Chapter 5: A Side of Mount Lu

Naturally, Fratina had wanted to explore the lair while Lucia slept, hoping to find a way to break the contract.

But she wasn’t sure if this was a trap to test her loyalty.

If she were caught sneaking around while Lucia was asleep, how could she explain herself?

So, she decided not to give Lucia any leverage and stayed by her door.

To her surprise, Lucia remained in her room for nearly two days before emerging.

Fratina felt a pang of regret for her caution, though she didn’t show it.

“Fratina.”

“Yes, Lord Lucia?”

“You’re just standing there… aren’t you tired?”

“Honestly, no.”

Fratina wasn’t lying. Waiting by the door was boring, but not physically taxing.

Considering she might be Lucia’s servant for a long time, she was starting to adjust to this idle state.

Her past life left no room for rest; she was always on the move, chasing missions.

Moments like this, with her mind focused on a single thought, were rare.

Seeing no signs of discontent from Fratina, Lucia relaxed slightly.

“Oh, Lord Lucia, should I prepare some food for you?”

Lucia thought for a moment before nodding.

“Go to the nearby forest and hunt a few boars and deer.”

As a dragon, Lucia’s appetite was immense.

But after a meal, unless she expended significant energy, she could go a long time without eating again.

Her battle with Fratina had drained her reserves, and now, prompted by Fratina, she realized she was hungry.

Fratina gave a slight bow and headed out of the cave.

Though the cave was opulent, its ventilation was poor. After two days inside, Fratina was eager to step outside and breathe fresh air.

Seeing her leave, Lucia felt a weight lift from her shoulders.

An hour later, in her dragon form, Lucia stared at the dozen animal carcasses before her, saliva pooling in her mouth.

But as she prepared to eat, a problem arose.

Was she really supposed to eat them raw?

Sure, large predators in the wild ate their prey fresh.

But she was a dragon—a sentient being.

In the past, she would have roasted the meat with her dragon’s breath.

Now, with her powers unusable…

Seeing Lucia hesitate, Fratina looked puzzled.

“Is something wrong, Lord Lucia? Are these not to your taste?”

She wondered if she hadn’t brought enough.

After mentally bracing herself, Lucia picked up a deer and bit into it.

The raw, unprocessed taste nearly made her gag.

Forcing it down, she looked at Fratina.

“Prepare these and bring them to my door. The kitchen utensils are in the cave.”

With that, she reverted to human form and returned to her room.

Fratina glanced at Lucia’s retreating figure, then at the pile of game, her expression complex.

It seemed Lucia couldn’t stomach raw food.

Couldn’t she just cook it with her dragon’s breath or magic? Why make her do it?

Was it just because she was a servant?

Cooking would take forever, and there was no guarantee it would suit Lucia’s taste.

But since it was an order, and it didn’t violate her principles, she had no choice.

Resigned, Fratina headed back to the forest to gather wood and start a fire.

Three hours later, a knock came at Lucia’s door.

“Lord Lucia, your food is ready.”

Fratina’s cool voice carried through.

Lucia donned her cloak and opened the door.

Fratina stood respectfully outside.

“The food is in the dining room, Lord Lucia. Any further orders?”

“No.”

Lucia shook her head.

“Then I’ll go clean up outside.”

“Mm.”

In the dining room, Lucia’s mouth watered at the sight of the roasted meat.

Even with just simple salt seasoning, it was infinitely better than raw.

As Lucia devoured the meal, Fratina was outside, busy disposing of the animal remains.

She glanced at her sword and shook her head.

The weapon that had slain countless monsters was now reduced to a mere tool.

Much like her own fate.

After cleaning the area outside the cave, Fratina returned to find the dining room empty, save for a stack of clean plates. Lucia was nowhere in sight.

“…”

For some reason, Fratina felt Lucia was deliberately avoiding her.

Given their situation, keeping distance suited her just fine.

Constantly facing the one who defeated her and forced her into servitude would hardly lift her spirits.

After tidying the dining room, Fratina knocked lightly on Lucia’s door.

“Lord Lucia, the dining room is clean. If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to my room to rest.”

“Wait.”

The door cracked open, and a plate was extended through the gap.

Fratina reached for it but froze when she saw the hand holding it.

Noticing no response, the hand wiggled the plate slightly.

Snapping out of it, Fratina took it.

“Lord Lucia, is there anything else you need?”

“No.”

*

As Fratina carried the plate to the kitchen, her thoughts lingered on the hand she’d just seen.

Setting aside her feelings about Lucia, that hand undeniably belonged to a girl.

The exposed skin was smooth and pale, with long, delicate fingers that sparked the imagination.

“Could Lord Lucia actually be…”

The thought flickered in Fratina’s mind but was quickly dismissed.

Dwelling on it was pointless.

Dragons could alter their human forms at will—whatever she saw might be intentional.

Even if Lucia’s gender was different from what she assumed, it changed nothing about her actions.

Would she abandon her plans for revenge just because Lucia might be a woman? Absolutely not.

With that, Fratina’s resolve hardened once more.