This was clearly Ligeia's work, and the title sounded quite interesting.
I wondered what the content was like.
Since Ligeia had gone downstairs to see Nara off, I decided to take this time to look through the book.
There really weren't many entertainment options in this world, especially at night. My position limited what I could do, so reading became my primary form of leisure.
I flipped to the first page, and the opening entry was fascinating.
【Almost all dragons on the continent are branches of the same dragon species. According to dragon blood data collected over many years, through various experiments and tracing, they can all be traced back to a single ancestor.】
As I casually flipped through the records, it started with a short story about a dragon and a fox-kin girl who went from falling in love to getting married and eventually living a shameless, happy life together.
The story described many personality traits of dragons.
They loved shiny things and almost never refused the advances of any race.
There was another characteristic... once a dragon committed to a marriage partner, they would never have an affair. Even if their partner died, the remaining dragon would usually spend the rest of their life alone, never contacting the opposite sex again.
These two seemingly contradictory traits gathered in one being piqued my interest even more.
I continued reading.
From certain details in the book, it could be inferred that dragons took the matter of 'committing to a marriage partner' very seriously. They would even engage in trial marriages before making a final decision.
These trial marriages could be repeated dozens or even hundreds of times until they found a partner they were satisfied with, at which point they would truly settle down.
This process of trial marriages was the key reason why dragons were often labeled as 'scummy.'
Before committing to a marriage, they didn't even care about race or gender.
However, not many people knew this because the lifespan of a true dragon species was exceptionally long. Even a single casual trial marriage could last the entire lifetime of another race.
Thus, the dragon race was left with a reputation for being 'promiscuous.'
"Is Your Highness interested in dragons?"
Just as I was about to continue reading, Ligeia's voice reached my ears.
I put the book down and looked up. Ligeia was already sitting across from me again at some point. She was performing that tedious tea ceremony once more before pushing a cup toward me.
"Yes. I think they could be used as a fighting force. If I could have my knights ride dragons into battle, their combat power would surely be much greater."
I expected Ligeia to look at me like I was insane, but her reaction surprised me.
"You think so too?"
Ligeia seemed to gain interest the moment I said that.
"I actually feel the same way. Dragons are a race that can coexist with humans because they don't hold much prejudice against any other race. However, taming one is incredibly difficult. We could try with a sub-dragon, though."
Her words piqued my interest, and I quickly followed up.
"Then which branch do you think would be more suitable?"
Ligeia smiled slightly and made a grasping motion in the air. A heavy book from a nearby shelf drifted over and landed in front of me.
With a wave of her hand, the book flipped open rapidly, the pages fluttering until it stopped on an illustration.
"Please look, Your Highness. This is a small-type flying dragon species. Its maximum wingspan is only about ten meters, its length from head to tail is about five meters, it stands about two and a half meters tall, and it weighs roughly five tons."
I picked up the book and examined it closely. It seemed to be an encyclopedia of dragon races.
The page displayed a magic portrait of this dragon's appearance, with approximate physical data below and the name of the species at the top.
'Small-type dragon species—skysoar dragon.'
The image was in color, making it easy to see that it was a type of wyvern.
The size of this dragon was vastly different from the giant dragons one usually imagined, but its physical characteristics were very similar.
However, unlike those giant dragons, this skysoar dragon looked slightly bloated.
It had a large, round head and a chubby body. Its limbs made it look somewhat clumsily cute.
Its massive eyes occupied nearly a third of its head, and it had two white horns on top.
Its limbs were short and thick, and its body appeared somewhat fat, lacking that characteristic streamlined physique.
Overall, it felt like a chibi version of a giant dragon.
"This... why is it a bit different from the dragons I imagined?"
I had initially imagined each of my knights riding a dragon, wiping out enemies with a single breath of dragon fire.
Wouldn't that be much easier?
"Your Highness, this is a small-type flying dragon species. If you want those giant or large-type dragon species, I advise you not to think too much about it."
"Why?"
I couldn't help but ask. I didn't hold back, as the dynamic between us had completely changed.
Before, it was a conversation between a guest and a host.
Now, it was an exchange between a ruler and a subordinate.
"Your Highness, putting aside the food consumption of those giant and large-type dragon species, their growth period alone is something an average human cannot endure. The maturity period for a large or giant dragon is often over two hundred years. For a true dragon species, it takes five hundred to eight hundred years."
Ligeia was now analyzing the pros and cons from my perspective, having fully stepped into the role of a subordinate.
And I, naturally, had to be a ruler who could listen to advice.
I listened intently to her first piece of counsel.
"Furthermore, these giant and large-type dragons are rarely social. Most are solitary or live in pairs. They are difficult to capture, difficult to raise, and generally possess very high intelligence. Their bloodline carries a characteristic pride, making them essentially impossible to tame."
Ligeia pointed to the skysoar dragon in the book.
"But small-type dragon species are different. Their intelligence generally ranges between that of an eight to twelve-year-old human. They are smarter than dogs but won't exceed a human's intellect. They are more likely to accept favors from other races and are mostly social. A single capture can satisfy the needs of hundreds of knights."
"They are easy to domesticate, low maintenance, and easy to capture, while still possessing some of the abilities of giant and large-type dragons."
Feeling a bit thirsty, Ligeia took a sip of tea and continued.
"For example, the dragon breath of this skysoar dragon can melt steel. Once they breathe fire in a group, even giant dragons have to avoid them."
"Moreover, they reproduce quickly, with about three to five offspring per litter. They can reach maturity and participate in war in about ten years."
"If this species is so good... why don't other nations capture them?"
This was the most confusing part to me. If it was such a great unit, why didn't other races use them?
"Well..."
Ligeia's smile turned slightly awkward.
