Volume 5, Chapter 10 – The Precarious Royal Family of the Cold Night

This was the largest reception hall in the gray castle. For the most part, the castles of remote nobles were like this: safety was the first priority, ensuring they couldn’t be easily breached by enemies, and comfort was secondary. As a result, such castles often lacked windows and ventilation, with almost non-existent drainage systems. Both lighting and sanitation were extremely poor.

Therefore, food scraps that fell into the cracks of the stone bricks and wooden planks would often grow moldy and ferment. Sometimes, the hallways would be filled with the rotten stench of dead rats. Combined with the sour smell of servants’ sweat and the blackened walls covered in a layer of grime from not being cleaned for a long time, the comfort level of such castles was truly concerning. The moment one stepped inside, they could smell the characteristic sour odor of a relief shelter and the greasy scent of unwashed dishes.

Of course, this was only the situation for remote nobles. They lived on the border, facing the constant threat of invasion by foreign enemies and fierce bandits, so they had no choice. The living environment of the nobles in the interior was much better.

Moreover, compared to the commoners, no matter how unbearable a castle was, it was still far better than a leaky wooden hut. In addition, castles often had fireplaces and bonfires, as well as servants to help with changing clothes and cooking. The living environment of the nobility was still far beyond what commoners could ever hope for.

Right now, the grand hall that should have been used by Count Yureidon to entertain Fia was being used by her to host Radric, Tilulu, and the other beastfolk. Although the hall was only lit by the flickering orange-red glow of a bonfire, making it somewhat dim, the soft gasps of the beastfolk and the sounds of them devouring their food filled the hall with a lively and vibrant atmosphere, reminiscent of a festival night.

Fia sat at the head seat, while Radric and the other beastfolk sat at small tables a meter away from her. This style of hospitality, different from Silvar’s, was influenced by the beastfolk; everyone sat separately at small, half-meter-square tables, and the food was served in individual portions.

Taking a small sip of the fruit wine served by a servant, Fia hesitantly moved the cup away, her expression turning strange. This pale green fruit wine, which looked like stagnant green water, not only looked unappetizing but also tasted incredibly sour and astringent. It was hard to believe this was what the servant had called their “finest wine.”

“So, to avoid being hunted by the Royalist faction, you fled to Silvar and made a deal with Count Yureidon? As Her Highness’s servant, I shouldn’t kick you when you’re down, but forgive my bluntness, your actions were far too reckless. What if Count Yureidon hadn’t agreed? Wouldn’t you have been captured as prisoners? I don’t think a man like him would have let you go, especially with his track record.”

Anastasia’s words made Radric lower his head. Although he had the head of a dragon, anyone could see that he was currently filled with shame.

When Fia had brought Radric, Tilulu, and the injured beastfolk to the castle, Nagg had also found many “interesting things” during his search. Among them were not only the imperial supplies embezzled by the Count but also letters between him and the leaders of the Cold Night Kingdom. The Cold Night Kingdom had promised the Count money and beautiful beastfolk girls as a reward, in exchange for him providing the movements of Silvar’s soldiers.

It was worth noting that all the beastfolk girls the Count requested were underage. Each one looked very young. According to the girls, once they came of age, the Count would send them back to the Cold Night Kingdom. He was a lolicon, through and through. Considering Tilulu’s young and adorable appearance, it was hard not to think that the Count had ulterior motives for taking in the enemy kingdom’s royalty. If not for the protection of the Moon Dragon Radric, Tilulu might have already met a terrible fate.

As for the reason why Tilulu and Radric had fled to Yureidon territory, the cause and effect were rather complex. According to Radric, they had fled to Silvar because they were attacked by their own countrymen—soldiers of the Cold Night Kingdom—and had no choice but to escape here.

Normally, as long as it wasn’t nearly ten thousand beastfolk soldiers attacking at once, Radric alone could have driven them away. But due to Tilulu’s status and beastfolk tradition, Radric could not reveal his identity as a dragon in front of other beastfolk.

