VBNWDW - Chapter 88
Chapter 88
A year passed by unnoticed. The ice and snow melted, the seasons turned, and tender green shoots sprouted from withered branches.
On the original site of the Temple of Light, a brand-new building had risen from the ground. It was the academy the Queen had ordered to be built for the thousands of mages.
The central magic tower housed books that had once been monopolized by the royal family and the nobility. Now, any student of the academy—be they commoner, noble, a scholar from a foreign land, or even a member of another race—could freely access them with the dragon emblem issued by the academy.
At the same time, mages of every element served as instructors, teaching with meticulous care. The legendary dragon also served as the dean here, occasionally giving a couple of lectures to the students.
Most of the time, however, the dragon could be found on the top floor of the magic tower, transcribing books to add more precious materials to its collection.
At this very moment, bright sunlight streamed in through an open window, creeping across the desk and climbing up a vase holding a sprig of green willow.
The beauty with silver hair and dark skin was draped in a loose, white mage's robe, her fine curves hidden within, stretching the thin fabric. A silver monocle was perched over one eye, its matching fine chain dangling and occasionally swaying, adding a scholarly air to her bewitching and languid face.
The quill in her hand moved without pause, writing complex magic spells on the page, the soft scratching sound mingling with the scent of ink.
These were all magical incantations recorded by the Dragon Clan millions of years ago, long lost to the human world for various reasons. Only the dragons, who passed them down through their innate racial talent, still remembered them.
Now, through the dragon's hand, they were reappearing in the mortal realm.
There were several smaller desks nearby, where Mo Wen, Talia, and Ivo sat. Each of them had changed quite a bit.
The young knight, Mo Wen, had grown more composed and gentle. Her long red hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her figure was tall and lean. As the most trusted heir of her family to Her Majesty the Queen, she was now a highly sought-after figure in the Roy Kingdom.
Ivo remained as gloomy as ever, her complexion pale. However, under the careful watch of Mo Wen and the others, she no longer looked so frail that a gust of wind could blow her away. Even so, it was hard to tell that she was a general who could command tens of thousands of soldiers.
A faint smile played on Talia's lips. After just one short year in the imperial capital, she had earned the moniker of "sly fox." Though she no longer held the title of Duke, she had become the Queen's trusted right hand.
However, no matter how distinguished the three of them were now, they still had to obediently accompany the Dragon Lord in transcribing books.
A single copy was prone to all sorts of accidents. Their job was to make several backups of what the dragon wrote, then arrange them on different floors of the magic tower according to the designated levels.
The dragon had a lazy temperament. After copying a single page, she stopped, shook her hand, and looked out the window. The large crater from before had been filled with water and surrounded by flowers and trees, becoming a scenic lake and part of the academy grounds.
Yueqing propped her cheek on one hand and gave a lazy yawn.
If the one at home weren't so career-minded, a dragon of her nature would never have taken on such a troublesome task. But she couldn't be persuaded otherwise, so all Yueqing could do was help share the burden.
At this thought, her mind drifted to the child who had shown no sign of movement. Aside from that one time with the poison, it had been completely devoid of presence.
If it weren't for Metis's gradually swelling belly and the dragon's own repeated checks confirming that the dragon cub was indeed healthy and present, she would have suspected that she had been overcome with anger at the time, leading to a false sensation.
Afterward, the two of them could only console themselves with the idea that the dragon bloodline was simply unique.
Yueqing couldn't help but rub her brow, a hint of annoyance on her face. But when she looked up at the people in the room, it vanished, replaced by an expression of intrigued curiosity.
This scene had never occurred in the original world. Without the dragon's help, Ivo would have died long ago. How could she have ever developed any kind of relationship with the little knight?
This life was far more interesting. It had all started with an unintentional push from Yueqing, so she paid close attention to their development, watching the drama unfold for a long time.
Unfortunately, Mo Wen, who seemed proactive by bringing the girl home to live with her and caring for her daily, hadn't figured things out. Mo Wen's two mothers already saw the girl as their future daughter-in-law, yet this blockhead still foolishly suggested that her mothers adopt Ivo as a goddaughter to give her an official status.
Mo Wen's two mothers were left speechless with exasperation.