"In truth, even for a species like this, controlling them is no easy task. Furthermore... the true dragon species generally do not allow dragons to become mounts, even if they are just branch species."
"Then what about the wyvern knights of the Kingdom of Sand?"
"Those wyverns can no longer truly be called a dragon species. They are merely beasts with a trace of true dragon blood. They are generally not accepted by the true dragon species, so the true dragons don't care if they are captured and ridden."
"In other words... it's almost impossible to have a real dragon cavalry?"
Ligeia scratched the bridge of her nose awkwardly and suddenly blurted out.
"That's not necessarily true. I think... if it's Your Highness, it should be no problem."
"What do you mean? Why would it be no problem for me?"
"Well... dragons, as you know, are very proud. But as a Saintess favored by God, if you wanted to... you know, with a dragon... I think even a true dragon species would agree."
Good grief!
I wanted dragon riders! Not 'dragon-riding' as in... well, you know! Especially not a 'dragon-riding' Saintess!
Ligeia saw the Saintess's expression turning increasingly grim and realized she had misspoken.
But she couldn't help it!
She rarely interacted with outsiders.
Wasn't it normal for her to be bad at talking?
"Um... Your Highness, it's actually fine. After all, it's a true dragon. You wouldn't be losing out!"
Losing out my foot!
You're the one who wouldn't be losing out, right!?
I could see it clearly—you just want to offer me up so you can drag a dragon back for your research!
Why did I keep meeting these mentally unstable people?
Lola with her mind-reading.
Hilda with her blind faith.
Cain who carried water for pretty widows.
Sake the tauren who was obsessed with castration.
And now Ligeia, whose eyes were full of fanatical desire to trade me for a dragon.
I suddenly realized I was surrounded by a bunch of lunatics.
Did all capable people have these tendencies?
Or was it a case of birds of a feather flocking together, and I was also one of those lunatics?
I was truly at a loss.
"Enough. Don't even think about it. At least for now, I have no intention of entering a marriage alliance with a dragon."
"Oh..."
Damn it!
Could you at least try not to let the disappointment show so clearly on your face?
She might as well have written 'I'm so disappointed I couldn't trade the Saintess's body for a dragon' on her forehead.
If I hadn't spoken up, you really would have planned to trade my chastity for a dragon!
I suddenly wondered... did I pick the wrong person?
Hm?
Wait.
"Ligeia, your ears..."
I stared at Ligeia in surprise. Her ears had been hidden under her large mage hat earlier, making them hard to see. But now that I was focusing on her as she spoke, I noticed... her ears seemed much longer than a normal human's.
"Didn't Your Highness know?"
Ligeia seemed equally surprised. Then, with a bright smile, she took off her mage hat.
She revealed a pair of distinctive, pointed ears.
"Your Highness, let me reintroduce myself. Ligeia Astaria, an ancient elf—a special branch of the elf race. I specialize in botany and zoology, while also working as a mage. I look forward to your guidance in the future!"
She gave me a playful wink.
She was actually an elf?
And a special branch at that?
"Ligeia, since we've come this far, I assume you've agreed."
As I spoke, I stood up and drew the Sword of Fidelity from my storage space.
"You should know the process."
Ligeia's brow furrowed, and she stood up as well.
"Your Highness, you said your true desire was to live freely and in peace. Does... what you said before still stand?"
"Which part? I said a lot."
"Treating all people in the world as equals."
"That is impossible."
Ligeia was stunned for a moment, but then she broke into a natural, easy smile.
"Indeed, it is impossible..."
There was a hint of bitterness in her smile.
"However, I will do my best to ensure that the majority of people are equal. This is what I want to do, and what must be done next."
"Does Your Highness mean... you intend to abolish slavery?"
"Not yet."
I looked at Ligeia seriously. This was the final moment, the final exchange. If she passed, she would become one of my right-hand women.
If she didn't, she would likely withdraw from the Kingdom of the Moon tomorrow.
"Not... yet?"
Ligeia lowered her head, murmuring those words to herself. Her eyes gradually cleared, and a hint of hope appeared in her gaze as she looked up at me.
Suddenly, she dropped to one knee.
"I—Ligeia Astaria, offer my loyalty to Luo Li Saint Sariel. I swear by the honor of the elves that as long as she does not abandon her ideals, I shall never leave her side!"
The Sword of Fidelity came to rest on Ligeia's shoulder.
Her loyalty came with conditions?
Ideals?
With conditions, it meant she could never fully belong to me.
But... whatever!
As long as I kept moving toward this goal, she would surely keep her oath.
【Would you like to query the attribute interface of the elf, Ligeia Astaria?】
I clicked 【yes】.
The familiar interface expanded before my eyes once more.
【Name: Ligeia Astaria】
【Level: 58 (60%)】
【Race: Ancient elf - special branch】
【Gender: Female】
【Age: 473 (Adult).】
【Class: scholar, mage, nature listener, alchemist.】
【Title: None.】
【Attributes:
Strength: 273
Agility: 288
Endurance: 925
Recovery: 442
Mana: 1867
Free Attribute Points: None】
No way!
She was already over four hundred years old?
And these attributes... they seemed even stronger than Camilla's. Especially her level—she was a level 58 powerhouse, on the verge of breaking through the level 60 threshold.
Comparing such a powerful person to my own pathetic attributes.
Could I really keep her under control?
As a ruler, I was countless times weaker than my subordinate. Could I really lead her?
That thought flashed through my mind, but in an instant, a surge of momentum rose from within me, crushing the thought to powder!
I was the Saintess of the Moon... the ruler of a nation!
I didn't need to be stronger than my subordinates, nor did I need to be smarter.
I only needed... to control everything!
"Ligeia Astaria, I, Luo Li Saint Sariel, accept your loyalty in the name of the Saintess of the Moon."
Rate on N.U.
