VBNWDW - Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Her words were brazen, but her actions were careful.
There were still reservations, after all, unlike the unbridled recklessness of before.
An orange halo of light fell into the room, blowing open the white gauze curtains and lifting a corner of the dress discarded on the floor.
The once-neat bedsheets were in disarray, half of them pulled to the ground. No one paid them any mind, letting them be kicked further down.
A tail covered in black scales rested casually on the edge of the bed, swaying occasionally as if in great pleasure.
Above it was Yueqing, half-kneeling. Her silver hair was unbound, partially concealing the fine curve of her spine—slender yet clearly defined. A thin sheen of sweat coated her skin, softened by the orange light, giving her an exotic, unrestrained allure.
Yueqing casually brushed her annoying hair aside before resting her hands on the other woman's waist and abdomen, her other hand hidden elsewhere. With each movement, her shoulder blades opened and closed like the fluttering wings of a butterfly.
When she did this, there was always a flippant, careless air about her. A smile played in her molten gold eyes, softening the indifference etched into her very bones, like datura flowers blooming brilliantly on the banks of the River Styx.
Metis's eyes were half-closed, the corners still holding the faint traces of tears as she was pulled into one wave after another.
But every so often, a moment of clarity would return. Her scattered gaze would catch the other's smile, and she couldn't help but raise a hand to cover it.
Perhaps because she wasn't well cared for as a child, Metis's hands and feet were always cold, only slightly warmer than a certain cold-blooded creature. But at this moment, she was hot enough to sweat. Her fair fingertips, tinged with crimson, rested feebly over Yueqing's eyes, a slight gap remaining between them.
Instead of being blocked, the other's gaze now had the charm of viewing flowers through a window screen.
However, dragons were always rebellious. Even if this was particularly interesting, she wanted to deliberately defy it.
The wet sounds suddenly quickened, accompanied by Her Majesty's voice, sounding especially pleasant in the spacious room.
The hand covering her face slowly slid down, brushing past the bridge of her nose to land on her soft lips. They were a deeper shade than usual, glistening with a moist sheen. They parted to bite the fingertip that had fallen there, transferring a scorching heat.
Metis suddenly paused, her breathing growing more erratic.
Dusk eroded the city of Anthelia. The great stone walls no longer seemed as sturdy and reliable as they once had; the cracks running through them were the masterpiece of a certain dragon.
To prevent any accidents, Her Majesty the Queen had ordered repairs the day after she woke up. However, since there was no stone available around Anthelia, it had to be purchased from elsewhere, and the repairs had only just begun in the last two days.
Smoke from cooking fires rose lazily into the air. Children ran past, laughing and playing, their feet slapping against the cracked flagstones.
At a street corner, a white-haired old beggar sat in the darkness, muttering to himself about the coming of the God of Light.
The people around him all thought he was just an old man who'd been scared witless that night. At first, they were willing to spare him a few meals, but the old codger didn't know what was good for him. He knocked it all over and shouted that he was the head of the Temple.
It was laughable. The Temple of Light had been dismantled, and its head and elders had all been sacrificed and died. Yet here was some old madman, still dreaming.
Over time, he became a joke. Only mischievous children would approach him, teasing him to get him to spout his nonsensical ravings.
The sounds from the room showed no sign of stopping. The tail that had been dangling by the bedside now probed inward, replacing the hand that had been there.
Metis was half-lying in the other's arms. The mist in her eyes had not dissipated; instead, it grew thicker, clinging to her long lashes and falling with every tremble.
Yueqing cooed softly, kissing away each teardrop. Her hand remained on the other's abdomen, afraid of any jolts.
But her gentle appeasements were no match for her mischievous cruelty.
Amidst the high body temperature, the perpetually cool tail felt exceptionally cold. It pressed tightly against delicate skin, raising patches of red with its friction.
Another shudder. The hand hooked around her neck couldn't help but fall, grabbing onto the black tail. Perhaps because it was wet, it was much harder to grip than usual. She could only grasp the tip, but that made it look strange, as if Her Majesty the Queen was the one taking the initiative.
The culprit beside her, seeing no resistance, watched this scene with a faint smile, then deliberately flicked the tip of her tail.
