Chapter 637: Not So Smart Blue Dragon
Feeling Astrid’s soft, warm touch beneath her silken dress, her lazy, alluring voice interwoven with flickering specks of light in her crimson eyes, refracting like gentle sunlight across a roiling, crimson sea-
Lyra’s body warmed slightly. Her gaze instinctively dropped downward, only to meet the sight of a slender, pale finger, already sliding upward from where it had been brushing against her own fabric, nearing the collar of her blouse.
While the Valeria Empire indeed had the saying "a brief separation enhances affection," Lyra wasn’t some reckless child consumed solely by pleasure.
"N-no... that’s not it..."
She gulped faintly, the stocking-wrapped legs entwined around Astrid’s thighs loosening and releasing. Her smooth, delicate bare feet dangled gently by the bed’s edge, accidentally brushed against a pair of pure black leather shoes.
"I just thought... Astrid might have other matters to attend to..."
That was why she’d specifically mentioned to Theresa before parting ways that she would report to the Regent as soon as possible, urging Theresa to remain calm.
Hearing Lyra’s words, seeing the slight panic in her blue eyes, the flicker of desire struggling to break free from her normally composed demeanor, Astrid leaned down and kissed her lover. The hand that had been misbehaving now gently cupped the pink-haired girl’s smooth cheek, speaking softly.
"In that case, let’s prepare to leave."
"I’ll put on another layer."
With that, Astrid rose from atop Lyra. Her smooth, black-stocked legs straightened, stepping forward and back as she crossed to the dressing room.
A few minutes later, the Empire’s Regent emerged from the room, a fluffy shawl draped over her shoulders, her cascade of silver hair neatly tied back. She lightly brushed her hair aside and looked at Lyra.
"I’m sorry to trouble our knight, who hasn’t had time to rest properly, with another journey~"
Meanwhile, Lyra, already dressed and just slipping on her small leather shoes, nodded.
"Let’s go."
As the words left her lips, Astrid fastened the delicate metal buckle on her high heel, straightened her posture, and left the bedroom alongside Lyra.
Thirty minutes later, Amalia, who had just finished her weekly meeting, received a message relayed by a servant from Astrid.
"Lyra has returned to Capital City and was in the Regent’s private bedroom catching up twenty minutes ago..."
"Then, the Regent mentioned she would be heading to a transport town northeast of the capital, to meet an important guest at a lodge called Farwalk Inn. She told the Empress not to worry too much."
Listening to the servant’s report, Amalia remained seated upon her gilded throne, her gaze fixed on the gradually dispersing crowd. Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, her expression as cold as ever.
"The Regent also said that if anything unexpected happens, she will send a signal immediately."
As her sister’s younger sibling, although Astrid had only included the servant to relay a rough summary, Amalia had already gathered more than enough information.
Lyra had returned to the capital. Instead of spending more time with her in an intimate reunion, Astrid was immediately heading to meet this so-called "important guest," indicating the guest’s identity was highly significant, and the matter had arisen suddenly.
"Not to worry" meant she, the Empress, didn’t need to attend personally. As for the potential for unexpected incidents, it suggests a certain probability of attack, requiring the capital to remain vigilant.
"Ask Mr. Trin to monitor the northeast direction." Amalia crossed her white-stockinged legs, her voice unusually low.
Since her sister believed the threat level of this meeting was low, she would follow her instructions, after all, if she deployed the Imperial Guard with excessive force, it might cause the guest to misunderstand.
Receiving the Empress’s order, the servant nodded and turned, leaving the council hall.
Watching the servant’s retreating back, Amalia stroked the imperial scepter in her hand. Light from the crystal chandelier sparkled upon the silver princess shoes at her feet, illuminating the fluffy, bell-shaped sleeves billowing around her arms, revealing glimpses of creamy-white skin beneath.
The pink-haired knight’s visit was over. Sister should be happy.
She should also instruct the chefs to prepare extra dishes tonight, to welcome the Empire’s Bulwark back to the capital.
.................
At Farwalk Inn, following Lyra’s footsteps, Astrid arrived at one of the doors lining the long corridor. Knocking loudly through the second floor.
