VBNWDW - Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Although it took many twists and turns, the Dragon God finally relented, thanks in no small part to the red dragon, Thorn.
He had always felt guilty toward Metis because of what had happened back then. Now, his own hatchling had broken out of its shell and was being cared for on Dragon Island, no longer needing his constant attention.
He took the initiative and offered to accompany Metis and the others back to the Roy Kingdom. With two adult dragons standing guard, and with the Black Dragon's repeated assurances that she would immediately notify Dragon Island if any problems arose, the Dragon God finally gave in.
And so, after Metis visited Thorn's youngling, they returned to the Roy Kingdom together. By the time they reached the city of Anthelia, half a year had passed.
Although Her Majesty the Queen had been forced to leave, the lingering might from the dragons' appearance had so thoroughly intimidated the neighboring countries that they dared not invade again. Not only did they proactively admit defeat and offer considerable reparations, but they didn't even ask for their lost cities back, meekly shrinking back into their own territories.
Thus, undisturbed by foreign enemies, the Roy Kingdom, led by Talia and the others, developed steadily according to the policies the Queen had left behind.
Later, when Mo Wen and the Purple Cloud Eagle returned, the news they brought put everyone's minds at ease. So, in the past six months, the Roy Kingdom had not declined but advanced. Even the previously destroyed castles and buildings had been rebuilt, presenting a scene of thriving prosperity.
Now, half a month had passed since their return.
Thorn remained as lazy as ever, sprawled out on the lawn surrounding the castle in a deep slumber. The brilliant sunlight fell upon his mountain-like body, drawing the gazes of passing servants.
The dragon egg was placed in a room lined with soft fur. Its black and white shell looked just as it always had, showing no signs of movement.
Not far away, Mo Wen stood on the city wall. The wind lifted her long hair, revealing a scar on her forehead. The events of this period had made her more mature and gentle; she was now the esteemed Knight-Captain, beloved by all.
However, this esteemed Knight-Captain was having a rare lapse in concentration during her patrol, her gaze fixed on the training grounds on the other side.
A pale-skinned mage was there. As her power grew, Ivo increasingly resembled the necromancers of legend—gloomy and cold, so much so that even the Gifted hardly dared to approach her.
"Staring like a lovesick fool for half the day. If you've got the guts, go over and talk to her. Stop making this special detour every day. If you're not tired of it, I am," the Purple Cloud Eagle grumbled beside her. It turned its head to peck at its precious feathers, its movements incredibly light, as if afraid one might fall out.
Back then, the Dragon Clan, grateful for how it had shielded the dragon egg with its own body, had not only fulfilled its request to increase its power but had also specially helped it restore its plumage.
The long-despised Bald Eagle finally had a full, thick coat of feathers again, which shimmered with a purple hue in the sunlight. Having regained what was lost, it cherished them dearly, preening them countless times a day. If a single feather accidentally fell out, it would wail for half the night, pestering others to grieve along with it.
At first, Mo Wen, Talia, and the others were willing to humor it, remembering its bravery in sacrificing itself to protect the dragon egg. They even had a special jeweled box made to store its fallen feathers.
But birds molt frequently. As the instances piled up, everyone began to avoid it. Only Mo Wen, its contractor, couldn't escape and had no choice but to listen to its nagging.
"It's not a special detour. I just want to observe more, to prevent any accidents," Mo Wen said in response to the Purple Cloud Eagle, her expression unchanging as she offered a righteous-sounding excuse.
The Purple Cloud Eagle rolled its eyes. Who would dare cause trouble in a city guarded by two dragons? The little knight's excuse was truly terrible.
But she herself didn't seem to think so. After adjusting the armor on her body, she said, "Let's go."
The Purple Cloud Eagle hurried to follow, cursing under its breath, "Can't you walk a little slower? You have feet, I have claws. How can we walk the same? And here I am, accompanying you on this detour to see your wife every day. I don't even know what's so good to look at. You two live together, you'll see her when you get back."
The person in front sensitively caught a certain word. Her ears turned red, and she spun around to snap, "Don't talk nonsense."
"Right, right, I'm talking nonsense. I wonder who didn't return to their room last night and stayed in Miss Ivo's room until…"
Before it could finish, it was cut off. The little knight lost her composure, her face flushing red as she hurriedly interjected, "Do you want roasted meat or not? Hurry up, let's go back early!"
The Purple Cloud Eagle's pace didn't change as it said faintly, "What's the use of walking fast? You'll still have to wait by Miss Ivo's door."
Mo Wen's steps quickened even more.
On the other side, the rebuilt Council Hall was no longer as simple as before. Taking the Black Dragon's suggestions into account, the throne, forged from gold and adorned with jewels, was elevated by layers of steps. Below the steps, seats were arranged from the inside out according to rank. Those in the first three rows had chairs, while those behind could only stand.