Anyone could see it except for her. What she considered normal care had long since exceeded appropriate boundaries, granting the other a special treatment she had never known before.
It was the younger of the two who first realized something. She tried to keep her distance, but the blockhead would just blunder right into her. Over time, her resolve gradually softened.
Yueqing propped her chin on her hand, watching the usually cold Ivo sit beside the other. Though there was a small distance between them, she was clearly leaning toward her.
When Mo Wen finished a page, the person next to her would "casually" hand her a new sheet and conveniently place the refilled inkwell where she could easily reach it.
Although she was the younger one, her life experiences had made her far more mature and reliable than the older one.
An image suddenly popped into Yueqing's mind: a goofy, grinning golden retriever with an elegant black cat perched on its head. The golden retriever thought it was keeping the little black cat company, wagging its head proudly, but in reality, it was the black cat who repeatedly stabilized herself, silently indulging the big dog.
"Tsk," Yueqing let out a soft, disdainful click of her tongue.
Her gaze swept over and caught Talia wearing the exact same disdainful expression.
Apparently, during the last expedition with the Queen, Talia had been inadvertently surrounded. It was Mo Wen who charged into the fray alone to rescue her. After that, their relationship had grown closer.
Coupled with Mo Wen's proactive care for Talia's family after returning to Anthelia and their interactions in political matters, the two had become one of each other's very few friends.
But even as a friend, Talia was thoroughly disgusted with that foolish golden retriever on this matter.
Yueqing had even gossiped with her in private and found out that Talia had tried to drop hints several times, but Mo Wen remained clueless. If she didn't know her well enough, she would have suspected the girl was playing dumb on purpose.
However, since the two were still young, the others didn't expose them, content to be spectators and fret anxiously from time to time.
But…
A little teasing now and then wouldn't hurt.
An idea suddenly struck Yueqing. She cleared her throat and called out, "Ivo."
At the sound of her voice, the golden retriever and the little black cat both looked up.
Yueqing continued, "I was too busy with trivial matters before to make proper arrangements for you, so I had to trouble you to stay at Mo Wen's home for a while. Her Majesty and I discussed it these past couple of days."
She paused deliberately, watching their reactions.
Mo Wen's lips tightened, her face uncharacteristically stern.
The usually aloof Ivo grew a little nervous, her gaze flickering to the side.
Yueqing suppressed a laugh and went on, "We could either clear out a room for you in the palace, and Her Majesty and I will be responsible for your food and lodging from now on. You would only need to focus on your magic studies and managing the army."
In truth, the management of the army had been handed over to Ogechi and Dion. As a rare magical genius in the Roy Kingdom, the Queen preferred her to focus on her magic studies; the other position was merely a title.
"If you find the palace too troublesome to get in and out of, with servants everywhere, we can pick out a residence for you nearby."
The two of them grew even more silent.
Yueqing dragged out the final option for an eternity before slowly revealing the last choice: "If you've grown accustomed to living at Mo Wen's, we won't force you to move out."
Her golden eyes were filled with mischievous laughter.
Talia, of course, saw it clearly. She lowered her head and covered her mouth to hide her smile.
Silence fell in the study. The surrounding bookshelves, made of insect-proof black ironwood, were built around the circular tower. Because they weren't yet filled with books, the space felt particularly empty and oppressive.
Mo Wen's hand, holding the quill, froze in place. A drop of ink fell, leaving a black mark on the page.
Beside her, Ivo finally opened her mouth, but Yueqing cut her off before she could utter a single syllable.
"You don't have to give me an answer right away. Go back and think about it."
Her words were thus cut short. Mo Wen gripped the quill tightly, her shadow stretching long on the floor.
Just then, the bronze bell chimed, signaling the end of the day and the coming of dusk. Students poured out of the classrooms. Yueqing waved her hand and said, "You may all leave."
The Queen had been busy with state affairs these past few days. It was fine if she returned a little later. Otherwise, she would just have to sit obediently by her side, and if she couldn't resist making a little mischief, her hand would be swatted away.
Hearing this, the three of them rose and left.
Having had her fun, Yueqing paid them no more mind. She lowered her head, preparing to copy another page, not noticing the sudden silence outside.
