VBNWDW - Chapter 77
Chapter 77
No matter how much Yueqing gritted her teeth, she could only give up in frustration. She wrapped herself into a ball with the blanket, glaring resentfully at Metis's departing back.
The matter was sudden. The Atl Kingdom had now made such an abrupt move twice, making it difficult not to suspect they had other motives.
For instance, they might harbor intentions of invading the Roy Kingdom. The group discussed the matter until midnight, finally deciding that Her Majesty the Queen would lead one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers, a portion of the Gifted, and the Maple Family to Nia City as reinforcements.
Once the war subsided, Her Majesty would lead the troops and the Ander Family back to the capital, while the Maple Family would remain to guard Nia.
The calculations, balancing of interests, and arguments involved will not be detailed further. The morning after the decision was made, all parties mobilized swiftly. Three days later, they assembled at the city gates and set off for the border.
It was now the third day since the grand army had departed. After marching relentlessly, everyone showed signs of fatigue. Heavy footsteps trampled the muddy ground, crushing the footprints of those ahead and leaving new ones in their place.
Riding on horseback beside the carriage was Mo Wen, clad in silver armor with a longsword at her waist. Her shoulder-length red hair was tucked into her helmet, erasing any trace of her faint immaturity and replacing it with a more capable and heroic air.
She scanned her surroundings, her brow furrowed slightly as if worried about something.
Compared to last time, Metis clearly had more say. She was no longer treated as a mascot hastily shoved into the ranks. Mo Wen was a guard she had arranged for herself.
A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted slightly, then dropped without a trace.
Metis retracted her gaze and settled back onto the soft cushions.
The black dragon beside her saw this and, for some unknown reason, grew jealous. "What, is Her Majesty feeling sorry for her little knight?" she said sourly. "Should I call her up to rest for a while?"
Metis didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She raised a hand and tapped the dragon's head with a bent finger. "I told you not to let your imagination run wild," she said helplessly.
"Hmph." The little black dragon, lying on the soft cushions, turned her head away. Her tail stopped wagging and came to rest on a gold coin.
A magnanimous dragon, of course, wouldn't get angry over nothing. It was Her Majesty who was being unreasonable, worrying that her knight wasn't accustomed to her first long journey and repeatedly asking about her condition.
Metis just smiled and poked the dragon's head with her finger, her voice softening in comfort. "Don't be angry. Mo Wen's family has been unfailingly loyal to the royal family, serving me even when I was weak. I can't just give her the cold shoulder, can I?"
"Besides, Mo Wen…"
Before she could finish, the black dragon pulled a pillow over herself, completely covering her head in a clear refusal to listen to any explanation.
Metis lowered her eyes, looking at the very tip of the tail that wasn't covered. She wanted to laugh but feared the little creature would only get angrier if she heard, so she held it in.
She turned to the small table beside her and coaxed, "Alright, I won't say any more. How about a grape?"
The grapes had been purchased in the city where they had camped the previous night. Stored in a spatial ring, they remained just as fresh after a whole night.
The dragon under the pillow didn't answer. She was already holding a grudge. After Metis had left her to attend the meeting, she had become even busier, with no time to make it up to her. The past few days of travel had been even more inconvenient, so the dragon was using the matter with Mo Wen to vent her frustration.
Metis wasn't annoyed. She peeled a grape herself, the sweet juice sticking to her fingertips. The translucent green flesh made her skin look even more delicate and fair.
She lifted the pillow with one hand and offered the grape with the other.
The little black dragon sullenly raised her eyes and took a bite, but she was still upset and refused to let go, deliberately pressing her small, sharp teeth against the pad of Metis's finger.
It didn't hurt, but the sensation was strange. The cool flesh of the fruit was crushed, and its warmth enveloped her sensitive fingertip.
Metis instinctively curled her finger, then stopped.
The mischievous little creature noticed this and became even more deliberate, her tongue circling the fingertip, occasionally nipping gently and leaving tiny indentations.
Her tail wagged unconsciously behind her. She was always like this when she was up to no good—her expression would be perfectly serious, but her tail would be wagging furiously, as if afraid no one would notice her mischief.
Metis saw it but didn't point it out, deliberately letting her keep her little habit.
Waves of tingling tickled her finger. She wanted to pull back, but the dragon bit down tighter.
She could only lower her voice and plead softly, "Let go a little. I'll peel another one for you."
It was an amusing thought. In storybooks, it was always the servants who peeled grapes for the queen. Here, it was Her Majesty the Queen begging to peel grapes for a dragon.
Hearing this, the little black dragon finally loosened her jaw slightly. Her gilded eyes darted, already brewing some new mischief.
But before she could act, a voice came from outside the carriage. "Your Majesty, the Duke of Maple has sent a message. He requests a meeting with you."
The little black dragon rolled her eyes without a shred of decorum and shrank back under the blanket, already contemplating how to quickly resolve these troubles instead of being constantly interrupted.
