Chapter 27: What kind of bad guy can be if he likes women’s clothing?

After a brief but intense shock, Lucia recovered first.

‘She still thinks I’m male?’

Her identity hadn’t been exposed.

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about, but… I don’t want you to affect Fratina…”

Lucia spoke, her tone awkward and flustered.

This time, she added a touch of intentionality, but Dorothy didn’t notice.

The Saintess was smug, thinking she’d embarrassed the dragon Lucia.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell Sister Fratina. But… in return, Lady Lucia, shouldn’t you show some sincerity?”

“What do you want?”

Lucia asked, eyeing Dorothy.

“Hm…”

Dorothy considered. She wanted more from Lucia but knew tampering with the afternoon’s draft agreement would make her seem deceitful.

That could sour their potential alliance before it began.

After much thought, she decided against altering the agreement, opting for a “gentleman’s deal.”

“Lady Lucia, you know I’m close with Sister Fratina. If you promise not to force her to do things she’s unwilling to, I can keep quiet about this.”

“…”

Lucia fell silent.

“The contract requires Fratina to obey me. I won’t, and can’t, betray it.”

Dorothy grew annoyed.

‘Why is this dragon so dense?’

Sure, Fratina couldn’t disobey, but Lucia could avoid giving distressing orders!

But then Lucia added, “However, I’ll try not to make things difficult for her.”

Dorothy’s lips curved into a smile.

“That’s fine.”

She stepped back.

“Then, I didn’t see anything at the hot spring.”

Lucia exhaled in relief.

It was a false alarm—she lost nothing, and her true gender remained hidden.

Looking at Dorothy, she felt a hint of… pity.

‘Is this Saintess’s thought process just different?’

Most would assume she was female from the clothes.

But Dorothy thought she liked women’s clothing…

Still, it was a good thing.

Dorothy, meanwhile, was pleased with how smoothly the talk went.

Lucia could’ve brushed off the spring incident, but she indirectly admitted her “hobby.”

As a potential ally, Dorothy didn’t want to humiliate her.

Unbeknownst to Fratina, bathing up the mountain, the two had struck a deal in her favor.

Somehow, the negotiation felt like a win for all three.

*

When Fratina returned to the cave, Lucia was already asleep, but Dorothy waited in the living hall.

Seeing Fratina, Dorothy sprang from the sofa, bouncing over to her.

In private, she shed her Saintess’s grace, acting like an ordinary girl next door.

What surprised Fratina more was Dorothy’s great mood, all smiles.

“Hehe…”

“What’s got you so happy?”

“Nothing big, Sister Fratina. No need to be curious.”

Despite her words, Dorothy’s grin didn’t fade.

Smiles were contagious—seeing Dorothy so cheerful, Fratina smiled too, her mood unusually light.

For the first time in days, she felt this relaxed.

Perhaps having a familiar face around reminded her of her days as a revered Hero among humans.

“Alright, it’s late. If there’s nothing else, get some rest. We’re heading to Londe tomorrow, right?”

“Yep~”

Dorothy nodded, then whispered in Fratina’s ear, “Sister Fratina, I think Lucia is actually pretty great… I mean, as a dragon.”

Fratina froze, puzzled.

“Why bring that up?”

She’d only gone to bathe. What happened between Dorothy and Lucia to spark such praise?

“Hehe~”

To keep her promise, Dorothy didn’t elaborate.

In her mind, how could someone who liked women’s clothing be bad?

And Lucia hid even this “pathetic” hobby, showing remarkable self-control.

“I chatted with Lucia downstairs and got to know her better.”

Stepping back, Dorothy waved at Fratina.

“Sister Fratina, I’m off to rest. You sleep early too~”

With that, she opened her room’s door and vanished from sight.

Hearing the crisp sound of the door closing, Fratina glanced at Lucia’s room.

For some reason, Dorothy’s high praise for Lucia left a sour feeling.

Not knowing what they discussed made her itch with curiosity.

“Where did Dorothy learn to say things halfway…”

Muttering, Fratina returned to her room, head lowered.

Inside, she scanned the room she’d lived in for nearly twenty days.

“After tomorrow… I might not come back…”

A pang of sentiment hit her.

The place was so comfortable that even her strong will felt reluctant to leave.

But she’d only been here a month, while Lucia had lived here for years.

If anyone felt attached, it’d be Lucia.

“Lord Lucia… seems to have done a lot for me…”

Lying in bed, Fratina realized that since becoming Lucia’s servant, she might be the one benefiting more.

No wonder Dorothy thought she’d tamed Lucia…