"Miss Theresa, it’s me, Lyra."
Lyra knocked, stepped back, and waited. A few seconds passed before the door opened, revealing a beautiful girl with blue hair and blue eyes before Astrid.
She wore an elaborately decorated light-blue dress, her smooth blue hair cascading down to her waist. Her legs were wrapped in long stockings of the same blue hue as her dress, though slightly darker, and her short leather boots matched the ensemble.
Aside from the snowy-white skin exposed outside her clothing and her ink-black eyelashes, the Theresa before them were entirely clad in blue, using only subtle variations in shade for contrast. Despite the seemingly odd attire, her striking face and delicate figure made the look surprisingly fitting.
At a single glance, Astrid sensed something different about the girl before her, a presence unlike any human she had ever encountered. Dragon and human were entirely different beings on the soul level; at the Arcanist Mage’s threshold, even without revealing her true form, Astrid could keenly perceive Theresa’s authentic nature.
As Astrid observed Theresa, the latter was also studying the silver-haired beauty accompanying Lyra.
Without exaggeration, by either dragon or ordinary human standards, the elegant silver-haired girl before her was the most beautiful being Theresa had encountered on her entire journey.
She had thought Lyra was beautiful enough, but the person she brought was even more stunning, wearing a black dress and black stockings, silver hair and crimson eyes. This must be the legendary Regent of the Valeria Empire, Astrid Calliste.
Entering the room, Lyra, serving as the bridge, introduced Astrid and Theresa to each other.
"This is the Imperial Crown Princess, also known as the Regent I mentioned on our journey, Her Highness Astrid Calliste."
"This is Theresa, the Blue Dragon proficient in Water Magic."
Before Astrid could speak, Theresa extended her hand toward her the instant Lyra finished speaking.
"Pleased to meet you. Miss Astrid is even more beautiful than I imagined."
"Even among silver dragons, who value beauty above all in our race, few could match Miss Astrid’s exceptional presence."
Especially with this imperial beauty’s cool elegance and striking features, coupled with silver hair, a hallmark trait, if not for the complete absence of any draconic aura, Theresa might have suspected this human princess was some silver dragon in disguise using draconic magic.
Astrid’s expression remained unchanged as she looked at Theresa’s outstretched hand. After a few seconds, she lifted her own hand to accept it.
"Miss Theresa is more enthusiastic than I expected."
According to records she’d seen in the Royal Library, dragons living in the world’s far north were generally arrogant and brutal. Theresa, who appeared so amiable, really didn’t seem much like a dragon.
After a brief handshake, Astrid didn’t relinquish control to Theresa. Her crimson eyes gazed calmly, her voice gentle yet firm.
"I hear from Lyra that Miss Theresa wishes to speak with the Empire’s upper echelons."
"I am the Imperial Princess of the Valeria Empire, and second only to the Empress as Regent. I believe I qualify. However, before we proceed with discussions, I must clarify one matter."
"What exactly is Miss Theresa’s purpose in crossing our national border uninvited?"
In the present era, among the various intelligent races, it was rare for anyone to cross borders without explicit authorization from their leaders.
For instance, the Everdark Forest within Valeria Empire territory was jointly shared by humans and elves, its eastern outer regions belonged to the Empire, while the central and western forests belonged to the elves. The two groups occasionally traded but mostly kept to themselves. Any unauthorized entry into either territory was unprotected by law.
As for the Empire’s northern frontier, which didn’t directly border Valeria territory and was considered barren wasteland by humans, the dragons’ domain was shrouded in mystery. Neither dragons nor humans had ever communicated there. The only historical record dated back to the Lorraine Empire era. At best, Theresa’s arrival could be seen as provocation; At worst, a mere accidental intrusion.
Feeling Astrid’s gaze, Theresa fell momentarily silent.
"A few weeks ago, I was conducting magical research in my lair when I suddenly sensed a faint spatial fluctuation from the south."
"Unlike the ripples caused by barrier activation, this presence feels like reality itself being torn open, allowing the void to flood into the world."
"It was far from my location, and the fluctuation was blurry, but that very vagueness suggested its immense scale."
