Chapter 39: Can You Let Me…

Location: [Dungeon], [Candle], [Shackles], [Convent]…

Type: [Coercion], [Imprisonment], [Interspecies], [Taboo]…

In a scene clearly ominous from its keywords, the [woman] and the [boy] locked gazes, then slowly drew closer amid flickering light and shadow.

Snap.

The woman seized the boy’s… collar and asked in a low voice: “What are you doing?”

“What? Didn’t I already say? I came to sleep with you… What, not welcome?”

“What do you really want?”

“Afraid the night’s too dark, afraid you’re too lonely—so I came to keep you company. How good am I?”

In response, the boy, pinned by his collar, shrugged helplessly, claiming he was merely here as jailer to patrol prisoners at night.

Emphasizing three essential companionships!

Companionship in eating, drinking, and chatting.

Whether or not to accompany in sleep? That’s another price.

Of course.

No one believed Herbert’s nonsense—not even he thought it could fool Miss Hungry Dragon.

“Hmm?”

Valentina narrowed her eyes, let out a hum, and released the shameless paladin.

She leaned against the railing, cautiously observing the white-haired boy who casually leaned beside her, scanning him up and down.

Though not particularly clever, as a hatchling cast out by her parents in early youth, she had survived this long for good reason.

Purely through sheer toughness—cough!

Wrong.

Valentina relied entirely on her bloodline’s innate instinct: to avoid danger and seize advantage!

Run if danger is lethal; charge if it isn’t.

Her motto: “If you can’t kill me, I’ll kill you!”

But this instinct wasn’t always reliable—it sometimes misjudged.

For instance, when she first encountered the Mist Grand Archbishop, she felt no lethal threat.

She thought he was just another old man, and after chasing him away several times, she grew angry and intended to blast him into a dead old man with her dragon breath.

Then… she got beaten.

Before true power, Valentina had no chance to fight back—she became nothing but a punching bag.

Of course, it’s hard to say her instinct was wrong—after all, she didn’t die.

The Mist Grand Archbishop had no intent to kill; her injuries were painful but not incurable.

Poor Miss Hungry Dragon, after being thrashed, was thrown into an alien prison to serve as a doorstop.

Regardless of the process, tell me: was her instinct accurate?

I ask you: did you live?

You lived.

But sometimes, living is harder than dying!

Locked in an alien prison, you can’t even die if you want to, can’t even eat.

The only things left to do were sleeping and honing your own abilities.

Though confined in this dark, sunless cell, Valentina appeared to give up—but in truth, she continuously strengthened herself.

One reason: to avoid future mistakes. Another: because there was nothing else to do.

The day Valentina initiated conversation with Herbert was because she had a strange premonition—speaking to him might bring a new turn.

And now… Miss Hungry Dragon smelled deception on Herbert!

Something’s off. There’s definitely a trick.

This guy is hiding something from me again!

“So, what’s the truth? What do you really want to tell me?”

Valentina stared hard at Herbert, meeting his gaze with unyielding glare even when he turned to look back.

Hah!

You must spit out the truth today!

Seeing her persistence, Herbert knew he couldn’t hide it anymore. He sighed helplessly and shook his head: “Tsk… That’s why I hate intuitive brats.”

“Fine. Since you insist, I’ll tell you.”

He solemnly reiterated:

“Let me be clear: you forced me to say this—don’t blame me later.”

“I was going to wait for a better moment to bring it up…”

Hm?

Seeing his expression, Valentina suddenly felt a terrible premonition.

No…

“Wait! Wait a minute!”

“No waiting~”

Herbert turned, seized her hand as she tried to pull it back.

!!

“Valentina, since the day we met, there’s been something I’ve wanted to tell you…”

The handsome boy gazed at her with his pale gray eyes, a flicker of embarrassment passing through them—then resolved into firmness.

“I don’t know if this request will offend, but I can’t bear to endure this alone any longer.”

Valentina: ???

What… are you going to do?

At this moment, Valentina could still yank her hand away—but doing so would hurt Herbert, and that gave her a moment’s hesitation.

But she didn’t know.

In a master’s duel, that instant of hesitation is the moment of defeat—

Herbert drew a deep breath, clasped her slender hand tightly, preventing escape, and said seriously:

“Though ill-timed, I sincerely hope you’ll accept this bold request.”

“You…”

In that instant, time slowed in Valentina’s eyes. She clearly heard the pounding in her chest.

Thump! Thump!

Valentina, who had lived a solitary life, never close to men, had never faced such a situation.

She stared into those captivating eyes, felt the warmth of his grip, and sensed the scent that had always tempted her—her entire dragon mind went blank.

“Uhh, uhhh, you, uh…”

Not only could she not answer—her mind was empty. Her centuries-honed instinct was useless.

Nothing came to mind. Only a chaotic, mushy fog filled her thoughts.

What did he want to say?

Is he asking me out?

Ugh!

Should I say yes?

We’re not even that familiar, are we?

We’re not, right!?

I, I, I… No!

Though the situation was unusual, though Valentina wasn’t smart, though the guy was undeniably handsome!

She wasn’t naive enough to surrender her body over a few sweet words.

She wasn’t that foolish.

After all, their emotional foundation was far too thin.

Then, just as Valentina resolved to reject Herbert, she heard the rest:

“You… could you let me… touch your tail?”

He said it—she had to refuse him now!

“Well, you’re handsome, and you smell nice, but we can’t yet—huh?”

Huh?

Huh!!?

(End of Chapter)