The sound of the bell gradually faded, and the sunlight on the floor stretched longer.
Yueqing had just written a line when her ears twitched. She heard someone approaching quietly.
She immediately looked up to see the Queen standing before her.
Metis wore only a loose, cream-colored long dress. Her abdomen was slightly swollen, looking like that of an ordinary woman about five months pregnant. Her long golden hair was coiled at the back of her head, and her delicate features carried the majesty of a ruler. Combined with a faint touch of maternal softness, the two disparate feelings merged, creating a unique charm.
"What are you doing here?" Yueqing's gaze fell to her stomach, and her heart lurched in panic.
Although the dragon cub hadn't made much of a fuss, the sight of that swollen belly still made Yueqing's heart pound. She was constantly careful around Metis, terrified that some accident might happen.
She was about to get up to help her when she saw Metis walk around the desk, preparing to sit beside her.
The dragon who had been so gleefully teasing others just moments ago was now in a bit of a fluster.
She quickly made a large space and raised a hand to help Metis sit down.
Only after sitting down did Her Majesty the Queen speak. "I didn't have much to do today, so I thought I'd come see what our dear dean is up to."
She added, "Wodaitika from the Gael family brought me here."
Hearing that someone had accompanied her, Yueqing's brow relaxed. She reached out and wrapped an arm around her, saying softly, "If you missed me, you just had to call out in our contract link. I would have rushed back immediately."
Hearing this, Metis shot her a look that was half a smile, half not. "If I hadn't come, how would I have heard our dear dean spouting nonsense and deliberately teasing my subordinates?"
Yueqing had often shared amusing stories about those two in her idle chats with Metis, so the idea of having Ivo move out was something the dragon had completely fabricated.
At her words, Yueqing gave a silly grin, arguing her flawed case with righteous vigor. "Who told her to be so dense? I couldn't stand it anymore. What's wrong with giving her a little push?"
Metis smiled helplessly, feeling a pang of sympathy for the two who had worked so hard helping to copy books only to be tricked by the dragon.
The dragon held her and turned her head to look out the window, starting to change the subject. "Wodaitika? Talia's little fiancée?"
They had only learned of this after the Gael family was summoned back.
No wonder Talia hadn't been worried about the Gael family's disapproval back then. It turned out they had been betrothed since childhood. They were already living together now; who knew when the wedding would be held.
Metis didn't press the matter, letting her change the subject and following her gaze.
Talia was tall, half a head taller than even Mo Wen. Though she often wore a smile, how could someone who grew up on the border be gentle? Just standing there was enough to make a small child stop crying.
But in front of her fiancée, who only came up to her chest, she was a completely different person. Her gentleness was like a pool of water. She even deliberately lowered her voice when she spoke, holding the other's hand as they walked out, chatting and laughing.
Metis smiled and said, "She's much smarter than Mo Wen."
Looking behind them, Mo Wen and Ivo were walking together, but with a hand's breadth of distance between them. Neither spoke, both seemingly lost in thought.
Yueqing grumbled twice, suddenly displeased, and defended the little knight. "Mo Wen is just pure of heart. She doesn't understand these things."
Her Majesty the Queen turned to look at her, the smile on her lips unwavering.
She knew that although this one always bullied Mo Wen, she cared for her a great deal in private. The magic books and personal guidance from before were the most obvious proof.
Yueqing felt a pang of guilt under her gaze. She rubbed her nose and said, "Shall we go back?"
"Aren't you finished writing yet?" Metis didn't want her to fall behind schedule because of her. She added, "I'll wait with you until you finish this page, then we'll go back."
It would save Yueqing from returning the next day, staring blankly and not knowing where she had left off.
But the dragon was not as diligent as Her Majesty the Queen. Once she put the pen down, she had no desire to pick it up again. She rested her head on Metis's shoulder and whined, "I don't want to write anymore."
The silver chain by her cheek swayed. Despite her mature face, she was quite adept at being petulant.
Metis smiled helplessly and coaxed in a low voice, "It's just one page."
"Still don't want to."
"We'll go back after you finish."
"Let's go back now."
"Just write one page."
"I don't even want to write one page."