Her Majesty the Queen, on the other hand, answered in a low voice. After a pause, she added, "These past few days of continuous travel have exhausted everyone. Since no urgent news has come from Nia City, let's have everyone rest where they are for a while."
Mo Wen bowed her head in acknowledgment, then heard Metis continue, "Have the Duke of Maple wait in his carriage for a moment. I will be there shortly."
After the reply, the sound of rapid hoofbeats faded away.
The little black dragon rolled over, turning her back to Metis. Just when she had been slightly placated, she was back to square one.
Metis peeled another grape and held it to the dragon's mouth. Then she leaned down and placed a light kiss on the little black dragon's head. "Be good," she said warmly. "I'll be back soon."
The black dragon was easy to soothe. She nibbled on the grape and hummed twice before saying sullenly, "Come back soon."
Metis naturally agreed. After feeding the dragon one more grape, she rose and left.
With the sound of a horn, the long, dragon-like procession came to a halt. Some of the less particular soldiers simply sat down on the grass by the roadside, taking off their helmets to cool down.
The Gifted, who had carriages, also stepped out to stretch their arms and legs, chatting amongst themselves and dispelling the previously somber and oppressive atmosphere.
"Your Majesty."
In the center of the procession, a carriage bearing the maple leaf insignia had also stopped. The departure had been rushed, so only the able-bodied men and guards had come ahead. The others would follow once they were fully packed.
The Duke of Maple was waiting outside. Upon seeing the Queen, he bowed and extended a hand in a salute.
Metis gestured for him to rise and was then invited into the carriage.
The interior of the carriage was luxurious. Gold leaf covered the carved patterns, jewels were dotted throughout, and a circle of soft cotton cushions lined the seats. A carpet made of magical beast fur covered the floor. Even if the carriage were to brake suddenly, a person could roll around inside without feeling any pain.
A small table stood in the center of the carriage, laden with fresh fruit, freshly brewed black tea, and some uniquely shaped pastries.
Metis looked at all this, her eyelids fluttering for a moment. She thought of the simplicity of her own carriage and then of that dragon, and a pang of guilt struck her.
The Duke of Maple didn't notice her expression, or if he did, he paid it no mind. They were long accustomed to this lifestyle. What commoners saw as extreme extravagance was merely ordinary for them.
After they sat down, they didn't immediately get to business. The Duke of Maple poured a cup of tea for Her Majesty and brought up other trivial matters. Metis listened casually, occasionally offering a reply.
It was only later that he casually remarked, "The Atl Kingdom has suddenly dispatched its troops. I wonder what their intentions are. If there is anything Your Majesty needs, you can let me know."
The recent events had made the Maple Family understand that the others had already grouped them with the Queen. No matter how he explained, it would be useless. After all, Nestor had made the Naist Family feel threatened. Driving them out was not only the Queen's will but also a move the Council families were happy to facilitate.
Having calmed down and thought things through over the past few days, he had decided to take the initiative to show goodwill and join Her Majesty's camp.
But the Council families had held power for so many years, and he was still unwilling to accept his current situation. Thus, his words left some room for maneuver.
It wasn't a pledge of complete loyalty to the Queen, but rather an offer for her to seek him out if she encountered difficulties, which didn't mean he would necessarily agree to help.
Metis understood this perfectly. Her pale, grayish-blue eyes lowered for a moment, concealing her complex emotions. She simply smiled faintly in agreement and then brought up Nestor.
At the mention of his son, the Duke of Maple clearly became more guarded. "His previous injuries were too severe," he said cautiously. "I'm afraid he might suffer long-term effects, so I haven't allowed him to walk these past few days. I'm letting him rest properly for a while."
Metis nodded in understanding and stayed for a short while longer before leaving.
As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, Mo Wen approached. After walking for a moment, she spoke. "The person sent by Duke Ander has arrived."
"What did they say?" Metis tilted her head slightly.
Because of Her Majesty, their families had already exchanged several messages privately, so the messenger hadn't insisted on seeing the Queen. He had spoken as soon as he saw Mo Wen.
"Duke Ander said the situation is strange this time. The Atl army seems to have assembled suddenly, without any preparation, and rushed here. After setting up camp outside the city walls, they haven't made any moves. Spies reported that they didn't even prepare their provisions and have been hunting in the surrounding area for food."
Metis frowned. It was indeed very strange.
Mo Wen continued, "Later, we sent people to scout further ahead and saw their supply wagons on the way. They're estimated to arrive in another day."
That meant the provisions were only prepared after the army had already set out.
Many thoughts flashed through Metis's mind, but she could only suppress them for now. She then instructed Mo Wen to inform the other generals that the Atl Kingdom was merely camped outside the city walls and had not initiated an attack, so everyone could rest a while longer.
Mo Wen naturally nodded and hurried away again.
As Metis passed the carriages of the Gifted, she glanced at them. Recalling previous incidents, she secretly resolved to give them a warning in advance to prevent any further problems.
When she returned to her carriage, the dragon inside had fallen asleep, clutching a purple grape. Hearing the noise, she groggily opened her eyes, rubbed them with a small claw, and said sleepily, "Metis, you're back?"
