Chapter 7: Sorry, I may not be able to go back with you

In the capital of the Kingdom of Londe.

For days, King Duncan and Minister Freeman had been sleepless, living in constant fear.

Lucia’s potential revenge hung over them like the Sword of Damocles, keeping them on edge.

Yet, days passed, and no wrath descended from Lucia. Instead, Dragon’s Roar Valley seemed frozen in time, eerily silent with no news escaping its depths.

In the royal palace’s grand hall, Duncan gathered his ministers, his face grave.

“It’s been nearly ten days since Hero Fratina entered Dragon’s Roar Valley, and she still hasn’t returned…”

His words carried a weight the assembled officials understood.

Days earlier, Duncan had ordered the kingdom’s elite forces to amass in the capital, fortifying it as if preparing for war.

A military officer stepped forward.

“If Hero Fratina was defeated by the dragon, it should have come for us by now. But with no news from the valley after so many days, something unexpected must have happened.”

“Hm.”

Duncan nodded.

“Yesterday, I spoke with Minister Freeman. The complete silence from the valley suggests something beyond our predictions.”

He had considered countless possibilities—Fratina and the dragon perishing together, or the dragon killing her but sustaining heavy injuries.

Regardless of what happened, Duncan and his court could no longer wait in suspense.

Living in constant dread would drive them mad.

With this in mind, Duncan turned to the officer.

“General Ludd, organize a squad of soldiers to venture deep into the valley and investigate.”

Duncan was prepared.

If the soldiers vanished, it would confirm Lucia’s victory, and he’d need to prepare gifts to sue for peace.

If something else had occurred, he could plan accordingly.

Though reluctant to send his men to their potential deaths, General Ludd had no choice but to comply.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Since Duncan had recalled nearly all elite forces to the capital, Londe’s border defenses were stretched thin.

If this continued, external threats could cripple the kingdom.

*

In Dragon’s Roar Valley, a squad of over a dozen soldiers marched in formation, scanning their surroundings.

Each man knew the risks of this mission, their faces alternating between solemnity and worry.

When volunteers were sought, none had wanted to risk being devoured by a dragon.

But as the commander raised the reward, desperate soldiers from struggling families stepped forward, hoping to secure a future for their loved ones.

Their orders were to find either the dragon or the Hero—alive or dead.

A single discovery, even a corpse, would allow them to retreat.

Yet, after a full day in the valley, they had found nothing.

“Captain.”

As the squad rested, a soldier approached the officer leading the group.

“We’ve been searching for over a day. No bodies, no signs of battle. Could… could the Hero have realized she couldn’t defeat the dragon and fled?”

The captain sighed helplessly.

“If that’s true, how do we report back?”

If one side had died in battle, they could at least return with evidence.

But if the Hero had deserted, what proof could they offer their superiors?

The thought gave the captain a headache.

Suddenly, a rustle came from the nearby forest.

The resting soldiers instantly grew alert, gripping their weapons.

Moments later, a golden-haired girl emerged from the trees.

Her beauty was striking, her demeanor cool and ethereal, like a figure from a painting.

That is, if you ignored the large stag she dragged by her right hand.

Fratina, returning from hunting, froze at the sight of the human soldiers.

After nearly ten days in the valley, she had assumed her life would be one of isolation, like a savage cut off from the world.

Yet, just yesterday, Lucia had revealed Londe’s true motives for sending her here, and now a group of Londe’s soldiers appeared.

Both sides eyed each other warily.

The squad captain, swallowing his fear, spoke softly.

“Excuse me, are you Hero Fratina?”

The title struck a nerve, and Fratina’s expression darkened.

But she calmed herself and addressed the soldiers.

“That’s me, but you don’t need to call me ‘Hero’ or ‘Lady’ anymore.”

Confirming her identity, the soldiers buzzed with excitement.

Her survival meant their safety was more assured.

But her next words left them confused.

Was the Hero being humble?

The captain, now more at ease, pressed further.

“Lady Fratina…”

She shot him a sharp look, and he quickly corrected himself.

“Miss Fratina, since you’re unharmed, does that mean you’ve defeated the dragon Lucia…”

“I lost.”

“Huh?”

The soldiers froze, stunned.

“I lost to Lucia. She didn’t kill me. Now I’m her servant. Clear enough?”

Fratina’s blunt words overwhelmed the soldiers with information.

“Wait… Miss Fratina, you’re joking, right? You look unscathed, not like someone who fought a dragon. And those clothes—hardly servant’s attire…”

Fratina sneered inwardly at the captain’s words.

Even outsiders could see Lucia treated her unlike a typical servant.

“I’m not joking. Londe sent you to scout, didn’t they? Now you know the truth. Go back.”

“If you linger and Lucia finds you, I can’t guarantee she’ll spare you.”

“Miss Fratina!”

The captain still couldn’t believe it.

“Someone as powerful as you wouldn’t willingly serve her. She must have used some dirty trick, right? Come with us—we’ll help you.”

The captain’s guess wasn’t far off, but Fratina couldn’t agree.

She gave a faint, beautiful smile.

“Sorry, I can’t go back with you.”