Yueqing wrapped her arms around the other woman, her palm resting on the small, swollen belly. She buried her face in the crook of Metis's neck, suddenly rebellious and unwilling to listen.
Metis took a lock of her hair and tugged it gently, her voice soft. "Be good."
Even a single word was uttered with a thousand twists and turns, impossibly gentle.
The dragon immediately looked up and glared at her. It lacked any real force, carrying only the resentful air of a large dog. She rose, disgruntled, and picked up the quill with one hand.
Her Majesty the Queen thought she was finally being obedient. The smile remained on her lips as she sat beside her, holding her belly, not wanting to disturb her efforts.
This dragon cub was also troublesome. Although it didn't move or fuss much, having such a large belly was always something to be mindful of, and it restricted her movement.
She frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed her brow and looked at the desk. Yueqing hadn't written a single word. Instead, she was using the feather to tease her.
The soft, light white feather brushed past her earlobe, then landed on her neck. The touch wasn't heavy, but it stirred up an unbearable tickle.
Metis subconsciously tried to dodge, but she was held in place. She could only endure it and say, "Stop fooling around. Hurry up and copy the book."
The dragon gave a perfunctory reply, her hands not stopping as her mouth responded, "Alright, alright."
The feather traced her collarbone and refused to go lower, gliding back and forth in the triangular hollow formed by her shoulder and clavicle.
Metis was so tickled she couldn't stand it, hiding in her embrace.
A smile played on Yueqing's lips. As her gaze fell, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of the soft rise and fall. Whether due to the pregnancy or her own efforts, the curve was much larger than before.
Her hand trembled, and the feather drifted downward.
The dress was thin and couldn't conceal much sensation. The feather bent slightly, its fine down sliding over every inch without missing a spot.
Metis grabbed her collar, begging for mercy after a moment. "Alright, alright, no more copying. Let's go back."
Just a moment ago, her attitude had been firm, but now she was starting to yield.
This had been Yueqing's plan all along, but now that she had succeeded, she didn't stop. The feather had already slid lower.
The sunlight outside was bright. As the cold winter passed, the days grew longer. Although it was time to rest, the dark of night was still nowhere to be seen.
The magic tower, regarded as sacred and great by the Roy Kingdom, was silent. Sunlight stretched across the floor, falling upon the swaying mage's robe.
The respected, even feared, dean wore a light smile. The golden eyes beneath her monocle glinted with mischief, not even bothering to hide it, as if in deliberate provocation.
The feather moved continuously, with no pattern to speak of, entirely dependent on Yueqing's whim. Sometimes it was on the soft mounds, sometimes on an earlobe red as blood, and sometimes it landed on the back of Metis's hand. But no matter where it touched, it sent waves of faint yet undeniable electricity through her.
Her Majesty the Queen buried her face in her embrace, occasionally shivering from the intense tickling and letting out a suppressed moan.
The sound was soft, and because it was muffled between her lips and teeth, it was a little indistinct. The sweet tone in her elegant voice made one's heart tremble.
"Don't… stop fooling around…"
Her golden hair was slightly messy, and her overly fair skin couldn't hide the slightest blush. The area around her eyes was flushed crimson.
That wasn't a plea to stop at all; it was clearly an invitation to continue.
The golden eyes darkened, and her movements grew unruly. The hand at her waist explored elsewhere, while the quill continued to roam.
A corner of the paper on the desk was lifted by the wind. The rustle of fabric rubbing together could be heard. The willow branch in the vase swayed, and the shadows on the desk swayed with it.
It was unclear who initiated it. Neither the Queen nor the dragon had much restraint in this regard. If they thought of it, they did it. There was nothing to refuse. The only concern wouldn't act up, so as long as one hand was free to support her belly and they were careful, it would be fine.
A piece of fabric fell from somewhere, soaked through with water. The wet patch spread, the lace pattern taking on a different kind of charm.
Yet the two of them were still fully dressed. The mage's robe and the long dress were pressed together. Even if someone were to burst in at this moment, they wouldn't see anything amiss.
But what was happening under the desk was another story. Metis's leg was draped over the other's, a corner of her skirt pulled up. The quill was hidden inside, gliding lightly, bit by bit.