If it had been a Arcanist Mage drawing elements from the void, Theresa wouldn’t have detected even a trace from such a distance.
"And then?" Astrid asked expressionlessly, her soft pink lips parting.
"Miss Theresa believes the source of this fluctuation lies beneath our human empire?"
She didn’t confirm or deny, merely following up on the previous topic.
For a moment, Theresa was unsure whether this imperial figure was aware of the spatial ripple’s origin. After all, too much time had passed, and the location she felt was extremely vague. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have spent so long flying across the Valeria Empire without finding a single clue.
After a brief silence, Theresa replied.
"That’s correct, Miss Astrid."
"I suspect the origin of the spatial ripple lies within the Valeria Empire."
Not entirely certain, but the general area should be accurate.
Hearing this, Astrid crossed one arm over her chest, her elbow lightly resting on her wrist, her black-stockinged legs standing straight, her flawless white hand supporting her cheek.
"I see..."
Astrid already knew this answer from Lyra, but that didn’t stop her from hearing it again from Theresa’s own mouth.
Judging by the timeline, Theresa was referring to the ancient human ruin.
"However, Miss Theresa still hasn’t directly answered my question."
"Suppose, as you say, the spatial ripple originated within the Valeria Empire, what does that have to do with your unauthorized crossing of our border?"
"Could it be... you intend to do something about it?"
Facing this exceptionally beautiful imperial princess, Theresa felr a certain difficulty. The other’s demeanor was unreadable, making it hard for her to know how to respond.
In dragon territories, such complexities didn’t exist. Like was like, dislike was dislike. The sparse population rarely interacted, let alone engaged in politics.
"..."
After a few seconds of thought, Theresa spoke.
"How much does Miss Astrid know about the blue dragon clan?"
Seeing Theresa shift the topic, Astrid didn’t dwell further on her previous question, answering calmly and evenly.
"The Royal Library of the Valeria Empire holds remnants of Lorraine Empire texts. Through reading, I know a little."
"Unlike black dragons, who excel at tearing enemies apart with their massive bodies and physical prowess, blue dragons are close to magic, renowned as the most scholarly and knowledgeable branch among dragons."
"Lorraine Empire adventurers called you ’the aloof and erudite researchers.’"
In terms of negotiation, blue dragons were perhaps the most approachable.
"Lyra speaks truly. Miss Astrid is indeed well-versed."
Hearing Astrid’s words, Theresa’s pupils brightened slightly, warming to the other’s respectful terminology of her clan, and continued.
"You humans have a saying, roughly, ’what propels a mage to the summit is not talent, nor effort, but an insatiable thirst for knowledge.’"
"I am the same. Spatial magic has always been mysterious. Its operational logic seems utterly nonsensical, yet undeniably real."
"I wish to understand its principles."
That was why she had flown thousands of miles to the Valeria Empire, to locate the source of the spatial ripple.
"..."
"In other words, Miss Theresa’s goal is to study spatial magic through these so-called spatial ripples?"
Theresa gave a slight nod, replying softly.
"Mm."
Although uncertain whether Astrid believed her or not, this was indeed her core motivation.
If she could master spatial magic, she would become the first blue dragon to fully comprehend the world’s mysteries.
After her words, the room fell into prolonged silence. Astrid pondered deeply, Theresa waited for a reply, and Lyra, the facilitator between them, drifted into a daze.
It wasn’t that Lyra was foolish, it was simply that interpersonal interactions weren’t her strong suit.
Leave it to Astrid. She’ll handle it well.
After a while, Astrid, the external brain processing for Lyra, spoke slowly: "If Miss Theresa’s purpose here is indeed to study spatial magic..."
"Then why has she lingered within the Empire for so long without heading to the source of the spatial ripple she detected?"
In the end, she had only reached the capital with Lyra’s guidance.
Astrid needed an explanation, a reassurance that she hadn’t secretly made other arrangements.
Hearing this, Theresa froze, a faint blush flickering across her snow-white face.
Could she admit she was simply not skilled enough, that she lost the ripple’s trail shortly after arriving in Valeria, and had been aimlessly flying around ever since?
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