VBNWDW - Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Soft moonlight spilled into the room, where the heavy scent of ink permeated the study. A chair was pulled out, and the silver-haired woman sat sideways in the queen's lap, her posture languid.
Compared to before, the dragon and the human were clearly more casual and intimate. It was a closeness that any discerning person could recognize for what it was at a single glance.
Mo Wen had known about this for a while, so she wasn't surprised by the sight. She just grumbled to herself that Her Majesty was too soft-hearted, so easily coaxed back into a good mood.
As if sensing it, Yueqing glanced over at her, a wicked and triumphant expression on her face. She deliberately lifted her chin, her lips brushing past a fair cheek, the very picture of a petty villain who had gotten their way.
Mo Wen's lips pressed into a thin line. She wanted to say something but held it back. The young knight, sheltered by her family, had never suffered any major setbacks in her life. She had always been obedient and talented. Although Orion and his group ostracized her, they never dared to do anything serious. Life had been smooth sailing until now, but these past two days had been full of frustration.
Her long, wine-red hair hung limply, making her look like a puppy that couldn't win a fight.
Watching this, a certain dragon found it all the more amusing.
Sometimes, you meet people you don't necessarily dislike, but you just can't help but want to tease them.
Metis took it all in, a hint of helplessness flashing in her pale gray-blue eyes. She had no idea where this creature got so many wicked little habits.
She raised a hand and caught Yueqing's increasingly bold one, whispering, "Be good."
The dragon pouted but didn't struggle, letting Metis hold her hand.
Metis's tone was gentle as she added, "Weren't you interested in her?"
The "her" in question was, of course, the ignored Ivo.
She wore a faded magic robe, her straw-like black hair draped over her shoulders. Her expression was indifferent, showing no emotional fluctuation at being ignored.
Only then did Yueqing lazily turn her head to look at the woman. Her drawn-out tone was nonchalant as she said casually, "If you keep training like this, you might just die, you know."
As her words fell, all three people present, including Metis, were stunned. Metis had only felt that the black dragon seemed very interested in this person and had summoned her along with the others, not knowing the reason why.
"What's wrong with her?" Mo Wen was more panicked than the person in question, blurting out the words instinctively.
The dragon glanced at her, but this time she didn't tease. She said directly, "Do you feel that your training isn't going smoothly, and that the wood elements aren't very receptive to you?"
Ivo's brow furrowed, and she finally spoke. "Yes."
Her status was special. Even after becoming one of the Gifted, she was still not valued within the Iliana family and couldn't obtain useful resources for her studies. She had assumed her talent was merely average, never expecting that there was a problem.
Yueqing swung her legs like a child playing on a high stool. If anyone else did this, it might seem childish, but she was stunningly beautiful. With her long hair cascading over her shoulders, even the most casual movement exuded a certain charm.
She was less like a dragon and more like a siren from legend, luring sailors with her beauty.
She chuckled and asked, "Have you ever considered that you might not be suited for wood magic?"
"What?" The ever-calm Ivo's expression changed. Her eyes locked onto the woman opposite her as she asked in a strained, incredulous tone, "What did you say?"
"You're not suited for wood magic. If you force yourself to continue training, with the fragile body of you humans, you'll be dead within two years," the dragon said, no longer bothering to beat around the bush.
But Ivo seemed not to notice the warning, instead pressing, "Why am I not suited for wood magic?"
It was as if magic was her everything.
The black dragon yawned. She had been up all night, and even after sleeping the entire day, she still felt extremely tired. Her tone inevitably grew listless. "You're of the rarest dark element. You know of necromancers, right? That gloomy bunch."
Mages of this type were exceedingly rare and especially disliked in places that worshipped the God of Light, so the Roy Kingdom knew very little about them.
"When you awakened, you had that bunch from the Temple help you, didn't you?"
"They have a powerful suppressive ability against dark elements. You were weak, so naturally, you couldn't sense the existence of dark elements. Wood elements, on the other hand, are gentle and affable. Since you were able to become one of the Gifted, you could naturally sense the elements and mistakenly drew them into your body."
Yueqing felt exhausted after saying all this and deliberately snuggled into the other person's embrace like a clingy, oversized cat.
Metis let her, her hand on the dragon's waist never loosening.