Occasionally, the cold tip of the pen would touch delicate skin, leaving an ink stain that was hard to conceal.
But compared to the unbearable sensation elsewhere, these little ink marks became unimportant.
The hand gripping the collar tightened, veins bulging on its back. Metis buried herself completely in her shoulder and neck, moist, hot air escaping with her parting lips.
Their hair tangled together, the silver chain swaying.
Metis suddenly looked up, tilting her chin to meet Yueqing's lips, as if to fight her for oxygen, her tongue darting in quickly and urgently.
The other responded unhurriedly, lowering her head as the hem of the skirt below was pulled higher, revealing more.
It grew quieter outside. The students had mostly left, with only two or three remaining behind to clean up. They finished quickly and ran off.
Birds fluttered over, perching on the willow branches, chirping incessantly.
The sunlight finally faded, and more clouds appeared in the azure sky.
The paper on the desk was blown to the floor by the wind. The casual words were smudged by droplets of water, becoming blurry.
But not only did Yueqing not feel any pity, she actually wore a pleased expression.
Her hand, however, did not stop. The feather was soaked, its plumes stuck together, looking quite pathetic.
Metis suddenly bit down on the other's neck. It was a fierce gesture, but she couldn't maintain it for even a moment. She couldn't even leave a mark, only a ragged breath.
Yueqing held her and laughed, coaxing in a low voice, "Did I write well?"
A layer of mist covered her pale blue-gray eyes. She glared at her, both angry and annoyed, but in the next second, she was distracted by another sensation. Her eyelids fluttered, and a teardrop fell.
"Don't… don't write anymore."
In the end, the Queen was no match for the shameless Black Dragon. She surrendered after only a moment, but once something like this started, how could it stop so easily? It had to continue until the paper underneath was thoroughly soaked.
Yueqing raised an eyebrow and repeated with a light laugh, "Then tell me, did I write well?"
"Yes, exceptionally well," Metis's drawn-out words trembled. How could she dare say no? Her damp eyes held a pleading look.
The quill was finally returned to its place, but stopping the pen didn't mean stopping altogether. It just continued in a different way.
When her fingertips slowly glided over, the characters they wrote were no less exquisite than those of the quill. In fact, due to her skill, the sensation was even more profound.
Dusk fell, painting the vast academy in shades of orange. A pile of fruits and food was placed before the black dragon statue at the entrance—a crooked method thought up by students who often failed their monthly exams.
But among all those offerings, there was not a single drop of wine.
It was said that the dragon loathed wine and wouldn't touch anything related to it.
The students didn't understand, but they actively avoided it.
The water-soaked paper made soft slapping sounds, and even the fabric underneath was dampened.
Metis had been able to sit on her own before, but later she was held in Yueqing's arms, one hand clutching her collar, the other resting on her slightly swollen belly.
For some reason, she shivered again, wrinkling the neat mage's robe into a messy state.
Fortunately, Yueqing had a good temper. Not only did she not scold her with a cold face, but she even praised her in a low voice, "Your Majesty is very impressive."
It was unclear what was so impressive. Was it finishing in a few minutes, or the puddle on the floor?
Metis's gaze was unfocused. She couldn't hear what she was saying. She had just recovered a little when her body tensed up again.
Her calves, dangling in the air, swayed. Her rounded toes curled and then straightened.
The thin paper couldn't withstand the soaking. After a moment, it disintegrated, turning into a pulp stuck to the floor.
Night crept in silently, consuming the entire study. The people inside were finally gone.
A light came on in another room, and the soft bed sank.
Yueqing held the person in her arms and coaxed softly, "Be good. Eat before you sleep."
But Her Majesty the Queen was exhausted and only wanted to close her eyes and fall into a deep sleep. How could she pay attention to her nagging? She mumbled something indistinctly and closed her eyes again, wanting to sleep.
Now Yueqing finally remembered to worry about her health. She coaxed again, repeating, "Be good, just one bite."
After pestering Metis for a long time, she finally opened her mouth in a half-conscious state, allowing Yueqing to feed her half a small bowl of meat porridge. Then she fell into a deep sleep, refusing to wake up no matter what the other said.
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