Darkness surrounded us—vast and unbroken, save for the scattered stars and constellations mirrored strangely below. It felt as though we were drifting through an endless void, speckled with celestial lights.
Kargath, the red moon, had long since set, leaving only cast its faint, cold glow. Ahead loomed Demetros, the small, dark-gray moon, barely distinguishable against the night sky. It seemed to swallow what little light remained, making the night feel even deeper, more oppressive.
Below, the "constellations" were not the same as those above. Patches of pure blackness stretched across the land, interrupted only by flickering dots of fire—a lonely farm, a distant village, an isolated outpost. True illumination was rare. Only the occasional town or city broke the darkness, and even then, only the wealthiest had street lamps lining their main roads. But the grandest lights belonged to the nobles’ castles—at least, the rich ones. Those shone like constellations of their own, lavishly adorned with radiance.
Perhaps the best way to gauge a noble''s wealth was simply to look at how brightly their castle burned against the night.
Cold air rushed against my face, each exhale trailing behind me in small clouds of vapor. I barely flapped my wings, conserving my strength—yet even in my dragon form, simply holding them steady was beginning to take its toll.
Navigating the night was easier than I had feared. Before long, I passed over Duke Thorston’s castle—a sprawling monstrosity that stretched across two hills. Its massive, unmistakable T shape marked it as the legacy of a noble family obsessed with immortalizing their own name. I had never seen it before, but I knew of it, a monument to vanity carved in stone.
To my right, far in the distance, the glow of Koreia, Ahetia’s provincial capital, flickered faintly. Ahead, even farther, Dolomar—the heart of Cromwall and Fiona’s seat of power—shimmered against the horizon, though it was likely still a hundred kilometers away.
“Heh, I can see our destination!” I called out, but no response came. For a brief moment, a flicker of panic ran through me—had I lost her?
Turning my head, I exhaled in relief. She was still there, peacefully asleep on my back, her body sprawled across my scales, head resting on her hands. Her magical shields remained intact, shimmering faintly around her. She was maintaining them even in her sleep—an impressive feat.
She slept through the entire flight. By the time we arrived, it must have been past two in the morning.
“Hey, we’re here. Looks like the party’s still going,” I said, but she didn’t stir. We hadn’t discussed how we would make our entrance, so I opted for subtlety, landing as quietly as possible near the entrance while keeping myself cloaked in illusion.
A surprised yelp escaped her as I shifted forms, seamlessly catching her before she could tumble off. The transformation had required some quick maneuvering—twisting mid-change to ensure I didn’t drop her—but I managed it smoothly.
“What’s happening? Why did you wake me up?” she mumbled groggily.
I chuckled.
“We’ve arrived,” I said with a shrug.
She blinked sleepily, then wrapped her arms around my neck, yawning as she pressed her face against my chest.
“Where’s the inn?” she mumbled. “It’s late. I just want to go to bed.”
I snorted, trying to set her down, but she clung to me stubbornly.
“We have accommodations in Fiona’s castle. No need for an inn,” I explained. “Now, let me put something on. I can’t walk in like this with you in my arms.”
She finally let go, settling onto her feet with a sleepy chuckle. Then, glancing down at her clothes, she frowned.
“I can’t walk in wearing my travel clothes! I need a bath first—to clean off the dust from the road. And besides,” she huffed, “I’m not about to change like some peasant out in the wild.”
“What dust?” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I pulled the dress over my head in one smooth motion—thankfully managing not to snag it on a horn this time.
Once dressed, I rummaged around for a pair of passable shoes while she continued to protest.
“Oh, sure, you get to waltz in wearing a lovely dress, and I’m supposed to enter in my travel armor?” she grumbled.
“Then change your clothes,” I said without looking up.
“Not here!” she huffed, stomping a foot against the ground in frustration.
I shrugged. “We don’t have time. The party’s probably winding down in the next half-hour. If we make it inside before it ends, at least we showed up.”
She bickered with me all the way to the entrance, even as we started climbing the wide staircase leading to the grand gates. A few startled servants hurried toward us, no doubt wondering why we had arrived on foot instead of in a proper coach.
