Chapter 23: The Dragon’s Embrace and a Faltering Resolve

“You seem… quite eager,” Faltis observed, her gaze fixed on Eileen. “Are you, perhaps, planning to sneak away from me?”

Eileen froze for a moment as Faltis spoke. It hadn’t even occurred to her until now, but she truly could seize this opportunity to escape.

However, Eileen was not so foolish as to believe she could actually slip away from Faltis’s grasp.

“How could I? I’ve never even considered such a thing.”

“Wise of you,” Faltis remarked, pointing at the map. “This particular assignment might be a little different from your previous ones.”

“It’s nothing more than helping the townspeople deal with a few matters, and perhaps dispose of some dragons along the way. I’m well-versed in this,” Eileen said with such naturalness that she failed to realize the outrageous words she had just uttered.

“I truly am…” Faltis was utterly speechless. “It seems I must make you deeply aware that you, yourself, are a dragon.”

“Eh!?” Only then did Eileen realize the dreadful blunder she had made. “Wait, wait! Lady Faltis! It’s a misunderstanding! I merely misspoke!”

“There’s no room for misspoken words here,” Faltis said, cornering Eileen against the wall.

“Cough, cough!” Eileen gave an awkward cough, swiftly searching for a reason to change the subject. “So, what makes these assignments different?”

It was a clumsy attempt, but Faltis was in no hurry.

“Clearly, most of the people who come to this place are Dragon Slayers,” Faltis explained. “When they encounter trouble, it’s naturally trouble brought on by these very Dragon Slayers.”

“How could that be?” Eileen immediately refuted. “Dragon Slayers can barely keep up with helping them; how could they possibly cause trouble?”

Moreover, the fact that this issue had been reported to Faltis indicated its severe nature.

“Then, did it ever occur to you that you might be ambushed by a fellow Dragon Slayer, someone you considered a companion?”

Faltis’s words left Eileen utterly speechless.

“It’s time for a change, Eileen. Acting this way will put you in grave danger.” Faltis understood that no matter how capable Eileen was, her perception of these matters would be difficult to alter quickly.

That was precisely why she entrusted this assignment to Eileen, hoping it would open her eyes.

“I understand, Lady Faltis.” Eileen bit her lip, still unwilling to believe that Dragon Slayers would commit such acts.

Becoming a Dragon Slayer was no simple feat. Those who had ambushed her were but a few exceptions.

She would prove Faltis wrong!

Yet, for now, Eileen had to face Faltis’s test.

“Alright, the work matters are settled. Now, it’s time for just the two of us.” Though Faltis hadn’t explicitly stated it, Eileen clearly understood her meaning.

“Wait, Lady Faltis, could we perhaps skip it this time? I’m still in so much pain…” Eileen pleaded pitifully, attempting to slip through.

Evidently, it was useless.

Her adorable little maid had made several mistakes in a single day, and it was imperative that she be made keenly aware of it.

“Didn’t you just promise me that you would bear the cost of letting Yarlola go? Are you going back on your word now?” Faltis looked at Eileen with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Well, about that…” Eileen’s gaze drifted towards the ceiling.

“Look at me, Eileen.”

Eileen had tried to meet Faltis’s gaze, but within seconds, she would always avert her eyes.

It was simply impossible!

Eileen’s body suddenly trembled. That damnable pervert! She had seized her tail again.

“You seem to often forget that you are now a dragon,” Faltis purred. “Let me think, how can I make you remember this more clearly?”

“There’s no need! I remember it quite clearly now,” Eileen insisted, noticing a strange glint in Faltis’s eyes.

“That won’t do. Misspoken words are acceptable in front of me, but if you make such a slip in front of others, the consequences could be severe.”

Eileen caught a strange, sweet scent, but that was not important. What mattered was that Faltis seemed to be losing control!

“Relax.” Eileen was gently tossed onto the bed by Faltis.

“It hurts…”

This was not an act; her body still needed time to fully recover.

“It’s alright. Soon, you won’t feel any pain at all.” Faltis’s face slowly drew closer.

Eileen watched Faltis’s soft, pink lips approach.

Her heart began to pound rapidly. Was it nervousness? Or perhaps a touch of anticipation?

Soon, however, Eileen felt a cool sensation on her forehead.

Faltis’s forehead touched hers.

“Do you smell that scent?”

“Mm.”

“What do you feel now?”

“Feel?” Eileen didn’t perceive any significant change, other than her body feeling somewhat warm.

As a Silver Dragon, her body temperature was much lower than other dragons, which was why Faltis so enjoyed sleeping while holding her.

“My body feels a little warm?” Eileen murmured.

“Warm? That’s perfect.” Faltis extended a hand, slowly unbuttoning Eileen’s clothes.

Eileen instinctively tried to resist, but Faltis’s voice resonated, constantly stirring Eileen’s inner turmoil.

‘No!’ Eileen had to hold her ground, absolutely refusing to succumb to pleasure.

But Faltis knew every weakness, every sensitive spot on Eileen’s body. With just a little pressure, Eileen quickly surrendered.

Only a single white lace undergarment remained.

Eileen bit her lip. Although her breathing was already erratic and occasional gasps escaped her, her resistance to the situation was still palpable.

At this moment, all she needed was a reason, or a graceful exit.

“Indeed, feeling warm is not your imagination. That is the unique flower of our dragon kind. Its scent can ignite the desires within any dragon who breathes it in.” Faltis leaned close to Eileen’s ear, gently blowing on it. “So, it’s not your fault.”

Much of the resistance in Eileen’s eyes faded. She closed them, and though she said nothing, it was a silent acquiescence to something.

It hurt… yet it felt good.

But Eileen would never in her wildest dreams have imagined that Faltis was deceiving her; there was no such flower at all.

The scent was merely from an ordinary flower, utterly devoid of any special properties.

‘When the opportunity arises, I’ll explain it to her then.’