The method of adjudication was also different. Matters were now proposed by the assembly in the morning and discussed, after which the Queen would decide on a course of action.
However, it was now afternoon, yet the sound of debate still echoed through the Council Hall.
Earlier today, someone had suddenly proposed sending troops to punish the neighboring countries in revenge for their previous joint siege.
The moment the words were out, another faction immediately stood up to oppose him.
Thus, the Council Hall was split into two camps, and after half a day of noisy debate, no conclusion had been reached.
Metis listened in silence for a long time before finally keeping only a few people behind to continue the discussion until now.
Seated at the front, Talia's throat was a little dry and hoarse. She coughed twice, then looked up at the high platform.
Her Majesty the Queen wore her crown and was dressed in magnificent robes. Her golden hair was coiled up, revealing an exquisite and bewitching face. The pearl earrings at her lobes swayed, as indecisive as her thoughts.
As an ambitious monarch, she naturally belonged to the pro-war faction, wanting to plant the flag of the Roy Kingdom across the entire continent.
But she also worried that successive campaigns in such a short time would lead to public discontent and an empty treasury, so she had yet to make a decision.
Talia's gaze shifted to the dragon lying beside the throne. It was the most relaxed one in the entire Council Hall. Ever since filling up the magic tower, it had resigned from its position as dean and now stuck by Her Majesty's side every day.
When she saw the Black Dragon feigning sleep while once again brushing its tail against the Queen's calf, she knew this long discussion was finally coming to an end.
Talia's expression remained unchanged; she had clearly witnessed this many times.
That dragon was always like this. At first, it could behave itself and wait quietly to the side, but after a while, it would start to get impatient.
If it was just bored and could still wait a little longer, it would only tap the Queen's ankle with the tip of its tail as a reminder. If it was being more demanding, it would stretch its tail onto the throne, letting the Queen hold it for a moment of comfort.
But if it was truly impatient, the dragon would wrap its tail around her calf, refusing to let go no matter how Her Majesty tried to push it away.
Talia lowered her eyes and counted to three. Just as she expected, she heard the Queen speak, saying that no decision would be made today and that the discussion would continue tomorrow.
The officials below breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from their brows as the atmosphere instantly relaxed.
Just as Talia was about to leave with the others, she heard Her Majesty call out again, "Talia."
"Your Majesty," she replied, somewhat puzzled.
Metis's expression was relaxed, and she spoke with a hint of a smile, "Is your wedding next month? Things have been so chaotic lately, I can't even think of what gift to give you."
At the mention of this, Talia's features softened as well, and she smiled. "As long as Your Majesty and Lord Black Dragon can find the time to attend my wedding, that would be the best gift of all."
She and her fiancée had been betrothed since childhood. They had originally planned to marry upon returning to Anthelia, but various matters had caused one delay after another. Seeing the Queen and the Black Dragon return safely, she had finally relaxed enough to put the matter on the agenda.
Talia wanted to say more, but a glance from the corner of her eye caught the impatient swishing of that dragon's tail. She immediately swallowed her words and took her leave.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded, disappearing around the corner. Sunlight squeezed through the crack of the door, stretching long across the floor.
She rubbed her brow, about to speak, but was suddenly pulled into an embrace.
The Black Dragon was very clever. Knowing that its recent willfulness would earn a reprimand from Her Majesty, it instantly transformed into its human form, sat sideways on the other's lap, and raised its hands to hook around her neck.
Silver hair cascaded down as the bewitchingly beautiful woman smiled, pressing her lips to the corner of Metis's mouth. "That took so long today," she said.
Her drawn-out tone was full of complaint, skillfully launching a preemptive strike.
Her Majesty the Queen was helpless against her. She could only wrap an arm around her waist and say in a low voice, "This isn't something that can be decided in a moment."
Yueqing pecked at the corner of her mouth, on and off, but said nothing.
Metis let her have her way, then asked softly, "Are you unhappy?"
She was clearly the one who had been working hard, yet she still had to ask if the other was tired.
The dragon was wickedly and righteously unreasonable. Her fingertips slid across the back of the other's neck as she repeated lazily, "It was too long."
Thankfully, Her Majesty the Queen was good-tempered. She coaxed, "I'll take you out to have fun tonight. Talia said a group of gem merchants has arrived these past few days. Shall I buy you some?"
Although a dragon's hoard was piled as high as a mountain, it was never too much. It would even secretly take the gold coins the Queen placed beside the dragon egg.
But today, Yueqing was strange. She actually refused.
"I don't want to," she leaned down to Metis's ear. The Queen's coiled hair made it convenient for her mischief, and she easily took the pearly white earlobe between her teeth.
Alarm bells suddenly went off in Metis's mind; she sensed something was amiss.
But the dragon had clearly been harboring this wicked idea for a long time. Even if Metis realized it, she couldn't stop her.