Metis let out a muffled grunt and gripped the tail even tighter. The round bones of her bent knuckles showed, tinged a faint peach-blossom pink.
"Don't… the child," she couldn't help but plead in a low voice.
Perhaps she was concerned for the child in her belly, or perhaps she was using it as an excuse, not wanting a certain someone to go too far.
But Her Majesty the Queen had forgotten that dragons were the most wicked and petty creatures in the world. Hearing this, not only did she not slow down, but she became even more excessive.
"The child, the child! Is the child all you have in your heart?!"
The words Metis had said before were returned to her verbatim. The dragon narrowed her eyes, the smile gone, replaced by a look of pure displeasure.
Although the youngling needed to be valued and protected, that didn't mean she was willing to share her partner.
Metis was angry, annoyed, and amused all at once. She raised a hand to soothe her, but the tail became even more brazen, moving to a place she found even more unacceptable. The hand that was about to touch Yueqing's cheek fell back onto the tail.
"Stop, I was wrong…" she said intermittently. Thanks to the dragon's deliberate actions, her voice was never in tune.
The roles had just been reversed, but the change was too swift.
But a dragon's temper was great, not as easily placated as Her Majesty the Queen's. She wouldn't stop right away. The suffering Metis had to endure, she still had to endure.
The red sun had already sunk halfway below the horizon, revealing only half its disk, yet it was still incredibly bright. The clouds in the sky were painted in different colors, and in the distance, scattered stars were already visible.
Shouts echoed from the streets as parents called their children's names. The children loved to play and always had to be urged by their parents to come home for dinner.
Out of place with the street scene, two people stood facing each other. The cool autumn wind curled around their ankles, lifting their long mage robes.
Ivo, her face cold, tried to walk forward, but Mo Wen stubbornly blocked her path.
If a dragon saw this, she would surely laugh a few times at how rigid and inflexible this little knight was.
"Move aside," Ivo frowned, her voice cold.
"I won't. Not unless you turn around and walk the other way," Mo Wen said resolutely, using her well-trained physique to block the path like a tree trunk.
Ivo's eyelids twitched with anger. She said sharply, "General Mo Wen, would you please look at what time it is? If you have business, please bring it up at the military camp tomorrow."
Mo Wen, though not in the right, was still bold. "It's time for dinner."
"Then please get out of my way and let me go home to eat."
"No, you have to come back with me," Mo Wen shook her head, her tone firm.
"Why should I go eat with you?" Ivo stared at her coldly.
"Because I still owe you a meal of grilled fish."
"You've already done more than enough. We're even…"
Before the mage could finish her sentence, the other woman forcibly hoisted her onto her shoulder, turned around, and strode forward.
"We're not even. My mother has already had someone prepare dinner, and a room is ready for you. I've already spoken to Her Majesty. From now on, you'll live at my house," she said quickly, her feet slapping against the flagstones.
Ivo tried to struggle, but how could a dark mage, frail and weak since childhood, fight against a knight who had undergone physical training since she was young? Not only did she fail, but she also exhausted her strength. In the end, all she could do was bite down on the other's shoulder.
Mo Wen was tough, too. She didn't make a sound and just kept walking forward.
The red sun completely set, and dusk faded with it. The inky night slowly surged in, seeping into the room bit by bit.
It seemed to have paused for a moment. The dragon wasn't an unrestrained creature, after all. Mainly due to certain reasons, Her Majesty the Queen was allowed a brief rest in the middle.
The room was somewhat quiet. No one spoke, letting the ragged breaths rise and fall.
Metis was still half-lying in the other's arms. Her messy golden hair partially covered her cheeks, where the faint blush had not faded but had instead intensified.
Compared to Yueqing, her features were softer, with a lingering trace of youth in her eyes that, when mixed with the queen's majesty, created a rare and unique charm.
Yueqing looked down at her and smiled again, softly calling out, "Little Queen."
Metis didn't much like this nickname and glared at her. Her light gray-blue eyes shifted, conveying a silent, coquettish reproach.
The hand on her abdomen tightened, and Yueqing's eyes darkened again.