"What do you want?" Ivo took a deep breath. She cut the nonsense and asked directly, knowing full well that no one would be kind to her for no reason. For the other party to have spent so much effort explaining, she must have an ulterior motive.
Hearing this, even Her Majesty the Queen couldn't help but show a flicker of surprise, thinking this person was much smarter than the previous members of the Council.
"Sign a contract with me."
Yueqing looked up at her and added, "A master-servant one."
She then laid out her own terms. "I can help you clear the elements from your body and teach you how to control dark elements…"
She paused. Her tail, covered in inky scales, suddenly appeared and reached behind Ivo. Just as she had done to Metis in the hot spring, she pressed it against the other's spine, but it was much faster this time, over in an instant.
The black dragon's tail swayed as she retracted it, as if truly confirming her suspicions. A satisfied expression appeared on her face as she added, "Your talent is quite good. You could become a Magister, at the very least."
A status that was unattainable in the eyes of others was spoken of so lightly by the dragon. The breathing in the study grew heavy.
When Metis looked at Ivo again, her gaze had already changed.
Ivo seemed not to have considered it at all and was about to agree immediately.
A master-servant contract was far more unequal than a partner contract. Once signed, the servant had to obey the master unconditionally. Even if the master ordered her to turn a blade on herself, she would have to do it instantly, or else suffer torturous pain from her very soul. Moreover, if the master died, the servant would surely die as well, but not the other way around.
Any race on the Chryse Continent that understood this would absolutely never agree to it.
Yet Ivo didn't hesitate for a moment. The dragon, however, smiled and interrupted her. "Think it over carefully before you agree. If you give up training now, you can still live on."
"If you agree, I will certainly train you to be a necromancer, and that bunch is not at all popular on this continent."
This was indeed true. The Roy Kingdom didn't know much about them, but they had heard of the ill repute of necromancers. After all, who wouldn't be wary and repulsed by someone who could manipulate the souls of the dead?
But Ivo's reply was even faster. "Alright."
Her eyes were calm and unchanging, the tranquility that comes after making a firm decision.
Beside her, Mo Wen opened her mouth but chose not to intervene.
The dragon wagged her tail and tutted. "A very interesting little one."
Far more interesting than that group of people from before.
Hearing this, Metis's eyelids fluttered for a moment.
Yueqing didn't notice. She was thinking that this person would be one of Metis's future assets. The little queen's progress was currently too slow, and this creature was already getting impatient, but she couldn't rely on it for everything.
A dragon could wipe out all the Council families with a single slap, but afterward, the little queen would still be a puppet on a string, just acting out a script the dragon preferred, entering another, more exquisite prison. That wasn't what she hoped for.
Ivo's gaze shifted to the queen, and she added in a heavy tone, "The Iliana family cannot be spared."
Noting the queen's previous attitude toward the various families, although she didn't understand much about it, she knew Metis was employing a method of elevating some while suppressing others.
This was the only condition she proposed.
Metis looked at her, her pale gray-blue eyes devoid of excess emotion, and promised, "Once I have secured my throne, you can deal with them as you see fit."
As if her final problem had been resolved, Ivo nodded and said, "Shall we sign the contract now?"
The dragon raised her hand. Complex, ancient characters appeared in mid-air and then settled onto Ivo. She immediately felt as if a chain had been added to her body, one that would force her to obey with a single tug from the other party.
Yet Ivo remained calm, asking in a low voice, "How should I address you?"
The dragon answered lazily, "Yueqing."
"Lord Yueqing," she said, readily adapting.
Beside them, Metis said nothing, merely turning her head to the side. It was unclear what she was feeling, her pale gray-blue eyes downcast.
After a few more instructions, the dragon told Ivo not to train for the time being, saying she would help her deal with it in a couple of days. Then, she finally turned her attention to Mo Wen.
Yueqing still remembered that in the original story, this Mo Wen was an important character. Although she seemed like a blockhead now, in the future she would become Metis's most trusted and capable general, winning nine out of ten battles she led. Unfortunately, in the end, she was cut down at the foot of the throne for trying to advise Metis.
"Hey, you over there, the dunce," the dragon called out teasingly. An ancient, simple book suddenly appeared in her hand. She tossed it into Mo Wen's arms and said, "This dragon doesn't bully children. You paid for me last time, so I'll give you this book today."
