Chapter 242
It didn’t take long for Richard to regain consciousness. However, even after waking, he kept his eyes closed and didn’t move a muscle. First, he needed to assess the situation. He could sense presences nearby, probably one person and one beast.
That damn reptile and the crazy woman.
He started by checking his immediate circumstances. His arms and legs were tightly bound. Peeking slightly through slitted eyes, he saw that the restraints were the same plant vines from earlier.
The stalks, sprouting through the frost-covered wooden floor, gripped his limbs firmly. It wasn’t tight enough to cut off circulation, but it left him with not even the smallest gap.
So far, everything was as expected, but there was another, more serious problem. Everything he’d had on him was gone. Weapons were to be expected, but…
Even his clothes and undergarments had been completely stripped away.
As he’d suspected, that woman wasn’t right in the head.
Next, he checked the surroundings. He was imprisoned in a cell made entirely of ice, bars included. He couldn’t see Anton anywhere, so it seemed he’d been brought here alone. Still, Anton was probably alive. The man had zero combat ability, but was exceptionally skilled at clinging to his life.
Through the ice bars, he could see the woman’s back. She was standing at a table by the window, and outside, the dragon’s enormous eye glinted. The dragon’s ridiculous name was something like Poppy. Judging by their earlier conversation, it seemed to be her pet.
Poppy snorted and spoke.
[Courtney, are you really sure about this?]
“About what?”
Courtney retorted petulantly as she flipped through a book.
The dragon looked around the ice prison. To avoid making eye contact, Richard quickly closed his eyes again. The creature was massive, but didn’t seem particularly bright as it spoke.
[He might be a hero, you know. That could be dangerous.]
“A hero? He’s supposedly a prince.”
[Is that so?]
The dragon deliberately dragged out its words. Courtney shot Poppy a glance, and the dragon quickly averted its gaze.
Time was a strange thing. Even though they were completely different beings, even of different species, after so long together they could understand each other just from a look.
Courtney swung open the window, which was fitted not with glass but ice. Then, as if soothing a puppy, she patted the dragon’s snout.
“Don’t worry, Poppy. Just because a prince has come, I’m not about to run off and leave you alone.”
[I-I wasn’t worried!]
Poppy’s jet-black face turned ever so slightly red. Courtney stroked and patted the dragon’s cheek affectionately.
“I know, I know. Well then, why don’t you go keep an eye on the prince’s little lackey for me?”
[Alright! Leave it to me!]
Poppy answered with confidence and walked away. Thump, thump— The heavy footsteps receded.
Even as he continued pretending to be unconscious, Richard mocked the dragon inwardly. They said dragons had intelligence beyond humans, but up close, it was just a dumb beast. At least Anton seemed to be safe, so that was good enough for now.
Courtney tidied up her desk. These were books she’d read several times already. She still wasn’t fully prepared in her heart, but standing here wasn’t going to change anything. Once she’d made up her mind, she spun around sharply.
“If you’re awake, open your eyes.”
Since he’d been caught, there was no point in pretending any longer. Richard obediently opened his eyes. Their gazes clashed in the air.
Courtney coldly looked over her spoils. His body was packed with muscle, a sign he hadn’t neglected his training. Between his thighs hung a long, thick member. She’d already seen it while undressing him, but it was a fine body, worth the wait and patience.
Richard observed her in return. Despite the remote setting, her appearance was quite proper. Her dress was old-fashioned, but of fine quality. Her hair was glossy, clearly well cared-for. That only made it stranger. To be dressed up like this, alone in a place where you’d hardly see another soul.
He asked, in a sarcastic tone,
“Are you a witch?”
“That’s rude. I’ll have you know I’m a proper princess.”
Courtney replied boastfully. She wasn’t lying about something unverifiable from the distant past. She really was the only princess of the northern kingdom.
Although, thanks to an indecisive king, a frivolous queen, and a foolish prince, the country had completely fallen apart.
But things like princes and princesses no longer mattered. Courtney lifted her chin arrogantly and declared,
“And I’m your new master, too.”
“So you really are a witch, huh?”
Richard’s sarcasm was met with a smile. She liked his cheeky attitude.
A witch… well, she couldn’t really deny it. Her kingdom had managed to survive even in poverty, but one day, a foreign invasion destroyed everything. After her subjects, even the soldiers threw down their weapons and fled.
Facing the end, Courtney prayed desperately to the gods. Not for herself, but to spare her young, innocent nephew, the last of the royal blood.
But the one who reached out to save them wasn’t the incompetent gods, but the so-called guardian of this land—a dragon with a jet-black body and green eyes just like hers.
‘Dragon or demon, I don’t care. Just save my nephew.’
Maybe that’s why. The dragon gladly accepted her plea. It drove away the invaders and helped the surviving royal child and princess escape to safety. In the end, everyone else died or ran away, and all that remained was a ruined castle. But that was enough for Courtney.
