Chapter 21: The Price of Naivety

“Are you not worried that something unexpected might happen once I recover my memories?” Eileen asked.

“Has nothing unexpected already happened?” Faltis shot Eileen a pointed look.

“My once obedient little maid has begun to rebel, challenging her mistress. Is that not unexpected enough?” Faltis’s words carried a hidden meaning.

“Furthermore, I still don’t know what this seemingly loyal little maid truly harbors in her heart. Is it mere resignation, or are there other intentions brewing?”

“Ah, haha…” Eileen let out an awkward laugh, wisely choosing to remain silent.

“I hope such incidents will not recur in the future,” Faltis stated, producing a map.

Eileen’s heart gave a sudden lurch. “That… that’s intelligence from five years ago. It might have changed by now, so perhaps we should…”

“Are you truly so concerned about the Empire’s safety?” Faltis’s tone held a hint of displeasure.

More than that, it seemed tinged with a touch of jealousy.

“Don’t forget, you are no longer a Dragon Slayer, Eileen.” Faltis turned to face Eileen. “You belong to me now; you are my Dragon Maid. Do you understand?”

“My apologies.” Eileen knew well that it was best not to mention the Empire in Faltis’s presence.

Yet, she simply could not help herself.

“Rest assured, if I intended to attack the Empire, I would have done so long ago.” Faltis had absolutely no interest in the Empire.

The Empire was nothing more than a monster spawner placed within her territory, occasionally sending out nuisances like flies to harass them.

Faltis paid no mind to such petty skirmishes. Any elite monsters that occasionally spawned were promptly dealt with by Eileen.

Challengers like Kassim were unlikely to ever appear again.

Compared to the Empire’s threat, other matters within the Dragon Race demanded far more attention.

No, her thoughts had drifted.

“Then, my Lady Faltis, what is this for?” Eileen asked timidly, fearful that Faltis might impulsively charge into the Empire if displeased.

Soon, Eileen understood Faltis’s true meaning.

The map, dropped onto the water’s surface, slowly unfurled and began to ripple.

The waves gently lapped against Eileen.

Though only small ripples, they felt like crashing tsunamis against Eileen’s body.

Eileen stood frozen in place, like a statue, utterly motionless.

The map was indeed drawn by Eileen, but it was not of the Empire. Instead, it depicted… the structural layout of the Golden Dragon Sanctuary.

“Why…”

“Why else? While I indulge you greatly, such information must not be allowed to leak out.” Faltis placed her right hand on Eileen’s shoulder.

Eileen’s mind went blank. ‘It was I who caused Yarlola’s death…’

“What’s wrong? Is it so strange?” Faltis observed Eileen’s stunned reaction.

‘Strange? No, it’s not strange. I was simply too naive back then.’

Her small actions had been utterly transparent to Faltis.

Eileen involuntarily clenched her hands, a churning sensation in her stomach. This was the first time she had caused the death of… no, she had killed one of her own kind.

She vividly remembered how many Dragon Slayers she had defeated, but those were mere defeats; she had never killed any of them.

But this time…

“Every Dragon Slayer who steps into Dragon territory has already prepared for such a fate, have they not?” Faltis continued.

‘That is true…’

Eileen herself had accepted this fate when she first stepped onto this land, but now, it felt entirely different.

“So, what do you intend to do now?” Faltis then asked.

Eileen took a deep breath. “I want to fight you.”

“Oh? Quite direct,” Faltis replied, somewhat surprised.

“But rationality tells me I cannot do that.” Eileen clenched her fists. “After all, this is my fault. If our roles were reversed, I would probably do the same thing.”

This map was an absolute secret of the Golden Dragon Sanctuary. Faltis allowing Eileen to live was already an act of great mercy.

“Then, what is your ultimate decision?” Faltis pressed on.

“Still, I want to fight you.”

“That’s more like it.” Faltis rose from the pool, changing into a loose white nightgown.

“If you were to silently endure this, you wouldn’t be yourself, would you?” Water droplets trickled down Faltis’s golden hair onto the floor.

“However, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet,” Faltis reminded her. “You might need to sleep for a few more days.”

“Then I’ll sleep. It’s better than keeping it bottled up inside.”

Faltis genuinely admired Eileen’s straightforward nature. Speaking her mind was far better than silently enduring things in secret.

Being open about matters would prevent many troubles.

“Still outside?” Eileen asked.

She clenched her hand, only to find that Durandal no longer appeared within her grasp.

Faltis naturally noticed. “Let’s not bother.”

Faltis waved her hand. She would not refuse Eileen’s challenge, and she even welcomed it.

However, Eileen was not at her peak condition now, so a fight would be meaningless.

Moreover.

Faltis hooked Eileen’s chin with her tail.

“What are you planning now?” Eileen glared at Faltis.

“You’re not cute at all when you act like this.”

There was nothing Eileen could do. After learning of this matter, she certainly couldn’t put on a pleasant face.

But she didn’t blame Faltis. More than that, she blamed herself for being too naive.

“Was that nun very important to you?” Faltis asked.

‘Important? Not really.’

Eileen hadn’t truly known her and had no deep connection to her, merely having exchanged a few conversations.

She merely felt some regret over Yarlola’s death. Of course, it was mostly guilt; she had caused Yarlola’s demise.

“Are you angry with me because of a nun you only met a few times?”

Eileen shook her head. “I am not angry with Lady Faltis. That would certainly not be a pleasant thing to say. I am only angry with myself, for my immaturity that led to Yarlola’s death.”

“But, I never said I killed that nun.”

“?!”

“Really?” Eileen’s expression softened slightly.

“I wonder,” Faltis said, smiling mischievously at Eileen.

Seeing Faltis’s expression, Eileen let out a sigh of relief.

Eileen felt her heart could barely take it. This person truly couldn’t go a second without teasing her.

“However, you will have to bear the cost of letting her go.”

Eileen took a step back. ‘Oh no! So that was your true objective?’