The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

"She is a queen who truly holds the world in her heart. She's one of the few High Elves in the Elven Kingdom I deeply admire."

Hearing Shalaina praise Mirillian with such unreserved zeal, Attilicia couldn't help but feel a bit sour, even though she didn't harbor that kind of sentiment for Mirillian herself. After all, I'm a prodigy from Dragon Island, the likes of which is seen only once a century! Do I really pale in comparison so much?

She immediately retorted with a trace of acidity, "Well, by that logic, there's no one in this world who could be worthy of her, is there?"

"She doesn't need anyone to be worthy of her. Besides, High Elves have long lifespans, just like us Dragons. What if she just happens to meet a hero who can conquer both her body and soul?"

Just as she said this, Shalaina caught sight of David whispering something into the Duke of Silver's ear. This sent Mirillian into fits of laughter behind her hand, and Shalaina then teased jestingly, "Like your son, David Uthos. Doesn't he have such potential? It's just that he's a bit too young now. If he were already a young man, perhaps anything could be possible, oh."

"Of course! You see whose son he is!" Whenever another Dragon complimented her son, Attilicia instinctively slipped into a mode of proud defiance.

But after listening to the rest of Shalaina's remark, her eyes widened with belated realization. "Wait! Who? You're kidding, right? Their ages are a whole century apart!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than she froze.

That's right, it's only a century. One is a High Elf; the other, a Dragon. By the time David grows up, they'll both still be in their prime.

Glancing once more at the Dragon and Elf, who showed no signs of incompatibility, Attilicia clutched her increasingly chaotic head.

What the hell!

"This won't do! I absolutely do not agree to this marriage!"

Not to mention she already has a daughter, Elizabeth, who's about David's age! According to my original plan, my son is supposed to properly marry a Silver Dragon. I've even set my sights on the Silver Dragon King's daughter for this!

"What are you even thinking about? I was just joking," Shalaina said, utterly speechless. Attilicia can be so dull sometimes, taking any absurd suggestion seriously.

While the two Silver Dragons were at a loss for words, the Duke of Silver's retinue drew near.

Tania, the young Dragon, not to be outdone, started shouting to David and the surrounding onlookers, "Brother! Brother David! Do you see? This is my brother, Tania's brother!" As if she too shared in the glory.

Initially, the surrounding people just smiled, thinking her some mischievous child, either with arrogant dismissal or unconcern.

But David, who was accompanying the Duke of Silver, actually heard his sister Tania's voice amidst the deafening noise. He perked up his ear-flaps, took an extra glance through the crowd, and immediately burst into a brilliant smile.

Without a care for anyone else, he strode toward where his father and the others were. The crowd automatically parted to make way for him. Amidst shocked gasps and exclamations from the people, he reached out his tail, scooped up Tania from Shalaina's shoulder, placed her on his head, and laughed, "Come on, Tania, let's go to the Elf King's banquet and have a big meal!"

"Yay! Long live Brother! Mom, Sister Shalaina, look! Do you see? My dream has come true today! Tania is going to the Elven banquet to eat a big meal!" Tania yelled from atop David's head, waving her small hand at her father and the others amidst the envious gazes of the crowd.

"Miss Shalaina, why don't you come along for the fun!" David called out, still not satisfied.

"Ah...?" Attilicia and the others were taken aback at first. But both she and Shalaina were former and current envoys from Dragon Island to Granyel, so stage fright was unfamiliar to them.

It's better to be with this rascal than to worry at home, lest he cause some other trouble, Attilicia thought. She and Shalaina exchanged a glance. Then, with a smiling nod of approval from the Duke of Silver, they joined the procession heading to the royal palace, drawing the envy, jealousy, and resentment of many Elves.

In the crowd trailing the main retinue, Yevgeny walked alone as part of the triumphal procession, watching the bustling, grand scene ahead, somewhat dazed.

After three years, this scene of a triumphant return with a Silver Dragon... It actually came true... in another, more dramatic and ironic way. My dream came true.

I really did become a hero. Just one of them, a supporting character.

And those two... One is a counterfeit hero in a Silver Dragon's skin. And I... I'm the puppet whose strings of fate are pulled by this counterfeit hero. A puppet.

Is this really what I wanted?

Then, looking at the petals falling from the sky, Yevgeny, with a vacant expression, reached out and caught one.

She crushed it slowly between her fingers, letting the wind sweep it away. She gave a vague smile. Whatever.

My fate is no longer my own. Now, I just want to be swept away by the torrent of destiny, towards that endless, dim, burning horizon.