The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

However, this time, there were always young ladies who approached him for conversation, “Liszt, can we visit Fresh Flower Town tomorrow? I believe it must be very beautiful.”

“Of course, if you wish to go, Fresh Flower Town is always welcoming to your visit,” Liszt responded with a smile, slicing a piece of steak and eating it with elegance.

On the other side, Roger Golden Wheat, also elegantly enjoying his steak, cast a smile towards Rona Sally and then glanced at Liszt.

Without saying anything, he raised his glass to clink with Levis’s and savored the Crescent Moon Wine in small sips.

Meanwhile, Lady Penelope played with the fried egg on her plate while silently exchanging glances with her granddaughter, Li Vera, seated next to her.

Then, she said to Rona Sally, “There’s nothing remarkable about Tulip Castle for those from Harvest Castle. It’s good for young people to go out and get some fresh air if they feel bored. Fresh Flower Town is a nice place, if not for the bumpy carriage ride, I would go there often to enjoy the scenery.”

“Old madam, will you and Li Vera join us tomorrow?”

“Oh, no, I am old and prefer to stay in my own house, quietly watching the ivy cover the whole wall. My ivy is thriving; it might even give birth to an Elf Bug. Let me tell you, Rona Sally, my potted plants have really produced an Elf Bug before, and Liszt knows it best.”

Rona Sally suddenly became interested, “What kind of Elf Bug was it?”

“A Dragon Kui Bug, the Dragon Kui potted plant was sick. I took it away, intending to replace it with a new Dragon Kui for grandmother, but to my surprise, it bred an Elf Bug, and then grandmother gave it to me as a gift.”

“Wow, that’s such a heartwarming story. I really wish my grandmother would also give me a potted plant that could breed an Elf Bug.”

Liszt, however, sighed seriously, “But since then, each holiday, grandmother just gives me a potted plant and tells me—Liszt, please cherish this plant, maybe it hides an Elf Bug!”

“Ha ha.”

The people at the banquet burst into laughter, especially Rona Sally, who laughed with delight.

A not-so-humorous brief joke was, to her, the funniest deadpan joke in the world. This made Liszt feel quite embarrassed, having made her laugh so hard with his simple teasing. What if he had told a few genuinely interesting tales, would she need artificial respiration?

The banquet ended in a bustling atmosphere.

Liszt left the still-chatting dining room to go downstairs and see Douson, having heard Douson barking outside earlier. Now when Douson went out, he was looked after by the manservant Tom. Thomas was the head manservant, handling everything before and after for Liszt; Tom was the second manservant, doing the same for Douson.

“Tom, what happened to Douson just now?” Liszt saw Douson lying on the ground chewing on a bone, seemingly without any issues.

“Master, Douson saw a Doberman earlier, but after a few barks from Douson, the Doberman got scared and ran away.”

Well, maybe Douson just wanted to befriend the Doberman, but the Doberman clearly didn’t entertain such a thought. Liszt rubbed Douson’s neck, stood up, and left, ready to return to the Castle.

At that moment he heard a rustle nearby, yet couldn’t see anyone.

“Paris?”

No one on either side.

Paris revealed herself, “Baron.”

“Haven’t gone to rest yet, is something the matter?” Liszt asked in a gentle tone.

Paris opened her mouth, and said softly, “The young miss from the Golden Wheat Sheaf Family is very beautiful.”

Liszt nodded, “You mean Rona Sally? Indeed, she is beautiful.”

“So, will she become the lady of Fresh Flower Town, I apologize, Baron, I’m just a bit curious,” Paris said somewhat awkwardly.

Glancing at Paris, who had become increasingly womanly after regaining her figure,

Liszt suddenly felt a heavy pressure, as the world was filled with so many wonderful things, tempting him to fall into decadence. Fate was ever so fickle, preferring to entangle all simple emotions together, making one owe debts everywhere.

He looked up at the stars in the sky.

Blinking.

Tonight there is no moon, only these twinkling stars.

Drawing back her gaze, she said calmly, “Perhaps it will, perhaps it won’t, you know, I have never thought about these things. I like to let things take their natural course, just like you don’t know whether it will be sunny or rainy when you wake up in the morning, but no matter what the weather is, it’s a new day, embrace it, and that’s all.”

Having said that, he patted Paris on the shoulder, “Good night, Paris.” Without waiting for Paris to respond, he went straight into the castle.

Paris was left behind, chewing on the words “let things take their natural course.”

She was a Black Dragon Childe with only ten years left to live, and life, for her, was also about letting things take their natural course. With a wry smile, she no longer dwelled on the sadness in her heart, returned to her room, took out a book, and slowly started reading under the light of the crystal lamps in the corridors of Tulip Castle.

One day Liszt had said, “You should learn to read and write,” and so she began to study Serpent Script, despite finding it extremely difficult.

…

Just as she returned to the corridor of the dining hall, she saw that everyone had already come out.

“Liszt, Roger and I are planning to go to the study to discuss some matters, you and Li Vera accompany Rona Sally,” Levis said.

“Alright.”

After Roger and Levis left, Li Vera, helping Lady Penelope, said, “I’ll take Grandmother home first, you guys go and have a cup of tea.”

With that, she also winked at Liszt.

In the blink of an eye, the bustling crowd dispersed, but Lady Marie, having sent Lidun to do his homework, did not leave. As the lady of the castle, she couldn’t be rude.

Liszt didn’t want to stay with Lady Marie any more than necessary, and asking a servant to pick up a bottle of Flack·Abaie from the rack, he asked, “Rona Sally, would you like to take a walk outside?”

“Yes, I’d like that very much,” she replied.

“Then Lady Marie, would you care to join us for a walk?” Liszt asked.

Lady Marie smiled, “You two go ahead, I’m not accustomed to walking at night, but it’s cool outside. Rona Sally, Liszt, remember to ask the servants to bring an extra coat, don’t catch a cold.”

“Thank you for your reminder, Lady Marie.”

…

A walk was just a walk.

At most, holding hands, hugging a few times, and kissing.

About an hour later, Liszt was leading Rona Sally back to Tulip Castle.

“My dear, I’m too excited today, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep tonight,” Rona Sally said reluctantly as he was about to take her back to her room.

“Rest well, I’ll take you to Fresh Flower Town tomorrow.”

“So it’s settled then.”

“Of course.”

The servant stood at the door, and Liszt did not leave Rona Sally with a farewell kiss, but simply waved his hand and turned away eegantly. In her room, Rona Sally remained seated on the edge of her bed, smiling dazedly for a long time after Liszt’s departure, until a maid informed her that Master Roger had arrived.

“Brother.”

“Did you have fun today?” Roger asked, having drunk a bit, his face still slightly flushed.

Rona Sally was a little shy, but still said boldly, “Yes, brother, I had a lot of fun today.”

“Well, as long as you’re happy,” Roger leaned against the wall, raising an eyebrow, “but I have to remind you of something, as a woman of the Golden Wheat Sheaf Family, you need to understand some truths—’There are no laws, no restrictions, just one rule: never fall in love.\'”