Chapter 65 - The Dragons' Dilemma
"You went to Nidroga's room?"
Bilena blinked rapidly, flustered. Monica had only relayed what she knew, but now she wondered if she should have been a bit more discreet.
"Well, we were all worried, so we each stopped by once or twice. Tan couldn't exactly slip away without us noticing."
"If it was just checking in, there's no reason he'd vanish for this long."
Something caught Monica's eye, and she quickly lowered then raised her gaze. Bilena's thumbnail was ragged, bitten down until blood beaded.
"Um, Bilena. Is your hand okay? Let me see—"
Flustered, Bilena hid the mangled hand behind her back. Monica realized she needed to tread much more carefully than she'd thought.
"Bilena, I'm sure it's nothing. No need to worry so much—"
"What I'm saying is, the check-in just dragged on a bit. What's the big deal?"
Esen yawned widely, acting like it was no issue at all.
"Check-ins can lead to... advancing things further."
"...Ah."
"But the porter's not the type to wander off without a word. You didn't hear anything?"
Bilena, who'd barely composed herself, froze at that.
"He told you two. Got it."
Esen glanced indifferently at Monica, her eyes asking what she'd done wrong. Monica sighed.
Esen scratched her head for a while before blurting out,
"I get what you're thinking, but that's pathetic, idiot. No one's reporting their every move to everyone. Just tell a few people you run into. That's plenty."
"Right. Yeah, no reason to tell me where he's headed."
"If you wanna get closer, talk to him more. Easy fix."
Bilena, arms crossed and fidgeting anxiously, finally nodded in acceptance. But as she turned to leave, she started gnawing her nail again.
"Did you see her red, puffy eyes, sis?"
"I did. Does Bilena have a habit of biting her nails like that?"
"Not to the point where her thumb looks like rags during party life, at least."
Monica looked at Esen with a troubled expression. Esen seemed to grasp the situation now too.
"She's in deep shit."
"Yeah."
Ramping up stimulation from the start isn't wise. Not just for long-lived dragons, but humans too. I might've carelessly planted an unforgettable pleasure in Nidroga's longevity without deep thought or responsibility.
The massive door hid a secret. Like a pet door for a pampered animal, there was a hidden entrance sized for humans.
Nidroga yanked it open and dragged me in. Her face was as red as her hair—cute—but her grip, laced with desperate thirst, hurt.
I was pulled in like a doll. Only after our arms intertwined in a tight embrace did she notice the bruise on my arm and jolt in surprise.
"Ah, did that hurt?"
"A little."
Better to be honest, not knowing what might happen next. She wasn't the Nidroga who'd once toyed with my strength at whim.
Nidroga nodded. Then she took my hand more gently and led me.
"Is that pajamas? Cute."
"Uh, just old clothes from when I was a kid. Came home after ages, nothing else to wear..."
"Never pegged you for pink furry pajamas. Those slippers—bear or dog?"
"Ugh..."
We walked along the dungeon-like room's walls, scaled to dragon size, until a human-sized door appeared.
Nidroga swallowed hard. Then she flung the door open.
"This is... your room?"
"...Problem?"
"No. Just... first time for this."
"Ho, that's music to my ears."
A girl's room. Had I ever been invited to one? I'd visited Bilena's bizarre, unlivable workshop—technically a lab—but this?
No draconic majesty here. Just a well-decorated noble lady's boudoir. From the ornate silver mirror on the dainty vanity to the bed draped in lacy canopy.
Cuteness inversely proportional to her sturdy party presence.
Nidroga sat rigidly on the bed. I hesitated, aiming for the vanity chair, but she tugged my arm, seating me beside her.
Clear likes and dislikes—nice. Felt solidly led.
"...We're sitting on the bed together."
"We are."
Nidroga sighed, wiping her face. Then peeked at me through her fingers.
"Just stay like this a bit. Just a moment."
I didn't check the vanity mirror opposite, but my face was probably flushed too. After that night, this setup? Felt like deliberate teasing.
The bed suddenly screamed symbolism.