Mo Wen instinctively raised her hands to catch it. Before she could say anything, she saw the dragon turn sideways and bury her head in the queen's shoulder, looking as if a few words had utterly exhausted her.
Her tail wasn't retracted, swaying deliberately before their eyes, exuding an inexplicable smugness.
Mo Wen pressed her lips together. The surprise and gratitude that had bubbled up were suppressed again. She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
Fortunately, Metis also had instructions for her. Before she could become flustered, the queen spoke first, wanting Mo Wen to return home and use her family's influence to deliver a message to the border.
Mo Wen naturally agreed. After a few more words, the two left the palace together.
It was now the middle of the night. The clouds that had been gloomy all day finally released a fine, needle-like rain that slanted down. A cool wind carrying dampness drilled straight through the window.
Her Majesty the Queen held the person in her arms sideways, not speaking. With her free hand, she tried to catch the swaying dragon tail.
The dragon thought she was playing and deliberately dodged, darting forward and then back. The tail, covered in inky scales, was nimble and slippery. The moment it landed in Metis's palm, it would quickly slip away again.
The light was dim, and the shadows of the bookshelves fell over them, enveloping the two. Raindrops that drifted in unintentionally left damp marks on the floor.
Warm breath fell upon the shoulder she was leaning on, blooming in soft puffs.
Metis finally spoke. "You like Ivo very much?"
Her tone was low and heavy, her emotions unreadable, as if it were a casual question.
"Hm?" Yueqing's attention was pulled back. The dodging tail finally landed in the queen's palm. It wasn't prickly, feeling more like cool, smooth leather.
"She's an interesting child, don't you think?" the dragon said, still languid.
The hand holding the tail moved up, the pad of her thumb pressing against the tip, rubbing it as if unconsciously.
After answering, the dragon tried to dodge again, deliberately pulling back, but was held fast by curled fingers. Only when she stopped struggling did the grip relax slightly, squeezing gently as if in comfort.
It wasn't as soft as one might imagine. It was made of fine, small bones, the joints distinct to the touch, almost bony.
The dragon let her knead it, her tail swaying unconsciously, only to be caught again.
After a while, the dragon slowly realized. "Metis, are you unhappy?" she asked softly.
Logically, Metis should have been very happy today. A plan she had been orchestrating for so long had finally come to a perfect conclusion. The little queen, once seen as a puppet, had for the first time exercised the authority she was meant to have. Yet the contract link only transmitted muted emotions.
Metis didn't speak, just kneaded that round bone at the tip.
The dragon blinked, then lifted her chin and pressed her cheek against Metis's. Her soft lips slid over the delicate skin, stopping by the slightly parted red lips.
"Metis, why aren't you talking?"
Because the dragon was lazily curled in her lap, Metis was slightly taller. Her pale gray-blue eyes were downcast, reflecting the other's figure. She neither moved closer nor pushed her away.
"Metis?" Not getting a response, the dragon drew out her name. Her thick, fluttering lashes brushed against Metis's cheek, creating a ticklish, numbing sensation.
Perhaps still thinking about what happened before, the greedy dragon had never known when to stop. Having tasted sweetness, she now wanted more. She raised a hand to clasp Metis's neck, forcing her to lower her head to make her mischief more convenient.
Compared to the previous times, the dragon finally had some method to her madness. She didn't rush to enter, instead hovering around the outside of her lips, teasing again and again.
The white magic robe she wore for teaching hadn't been changed yet. A string at the top held it closed, which came undone with a simple tug. Underneath was a slightly loose shirt.
Metis let her undo it, her hand still kneading that section of tail, rubbing it over and over.
The silver-haired beauty in her arms chuckled, her gilded eyes shimmering like ripples on water, radiating a soul-stealing allure.
The robe fell to the floor. Most of the buttons on the shirt were undone, revealing fair, delicate skin. The curves wrapped in white lace were half-hidden beneath the thin fabric. The next second, a hand covered them. The dragon tried to conceal them, but she couldn't stop the ripe peaches from spilling through her fingers.
Metis let out a muffled groan and suddenly tilted her head back, her spine pressing tightly against the back of the chair.
The dragon wasn't angered by her evasion. She followed, lowering her head to bite her neck. The slightly bony shoulder was half-exposed, and a blush of crimson appeared as the wind blew over it.
