The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

The next morning, Liszt, who had vague dark circles under his eyes, packed up.

He enjoyed breakfast in his room: bread, omelet, pie, jam, milk, honey, and coffee.

After Levis and Lvera also packed up, the siblings went to bid farewell to the marquis. The marquis had gotten up early and was writing something as he sat in his wheelchair.

“Did you sleep well?” The marquis stopped writing and looked at them. “I’m told you all had a great time last night.”

Levis replied with a smile, “It was a comfortable night, Grandpa. We had a lot of fun in our cousin’s ball. I was drawn to some of the beautiful ladies.”

“That’s good. While you are young, follow your heart.”

After a brief conversation, they bid farewell to him. The marquis did not ask them to stay and simply said to Liszt, “I didn’t attend the ceremony for your coming of age. To make up for it, I’ll give you something. Mayop, give the gift I prepared to Liszt.”

Mayop soon returned with a long box.

The moment Liszt saw the box, he realized that his guess was correct. The marquis’s gift was indeed a weapon.

What kind of magic weapon could it be? He was very eager.

Mayop delivered the box to him. “Liszt, Grandfather offers you this Red Blood Sword and hopes that you will become a radiant knight with it.”

“The Red Blood Sword?”

Liszt opened the box. Immediately, he saw a shining two-handed sword.

The edge, back, and hilt were all very thin. The sword looked like a Zweihänder. A ruby was embedded at the joint of the crossguard and the hilt. One could sense the magic radiating from the ruby just looking at it.

Also, red marks were surfacing on the blade like tiny streaks of blood.

No wonder it was named Red Blood Sword when it was as white as snow.

Most important of all, it was not a magic weapon, but something even better: a gem weapon!

“A ruby?”

Lvera was shocked at the ruby. Intense jealousy emanated from her eyes.

A common magic weapon could cost a hundred coins.

However, a gemstone weapon could be worth ten thousand coins.

The Red Blood Sword alone could cost years of taxes of a wealthy town. Her Falcon Town was more or less a wealthy town, and she could buy a gemstone weapon if she cut her expenses for several years. However, she would never abandon her luxury lifestyle, so she could never really afford it.

She expressed her jealousy straightforwardly. “Grandpa, you’re too biased. You only gave me a dress when I became an adult.”

“Didn’t your father give you a little elf and the title of baroness? Liszt enjoyed neither. Your father is allowed to be biased, but I’m not?” the marquis said matter-of-factly, obviously dissatisfied with the Earl of Coral Island.

Liszt immediately said, “Thank you for your present, Grandpa. I’ll treat it nicely and make sure its radiance is not eclipsed.”

He could sell the gemstone weapon for a thousand gold coins right now, but he certainly wouldn’t do that. The ruby on the sword apparently carried the quality of fire and could help with his training. It would be more effective than magic medicines.

…

Carrying the Red Blood Sword, Liszt was ready to return while Mayop and the servants saw them off.

It was the end of their two-day stay in Taro Castle.

He was not too regretful. After all, there were plenty of things waiting for him in Flower Town. Right before he got on the wagon, somebody called, “Liszt, wait.”

He turned around, only to discover that it was Asina.

“Ms. Asina, good morning.”

“Good morning.” Asina was breathing hard. She probably ran over from the castle. “Are you going back?”

“Yes.”

Levis, who exited the wagon after getting on it, interjected. “If a beautiful girl expects me, I would rather not go back.”

Liszt glared back at him. “Brother, can we have some privacy?”

Levis shrugged. “Ms. Asina, please continue.”

“Thank you, Sir Levis.”

Liszt and Asina were left alone. Asina clutched the hem of her skirt. “Are you not staying a couple days longer?”

“There are plenty of issues in my town that I have to address.”

“Will you visit White Fish City someday?” She seemed hopeful.

Liszt refused her with a smile. “Sorry, I have no reason to visit your house. I don’t know your father.”

He couldn’t visit another noble for no good reason.

“You can come to visit me,” Asina said and lowered her head. Her meaning was obvious. There could only be one reason for an unmarried man to visit an unmarried woman.

Liszt secretly sighed.

He felt that what he was about to say would devastate the lovely girl, but he had to say it. “Ms. Asina, thank you for your appreciation, but I’ve never considered possibilities between us. Please don’t remain stuck on me. You are so beautiful, I’m sure that you will have pursuers more excellent than me.”

Asina’s eyes quickly dimmed, but she put on a smile soon. “Thank you for your honesty, Sir Liszt. I wish you a safe journey.”

“Thank you. Take care.” Liszt got on the wagon.

The coachman cracked his whip and the carriage lurched forward. There was no dust on the road of pebbles, but only the sound of rolling wheels.

“Liszt, how brutal of you to refuse the confession of a noble lady.” Lvera was unconvinced that her weak brother could turn someone else down.

“I have no feelings for her. Why would I pretend otherwise?”

He turned back and looked at Asina, who was still standing at the gate of the castle, her tight clothes billowing in the wind.

She was very courageous, but he couldn’t accept it.

He intended to be alone for several minutes.

However, Lvera’s sniff disrupted the atmosphere. “The match of nobles does not need feelings.”

“Is that so? Why don’t you just marry a random guy, then?”

“Because I don’t want to lose my power. Even if I have to be married, he must come to Falcon Town! Or, if he is charming enough for me to abandon Falcon Town and live in his castle, I can accept that, too,” Lvera announced proudly.

Liszt did not offer a comment.

A moment later, Lvera extended her hand. “Show me your Red Blood Sword.”

Stroking the fine sword and the ruby with its exuberant magic power, Lvera couldn’t have been more jealous. “Why is Grandpa so nice to you? I may never be able to afford such a ruby sword for the rest of my life! Liszt, it’s a waste for you to use this sword. Give it to me. I can offer you a hundred Neldas in return!”

“That’s impossible.”