Almost all dragons were part of the Darkborn. Once Radric’s identity as a Darkborn was exposed, he would quickly be attacked by the beastfolk, and Tilulu would be implicated. Not only that, but her royal status would cease to exist. The beastfolk revered strength and bloodline, honoring the powerful. Relying on the power of the hated Darkborn, even if one was royalty, would still be looked down upon.

If Radric revealed his true form, it would become extremely difficult for Tilulu to return to the Cold Night in the future. This played right into the hands of the Royalist faction, who would love nothing more than for the prestige of the former royal Tiger-kin to be dragged through the mud, despised by all beastfolk.

As for Radric fighting the beastfolk soldiers in his semi-dragonoid form, while not impossible, his strength would be greatly reduced. In his semi-dragonoid state, Radric could only exert less than a third of his usual power and could not guarantee a safe escape with Tilulu and her followers. Under these circumstances, they could only choose to leave the Cold Night and flee to Silvar, where the Royalist faction’s pursuers would not dare to follow.

Anastasia’s words brought a bitter taste to Radric’s throat.

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“Well… this is Silvar, after all. I thought that even if the worst happened, I could change back into my dragon form, so I didn’t think it through carefully. If I had known Count Yureidon was such a shameless person, I would not have brought Tilulu here.”

At this, Radric stood up, placed his deep purple scaled dragon claw on his chest, and bowed in Fia’s direction.

“Elf princess. Thank you for exposing Count Yureidon’s true colors for us.”

“It was nothing. I should be the one thanking you. If you hadn’t appeared, Radric, I would never have known that Count Yureidon was embezzling supplies meant for the disaster victims and secretly colluding with the Cold Night.”

At this, Fia turned to look at Anastasia standing behind her. Since she had lost her position as Captain of the Guard, Anastasia could no longer sit beside Fia as she used to. Even though Fia insisted she could sit, Anastasia stubbornly remained standing. From Fia’s observation, the reason for her stubbornness was the presence of the magic casters from the Elf Tower. She didn’t want her lack of decorum to give those three old men a reason to accuse Fia of poor management.

“Where is Count Yureidon now?”

“He is imprisoned in the dungeons. Earlier, I saw some nobles packing their belongings, seemingly preparing to flee. They may be the ones who colluded with him.”

“Ignore them for now. Go and hang Count Yureidon. The Kingdom has no need for a noble who betrays his own people.”

As she spoke, Fia made a throat-slitting gesture with a blank expression. For those who deserved to be killed, she would not show a shred of mercy. What she detested was the slaughter of the weak who could not fight back.

Suddenly, Liti, sitting next to Fia, leaned over and reminded her in a low voice.

“Count Yureidon is a hereditary count, you know. If you kill him privately without first escorting him to the capital for trial, even if you are the crown princess, the other nobles will unite to protest. No, not just you, it would be the same even if it were Father.”

Fia glanced at Anastasia, who did not object to Liti’s words, which clearly meant Liti was speaking the truth. However, Fia remained unmoved. She placed her hands on her hips defiantly.

“Then I’d like to see who dares to object to me dealing with a traitor who sold out the Kingdom.”

Those who had opposed her were long gone; no one dared to speak ill of her now. If she could have relied on the Count’s own soldiers to arrest his nobles, she would have had them all arrested and hung from the city gates as well.

Without objecting, Anastasia stood up straight, her eyes resolute as she replied.

“Yes, this subordinate will see to it at once.”

“As expected of my sister… I feel like I’m seeing a shadow of your former self. You kill people just like that.”

Liti looked up with a reverent gaze. Fia couldn’t help but pat Liti’s small head to ease her fear.

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“If he had only sold intelligence, I wouldn’t have killed him on the spot.”

On her way to Yureidon territory, Fia had seen countless poor people who were so starved they were skin and bones, unable to even walk steadily. At first, she thought it was because the territory had been hit by a disaster and the roads were damaged, preventing supplies from reaching everyone in time. However, the truth was that the Count had never sent out the supplies at all. If she didn’t kill such a noble, she wouldn’t be able to quell the hatred in her heart.

“Well done.”

Like an adult, Milu nodded in deep agreement while eating a toasted flatbread.

Fia couldn’t help but smile.

“I haven’t fallen so low as to need praise from you, Milu.”