Her cascading silver hair swayed in the wind. The chair creaked once and then fell silent.
Yueqing had a pair of small canine teeth. She pressed their sharp points against Metis's thin skin, leaving one mark after another on her neck.
It was reminiscent of a vampire whose fangs hadn't fully grown in. Before learning how to hunt from the adults, it had encountered a delicious meal and pounced on it eagerly.
The rain outside grew heavier, and a dull clap of thunder rumbled in the distance.
A four-wheeled carriage drove out of the city walls. Because the Iliana family hadn't left a carriage for her, the kind-hearted young knight offered to take Ivo home.
The carriage was silent. Mo Wen glanced at her several times but didn't know how to start a conversation. Her hands, clenched into fists, rested on her knees, rising and falling.
Ivo, in contrast, was the calmest. She sat in the corner, her head turned to watch the rain outside the window.
The wheels rolled on, leaving only deep and shallow tracks behind before stopping at the gate.
Mo Wen got out with an umbrella and escorted Ivo under the eaves where she wouldn't get wet. Only then did she manage to say, "If you have any difficulties in the future, you can come find me."
This was the most the young knight could do.
The girl, half a head shorter than her, was silent for a moment before saying, "I could have held the things steady that day."
Her deep eyes were filled with a murky emotion, like a pool of stagnant water that could no longer be stirred by anything.
She continued in a calm tone, "You don't owe me anything. Let's cancel the tutoring."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Mo Wen standing at the door. It was a long while before she turned to leave.
No matter how hard the rain poured outside, it didn't affect the inside.
A voice tinged with laughter rang out, carrying a hint of teasing. "Metis, you're going to break my tail."
Hearing this, Metis loosened her grip slightly but still refused to let go. She knew very well the creature was lying. If it were that fragile, a dragon's tail wouldn't be one of the clan's most powerful weapons.
Yueqing couldn't help but laugh, looking a little mischievous.
The shirt had long since been pulled mostly off, and the garment underneath was in even greater disarray. The dragon had no patience to unfasten it, simply tugging it messily before reaching inside.
"You don't like me touching others with my tail, do you?" After pondering for so long, the black dragon had finally figured out the right answer.
Metis didn't reply, but she must have been hit the mark, as she deliberately lowered her head as if to stop her mouth.
Yueqing didn't dodge, only pulling her tail out slightly before saying in a husky voice, "Then will you help me wash it clean?"
Before Metis could react, she felt the tail, which she had warmed with her own body heat, slip into a place it hadn't dared to enter before, its temperature transferring through the thin fabric.
"Metis, wash it clean," the dragon repeated, her tail rubbing lightly, begging for that bit of moisture.
Her Majesty the Queen clutched the other's clothes tightly. She tried to cry out, but the sound was muffled and cut off. Her waist and abdomen suddenly tensed, arching like a taut bridge.
She bit her lower lip, but a sound still escaped from between her teeth. A soft, lovely crimson bloomed around her eyes, making them look hazy and moist.
The tail swayed in small arcs, more nimble than a knee. The inky scales were coated in a layer of mist, glistening like jewels.
Of course, the greedy dragon's mischief wasn't limited to just one place. She leaned down and bit a softer spot.
The rain outside fell harder and harder. With a loud clap of thunder that lit up the entire study, the downpour began in earnest.
Everything on the desk was swept to the floor. Her Majesty the Queen, who had studied here since she was a child, was placed upon it, her golden hair fanned out, her half-open clothes revealing delicate skin.
The wicked dragon leaned down to taste the most delicious delicacy the Roy Kingdom had to offer.
The tail remained where it was, soaked again and again by moisture, showing no sign of stopping.
Metis hugged the person on top of her tightly. The deliberately suppressed sounds finally broke free, falling entirely into the wicked dragon's ears.
Rain was still falling into the study, soaking the scattered papers on the floor, but no one cared now. The shadows on the wall merged into one, their outlines blurred.
Metis was dazed, unconsciously calling out, "Lord Yueqing…"
Yueqing responded to every call with good humor, giving her an even more profound experience.
Another clap of thunder, and a gust of wind slammed the window shut with a bang. But inside, it continued, as if it would never cease.
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