The little black dragon was already exquisite and adorable, with smooth, well-proportioned lines and small scales like black obsidian, resembling a doll meticulously carved by a master craftsman. Now, she sat dazed and sleepy in a small mountain of gold coins, a grape clutched in her arms.
Metis's expression softened, and her voice grew gentle. "You fell asleep?" she asked in a low voice.
She sat down and gently scooped the little dragon onto her lap, patting her lightly along her spine.
"Mmm-hmm!"
Perhaps because she had just woken up, the little black dragon's voice was still laced with sleepiness, and her drawn-out words were followed by a clingy-sounding particle.
"Metis, what took you so long?" In such a tone, even a complaint sounded like a spoiled whine.
The little black dragon had wanted to emphasize the other's fault, but in the next second, she was kissed. She was a little stunned, not understanding why Metis would suddenly do that.
But the other person didn't explain, simply lowering her eyes and smiling at her. Her golden hair cascaded down, shimmering like silk in the sunlight.
The little black dragon blinked, then received another kiss as Metis leaned down.
Claw marks appeared on the grape she was holding.
The little black dragon's expression changed. Her gilded eyes gradually cleared, and she spoke with shock and astonishment, "Metis, are you…"
She swallowed before continuing, "Do you have some kind of special hobby? Like, you're into beasts…"
The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. Metis only ever kissed her proactively when she was in her little dragon form. At other times, she was the one who initiated it or had to explicitly ask for it.
The dragon's eyes widened as she stared at Metis in disbelief. Without waiting for a reply, she declared, "You're actually into that kind of thing!"
Thankfully, she had enough restraint not to say the word "pervert."
Metis was confused at first, but then she understood what the dragon was thinking. Her expression grew complicated. She twitched her lips, about to explain, when she heard the dragon speak again.
She stretched out a small claw and placed it on the back of Her Majesty's hand. In a short time, she had accepted Metis's special fetish and offered comfort. "It's okay, Metis. Everyone has different hobbies. For example, some people look honest and proper, but secretly they like to be whipped."
"Like the head of your Temple of Light. He's always smiling, but for all we know, he could have a thing for knights, using his power to make good-looking knights submit to him."
"After all, the God of Light is no good himself. As they say, the fish rots from the head down."
The dragon tutted twice, then said seriously, "Don't feel any psychological burden. I can satisfy you. Big dragon or little dragon, any size will do. If you like claws or something else, I can cooperate…"
She didn't notice the Queen's face growing darker and darker as she continued her line of thought.
She felt it was understandable. After all, in the little queen's childhood, dragons represented protection and a sense of security. And a small dragon was cute and harmless. Sometimes, when she looked at herself in the mirror, she would circle around in satisfaction, truly the most perfect creation of the gods.
"Metis…" She was about to say more but was cut off.
"Turn human." The clipped words carried a suppressed anger. The Queen, who had yet to fully grasp her power, already possessed a faintly heart-stopping authority.
Seeing the dragon's confusion, she had to suppress her emotions and soften her tone slightly. "Lord Yueqing, please turn human."
"Huh?" The little black dragon was a bit bewildered, but she obeyed nonetheless.
A beauty with silver hair and dark skin appeared in Metis's arms. Before she could speak, her lips were sealed. Unlike her usual passive acceptance, this time Metis was urgent and reckless, pressing Yueqing back against the carriage wall, trapping her in a small corner.
The grape she had been holding fell to the floor, rolling around and getting covered in dust.
It was the first time Yueqing had been treated this way, and she was clearly flustered, unsure how to respond. Her thin lips were covered in a messy sheen of moisture. She turned her head to dodge but felt it wasn't right, explaining meekly, "I… I dropped the grape."
The usually arrogant, domineering, and bewitching beauty was now cowering pitifully in a corner, her gilded eyes filled with helpless guilt, creating a rather moving and pitiable contrast.
The wind rustled through the green treetops, creating waves of whispering sounds. Not far away, soldiers were still chatting idly. The sunlight baked the surroundings, filling the air with a dry scent.
Their hair intertwined, their breaths mingling.
"We can reach Gerkang City tomorrow. The fruit there is famous for being sweet and not sour. I'll make it up to you then," Metis replied, her hoarse voice followed by a series of soft, scattered kisses.
"Lord Yueqing," she whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Mm?" A low, breathy sound expressed her confusion.
Metis kissed her again, muffling her own words against the other's moist lips and tongue. Her low, husky tone held a devotion she herself hadn't noticed. "I love every form you take."
"Whether dragon, or human, or anything else."
As she said this, Yueqing lifted her eyes, wanting to say something, but she was captivated by the other's actions and gradually lost herself in the moment.
Outside the carriage, the sound of hoofbeats came and went. The red-haired knight seemed to sense something. Blushing with embarrassment, she led her horse a meter away and then, with a cold expression, turned away anyone who tried to approach.
The grape on the floor was crushed. At some point, the positions inside had reversed, and the assertive Her Majesty the Queen was once again being held in an embrace.
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