqing, the contract we signed was a Partner Contract, not a Master-Servant Contract, was it not?"
The black dragon paused for a dull moment before mumbling, "Can we change it now?"
She's really drunk…
Metis watched her quietly as the drunken black dragon passed out in her arms, her eyes closing in a dizzy haze.
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