"Uh, Nidroga. About that day—"
"Actually, I want to speak first. Okay? If you go first, I'll panic and forget my words."
"Sure, yeah. What's up?"
The intimate space made my dialogue clumsily serious. After all those women, I felt like an idiot fumbling.
Nidroga struggled to steady her ragged breaths, then gave up entirely. No hiding her flushed face.
"Hoo. Um. Truth is, I sensed you approaching from afar with dragon senses. Your firm footsteps, that unique sweat scent—definitely you."
"...Footsteps I get, but sweat smell's embarrassing."
"S-sorry. Normally my senses aren't this sharp. Weird."
Nidroga twisted her slightly damp hair, like fresh from a bath. Impeccable for a recluse.
...Wait.
"So I waited, body all clean."
"Clean...?"
"Honestly, I had some expectations. You?"
"I didn't even—"
"You bathed too. Washed away your scent, made it faint."
I ducked my head, speechless. Nidroga glanced desperately.
"You really expect me to believe you had zero expectations?"
As if. Sure, post-workout showers weren't just for her. But soaking in the tub, lost in thoughts—had her lithe nude from that day never crossed my mind?
Lie. It haunted me from entry to exit.
Apologizing inwardly to Esen and her sister, I gripped Nidroga's wrist. Actions over words.
Like that day, I pressed her down. She beamed at the affirmative.
"...You're a beast, aren't you?"
"Won't deny it."
"Even with multiple lovers, even though that day's me wasn't me, even though I'm a lord's daughter and mighty dragon—you still got excited. Right?"
"Can't argue."
"What'll you do to me?"
Her arms around my waist, bodies pressed, she whispered. Hot breath on my ear. Sweet pressure deepened the ache.
Made me crave the bare skin under her thin nightshirt.
She flipped us; now I felt the bed fully against my back. Not god-provided cushions, but firm, reassuring—no sagging in rough positions. Like Nidroga herself.
"Gonna wreck me like that day?"
"I'd love to, but go easy. You're way stronger now."
She bit her lip, pondering seriously at my casual remark. As I opened my mouth to say it wasn't that grave—
"Then there's one way."
Nidroga undid her hair tie, binding her wrists behind her.
"...What're you doing?"
"Knot that won't come loose, no matter how rough. Custom-made for dragons. If it holds dragon thrashing, it'll hold dragon strength, right?"
"So, tie you up and...?"
No answer. Face redder than seemed possible, she just averted her eyes.
Even as I hooked her thigh with my arm, pushing her back down, she wouldn't meet my gaze.
Like she had plenty to say, but voicing it ruined something.
Bad habits flashed in my mind. Maybe I should've guided her first time more carefully.
Sure, I gave my all beating the succubus queen to save everyone. But still.
Just a hunch for now. Whether Nidroga's first button was truly misaligned, tumbling her into this mess—needs more evidence.
With her lips sealed, ask her body slowly. Mouth might follow.
Night's long, time plenty. I slipped my hand under her soft nightshirt...
Knock knock knock. "May I come in?"
That voice, that timing—we froze.
"What?"
"...No way."
"Brought some fruit. Eat while we talk—"
Ragnarocha, door half-open, covered her mouth in mock surprise. But didn't close it.
"Oh my."
Normally, that "oh my" signals retreat. Parents ignoring the scene to barge in? Rare.
But Ragnarocha did. Lightly covering her mouth in feigned embarrassment, she set the fruit plate on Nidroga's desk.
"Didn't know you were having such an important talk. Sorry."
A chilling, grounded premonition hit. 100% acting.
Nidroga had sensed me post-bath from afar. Natural? And now this.
Nidroga voiced the suspicion I dared not.
"...You knew?"
"What do you mean?"
"...How'd I miss you approaching?"
"Adults have ways. Simple spell."
Her calm, half-lidded eyes twinkled with amusement. Gentle gaze usually reassuring—now unnerving.
Ragnarocha dragged the vanity's low chair, propped her chin on the bed's edge, staring.
"Keep going."
"...Pardon?"
"Don't mind me. Pretend I'm not here."