The oil lamp scattered dim light in the dark, fragrant, and lonely room. Occasionally, through the swaying curtains, refreshing night breezes blew in, carrying the whispers of the night.
"So late, shouldn't you be resting? What brings you to me?"
Patunasankus opened the door and saw Loranhir slip through the crack. She wore a simple white nightgown, appearing to have come out in a hurry, barefoot, dressed very plainly.
"..." Loranhir said nothing.
Patunasankus tilted her head, her little ahoge rising slightly, watching as Loranhir closed the door for her. She could hear Loranhir's heart beating non-stop in the bedroom and vaguely guessed the purpose of her visit.
Elaphia had made her prediction—tomorrow night would be another full moon.
"Why did you agree? It's such a dangerous thing." Loranhir frowned, speaking somewhat quickly. "Princess, you could have refused completely. There's no need to take such a risk."
Honestly, Patunasankus didn't know how to explain it to her.
After all, she was just an evil dragon.
For an evil dragon, the name 'Latifa' seemed to have some innate magical power. Patunasankus had often done things in the past that even she couldn't understand.
Before she could even react, she had already nodded.
It was truly strange.
She had never even danced before.
The evil dragon was somewhat troubled by this, but it wasn't a big problem. After all, probably only Elaphia would be present. If anything went wrong, she could simply turn that person into a 'well-done acquaintance' and be done with it.
Afterward, she could just blame it on the ferocious beast.
If you can't solve the trouble, solve the person with the trouble—the evil dragon's methods were so straightforward.
As for agreeing or refusing the proposal, Patunasankus didn't really care.
Anyway, since she entered Silver City, the so-called ferocious beast should have quietly surrendered its title to her.
Loranhir's inquiry was within her expectations, but this was the first time she had seen the other so worried.
How to put it?
Was she supposed to tell the hero, 'Hey hey, you don't need to worry about me, I'm actually a super super fierce evil dragon, raaawr~! Oh, by the way, would you like to come to my room and see me breathe fire?'
The evil dragon glanced at the tense Loranhir, calculating that such a scene would probably frighten her into cardiac arrest, with a ten percent chance of dying on the spot.
It was better to divert her attention.
After all, she was just a pushover.
"The hero is really concerned about me," imitating a familiar gesture from her memory, Patunasankus covered her mouth and chuckled mischievously like that person, "It sounds like you want to be my knight of service?"
"...Huh?"
Loranhir blinked, completely unprepared for the conversation to take this direction.
"I, I just..." she hesitated.
Loranhir had intended to persuade the princess to abandon this plan.
She had been tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep while thinking about the fragile princess's safety.
She knew she couldn't do anything, and it was precisely this feeling of helplessness that frightened and unsettled her most.
Although she could rely on the holy sword to unsheathe again, she dared not gamble on it.
More than the ferocious beast, she feared something else, but she couldn't quite understand what.
"Are you really sure? You should know that the Dawn Knight certification test for serving the royal family is very long and grueling."
Patunasankus gave Loranhir's overloaded brain no chance to think, continuing.
"Let me think, the first trial is to skin a Romi giant lion, the second trial is to kill a nine-headed serpent hatchling, the third trial is to conquer the Ancestral Spirit Deer, the fourth is to capture a Mantos wild boar alive..."
Patunasankus searched her memories, recalling how Latifa had once described to her the legendary knights who served the royal family. They used swords as catalysts, were proficient in both magic and martial arts, and their fighting power was on par with the heroes of ancient times.
Although none of them had stopped the evil dragon from kidnapping the princess. Utterly defeated.
Cold sweat beaded on Loranhir's forehead. She felt like her brain had short-circuited. For a moment, she was actually considering how to pass the certification.
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
A village girl hero becoming a royal knight... it would be more practical to go back to her room and sleep.
Loranhir's awkward, dumbfounded appearance gave Patunasankus a strange sense of déjà vu.
Once upon a time, the evil dragon had also been confused and disoriented by a girl's occasional pranks in front of Latifa.
What had Latifa been thinking back then?
Patunasankus had always been eager to understand what that person had felt, but she had never found a good way.
She looked at Loranhir, and an idea vaguely formed in her mind.
"Seeing as you've been troubled for so long, I'll reluctantly allow you to experience it a little," Patunasankus said.
Loranhir looked up in confusion, not understanding what this meant.
Patunasankus didn't speak, just stood there.
She imitated how that person had once acted toward the evil dragon, slowly extending her hand in front of Loranhir, motionless.
Her profile revealed a cold and noble authority, her posture casual or arrogant, her weight resting on her slender legs that were slightly drawn back.
"...?"
Loranhir was puzzled. She stared blankly as Patunasankus's expression gradually became unfamiliar.
"Kneel," the evil dragon said.
Loranhir instinctively wanted to slide down on both knees, but quickly realized this wasn't some kind of prank, and hurriedly changed to kneeling on one knee.
"...What is this for?" Loranhir hesitantly asked.
How inexperienced.
Patunasankus shook her head, thinking that this pushover's reaction was exactly the same as hers had been back then.
But that made her even more curious to understand.
"The hand kiss," Patunasankus said coolly. "Do you want me to maintain this position all night?"
Loranhir dared not look directly into her eyes. She didn't understand why the princess was asking her to do this.
"I already said I'd let you experience it," Patunasankus pouted slightly. "What are you waiting for?"
Loranhir hesitantly stepped forward and took Patunasankus's right hand. The warmth from her palm was like a ray of sunshine in an icy snowfield.
"Princess."
The hero lightly kissed her hand.