Chapter 54: Feng wins MVP

“This…”

Christine and Emmeline stared at the gold coins, their first time seeing so many since leaving Elan City.

Their forces had grown, and raiding a caravan sometimes yielded goods worth a few coins, but those were supplies, not cash.

Lucia’s generosity stunned them.

“Money’s a small matter to me. If your problems could be solved with it, I’d have an easier time.”

“No…”

Christine hesitated to accept. “I want to know why you’re helping us—or why cooperate? Surely it’s not just our story.”

“Not quite.”

Lucia shook her head. “We have our own needs, but we can only get them once you’ve grown stronger.”

“…And those are?”

“Like you, we don’t like Duncan. We share a common enemy.”

“I see…”

Christine smiled. “But how did Duncan wrong you both?”

Fratina glanced at Lucia.

Lucia caught the worry in her eyes.

She hadn’t planned to reveal her identity, but answering this risked exposure.

“It’s fine. Boosting our allies’ confidence isn’t bad.”

At Lucia’s words, Fratina spoke, detailing their feud with Duncan.

The flood of information took Christine a moment to process.

When she learned Lucia, beside Fratina, was a dragon, her pupils shrank.

Now she understood why money meant little to her.

If wealth could solve their problems, a dragon’s fortune could erase their financial woes.

“Well…”

Christine glanced at the sky. “It’s nearly lunchtime. Shall we rest and discuss cooperation later?”

“Sure.”

Lucia nodded.

Fratina suddenly turned to Emmeline. “I heard you have a skilled female warrior. That must be you, beside Christine?”

“I’m Emmeline, Her Highness’s knight.”

Hearing this, Fratina’s competitive streak flared. “I’m Lord Lucius’s knight. How about a spar later?”

Emmeline froze, glancing at Christine.

As Christine’s knight, she had to accept duels to uphold her honor.

But against the famed Hero?

Despite her confidence, her palms sweated.

Seeing Emmeline’s nerves, Christine smiled and patted her shoulder. “The Hero’s not challenging you to a duel, just a friendly spar. No harm in that.”

“Alright, then.”

Emmeline faced Fratina. “Hero, I look forward to your guidance.”

Lucia whispered to Fratina, “Don’t crush her right away. Draw it out a bit to save her face.”

“I know, Lord Lucius. It’s just a spar.”

With the time and place set, Lucia and Christine chatted alone.

“No wonder your insight and speech are so refined. Your experience far surpasses ours.”

“You’re impressive too, Christine. So young, yet so mature beyond your years.”

“No choice.”

Christine shrugged helplessly. “I’d love to live carefree like girls my age, dreaming of future partners. But if I don’t let that go, who’ll avenge my family?”

“You and Emmeline are both so strong.”

“We’re just driven by revenge.”

Christine was clear-eyed about her reality, refusing to let go.

Fratina and Emmeline had left for the open ground to spar, while Lucia and Christine watched from the hall’s entrance.

“Have you thought about what comes after revenge?”

“I have, even if it’s just in dreams that linger.”

“I’d be queen of Londe, with Emmeline as my guard captain, rebuilding the Varner family.”

“But that’s too far off. For now, we aim to take Notting City and rally those against Duncan under my name.”

“Pretty grounded.”

Lucia nodded approvingly. Meanwhile, Fratina and Emmeline’s spar began.

Neither expected Emmeline to win; it was just a matter of when she’d lose.

“Lady Lucia, I’m curious—how did you make the Hero your knight?”

“That’s… not something I can easily share.”

Lucia flushed with embarrassment.

The master-servant contract was forced on Fratina.

Their bond seemed good now, but recalling the start felt coercive.

“I see…”

Christine glanced at Lucia.

A gust of wind swept the mountaintop, tugging Lucia’s hood askew, revealing most of her face.

Christine’s eyes widened.

From Fratina’s description, she’d imagined Lucia’s human form as a burly man.

But now—a girl her height?

Her profile, focused on the spar, was so striking it left Christine, proud of her royal beauty, feeling outshone.

Was there such a stunning girl in the world?

Lucia, unaware of the wind’s betrayal, noticed Christine’s stare and turned. “What—”

Mid-word, she realized her hood had slipped and quickly fixed it.

‘Oh no.’

Her cheeks burned.