Chapter 45: Opportunity

Her black hair flowed like a waterfall, spreading across the white sheets like a thick tide of ink.
Her fair face was serene in sleep, and her lowered eyelashes were like the wings of a butterfly resting on a flower.
Even without makeup or styling, Elvira was a pleasing sight.

Her body was slightly curled up, hugging the quilt.
Her tail was wrapped around a corner of the bedding.
She lay on her side on the bed, lazy and relaxed, her breathing steady and regular.
One of the thin straps on her shoulder had slipped off, revealing a glimpse of softness that was set off by the black silk nightdress, creating a hazy, dreamlike beauty.

Damn it, even in her sleep, this little female dragon is so alluring.

Seeing Elvira’s sound sleep, my steps unconsciously became lighter.
I slowly moved to the bedside, wanting to pat Elvira and wake her up.
But when I was still three steps away, the person on the bed’s nose twitched, and her golden dragon eyes slowly half-opened and looked at me.

“Verona, are you still angry?” her voice was like a dream, a self-mutter.
“Don’t ignore me…”

Elvira wasn’t fully awake yet.
Her eyes were full of confusion, and her expression was dazed.
She probably hadn’t thought at all, but had subconsciously spoken upon seeing me.

But it was precisely because of this that I felt a little heartache.

In the final analysis, she was like this because of me.
Perhaps, I really was too cold to her.
I was the only one on the ship who Elvira could talk to, and yet I had overlooked such a simple thing…

So, from now on, I need to have a limit when I’m being emotional.

I sat on the bed and gently shook Elvira to wake her up.

“Wake up, Elvira, wake up,” I leaned forward and whispered in her ear.
“If you don’t wake up, I’ll be even angrier.”

The last sentence was like a basin of cold water poured on Elvira.
Her body, wrapped in the quilt, trembled slightly.
Then she quickly sat up, looking at me in surprise.

“Verona?! When… did you come? I just woke up.
Are you willing to talk to me now?”

Elvira, who had just woken up, was a bit incoherent, but I understood what she meant.

“I’ve been watching you for a while. I didn’t expect you to talk in your sleep. It’s quite interesting.”

“I… what did I say…” Elvira shrank back reservedly, her pretty face slightly red.
It was rare to see her like this, and I couldn’t help but want to tease her.

“You said a lot. For example… Lord Verona’s beauty is unparalleled in the world, Lord Verona is beautiful, kind-hearted, and gentle as water, Lord Verona is talented and intelligent beyond measure.”

“You’re lying to me…”

Elvira stared at me with a resentful little look, her gaze darting back and forth, wanting to speak but not daring to.
Of course, I knew why she didn’t dare to speak.

“Hurry up and get up. The fleet is about to arrive at the City of the Sea of Trees.
If you delay any longer, I’ll get angry again.”

After saying that, I looked at Elvira’s dazed expression and was about to get up and leave first, to let her sort out her thoughts.
And I did just that, but before I had taken two steps, my wrist was grabbed.

“Wait, Verona. Can we talk… just you and me.”

Looking back, Elvira’s expression was quite serious, and there was a hint of worry in her eyes.
But in all honesty, she woke up quite quickly.
In just a few seconds, she had completely returned to her usual self.

I nodded and was pulled back to sit on the bed, quietly waiting for Elvira’s next words.
After a moment, she spoke.

“I’ve been thinking about our relationship a lot lately.
I have to admit, my behavior before was not quite appropriate.
But… this is the first time I’ve been so close to someone, and the first time someone has stood by my side.
Although I may have done some things wrong, I really cherish you…”

Elvira’s tone paused for a moment.
She looked up, her eyes not blinking as she met mine.

“So, I promise you that in the future, I will not do anything… intimate to you against your will.
But I also beg you to give me a chance, okay?”

Now it was my turn to be in a passive position.
My eyes flickered, and my hands and feet felt unnatural.
I avoided Elvira’s scorching gaze.

“…Alright, alright, don’t be so serious.
I’ll promise you, okay…
Actually, I wasn’t angry in the first place.
I was just being a little difficult with you.
Who knew you wouldn’t come out all day, cooping yourself up in your room and doing who knows what.”

“Sleeping.”

I was just trying to change the subject.
I never expected Elvira to answer me, let alone with such a refreshingly simple answer.

“Sleeping? You sleep for 20 hours a day. Are you hibernating?”

“Something like that. Because I don’t get enough to eat every day, I need to reduce my own energy consumption.
I used to do this often, and I’m used to it.
Don’t worry.”

I was both surprised and confused by Elvira’s explanation.

“Huh? Not enough to eat? Don’t we have three meals a day on the ship?
Then why—wait, I get it.
Even if you have a big appetite, you can still ask for more food, right?
If you’re too embarrassed to ask, you can ask me!”

“You were ignoring me.”

“…”

Alright, alright. In the end, it’s still my fault.

Fine, I admit it.

“Are you still hungry now?”

“A… a little.”

“Are you a little hungry, or very hungry?” I asked, a bit speechless.

“…Very, very hungry.”

After that, I went to the kitchen and got “some” food for Elvira.
The portion wasn’t large, just two big basins.
I don’t know why the chef uncle looked at me with such a surprised expression.

Please, she’s a dragon.
Two big basins of food is just a normal portion.
There’s no need to make a big deal out of it.

It was unlikely that Elvira would come out to eat, so I simply brought the food to her room and sat beside her, watching the little black dragon elegantly and quickly finish the two basins of food.

By the time she finished eating, it was about time.
Elvira changed into her usual clothes and walked up to the deck with me.
We came up at just the right time.
The ship was slowly docking under a giant tree.

The gentle breeze swayed the lush green shade, which fell into the sea like a tranquil ink painting.
The arrival of our ship disturbed the tranquility of the painting.
The shade then enveloped us, blocking the sunlight and bringing a hint of refreshing coolness.

At the bow, Nadiesse was holding Little Nia’s hand and looking around.
When she saw us, she came forward.

“You two are finally out. I’ve been waiting for a long time,” Nadiesse patted Little Nia’s shoulder and sent the little dumpling back to my side.
“I still have some things to do after we dock, so we’ll have to separate for a while.
You can walk around for now.
I think, with Miss Elvira here, I don’t need to worry too much.”

Beside me, Elvira nodded slightly in affirmation.

“Alright! Then I’ll be on my way first.
Let’s meet here again in the afternoon.
Although this is a private port of the Scythe Blade Merchant Guild, the dining and entertainment industries are also quite decent.
I hope you have a good time.”

After Nadiesse finished speaking, she waved and went down the ship, leaving us with a dashing back view.

Little Nia and I blinked at each other, then both looked at the silent Elvira.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve never been here before.
I don’t know this place any better than you do.”

Mm, that’s within my expectations.

However, Nadiesse said that the dining and entertainment here are quite good, so let’s just walk around.
But before that.

“Elvira, do you remember the pouch of money I gave back to you in Port Otas?”

“I remember. What’s wrong?”

“There are 200 Holy Grace of mine in there.
Now, it’s their time to shine—I’m going to spend them!”

Hearing this, the corners of Elvira’s lips curled up slightly, with a faint, meaningful smile.
She took out the pouch of money, placed it in my hand, and then led us down the ship, heading deeper into the port.