A well-proportioned calf lifted a trouser leg, and cool skin brushed against an ankle. The tip of a foot tapped intentionally, then unintentionally, against the round ankle bone. The force was light, yet it sent ripples spreading out.
"Don't…" The Queen couldn't help but shrink back, only to find herself pressed against the cold back of the throne.
This throne had not been designed with comfort in mind. The Queen had primarily wanted to use it to warn future generations against indulging in pleasure, so the back was flat and inlaid with numerous gems. Leaning against it felt like a punishment.
"Hiss…" Metis couldn't help but cry out in pain, then pleaded, "My waist… don't, my waist is still sore."
As the culprit, the dragon naturally knew why that was.
They had been too restrained in the past; aside from that one time after drinking, they had almost always held back. This was especially true during Metis's pregnancy, when the dragon had been exceedingly careful. Things got better after the dragon egg was laid, but it still hadn't gone too far, always making sure Metis rested well and recovered her strength.
It was only recently that the dragon had been allowed to be a bit more excessive. And now, the long-repressed creature was becoming more and more outrageous. Last night's antics had lasted until midnight, causing Metis to rub her waist several times while sitting on the throne today.
It was no wonder she couldn't take it. The difference between their species was especially obvious at times like this. Often, Metis would have cried herself into a deep sleep while the Black Dragon was still brimming with energy.
"Then I'll rub it for you." The dragon showed not a hint of guilt. Her hand moved down, her palm covering the small of Metis's back as she began to knead it skillfully, a technique perfected over these past few days.
At the same time, she leaned down and bit the other's soft lips.
How could prey caught in a dragon's mouth be let go so easily? That tiny bit of kindness was merely the best form of appeasement.
Metis was somewhat resistant, unwilling to fool around here. She pushed against its shoulder and coaxed in a low voice, "Not here. Can we go back, please?"
The Queen, who had just been full of majesty before her subjects, now had reddened eyes as she pleaded pitifully.
The crown was unintentionally pulled askew. A strand of golden hair fell loose, dangling beside her ear.
How could the dragon possibly let her go so easily? "No, I like it here," she refused indistinctly.
How could it refuse something so shiny? It had coveted this throne from the very first glance. But because it belonged to Metis, it hadn't seized it, merely casting glances at it occasionally while lying beside it. Over time, other ideas began to sprout.
For instance, like this.
Outside the Council Hall, the wind beat against the banana leaves in the garden. Heedless of whether the leaves were willing, it slapped against them with a crackling sound, as domineering and wicked as a certain creature inside.
The banana leaves were powerless to resist. At first, they could still sway to express their displeasure, but soon they tired. The green leaves entwined with the clear breeze; since they couldn't escape, they might as well continue.
The hard back of the throne always forced Metis to keep her spine straight. At some point, much more of her golden hair had fallen loose. Paired with her disheveled clothes and lips covered in a shimmering gloss, as if beaten by rain, she looked somewhat battered.
She gripped the armrest with one hand and clung to the other's shoulder with the other, her brow furrowed from the gems digging into her back.
But the other person merely held her waist. It wasn't so much holding as it was using it to her own advantage. A slight pressure against the small of her back made the slender, flower-stem-like waist bend and press closer.
Metis found it difficult to face. Although the seats before them were empty, long since vacated, how could someone who listened to her subjects' discussions here day after day adapt so quickly?
She couldn't help but turn her head, her eyes half-closed, to escape what was happening. But it wasn't so easy. A peachy-pink mist spread up from her neck, dyeing her earlobes a vibrant red, and her eyes grew even foggier and more watery.
The silver-haired, dark-skinned woman let out a soft laugh.
She had long discovered that Metis was unusually serious in this regard.
The dragon's mischief was permitted on many occasions, but when it came to matters of state, the little queen was serious and solemn, like a meticulous model student.
What did it feel like to bully a model student?
The wicked dragon, on the other hand, found it quite nice. The smile in her eyes deepened, and her movements quickened.
A slender leg was bent and hooked over the armrest, swaying with the ever-quickening rhythm like a willow branch beaten by the wind.
In the end, the crown couldn't hold on. It fell to the ground with a crisp clang that echoed in the vast, empty hall.
Again and again.
Metis's back was pressed with red marks, and she didn't know how they would ever fade by evening.
Fortunately, the cushion on the throne was replaceable. Otherwise, who knows what dampness Metis would have felt upon sitting down the next day. After all, a certain dragon already knew her very well and could easily make her tremble, soaking the entire cushion through.
The red sun gradually sank low. Outside the hall, it was quiet. Everyone assumed Her Majesty was still troubled by the day's affairs and didn't dare to disturb her.
Only occasionally, when a servant passed by, they would feel puzzled, wondering where a stray cat had come from. It must have secretly given birth nearby and then abandoned its litter, leaving the poor kittens to cry pitifully from hunger.
How strange…
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