The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

“It doesn’t matter?”

“A story just offers a tiny touch of sentiment, but it’s the melody that truly moves the heart.”

“Is that so? Unless you can come up with a story better suited to ‘For Alice,’ I won’t agree with you.”

When it came to making up stories, Liszt was quite adept, but he didn’t agree to Duniko’s “request.” Perhaps he could invent a tale, play up to the Earl’s daughter, and engage with Duniko in a story beyond the story. Maybe, given his temperament and charm, it would be normal to win over Duniko.

But there was no need for that.

He didn’t like deliberately seeking favor.

Maybe he was just in love with himself all along, or perhaps he was only interested in Duniko’s outer beauty and lacked that impulsive drive to pursue.

“There’s no romantic tale, just a piano teacher who fell in love with his student, and a little tune born out of passion,” Liszt said casually.

Duniko cast another seductive glance, “Like you’re filled with passion right now?”

Liszt didn’t catch on immediately, “What?”

It was only when Duniko gently rubbed his thigh with hers that he suddenly realized his admiration had been too obvious.

With two lifetimes of experience combined, he lacked the shyness of youth, “You know it’s hard to maintain a calm disposition in the presence of a beautiful lady, especially one as exceptionally beautiful as you.” He slightly retreated his body to cool down the warmth.

Yet Duniko took a big step forward, pressing her body closer, “I accept your compliments. No one has ever expressed their admiration for me so candidly.”

“Hmm,” Liszt suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Perhaps no more words were needed. They could just dance quietly, bodies close, swaying gently to the rhythm of the piano. As their gazes met and the corners of their mouths turned up slightly, maintaining a consistent smile seemed adequate.

Duniko also ceased to speak, following Liszt’s steps in a gentle rhythm.

The piano piece ended.

The two did not separate immediately, continuing to embrace each other, waiting for the second piano piece. However, halfway through the piece, Duniko suddenly asked, “Would you like to step outside for some fresh air?”

“Let’s go.”

Liszt released the hand around her waist and took Duniko’s hand, quietly leaving the bustling dance floor. The sky outside was completely dark, only the lights of Long Taro Castle remained bright.

In the corridor outside the hall, servants hurried past.

Neither of them spoke again, just held hands and headed toward a secluded corner, where they could see couples tightly embraced in the nooks of private alcoves.

In a corner where the crystal lamp’s light was relatively dim.

They stopped in one such spot.

“The air is fresh outside, and you can breathe in the chill of winter,” Liszt said, with one hand on the window sill and the other still holding Duniko’s, “Miss Duniko, you’re dressed rather lightly today, aren’t you cold now?”

“I’m not cold, in fact, I feel a bit warm,” Duniko said, looking at him, then suddenly suggested, “Call me Duniko.”

“Duniko.”

Liszt gazed at Duniko’s long eyelashes and her delicately made-up face and couldn’t help but lower his head. Standing about 1.7 meters tall, Duniko quietly rose on her toes, lifting her face, and gently closed her eyes.

No need for an excess of words to describe the moment.

The next second, Liszt’s lips met with softness.

They remained clutched together until they nearly suffocated. A sparkling thread stretched between them, reflecting the light of the distant castle. Duniko wrapped her arms around Liszt’s neck, unwilling to let go, her gaze intense.

Here is the translated text:

Liszt hurriedly said, “My room is upstairs.”

“Hold on tight.”

Bend down.

Hook arms.

Liszt picked up Duniko sideways from the bend of his legs, activated his Dou Qi, and with legs springing like coils, he swiftly walked through the corridor, up the stairs to the fourth floor of the castle. He bypassed the servants who greeted him in the hallway without a response, heading straight to his own room.

The door wasn’t locked. At Long Taro Castle, the fourth floor was the living area of the master.

Clack!

The door shut with a foot, and all was understood without words.

…

When Liszt awakened from his sore back and stiff waist, the morning sun had already risen, a rare clear and sunny day. He sat up and saw the woman beside him still deep in sleep, her blonde hair scattered across the pillow.

There was a slightly unpleasant smell in the room.

Shaking his head, Liszt still felt a tinge of surrealism.

A rendition of “For Alice”, two intimate dances, several deliberate or accidental flirtations, all led to a wild night. Recalling the fervent heat of last night, he suddenly felt bewildered; in other words, he had wholly surrendered his first time in this new life.

Perhaps he had been too loud getting out of bed.

The sleeping Duniko suddenly woke up, and seeing Liszt getting dressed, she greeted him groggily, “Hi, Liszt. What are you doing?”

“Getting up.”

Liszt, having put on his pants and bare-chested, showed his perfect inverted-triangle physique as he walked to the bedside, bent down, and kissed Duniko’s forehead. “Don’t you want to sleep a bit longer?”

“Can’t sleep anymore.” Duniko stretched out her hand and drew a circle on his chest. “You could call a castle maid to help you dress.”

“On the battlefield, there won’t be any servants to help me dress; I prefer to do it myself. Only the complicated Flack Abaie would be dressed by servants.”

“Then I’ll call my maid in, and I’ll get up too.”

Ringing the bell, summoning the maid, Duniko with the help of the maid picked out a new outfit and got dressed. Liszt also got dressed with the help of the maid into his Flack Abaie. Castle servants then brought washing utensils, attending to both of their morning grooming.

When the maids left with the wash utensils, only Liszt and Duniko remained in the room.

Duniko threw herself at him enthusiastically, wrapping her arms around Liszt’s neck. “Kiss me, as if it’s the last time.”

“Mmm…”

After they separated,

Duniko spoke breathlessly, “I love the way you play ‘To Alice’. I love your conversation and demeanor. You have a distinctive look in your eyes. In them, I saw ambition beyond the reach of others and a solitude that doesn’t fit with the rest of the world.”

Such keen perception.

Liszt laughed it off. “I guess you also saw a dragon since my greatest ambition is Dragon Riding.”

“I look forward to the day you ride a dragon. If that day comes and I’m not yet old, you’re welcome to come kiss me again… At the dance, so many men invited me, but I chose only you. My dear Baron, they will be jealous of you, just as those women were jealous of me when I took you away.”

So intimately.

Liszt was unsure whether his feelings toward Duniko were of admiration or just a moment of passion. He gently pulled away the hand that was around his neck: “I guess there must be many broken hearts in Long Taro Castle, but yeah, I’ve never been involved, so I wouldn’t know.”

After speaking, he opened the room’s door: “Let’s go, let’s go downstairs for breakfast. I’m leaving here today.”