I picked out one who seemed more important. “Be so kind as to announce Lady Lores of Orcmoud and Princess Julietta Trachenorma of the elves.”
His eyes widened in surprise before he quickly lowered into a deep bow.
“Of course, Your Highness. My Lady. Please, follow me.”
We stepped through the towering doors and were guided down the grand corridors toward the hall where the festivities were still in full swing. Music filled the air—lively, rhythmic. Dance music. So they were still dancing? I had no idea what the evening’s program entailed. Ju probably did, but she was still a bit grumpy, so I refrained from asking.
Our escort leaned in to whisper something to another attendant stationed by the entrance. A quiet flurry of movement followed—servants slipping in and out of the hall, murmuring among themselves. It took a moment, but I soon realized they were waiting for the current dance to finish before announcing us.
When the final notes of the music faded, the grand double doors swung open, revealing a massive hall as vast as a cathedral. The space teemed with elegantly dressed guests, some still lingering on the dance floor, while others stood in small clusters around lavish seating areas and banquet tables.
A man, clearly someone of importance, stepped forward with deliberate poise. Gripping the ornate rod in his hand, he tapped it twice against the marble floor. The crisp sound silenced the room.
With a voice full of authority, he announced, “Her Highness, Princess Julietta Trachenorma of the Elves, and her companion, Lady Lores of Orcmoud!”
I gasped, barely resisting the urge to incinerate the fool on the spot—but it was too late to fix the damage.
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Ju chuckled, grasping my arm and stepping forward with practiced grace. I had no choice but to follow, struggling to keep pace as all eyes turned toward us. To make matters worse, I had to lean on her for support—curse these high heels! Why had I thought wearing them was a good idea? Each step felt like a battle against gravity and regret.
The Duke and Duchess of Cromwall approached with regal poise. After the customary formalities, Fiona leaned in to kiss my cheek, then pulled back with a questioning look.
“I was quite worried when you two didn’t arrive for the evening reception. Did something happen?”
Ju answered with a casual smile and a light shrug.
“As we took a short technical break at an inn, my sweet Lores discovered that some of her newly freed peasants were being kidnapped and sold into slavery. Naturally, she couldn’t stand for such injustice and had to fix it immediately. That… delayed us a little.”
I stiffened. My sweet Lores—oh, that was definitely revenge for not stopping at an inn where she could have properly changed.
I briefly considered retaliating in kind, but quickly realized that any comeback would likely backfire on me. With a sigh, I let it go. For now.
“Oh, dear, how could such injustice happen!” the Duchess of Cromwall exclaimed, her expression full of fake concern. I did not believe one moment that she cared.
Meanwhile, the Duke bowed before me with the utmost formality.
“Lady Lores, the final dance of the evening is about to begin. Would you grant me the honor?”
I stared at him in horror, my mind scrambling for an escape—only to feel Ju’s firm hand press against my back, blocking any chance of retreat.
“Oh, Duke, of course,” she said smoothly, her voice practically dripping with mischief. “She was worried the whole time that we’d arrive too late for it.”
And just like that, I found myself swept into the last dance of the night—an intricate, heavily choreographed affair that I had absolutely no idea how to perform. Desperately, I tried to mimic those around me, all too aware that every gaze in the hall was fixed on me.
Meanwhile, Ju lounged comfortably with the Duchess and her entourage, chatting away, thoroughly enjoying my predicament.
After the dance, the Duke introduced me to a group, and soon, the conversation shifted to idle chatter and flowing wine. The drink was decent—smooth, rich—but I found no enjoyment in it. Something gnawed at me, a growing unease creeping in. Maybe it was exhaustion, or maybe something deeper, but as I glanced around, a wave of sorrow, disappointment, and perhaps even disgust settled over me.
Who were these people, really?
The realization churned in my stomach like nausea. I was surrounded by those who saw themselves as superior, their status and cheated levels granting them power they had never truly earned. Had any of them risked their lives in a dungeon, clawing their way forward to earn every hard-fought level? Perhaps one in a hundred. The rest? Coddled by well-structured teams, carried effortlessly to victories where they had done none of the work—only delivering the final risk-free blow when the fight was already decided.
