Book 15: Chapter 88


    Ah, hello Sorry. mm Thats right. Hello, you must be the male dragon, King Troy, right? Im Irinas friend. I came here specially to see Irina. Is she here?


    I had never before seen the dragon in front of me, but she looked around Irinas age. She was slightly chubby, but her round face and smile looked cute. Her excited expression changed upon seeing me, but she didnt show obvious interest. Instead, she poked her head behind me to scan the room.


    Sorry, Irina isnt here at the moment.


    I didnt know if I should let her in or not, but upon remembering Mommy Sylvanas was still sleeping in Irinas room, I figured it was better not to allow her in. Once Mom was discovered, itd be bad news for Camille, Irina and me.


    I see, remarked the young girl, with a nod. She didnt show signs of losing interest. She, instead, continued looking inside and then stamped her feet. She looked at me with a smile and asked, You dont n to invite me in for a drink? Its somewhat rude to just send a guest away in this fashion, right, King Troy?


    Ah But


    It wasnt my house If it was my house, Id be fine with giving a reception, but I couldnt bring a young girl I didnt even know into a house that wasnt even mine


    The chubby young girl just shoved me aside and squeezed through. She then giggled: Hehe, sorry for intruding. Ah, this ce is the same as it was before, huh


    I couldnt stop her in time and certainly couldnt stop her. If I forcefully drove her away, it might have repercussions for Irina and Camille. Once news of my predicament left the doors, the two would be harshly criticised. Therefore, I had no choice, but to take care of the girl for a bit. All I could do was pray that Irina came back earlier, or the girl ran out of patience and left I didnt think she was likely to leave on her own ord, however After all, from her mental-breakdown inducing knocking, I wasnt convinced that boredom was a persuasive reason for her to leave. To me, she was a stranger, but if she was Irinas good friend, I couldnt be rude.


    She casually sat on the sofa and stretched her back out. She looked around before settling her eyes on me. She curiously scanned me and remarked, Im very curious as to why you like this form. Dont you like your dragon form?


    I guess not. I prefer my current form more. My mom gave me this body. I dont want to forsake it.


    I see. She nodded and then shifted her attention away from my appearance. She, instead, fiddled with her long elven ears. She was at the age she started to mind her appearance. Looking ahead, she said, Dont you n to serve me a drink? I really like elven tea. It gives me the feeling of returning to my hometown. While I live here, the ce that left the deepest impression on me is the elven forest.


    Sorry, I dont know where the elven tea is, so if you want tea, apologies, but I dont know where to get it. If you want water, though, I can give you a cup.


    She reacted surprised. She didnt understand a thing I said. She tilted her head: Youre joking. Havent you been with Irina for a long time now? Well, you havent been together for a month, I guess. Regardless, have you not adapted to life here yet? Even if you dont know this entire house yet, you should at least know where tea is, right? Or has Irina done such a good job of looking after you that you dont even need to leave your room?


    Thats exactly it.


    She was spot on; she just didnt guess the underlying reason. I, indeed, hadnt left my room, not because Irina took care of me, but because she locked me up Or rather, Camille locked me up. Irina did take care of me, but not as my wife.


    Irina must like you a lot, then. Indeed, that checks out. After all, weve never had a male dragon before. My father was an elf. Ive never seen a male dragon. I think Irina must be incredibly proud. Its blissful to be able to have a pure-blooded dragon as a husband. Irina agrees with that. That must be why she brags to us every day, geez. She made us so eager toe see you, but she never let us see you.


    So, you knew that Irina wasnt home and actually came to see me?!


    She titled her head again: Not entirely. Visiting you was just a matter of convenience. After all, youre Irinas husband, yet shes never allowed us to meet you. Of course, theres one more thing, and thats <em>this</em>, which Ive been searching for all this time. I discovered this at the tree trunk outside our house, so I came here specifically to give it to her.


    She took out a mushroom that was particrly simr to lingzhi mushroom from her basket, and then ced it on the table. I was certain it wasnt a mushroom, though. I had yet to see a mushroom that wriggled around after being picked. As a matter of fact, it appeared as though itd bite my hand if I tried to touch it


    After she ced it on the table, footsteps came from outside. The door opened. A flurry of consecutive footsteps sped in. Irina tossed her small basket aside and ignored it to rush to the guest room. The young girl gave Irina a smile. She extended forth her hand to greet her: Hi, Irina. Long-time no see. It seems that youre very busy these days.


    Why are you here, J?!! Why are you here?!


    What do you mean? Of course Id be here. Youre my friend; its only natural that Ie see you. Furthermore, wasnt it you who came to ask me for it?


    J judged Irinas emotional reaction to be startling excessive. To be honest, that was the first time Id seen Irina with such a contorted expression. Irina looked very irritated. She took in a deep breath and then swept the mushroom into her basket. She then pulled up her friend and pushed her friend. She loudly said, Thank you very much, then. Thank you, J. Thank you very much. I apologise for the inadequate reception today, and I wont have a chance to serve you a cup of tea. Im very sorry. I shallpensate you at ater date, but not now.


    Hey, hey, hey! You cant do this!! You dont need to overreact! I just wanted one look. You wont lose anything from one nce. Youre already married, yet you didnt notify us. We were worried! I want to see your husband this time Irina, you dont have to overreact this way. I wont steal him You dont need to be so tense, do you?!


    Thats exactly what Im worried about!! Dont tell anybody. Ill pay you back another time! Ill go to your ce to pay you back another time. You can have anything you want, but not him!


    J desperately tried to struggle to turn around to look at me with a smile. She waved at me before she reluctantly left. Irina mmed the door shut, locking her friend outside. She then took in a deep breath and scrubbed her hair into a mess. She stomped back inside. She fumed, Why did you thoughtlessly let somebody in?! Do you not know that allowing people in will reveal your presence?! If youre revealed, a big horde of dragons will soone looking for you! If they try to steal you when were not around, what are you going to do?!! I told you we will protect you, but they wont!! J will tell everybody about you! Now that shes seen you, shes bound to bring a horde over to see you. You were lucky you havent touched her yet, but if you idently touched her, she wouldve been straddling you and rocking her hips on top of you by the time I was back!!!


    Id never seen Irina so angry before. I was startled to the point that I couldnt speak. She irritably paced back and forth. She appeared to want to continue thundering at me but surrendered to her rationality, thereby stopping herself. She took in another deep breath and then turned back to me. She looked as though she was forcibly suppressing her anger. She eximed, King Troy, I must repeat myself: while we allow you to freely move about in the house, it does not mean you cane into contact with any dragon as you please. Please do not touch a dragon! You are mine! I do not want to share you with anybody, do you understand?!


    There was something different to Irinas rage. It wasnt just the anger of me potentially touching another dragon but more so because I interacted with another dragon. I suddenly realised that, though Irina was a dragon, dragons werent particrly jealous creatures. Having said that, she grew up in the elvennds. As J said, their hometown was the elven forests; hence, they possessed the intense jealous nature of elves.


    Understood.


    I genuinely understood elves and their jealousy.


    I hope you do. Do not open the door if somebody knocks in the future. Do note into contact with any dragons. They are the same as me. If you touch them, they will feel aroused! They will not take care of you as I do. From their perspectives, you are merely a tool for them to relieve themselves!


    <strong>Glossary</strong>


    *Lingzhi mushroom is also known as Reishi Mushroom. I opted for Lingzhi for the sake of the series being a Chinese one.


    **When Irina raged at Troy, she dropped the formalnguage, hence the use of contractions in her speech.