Seeing Fia and Radric finish their conversation, an old man at the table finally couldn’t help but stand up. Even though he was the administrator of one of the twelve High Elf Towers, it was his first time seeing a Moon Dragon up close. Moon Dragons were known as the most magically proficient of all dragon species. If he could gain the Moon Dragon’s approval and get a glimpse into Dragon Language magic, for a magic caster of his level, it could mean opening a door to a new world.

If not for the decorum of a high-tier magic caster, he would have already rushed forward excitedly to touch Radric’s scales—a Moon Dragon was a treasure trove from head to toe.

“Are you truly a Moon Dragon? As far as I know, the proud Moon Dragons do not take on dragonoid forms, let alone bow to outsiders.”

“That is merely the prejudice of the common folk. If we have something to protect, we Moon Dragons are willing to make sacrifices.”

“But your horns look more like those of a young dragon. And you are a Darkborn, so why would you be sitting and talking with beastfolk and us elves?”

At the mention of his horns, Radric’s expression turned displeased. He crossed his arms and snorted coldly.

“Hmph, just because you have not seen it does not mean it cannot happen. The elf princess is superior to me in both magic and physical strength. It is only natural to bow to her. Moreover, the princess can use Ninth-Tier magic. We are not so foolish as to oppose one who creates miracles.”

“Uh…”

Being reprimanded by Radric in a paternal tone, the old man was instantly embarrassed. If it had been him before coming to Yureidon territory, he would have scoffed at Radric’s claims and believed he was not a real Moon Dragon. But he had already witnessed Fia’s magic that day, which instantly restored a vast expanse of land. Even with his knowledge, he couldn’t identify what kind of magic it was.

Ultimately, a spell that could turn day into night in the blink of an eye had already stepped into the realm of the Seventh Tier, not to mention the terrifying magical pressure that left even him breathless. Perhaps even the Witch of Miracles or the Absolute Evil were only at that level.

Throughout this journey, he and the other two old men were filled with regret. The Eldest Princess’s strength was more than enough to be their teacher. Even a little guidance from her would have benefited them greatly. At the very least, they could have asked her for a line or two of the ley line restoration spell to glimpse the true essence of magic. High-tier magic was a world apart from ordinary magic. Even from a single line of a spell, a reader could discern the compiler’s ingenuity and lifetime of experience.

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However, just like Prince Schain, they had been played for fools by the princess, naively believing she had truly lost her memories. They had then shown their dissatisfaction to her, allowing her to see that their past flattery had been insincere. They had forever lost the shortcut to a higher tier that was asking the princess for guidance. The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became, wishing he could travel back a few days and give his past self a hard slap.

How utterly shameless!

Well, since I’ve already lost face, I might as well go all in!

Mustering his courage, the elderly magic caster’s expression became humble. He smiled obsequiously and pleaded with Radric.

“Lord Moon Dragon, I have been stuck at the Sixth Tier for three hundred years and have always wished to improve my magic. However, I have learned every spell I can access, yet I have made no breakthrough. I believe that only by learning Dragon Language magic can I progress. What I mean is… I would like to trade my fortune for you to teach me Dragon Language magic, even if it’s just the tip of the iceberg—”

“Impossible.” Before the old man could finish, Radric refused him outright. “The physical differences between you elves and us dragons are immense. You cannot produce the sounds we do. Besides, as an elf, why don’t you learn from the more powerful elf princess here? If I were skilled in elf magic, I would surely ask her for guidance.”

“This…”

For a moment, the old man’s face looked as if he had eaten a bug. The other two seated old men were both relieved that they hadn’t stood up to embarrass themselves and filled with regret for their foolishness over the past few days.

Only Nagg was smiling. He deftly changed the subject for the old man.

“Lord Moon Dragon, do you mean to say that you are willing to condescend to stay with the beastfolk in order to protect this young White Tiger lady named Tilulu, and that she is part of a weakened faction in the Cold Night Kingdom, and was recently targeted for assassination by the current rulers, which is why you had to flee to Silvar? Is that correct?”

“Precisely.”

Radric nodded in approval.

