Chapter 35 : Deception

“Screech!” 

Aurina’s bare feet skidded across the wooden floor, practically sparking with friction. 

Her claws flailed toward the messenger, her voice a mix of impatience and glee.

“Red-legged bug, hand over the letter to your king!” 

The messenger, clad in tight red trousers, froze, eyes wide with terror. 

Richard, hunched over and gripping Aurina’s tail, yanked her back with a grunt. 

Extending his other hand, he offered an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, dragons are like that. Could you pass me the letter, please?” 

The messenger thrust the letter into Richard’s hand and bolted without a backward glance. 

“Aurina!”

Richard’s tone sharpened.

“No snooping in private letters, got it?” 

“Gah, fine, fine, I get it! Now let go of my tail!” 

Richard released her dragon tail, and Aurina rubbed its tip, blowing on it with a pout. 

“I’m just a kid, you know.” 

Richard ignored her, sinking into a chair, his eyes alight with hope as he gazed at the letter. 

If Sophia could come, the weight on his shoulders would lighten, and his condition might finally be manageable. 

Dear Richard, 

May the Lord’s grace be with you.

Your request reached me, and my heart aches with guilt, for I cannot come to your side. 

Please understand—I am bound to God’s mission, to the charity He has set before me. 

Here, I aid those in desperate need, immersed daily in this sacred work. 

It is not only my duty but the path of faith I hold dear. 

I know you rely on me to manage your affliction, but their lives depend on me more. 

I believe in you.

Trust in your duty, for responsibility grants strength. 

I know you’ll rise to it, settle your debts, and return to me for our marriage… 

Aurina’s head popped up from under Richard’s chair.

“Gah! Bet you didn’t see that coming!” 

Richard’s reflexes kicked in.

He pressed her head down with one hand, barely glancing away from the letter. 

My work here exhausts me, and another journey would be a trial. 

Yet my prayers and blessings are ever with you, walking beside you in spirit. 

Stay strong and steadfast.

Our love and the Lord’s grace will carry us through. 

I pray we’ll reunite soon under His light. 

Forever in my prayers, Sophia 

Richard’s face twisted into a bittersweet smile. 

A lapse in focus loosened his grip, and Aurina’s claws shot out, snatching the letter. 

She skimmed it with a smirk.

“Gahaha! Pathetic! Your lady doesn’t even love you enough to fix your sickly little self!” 

“Nonsense.”

Richard snatched the letter back, his iron grip smacking her hand. 

Aurina yelped, blowing on her stinging fingers. 

He continued, voice steady but strained.

“Her healing is needed by others. Without her, they’d die. My condition isn’t fatal or crippling—just… inconvenient. I can endure it, and because of that, countless others are saved.” 

Aurina fixed him with a stare, her eyes glinting with a mix of pity and disbelief, as if to say, How can you be this naive? 

“So stupid. It’s just a bunch of invisible bugs you’re fussing over.” 

“You wouldn’t understand. Your nature leans toward mischief.” 

“Oh, I understand plenty,” Aurina shot back, grinning. 

“I know Sophia doesn’t love you that much. Females who care don’t come up with a mess of excuses.”

“And anyway, it’s not like it matters. A male worth chasing doesn’t get all worked up over this nonsense.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“Gahaha!”

Aurina tossed the letter back to him.

“It means you’re definitely a virgin. And insecure, too. I’ve got your number now!” 

Richard frowned.

“Why would you think I’m insecure?” 

Aurina puffed up, smug as ever.

“Because your confidence is all tied up in Sophia’s so-called love.” 

“A dragon barely a month old, lecturing me on romance.”

Richard shook his head. 

“You’ve never even experienced it.” 

Aurina shot him a sidelong glance, her chest puffed out proudly, her tail swishing gleefully across the floor. 

What a pitiful little bug, she thought.

So dense, so foolish.

My wisdom towers over him. 

His fiancée?

Easy pickings.

And if I recall, she’s got quite the figure. 

Her grin stretched ear to ear. 

And now I know he’s got some chronic ailment.

I’m already miles ahead. 

“Aurina,” Richard said, eyeing her oddly.

“Why’s your mouth all crooked?” 

“Gahahaha!”

Her laughter rang like silver bells.

“Just thinking of something hilarious!” 

Richard sighed.

“I envy kids sometimes. Happy over nothing.” 

He glanced at the splintered door.

“I’m off to find the landlord. Stay put—you’re an easy target for trouble.” 

“Ha! Trouble? Me?”

Aurina scoffed.

“Do I look that gullible?” 

Richard nodded without hesitation. 

“Gah!”

Aurina crossed her arms, head lowered. 

“That’s just your tiny bug brain failing to grasp even a shred of my world-shattering wisdom.” 

“Shattering, sure,” Richard quipped.

“World-changing? That takes actual strength.” 

The moment Richard stepped out, Aurina darted for the door. 

He’d told her to stay in the room, but with the door gone, the whole world was her room now, wasn’t it? 

She skipped the stairs, opting instead to leap from the corridor window, landing nimbly on the outer wall. 

Balancing along the ledge, she moved unseen by the stableboys and workers bustling below. 

Reaching the back gate, she vaulted over the wall, landing in the alley behind the inn. 

“Who’s there!” 

“Ah!” 

Two men jumped.

One was burly, broad as a barrel; the other, lean and tall, a scar slashing across his face, a blade tucked at his waist. 

Aurina sized them up.

Their gear was worth maybe a gold coin—richer than most bugs. 

The men stared back, hands twitching toward their swords, their faces taut like thieves caught in the act. 

These mercenaries had seen war, but even they couldn’t help flinching. 

They were here to scout, tasked with snatching a young red dragon. 

Their leader had taken a fifty-gold deposit, with a promise of a thousand more, a vast tract of land, and five estates if they succeeded. 

The client even swore to shield them from Richard’s wrath—if he survived. 

The lean one spoke first, eyes darting.

“Did you hear what we said?” 

“Hmph. I don’t listen to bug chatter,” Aurina sniffed. 

His eyes gleamed with a quick lie.

“We know a place with piles of gold. Wanna come?” 

The burly one groaned inwardly.

What a terrible lie.

You can’t just treat her like some dumb kid. 

He shoved his partner aside.

“That’s not how it’s done.” 

Aurina’s eyes lit up.

“Gold? Where?” 

Both men froze, then the lean one grinned like a blooming flower. 

“Don’t tell Richard, okay? Promise, and we’ll take you.” 

“Deal! Let’s go!”