And even then, with all the advantages at their disposal, most of them had only managed to attain mediocre levels. Yet here they stood, draped in wealth and entitlement, wielding their shallow achievements like badges of wisdom, making decisions that would shape the lives of countless subjects—simply because they had been born in some castle.
At the first opportunity, I pulled Ju aside.
“Ju, I’m tired. I just want to go to bed,” I said bluntly.
She turned to look at me, her expression shifting to concern.
“You really do look exhausted,” she admitted, “but I can’t leave just yet. I’m investigating something—I’ll explain later. If you’re too tired, go ahead and retire. The staff will guide you to our rooms, and I’ll join you when I can. Okay?”
I sighed. I would have preferred for her to come with me, but…
“Are you sure you have to stay?” I asked, hoping for a different answer.
“I have to,” she repeated firmly. “I’ll explain later.”
I shrugged, realizing I wasn’t going to win this one. “Alright.”
Before leaving, I made my way to Fiona to excuse myself. She, too, commented that I looked unwell—alright, no need to keep repeating that—and quickly arranged for a trusted servant to guide me to the rooms assigned to us.
Just before he left, I inquired about the wine served at the reception. He informed me that a generous selection had already been placed in our quarters, but if I needed more, it could be brought up at any time.
I thanked him, then waved him off when he asked if I required any personal attendants. As if I needed servants just to pour myself a glass of wine.
The room I settled into had large windows draped in sheer satin, their translucent fabric shifting gently with the breeze. The movement revealed glimpses of the open double doors leading to the terrace, where an endless black sky stretched above, dusted with stars. It was a tranquil, almost mesmerizing sight—one that suited my mood perfectly.
I sank onto the wide bed, its surface overflowing with plush pillows. Positioned directly in front of the open doors, it was an unusual but striking placement, blending seamlessly with the room’s airy, elegant design.
Sipping from my glass, I let the quiet envelop me, though loneliness clung to me like an unwelcome guest. Just as I was beginning to wallow in it, a flicker of light appeared behind me—the unmistakable glow of a spell. Probably Ju, healing herself after enduring hours in the company of those insufferable nobles. It had to be close to four in the morning by now.
“Oh, finally, you’re back,” I said, my voice carrying a mix of relief and lingering irritation. “Come have some wine with me.”
I heard her light footsteps against the marble floor, measured and graceful. I didn’t turn to look at her—I was still a little annoyed that she had left me alone for who knows how many hours. Dawn would be breaking soon.
“As my master commands,” she said as she approached, slipping once again into that tired, submissive act.
I snorted. “Oh, come on, that’s not even funny anymore! How many times do I have to tell you to just call me Lores before it sticks? But if you’re going to ask so meekly, then yes—I would love a massage. My back is killing me.”
“Of course, Lores,” she replied, just as meekly as before, though at least she used my name this time.
I sighed. Well, you did make me wait for you.
“What took you so long, anyway?” I asked.
“I came as soon as I could,” she answered simply.
She climbed onto the bed behind me and began working on my shoulders, her fingers pressing into the tense muscles of my neck and back. Ah, yes—my Achilles’ heel. Massages. And she was good at them. My irritation started to melt away, replaced by a slow, creeping sense of relief. A quiet moan escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“You’re really good at this,” I murmured, no longer quite so mad at her.
“If you lie down properly, I could give you a full-body massage,” she offered, raising the stakes.
Oh, well. This was probably her way of making up for abandoning me for hours. With a small, resigned sigh, I set my drink on the bedside table and stretched out on my stomach.
She started at my calves, her hands gliding over the knots of tension in my legs, then moved to my feet. Oh. Oh, she was really good.
“I didn’t know you were this good at massages,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
She giggled happily, continuing her wondrous work, kneading tension from my muscles with practiced ease. More moans escaped me, completely unbidden.
I was floating in bliss, fully immersed in the moment—until the room was suddenly flooded with light.
“Who the fuck is there?” I snapped, my relaxation shattered. I turned toward the intruder, irritation flaring. “I told you I don’t need any extra servants!”
Standing at the doorway, arms crossed, still clad in her travel armor, was Ju.
She raised a single brow, her expression unreadable.
“Oh, really?” she said, voice dripping with amusement.