Dragons were greedy; how could they be easily satisfied? Besides, this black dragon hadn't tasted much sweetness yet and was at the peak of her interest. If it weren't for this troublesome dragon cub…
At this thought, Yueqing's lips twitched. She grew annoyed again, wishing that something like alcohol would disappear from existence entirely.
Metis was unaware of her inner turmoil. She only felt her throat was dry and parched. She pushed the person beside her and managed a single word: "Tea."
The dragon still had some conscience. Hearing this, she threw on a coat and walked to the wooden table.
Her Majesty the Queen had recently taken a liking to rose tea, drinking two or three pots a day, so someone always had it prepared and placed on the table for her convenience.
The faintly fragrant tea poured into the cup. Yueqing took a sip herself first to make sure it was fine before turning to hand it to Metis.
One truly learns from their mistakes. Metis, who used to be quite careless about such things, would now have someone else test it first when the dragon wasn't around. She couldn't fall in the same place twice.
Not knowing how long they had been at it, Metis's throat was dry. She drank two cups before she was sated.
The dragon leaned lazily against the bed, casually watching her.
What was there to look at?
Metis shot her a warning glance, but the other woman showed no sign of restraint. Instead, she deliberately met her gaze without a hint of shame or evasion.
Metis wasn't as thick-skinned as her and could only pull the thin blanket over herself to hide.
The other person, however, just laughed, a kind of smugness that came from openly getting away with mischief.
This angered Her Majesty, who stretched out a leg to kick her. But the attempt at discipline failed, and her ankle was caught instead.
"Let go," Metis struggled.
But the other person deliberately pulled tighter, her knuckles closing as her palm pressed against the round ankle bone, leaving a faint mark.
What was most infuriating was that she still maintained that lazy, smiling expression, as if she were just watching Her Majesty the Queen throw a tantrum. It was quite exasperating.
And Metis hadn't fully recovered yet. The soreness and weakness from exhaustion were still there. How could she be a match for a dragon?
She immediately kicked with her other leg, and of course, it was caught as well.
"Let go…" Metis was very angry, both her legs folded in Yueqing's arms, unable to break free.
The one who had just promised to listen to the queen's every word had broken her promise so blatantly before a day had even passed.
Her hand tightened slightly. Not only did she not let go, but she held on even firmer.
"Stop fooling around," Metis frowned slightly. She couldn't handle this kind of nonsense right now; even after a short rest, she still felt sore and weak.
But for some reason, the other person just wouldn't listen.
She had no choice but to bend her legs and pull again, but they were still held tight. Perhaps she was truly annoyed, or perhaps she realized something. She no longer stopped as before and pulled outward with all her might.
Yueqing's posture remained casual. She even switched to using just one hand midway, her thumb and forefinger clamping down on both ankles. It was incredibly arrogant.
But even so, Metis couldn't break free in the slightest.
They remained at a stalemate, one not letting go, the other refusing to yield. Outside the window, dusk was mostly consumed, and night enveloped half the city as lights began to flicker on intermittently.
A red mark was squeezed around her slender ankle, particularly conspicuous against her overly fair skin, like a crimson vine binding her.
Her long legs were slightly bent and held together, their curves soft and symmetrical. The faint blue veins beneath her skin were visible, and the taut muscles that bulged when she strained were constant proof of her persistent efforts.
Yueqing's gaze scattered for a moment, and she couldn't help but loosen her grip.
The person opposite her truly thought she was being let go and immediately tried to retract her legs, only to have her ankles grabbed again and pulled forcefully in that direction.
The already messy bedsheets were yanked hard, becoming even more chaotic.
Metis's vision blurred, and then she found herself inexplicably kneeling on the other's lap.
"What are you doing…" she knitted her brows, somewhat displeased.
Yueqing chuckled lightly and placed a hand on the small of her back, settling it into the shallow dimples there, providing her with some support so her sore waist wouldn't be further strained.
But Her Majesty the Queen was not someone who would be appeased and deceived by a small favor. She still remembered that the culprit responsible for all this was the dragon in front of her.
She tried to pull away but was pressed into the other's embrace by the hand on her back.
If an uninformed person saw this, they would think it was the queen who had snuggled into her arms of her own accord.
