The fabulously wealthy Countess of Champagne, the dream woman of nearly every noble young man, let out a piercing scream that cut through the resounding brass trumpets, pierced the ornately carved luxurious carriage, and stood out amidst the bustling street noise, drilling into the ears of the two humans and one dragon.
“I didn’t expect Frostsilver could scream that loudly,” Sophia marveled.
“My Lord, she must be furious.”
Richard, on the other hand, was calm.
“Only slightly quieter than last time.”
“Last time?”
Sophia’s eyes narrowed immediately.
“Where? When? How did she scream?”
“I know, I know!”
Aurina said, hands on her hips, puffing out her flat, childish chest to the heavens.
Standing on the ground, passersby—little bugs—could look down at her.
In the past, this proud champion red dragon would never tolerate such a thing.
She’d insist on riding atop the strongest little bug’s head, or at the very least Sophia’s, to look down on all creation.
But now, brimming with pride, she forgave the little bugs’ unintentional offense, for she had just won a victory and was about to boast of another.
“On her ship, in her bedroom—the room where she sleeps—she was screaming so loudly! One shriek louder than the next.”
Sophia gasped.
“What?”
Richard said, “Let me explain—”
“No,” Sophia interrupted.
“Let the child speak.”
Sophia crouched down, encouraging Aurina.
“Go on, don’t be afraid of someone’s iron fist.”
“I’m not scared of Richard, not one bit,” Aurina declared.
“Back then, Richard’s greatsword, that long, long sword, was pressed against Frostsilver’s body, right by her bedside—”
“Even Frostsilver…” Sophia said.
“Well, Richard, you went out alone, my fiancé, and… and…”
“You have to listen to me explain.”
“I won’t listen!”
“…Whoosh, a ton of black-shelled bugs suddenly filled Frostsilver’s boudoir to the brim.”
Aurina felt her buildup was perfect, the suspense at its peak, but why did Sophia look so angry, like she was about to pounce on Richard and bite him?
“Do you know why, big sister Sophia?”
“My Lord,” Sophia said, her eyes brimming with angry tears as she took a deep breath.
“Hurry up and tell me.”
“Because this king successfully nabbed her fancy wine jug!”
Aurina opened her mouth, pulled out a shimmering silver ruby-encrusted jug, and held it high.
“Two hundred thirty-two gold coins! She was so mad she let out his voice! Like a true dragon.”
Sophia blinked.
“Huh?”
Richard sighed.
He was certain that since meeting Aurina, he’d sighed more times—and more heavily—than in his entire life before her.
“Right, exactly,” Richard said.
“Aurina is a dragon, a naturally greedy, evil red dragon. Unless you smack her head hard or hold her down, there’s no stopping her. Frostsilver tried to hit her with a disintegration spell, but luckily, Aurina’s magic resistance is exceptionally high.”
“Is that so?” Sophia said.
“So, you still met her in her bedroom?”
“That room was huge. It looked more like a reception hall.”
“If there’s a bed and someone sleeps there, it’s a bedroom, a boudoir.”
The more Sophia thought about it, the more alarmed she felt.
Compared to the ancient, prestigious, and wealthy… what was that family name again?
Frostsilver’s family, anyway.
Compared to Frostsilver, Sophia was just a village girl from a seaside town.
Her skin was so porcelain-white, while Sophia’s—Sophia glanced at her hand—couldn’t compare.
Frostsilver had such a commanding presence, a tall, elegant figure exuding innate nobility.
“Sophia,” Richard said.
“There was no helping it. She invited me and Aurina to meet her. I went to try to win over a teammate, not knowing the meeting place in advance.”
Sophia fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes darting between Richard and Aurina.
“Richard, you… you really went to Frostsilver’s bedroom just for that jug?”
Richard nodded.
“Of course. I swear to you, nothing happened except for that jug.”
“No! There’s more!”
Aurina raised her hand between them.
“There was also this king’s astounding wisdom, easily seeing through that pitiful unicorn’s ambush.”
“Yes,” Richard said with a smile.
“Aurina broke a cup, and as it hit the ground, a swarm of Hellknights surged out. It was Frostsilver’s scheme—she planned to use the cup’s fall as a signal to launch an ambush.”
“She’s such a bad woman,” Sophia said.
“But I’ve heard men prefer bad women. And she—”
Richard adopted his knightly demeanor.
“Sophia, you know me, you know my heart. That room was indeed for receiving guests. I was there only to help Aurina.”
Sophia sighed, her gaze finally steadying on Richard’s eyes.
“I believe you, Richard. It’s just… hearing about such things makes my heart uneasy. You’re the youngest dragon-slaying hero in history. The Lord, the sky, the sea, and the earth all bear witness to your feats. Your heroic deeds travel with merchants and bards, reaching my ears even when you’re away for just a few months.”
Richard stepped closer, gently taking her hand.
“I know, I understand. But please believe me, my heart belongs only to you. No one can change that.”
He turned to Aurina.
“Aurina.”
Aurina was tasting red wine, spitting it out and muttering, “Why does wine taste so bad? It’s so much better stewed with meat.”
Hearing Richard, she looked up.
“Gah? What’s up?”
“Your exaggerated words made my fiancée worry. Even if you’re a child who doesn’t know how to speak properly, you should at least help me clear things up.”
“Gah, got it,” Aurina said, looking at Richard with pity.
“Yes, yes, Richard was just working for this king. Very useful, very good.”
Sophia lowered her head, her voice barely audible.
“I… I’m just afraid of losing you, afraid that one day someone will take you away.”
“Unless I fall,” Richard vowed solemnly with his devout faith.
“That day will never come.”
Sophia looked up, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You’re right. I might be overthinking.”
“Gah gah, you little bugs make things so complicated. Are we done?”
Aurina was already perched on the warhorse.
“Now, forward! To the Emperor’s palace! His treasury still holds so many of this king’s gold coins.”
Sophia said, “But things have gotten tricky. Frostsilver is so angry, she’ll definitely side with the Emperor. She’s a powerful sorceress and the Countess of Champagne. It’s my fault.”
“It’s fine,” Richard said.
“Evil people always band together.”
Sophia said, “It’s still my fault for not watching Aurina closely. You should carry her, not me letting my petty jealousy override the safety of others’ property.”
“Aurina.”
Richard extended his hand toward her.
“Gah!”
Aurina didn’t grab his hand but instead kicked off from it, leaping onto Richard’s shoulder.
Clamping her legs around his head, she tapped her bare heel against his breastplate, pointed forward, and shouted gleefully, “Advance, beast of burden! Advance!”
She’s just a bit mischievous, Sophia told herself.
As the two humans and one dragon walked on, Aurina, brimming with excitement, sang a melodic tune, her hands clapping Richard’s iron helm.
“♪ La la la, la la la, gah gah gah♪. Beast of burden, good beast of burden, gah, so good, so good♪. The best beast of burden♪.”
Aurina occasionally glanced at Sophia.
Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that Aurina, riding atop Richard’s head, was smugly glancing at her, as if flaunting, “Look, your fiancé is mine.”
Sophia felt her intuition wasn’t wrong.
But what Aurina was thinking was: Gah gah gah, your fiancée spell binds such a fine thing, but in the end, it’s this king who gets to use it. Poor little bug, how could you ever match a true dragon?