If Lilith had to choose a method of torture to endure for all eternity, being forced to smell the breath of those wretched reptilians would be near the bottom of the list. Damn, I really want to rip those fuckers apart...
"Filthy witch..."
Not even bothering to spare a glance at the lizard-eyed guard making the all-too-familiar remark, she followed the sergeant—whatever was his name—into the building.
Walking up the stairs, he turned to her.
"Don't try to do anything funny."
Lilith looked at him silently, her expression unreadable, her eyes eerie. The fuck do you think I'm going to do? You think that I trained with a professional jester for a whole yearjust for this moment or something? Yeah, I tried to bite yoursalty earoff the other day, but you're still fine!
Although she had to admit, she had been secretly looking for chances to either bite a piece of him off or escape from the moment they exited the dungeon. Props to him; He had come to know her very well in their short time together.
Musing silently at the weird guard, they reached a door. He knocked on it.
"Enter."
Came the voice of the commander her dear guard had been sucking up to for the last few minutes.
As the guard opened the door, she followed him reluctantly. Sigh... I have to try harder to find an opening...
She was slightly surprised by the room's appearance, though her expression didn't change, remaining as indifferent as ever.
If she were to describe it in one word, it was... lavish.
Too lavish.
The room was wide but it was almost cramped by the various luxurious furnishings. Everything—the tables, bookshelves, desk, banners, and carpet was covered in varying layers of gold. To top it off, all the furniture was crafted from crimson wood that seemed to be just as expensive.
The golden chandelier lit up the room, the yellow light of its candles bouncing off and creating a dazzling hue of gold and crimson.
She honestly hadn't expected to see something like this in the middle of a warzone.
"Commander Dragonblight!"
The sergeant yelled in a reverent and respectful tone, placing his fist on his chest and bowing deeply.
Hearing her stupid escort's desperate mating call, she finally looked at the man behind the blinding golden desk, who was busy reading a book. Her eyes narrowed imperceptibly. What the...
She was familiar with how the dragon-kin looked—painfully so. Their appearance was almost no different from humans, the only symmetry-breakers being their slit pupils and their smell.
Thus, she was completely taken aback by the man's appearance.
He still looked young, probably in his early twenties. He had golden, wavy hair that fell past his shoulders. His face was chiseled like a statue, handsome beyond reason. His eyes were obviously slitted, with a piercing golden color.
He was tall, with a muscular body that his expensive white blouse alongside his black trousers failed to hide.
What truly distinguished him from the rest of his kin were the golden dragon scales that covered the area around his eyes and the two small crimson horns growing from his forehead. Wait, is he...
As if to affirm her doubts, the sergeant forcibly pushed her head down to bow as well.
"Stop gawking and bow to the baron!"
A dragon-kin noble? Lilith was too shocked to be mad at the sergeant. It was the first time she had met a pureblood, after all.
The man looked up, his eyes filled with amusement. His voice came clear as the wind:
"Sergeant Flameclaw, there's no need for such etiquette, it's fine."
Hearing his words, the sergeant hesitated but lifted his head. Lilith also managed to snatch her head from his grip and straightened up, shooting him a cold look.
"But, my lord..."
Waving a hand, the commander cut him off:
"Don't sweat it. I just want to have a chat with the young lady. Nothing too serious."
He then took a better look at Lilith's face, his eyebrows arching a little in amusement.
"Oh? You were rather rough with her, weren't you?"
Chuckling softly, he gestured toward the chair opposite him.
"Please, take a seat. You might collapse if you don't."
Lilith looked at him for a moment, then sighed quietly and complied. What else can I do?
As she sat on the chair, the sergeant stood behind her like a shadow, as if afraid that she might try to escape. Ignoring the stupid guard, she looked at the commander with defiance, gauging him silently. This presence... He's most likely a Rank 2 Heavenly Ascender.
Satisfied with her seated, he spoke with a smile:
"I presume that you already speak Aetherian, given your positive responses. Please forgive my unpleasant summons, and let me introduce myself properly. My name is Valeric Dragonblight, assigned commander of the 27th Camp on the Imperial Frontline. As my beloved subordinate has said, I'm a baron."
Pausing, he opened a drawer from his desk and produced an expensive cup alongside a bottle containing a red liquid. He opened it and filled the cup.
"Here, drink this first."
He offered her the cup, which prompted a frown. Noticing her expression, he said:
"Ease up, young lady. Do you really think that I would use tricks on you? If I wanted, I could simply make you drink it."
Feeling even more helpless, Lilith reluctantly took it. She smelled it first, inhaling the sweet aroma. Then, slowly, she brought the cup to her lips and drank the red liquid. Huh?
Immediately, it took effect. Her bruised face began healing at a visible speed, the wounds on her body gradually disappearing. By the time she gulped down the last bit, she was restored to a relatively healthy condition compared to her previous state.
Finally freed from the burden of her injuries, her muscles relaxed. Her pale skin, pure and perfect like alabaster, shone brightly under the chandelier. Her ethereally beautiful face didn't show any emotion, remaining like that of a porcelain doll.
Lowering the cup, Lilith spoke:
"Thanks..."
She had to try and act somewhat obedient; she sure as hell didn't think that he offered her a healing potion just for fun. She may have been young, but she wasn't naive.
Valeric nodded.
"Good. My heart can't bear to see a beautiful young lady suffering before me..."
He then looked at the sergeant behind her with a chiding expression.
"Flameclaw! How could you treat this lady so harshly and feel no shame? Do you have no decency?"
The sergeant, seemingly chocked by the reprimand, stammered a reply. Lilith didn't turn to see him, but she was sure his face bore an expression of confusion mixed with betrayal.
"My lord! She–"
However, Valeric waved his hand, cutting him off for the second time since they'd entered.
"Actually, tell me about that after I become better acquainted with my guest."
He turned back to Lilith, his expression a tad too enthusiastic. His golden pupils were fixated on her eerie eyes with unspoken intensity.
"So, tell me... is it true, that you're a Nightmare Elf?"
The room fell into silence, the atmosphere suddenly turning tense and unbearable as he awaited her answer patiently. The guard behind her shifted uncomfortably, his posture stiff. Lilith didn't respond, staying impassive while she met his gaze.
The silence stretched even longer, and just when Valeric thought that she wasn't going to answer, she did. Her voice was much colder than before.
"Yes."
That word echoed through the room, sounding more like a sinister whisper of a witch than that of a helpless girl.
Not at all fazed by the change in the atmosphere, his face beamed with joy.
"Wow! I've never expected that in my life, I'll have the chance to meet with one!"
He leaned back on his chair.
"And a young one at that!"
Feeling irritated by his comments, Lilith spoke with a cold tone laced with sharpness:
"So, why did you want me to be here? Just to ogle?"
The sergeant was flaming with anger at her disrespectful words, gripping her chair tightly. But before he could say anything, Valeric quickly shut him off for the third time with eyes that were somewhat displeased.
When he turned back to her, he wasn't angry, but actually apologetic.
"Forgive me, young lady. I was much more enthusiastic than I liked to show. All I wanted was to just to know you more, that's why you're here."
He leaned forward.
"What's your name?"
Lilith narrowed her eyes, hinting at her displeasure. However, she lifted her chin slightly, as if looking down on him. Her chilling voice, when it came, embodied one word.
Arrogance.
"Lilith Saira Etherea."