The dragon raised an eyebrow, a spring breeze seeming to linger there, and said with a smile, "What are you angry about?"
She was asking the obvious.
Metis couldn't be bothered with her. Since she couldn't escape, she might as well lie in the other's arms and rest. She was already sweating again after just a few minutes, looking rather pitiful and miserable.
Yueqing wasn't angry at not getting a reply. She leaned down and kissed her hair, saying, "Look at me, sitting here perfectly fine. What could possibly happen?"
So, she still remembered their previous topic, bringing it up again after being slightly sated.
"Even if I'm sealed, I'm still much stronger than humans of the same level. I just can't summon magic above the ninth tier for now. It's not like my scales have been plucked or my tail torn off," she soothed gently.
"And as for that poison, I was just concerned about you and the child at the time and didn't dare to devour it forcefully. Now that it's been transferred to my body, I'm actually relieved. I don't have to be on edge, worrying that something might happen. No matter how strong this poison is, it can't compare to a dragon's body."
She knew this was a knot in Metis's heart that couldn't be untied. In her panic, the only thing she could do was make the dragon stay in her room all day and not allow her to go out, afraid that some accident might befall her.
Metis understood all this without Yueqing having to explain it, but the knot in her heart was difficult to undo, and she fell into a vicious cycle of self-blame and anxiety.
Seeing Metis still silent, Yueqing smiled and teased, "Could it be that Your Majesty wants to hide me away like a canary?"
She clicked her tongue twice and continued as if reminiscing, "I remember in the history of the Roy Kingdom, there really was a king like that."
It was said that this canary was a commoner of exceptional beauty. The king fell in love with her at first sight and brought her into the palace. But the Council families, citing her commoner status, refused to let the king marry her.
So the king entered a stalemate with the Council families, remaining unmarried for over a decade, keeping his beloved in the palace like a canary until the Council families finally relented.
The affair caused a huge stir at the time, even reaching neighboring kingdoms, and the story is still told everywhere today.
Hearing this, Metis finally showed some emotion and retorted helplessly, "Who could possibly hide you?"
If she could really hide Yueqing away, she wouldn't have had to rush to the military camp to catch a dragon today.
Yueqing's eyes curved into a smile. "You know that too, my Queen."
The last two words were deliberately drawn out with a teasing tone.
Her tone shifted again. "How about I turn back into a dragon and fly a circle over Anthelia to help you intimidate that group of ambitious fellows?"
Metis shook her head. Thinking of the mess the dragon had left behind, she couldn't help but smile bitterly. "I wouldn't dare command the great Dragon Lord."
Yueqing lowered her head, their foreheads touching. Her molten gold eyes held a bewitching quality as she said softly, "But it's very useful, isn't it?"
"For just a small price, you can command an eighth-tier dragon to serve you. Whether you want to occupy a city or conquer a neighboring kingdom, the dragon can fulfill your wishes."
The smile at the corners of her eyes never faded. Her excessively charming and stunning features were like those of a siren sitting on a reef. Everyone knew it was a journey of no return, yet they would still stop their ships, determined to fall into her trap.
As a highly ambitious queen, Metis couldn't help but be moved. She said, "What price?"
Seeing her prey fall into the trap, Yueqing's lips curled up. She coaxed with a light laugh, "My dear Queen, the Dragon Clan is the greediest of all. If you wish to command a dragon, you must pay a corresponding price."
Perhaps their previous transaction had made Metis contemptuous, or perhaps the dragon had mentioned the price so many times that Metis felt it was just a fee that ought to be paid.
So, she asked with a careless smile, "Tell me what you want. Gold, jewels, territory—I can satisfy you."
Yueqing smiled too, moving closer to this arrogant human. "Gold, jewels… and you."
For Metis, this wasn't a very difficult condition to accept. After all, she had already paid these things, and even the ownership of her eyes belonged to the dragon.
This is how humans are. Once some things start, they are hard to stop, especially after gaining huge benefits for a small price. It becomes uncontrollable. Even with the strongest willpower, it's hard to break the addiction.
But clearly, Her Majesty the Queen did not yet know what she would face in the future, so she thought she had made the right decision.
The wicked dragon certainly wouldn't remind her, and was even thinking about how to make the queen fall deeper and deeper.
