Chapter 19: Testing each other

“Your Majesty.”

In the palace, Duncan sat across from Saintess Dorothy.

“I heard the Hero has been missing in Dragon’s Roar Valley for over ten days. Is this true?”

At their meeting, Dorothy got straight to the point.

Duncan had planned a banquet to welcome her, but she declined, opting to discuss the valley immediately.

Her words made Duncan break into a cold sweat.

‘The Papal envoy was right—the Saintess and Hero Fratina are indeed close.’

Gathering his thoughts, he replied, “Well… Saintess, it’s like this. We saw Hero Fratina enter Dragon’s Roar Valley, but days passed, and she didn’t return…”

Dorothy’s gaze sharpened, tinged with displeasure. “Sister Fratina… the Hero has been missing this long, and you haven’t sent anyone to search the valley?”

“Well…”

Duncan hesitated to mention it, but if the Papal State entered the valley, they’d learn about Fratina anyway. Swallowing hard, he spoke with little confidence.

“We did send people to search for Hero Fratina. But… what I’m about to say might change your view of her. Are you sure you want to hear it?”

“Yes.”

Dorothy nodded.

“Alright… We sent a team into the valley and found the Hero.”

“What? Is she alright!?”

“She’s in excellent health.”

Dorothy exhaled in relief.

But Duncan continued, “However, she’s now the dragon’s servant. We tried persuading her, but she has no intention of returning.”

After his words, silence engulfed the hall.

The Papal envoys exchanged incredulous glances.

“Your Majesty… as ruler of Londe, you must take responsibility for your words.”

Dorothy’s golden eyes fixed on Duncan.

“Everything I’ve said is true. If you doubt me, visit the outpost near the valley and hear from the soldiers. Oh, and…”

As if recalling something, Duncan signaled a guard to fetch something from his chambers.

Soon, the guard returned with a letter.

“This is a letter from the dragon herself. Please, Saintess, take a look.”

Dorothy’s mood, initially elated at Fratina’s survival, turned to shock.

She took the letter, reading it quickly.

When she reached the part about Fratina, her hands clenched, nearly tearing the paper.

But she maintained the Church’s decorum, took a few deep breaths, and handed the letter back. “If this letter is true, the Hero has indeed become the dragon’s servant…”

“However, I believe there’s more to this. I’ll lead the Papal Guard to the valley, confront the dragon, and bring the Hero back.”

Duncan’s heart leaped.

Though Fratina’s combat prowess likely surpassed Dorothy’s, the Saintess brought a thousand-strong Papal Guard—the continent’s most elite force, unmatched in skill and loyalty.

Even if they couldn’t slay the dragon, they could deal significant damage.

“Very well. We’ll provide a guide immediately,” Duncan said eagerly.

“Thank you.”

Dorothy, no longer in the mood for pleasantries, replied curtly.

Learning Fratina was alive was the best news.

But her servitude to the dragon was nearly as bad as her death.

Knowing Fratina’s character, Dorothy was certain she wouldn’t betray humanity willingly.

The dragon must have coerced her.

As she left the palace with her retinue, Dorothy vowed inwardly.

‘I’ll save you, Sister Fratina.’

*

Unaware of the combined forces of Londe and the Papal State marching toward the valley, Fratina and Lucia were discussing a novel.

Since Lucia’s pep talk, their relationship had warmed, and Fratina felt bold enough to take small liberties.

Pointing to a passage in the book, she said, “Lord Lucia, I told you the foreshadowing would pay off. That girl is the final villain!”

When bored, Lucia now read with Fratina.

She no longer worried about Fratina judging her for reading novels—Fratina, after living here, understood the valley’s monotony.

They debated plot points, and Fratina occasionally argued with her.

Lucia didn’t mind Fratina’s shifting attitude.

She never saw her as a lesser servant, so she welcomed her pushback.

Fratina, sensing Lucia’s leniency, was cautiously testing her boundaries.

“Ah, I thought it’d be a more creative story, but it fell into clichés with that twist,” Lucia said, salvaging her incorrect prediction.

“I don’t think it’s clichéd.”

Fratina shook her head, studying the book earnestly.

“All stories are rooted in reality. What matters most is the content, not the techniques, right?”

“At least, when we read this, we’re immersed. That’s enough.”

Lucia looked at Fratina, surprised.

She hadn’t expected a battle-hardened Hero to say something so philosophical.

“Fratina, I didn’t know you had such a literary side. That doesn’t sound like a Hero.”

Fratina blushed under Lucia’s shadowed gaze from the hood.

“W-What? Can’t a Hero… read a bit more?”