The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

…

Rona Sally leaned against the window.

Gazing at the vast, azure sea outside, she could almost hear the words Liszt once whispered to her at the height of their deepest affections.

It was already the second morning, and after breakfast, Roger Golden Wheat, who should have stayed another day, excused himself from Tulip Castle, citing urgent business matters.

Lady Marie and Levis tried their best to persuade him to stay, but ultimately, luggage was packed.

Liszt sat at the breakfast table, elegantly savoring his meal from beginning to end, bidding farewell with a smile, without a single word of persuasion. If he had said anything, Rona Sally didn’t know whether she would have stayed regardless of everything, even if Roger urged her to leave.

Roger said, never fall in love.

Lady Penelope said, at least once, you should forget yourself for someone else.

She could easily do what Lady Penelope said, let go of restrictions and enjoy. But she found it very difficult to do what her brother said, not to fall in love.

“Are you trying to tell me that you are all glitz and no substance?”

She waved her hand gently, wiping away the moist tear from the corner of her eye, “But how do you know, why aren’t you someone as dazzling as a rainbow? Do you know how many nobles on Golden Island have pursued me? But after seeing you, those people became fleeting clouds.”

She bit her lower lip.

She lifted her head, trying to appear as calm as possible, “It’s a pity I was born on Golden Island, a woman of the Golden Wheat Sheaf Family, and you are just a country baron, even with a bright future ahead, right now you are still weak… Thank you for the happiness we shared, I look forward to seeing you again, Liszt!”

The sea breeze howled.

The ship sailed into the vast, blue yonder.

…

Tulip Castle.

Liszt stayed in the piano room, not touching a single key for half a day.

Until Li Vera walked in, “Why are you hiding in the piano room but not playing the piano? I saw your Retainer Knights and your dog haven’t left, which is strange. You usually don’t like to stay in Tulip Castle for long… Is it because of the beautiful and enchanting Miss Rona Sally, my affectionate and cruel brother?”

“Cruel?” Liszt asked lightly.

“Why not cruel? You stir the strings of a girl’s heart, yet leave her to wait in agony at night. A single word could warm a heart, yet you always refuse to ask her to stay; isn’t that cruel?”

“You are well-informed,” he noted.

Li Vera smiled proudly, “Of course, with so many servants and retainers in Tulip Castle, they are all my informants. Did you think that after I was granted my own fief, this place would become Lady Marie’s territory? Impossible!”

Liszt couldn’t deny it.

Honestly speaking, this place is now the domain of the Earl, and in the future, it should be Levis’s domain. It really has little to do with Li Vera.

“I have to admire you, Liszt, with your sickeningly sweet good looks and decent demeanor, you always manage to attract any noble lady of high standing. At Long Taro Castle, a single error-ridden piano piece was enough to bed Duniko Hyacinth; here, just by riding a horse, you’ve captured the heart of Miss Rona Sally Golden Wheat.”

“Why do you stay in Tulip Castle all day? Doesn’t your own domain need governing?” Liszt noticed that Li Vera had reverted to her adolescent ways.

He was not in a good mood.

It was probably because of the wrong beginning paired with the wrong end, breathlessness, chest tightness, unable to accept.

But the way things turned out was beyond his expectations. He should not have agreed to Levis’s request to help him woo Rona Sally, needlessly creating so many ripples. In fact, with Roger present, Loria would surely become the future mistress of Tulip Castle without a hitch.

However, from the moment the horse stumbled, things had already become irretrievable.

“Actually.”

He really wanted to confide in someone, and Li Vera was a somewhat suitable choice, “I had planned to practice diligently, to present her with a newly composed piano piece, and then to tell her a story about ‘Castle in the Sky’… But time was limited, and who could have expected Roger to leave right after breakfast?”

“Perhaps he feared you would cause his sister to fall.” Li Vera’s tone was slightly gentle, “In the eyes of the Golden Wheat Sheaf family, women are merely tools for forging connections. Since they had already made ties with Coral Island through Loria, naturally, they wouldn’t want to leave another behind. By the way, what is the story of ‘Castle in the Sky’?”

“It’s to charm little girls; you wouldn’t like it.”

“What about the piano composition? You can actually compose piano pieces? Play it for me, quick.”

Liszt stood up and left the grand piano, “I find you really have a lot of leisure time. Sorry, but I’ve lost my inspiration and can’t play anything. Let’s talk about it next time. It really is getting late; I should return to Fresh Flower Town. I haven’t been practicing earnestly these past few days, which is not proper for a knight.”

He had just shaken off the slightly huffy Li Vera.

Levis, who had come back from the send-off, now sought him out to speak.

“Liszt, truly worthy of being my own brother. Do you know? Roger dared not stay longer in Tulip Castle. He’s afraid if Rona Sally doesn’t leave today, she’ll never be able to leave. Haha, I enjoy seeing him at a disadvantage. The women of the Golden Wheat Sheaf family should all marry into Coral Island!”

“You’re happy that Roger is angry? Aren’t you worried he’ll ruin your marriage with Loria?”

“He’s not like the naive Rona Sally. No matter how upset he is, he won’t stop the alliance between Golden Island and Coral Island. Besides, it was on your own merit that you won Rona Sally’s heart. Who can find fault with that?” said Levis indifferently, “I really envy you for having such a handsome face.”

He was of average looks, and despite brandishing his status as the Earl’s eldest son, he frequently faced rejection.

After all, not every noble young lady would be dazzled, enticed by the title of an Earless. It was the handsome nobles like Liszt, whom they preferred, appealing to their desire for a brief escapade rather than everlasting love.

“Being handsome has its own troubles.”

Liszt didn’t wish to dwell on the topic.

He refused to admit that he had become one of the many licentious nobles, for he believed he had a heart full of feelings—after the passionate encounter with Duniko, he would have been willing to marry her if she had asked, regardless of any past; after spending time with Rona Sally, he feared that too many emotions might encumber a fine lady.

Perhaps this was the true face of nobility—desire and advantage at a crossroads.

Every person was sacrificing or indulging for the sake of benefit.

Therefore.

After much deliberation, he still believed that he should shift his focus away from romantic entanglements and prepare seriously for the great endeavor of Dragon Riding, aiming to become a Dragon Domain Landlord!

“By the way, brother, when do you plan to marry Loria?”

“I had a pleasant talk with Roger, especially after tasting Fresh Flower Brew. He won’t allow Loria to act recklessly. Our wedding will take place this September,” Levis stated excitedly.

Liszt nodded, “Then you should settle down as well and manage this marriage earnestly.”

“Marriage of course requires serious management, as it concerns the future development of Coral Island, and must be approached with gravity. However, that doesn’t mean one can’t enjoy pleasures outside of marriage,” Levis said, winking, “There’s an underground ball next week, held in Serpent Spear City. I’ll take you there to see for yourself!”

“No, I want to go home.”

Indulgence without responsibility for a single night—he needed time to heal his deeply wounded spirit. How could he possibly attend such a depraved gathering?

…

The sound of horse hooves hastened and Fresh Flower Town came into view.

On the gravel road of Thorn Ridge, a caravan caught up with a carriage bearing no insignia. The carriage pulled to the side, and Elkerson stepped down, removing his hood, and gestured a greeting to Liszt’s coach.