“Tilulu is the previous king’s youngest granddaughter and the royal with the bloodline closest to the orthodox royal family of the Cold Night. As long as she grows up safely, she will sooner or later gain the power to overthrow the current royal family. That is why they are so wary of her and have tried everything to hunt her down. If not for the tribes in the Cold Night who are still loyal to the orthodox royal family and willing to protect her, our identities would have been exposed long ago, and Tilulu would have lost her qualification to reclaim the throne. Although Tilulu dislikes fighting, the grudge for the annihilation of her clan must be avenged. No one has the right to take what belongs to her. I will help her reclaim the throne.”

His tone growing firmer, Radric turned to Fia, who was sitting at the head seat, tasting the local toasted flatbread without a word.

“The repayment of my debt I mentioned earlier also lies in this. Elf princess, if Tilulu becomes the queen of the Cold Night, I promise on her behalf that the Cold Night will never invade Silvar’s territory by even half a step. The mithril mines in the northern part of the Cold Night, which originally belonged to the Lionfolk, will also be entirely at your disposal.”

“…”

Fia didn’t answer immediately but continued with what she was doing.

Radric’s promise sounded nice, but it was essentially worthless. First, Silvar was vast and not lacking in mines; it was an exporter of magic ore itself. Second, even if the Cold Night didn’t promise never to invade, they didn’t have the strength to do so. Finally, all of this was predicated on Tilulu becoming queen. If she couldn’t, then none of it mattered. Radric was trying to drag her into this to help Tilulu become queen.

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Putting aside the fact that this wasn’t the attitude of someone repaying a debt, the reward was completely insufficient to entice someone to join his cause. There was no sincerity at all.

Moreover, she was the Eldest Princess of Silvar, not some random passerby. She couldn’t just help whoever she wanted. Supporting a powerful leader in a neighboring country would bring no benefit to Silvar. The best kind of neighbor was one that was weak but not chaotic. As the Eldest Princess of the Kingdom, she couldn’t make a decision based on her own preferences without considering the future—she was no longer alone.

Although Radric was staring at her with a burning gaze, Fia acted as if she didn’t see him. Claire, on the other hand, gave a wry smile. She tucked her silver hair behind her ear and spoke up to ease the awkwardness.

“Mr. Radric, the reward you’re offering doesn’t sound like repaying a debt. Miss Tilulu’s situation is indeed pitiful, but for a crown princess to act like a hero and help her seize the throne just because her story is sad is something that only happens in bedtime stories for children. There are countless children with tragic stories in this world. With you to protect her, Tilulu is already one in a million. you could very well take her somewhere else to live a peaceful life. You have the strength to do so.”

Following Claire, Liti, as if reading the atmosphere, chimed in with a lively and innocent expression.

“You could also just live in our royal capital, Blossom~ Tilulu is very cute and not our enemy. As long as sister says the word, Father surely won’t object. Ah, you could live with Miss Lianne and Miss Friede. There are many children there around Tilulu’s age. She would definitely be very happy.”

“L-Lianne? And Lady Friede?”

Tilulu, who had been sitting next to Radric with her head down, not daring to speak, suddenly looked up. She seemed very interested in this topic. Not only did her eyes widen, but even her white ears and tail twitched slightly.

This time, it was Fia’s turn to be surprised. This child named Tilulu clearly knew of Lianne and Friede.

“You know Lianne and Friede, Tilulu? They’re witches.”

“I… I’m a witch too…”

Tilulu, who had a pair of mysterious purple eyes, hurriedly reached into her clothes and soon took out a palm-sized round medallion. Although a shy blush had already appeared on her face, she still held up the medallion and showed it to Fia.

“But… but I’m just an apprentice…”

“So you’re one of us.”

A smile flashed in Fia’s ruby-like eyes, and she also took a round medallion from her storage backpack. Compared to the one in Tilulu’s hand, Fia’s was more exquisite and made of more solid material. One could tell at a glance that it was much nobler than Tilulu’s. On it was a mysterious pattern resembling a mushroom cloud and depicting a great explosion.

“Hello, my name is Dofilia. I’m a witch too. The Witch of Calamity Flame.”