The hand on her back moved to a place it shouldn't, her knuckles bending to pinch the soft flesh.
After resting for so long, it was time to continue.
A sensation she hadn't noticed before quietly emerged. The rough fabric of the coat slid over her curves, creating a peculiar feeling.
Metis subconsciously bent to hide, but the hand behind her held her in place, making it seem as if she were actively pressing into its grasp.
Yueqing feigned confusion and even advised in a low voice, "Don't be hasty. Be careful of the child."
But in her smiling eyes, there wasn't a trace of panic to be seen.
Her Majesty the Queen was so angry she bit her neck, but then the fabric pressed against her again. She let out a low hum and released her bite powerlessly before she could even leave a mark.
Yueqing raised a hand to lift her chin, placing a series of light, scattered kisses as if to soothe her.
Dusk had completely vanished, leaving only a deep, inky blackness dotted with a few stars, like a large sack that had been punctured, letting a few insignificant rays of light shine through.
The outline of the plains in the distance was no longer visible, but the city was unusually bustling. The two widest streets were packed with people strolling about.
And in the courtyard closest to the palace, the little knight deeply trusted by Her Majesty the Queen stood at the door, holding a thick quilt.
"It's gotten cold these past two days. Mother was worried you'd catch a chill at night, so she asked me to bring you an extra quilt."
No matter how earnest and concerned the little knight sounded, the person inside remained cold, refusing, "There's no need. As we agreed, I'm only staying for one night, then I'm leaving."
"You don't need an extra quilt for just one night?" Mo Wen feigned surprise. "What if you catch a cold, and Her Majesty sees you tomorrow and happens to ask about it…"
The next second, the door was thrown open forcefully. Before Mo Wen could even see the person clearly, her hands felt empty. The quilt was snatched away in an instant, and the door slammed shut with a whoosh.
She smiled and said gently, "Good night, Ivo. May you have sweet dreams."
The person inside didn't make a sound, just went about spreading the quilt on her own.
"Careful, slow down…"
The low voice was mixed with panting, and the hand on her waist tightened.
"You move yourself," Yueqing seemed a little annoyed, urging her in a low voice.
Water from somewhere splattered, soaking a patch of the coat she had just put on. The taut, slender abdomen, with its faint curves, became more and more distinct as time went on.
Her bent knees were slightly red, and her annoying long hair was swept to one side.
Yueqing raised a hand, tracing the pad of her index finger over the other's earlobe, circling the small piercing as if to encourage her to continue.
Metis hooked her arms around the other's neck, her rapid breaths falling by her ear. The pressure, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, always lacked a certain experience.
In the end, it was the dragon who helped, pressing against that slightly rough spot.
A moment later, Metis sank into the soft bedding. Before she could close her eyes, her wrists were pinned and pushed up.
The rustling sound of fabric rubbing together filled the air, and the recently dried wet spots were dampened once more.
Her bent legs fell and rose again, finally hooking around the waist of the person on top of her, like a drowning vine clinging to its last piece of driftwood.
Her arched neck tensed, the veins on the side bulging, and the sounds she had been forcefully suppressing between her lips couldn't help but escape.
A night breeze blew in quietly, bringing a cool temperature that swept away the unbearable stuffiness.
It seemed someone walked past the door, then left after a moment.
Half a pot of rose tea was left on the table, but it had grown cold, untouched.
The night grew deeper, and even the few stars were no longer visible. Fortunately, the clamor from the city below kept the night from being completely silent.
The people in the room didn't know how long they had been at it, but it wasn't as excessive as the previous two times. There were finally some reservations. After a short rest, they had the servants prepare a meal.
This dinner was truly late; it might as well have been called a midnight snack.
Metis couldn't eat much after the usual mealtime had passed. Only then did the culprit beside her show some concern, raising her hand to promise it wouldn't happen again next time.
But who knew if she would ever change? After all, she had just been promising to listen to Metis's every word, only to forget it all before nightfall.
Fortunately, Her Majesty the Queen didn't hold it against her. She glanced at her twice, then let the matter drop.
The city's clamor faded away. The window was finally closed. In the softly lit room, the two of them slept in each other's arms.
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