Chapter 26: You don’t want people to know that you like wearing women’s clothes, right?

At the mountain’s base, Londe’s guide had waited nearly a day without hearing sounds of battle.

Though still afraid, he mustered the courage to approach closer.

He soon spotted the Papal Guard’s temporary camp at the foot of the mountain.

Seeing torches lit near the camp, he grew puzzled.

‘Did the Papal forces get scared and not go up?’

With that thought, he hurried to the camp.

The night watch, recognizing him as their guide, let him pass.

He was led to Alexius’s tent.

“Uh, sir, what’s the situation?”

The guide asked, confused, upon entering.

“The Saintess is negotiating with the dragon. We’re to wait here until there’s a result.”

Alexius deliberately withheld details.

From what the Saintess told him before descending, Londe’s conflict with the dragon was more complex.

It seemed Londe might be the one at fault.

To prevent the guide from reporting back prematurely, Alexius wanted to keep him here.

The guide, though puzzled why the Saintess would negotiate with a dragon, relaxed seeing the soldiers unharmed.

If the dragon and Hero could defeat these elite Papal forces, Londe wouldn’t stand a chance against the dragon’s wrath.

Alexius continued, “It’s late. Since we’ve camped here, you should stay.”

He pointed to an empty bed in the tent.

“That spot’s free. Rest there and leave tomorrow morning.”

“Uh…”

The guide nearly nodded but paused.

“What about the Saintess? Is she still negotiating with the dragon?”

“Yes.”

The guide was shocked.

“It’s so late, and she’s still up there… isn’t that dangerous?”

“No need to worry. The Saintess is strong, and Hero Fratina is her friend. With her there, the Saintess is safe.”

Alexius placed a hand on the guide’s shoulder.

“More importantly, we’ll need you to guide us out of the valley tomorrow.”

His low, magnetic voice whispered close to the guide’s ear.

The odd tone made the guide’s legs tense.

“Uh… I…”

He suddenly regretted coming.

Unaware of the guide’s thoughts, Alexius just wanted to keep him from alerting Londe.

“Enough talk. You guided us here; it’s only right we repay you.”

The guide gave a wry smile.

‘Repay me? Why does it feel like you’re holding a grudge?’

*

At the hot spring, Dorothy tied up her hair.

Recalling the slender figure she glimpsed through the mist, a smile tugged at her lips.

She felt she’d stumbled onto something interesting—something she could use to make Lucia concede more.

After planning her approach, Dorothy stood from the pool.

She headed down the mountain.

While Fratina was distracted, Lucia rushed back to her room, dried off, changed, and donned her magic cloak.

Even after, her heart pounded.

She’d overheard Dorothy’s words by the spring.

She groaned inwardly.

‘Only an idiot wouldn’t realize I’m a girl in that situation.’

If Dorothy told Fratina, how would she explain?

She’d never claimed to be a male dragon, but the outside world assumed so.

As Lucia fretted, pondering excuses, a knock came at her door.

“I… I’ll wash my clothes myself, Fratina. Go do your tasks.”

Lucia spoke instinctively.

“Huh? I’m not Sister Fratina. Should I pass that to her?”

Dorothy’s voice came from outside.

To Lucia, it sounded like a devil’s whisper.

‘She definitely knows! Why else would she use that teasing tone?’

“Of course, I also noticed some things by the spring. I was going to tell Sister Fratina.”

Dorothy deliberately mentioned her discovery.

She wasn’t worried about Fratina overhearing.

She’d sent Fratina to bathe first and came here alone to confront Lucia, hoping to leverage a concession.

In Dorothy’s mind, Fratina likely didn’t know about Lucia’s odd habits.

If she told Fratina, Lucia might lash out, making things worse.

But if she gave Lucia some face, she’d likely offer something in return.

As expected, Lucia flung open the door and stepped out.

Glancing around to ensure Fratina wasn’t nearby, she forced herself to stay calm. “What do you want?”

“Well… I found some strange things by the spring…”

“Strange things?”

“Yeah, women’s clothes… I thought they were Sister Fratina’s.”

Dorothy glanced toward Fratina’s room.

“But after my bath, they were gone. When I came down, Sister Fratina was just going to bathe, so…?”

“I don’t know anything about that.”

Lucia shook her head, denying it.

“Oh, I haven’t even said anything yet~”

Dorothy smirked, then whispered, “Lady Lucia, you wouldn’t want Sister Fratina to know you like wearing women’s clothes, would you?”

Lucia froze.

‘Like wearing women’s clothes?’

‘I’m a girl. Isn’t it normal for me to wear them?’

Then her eyes widened.

‘Is Dorothy really this clueless?’