The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

The next morning, Liszt, with slightly dim undereye circles barely visible, had already packed his luggage.

And he enjoyed a breakfast in his room—a spread of bread, fried eggs, pastries, jam, milk, honey, and coffee.

After Levis and Li Vera had also packed up, the three siblings prepared to bid farewell to the Marquis. The Marquis, having risen early and seated in his wheelchair, was writing something.

“Did you sleep well?” the Marquis stopped writing, lifted his head, and looked at the three tall siblings, “I heard you all enjoyed last night’s ball immensely.”

Levis replied with a smile, “A very comfortable evening, Grandfather. The ball hosted by our cousin was delightful, and we met many nobles and fine ladies, some of whom I was quite taken with.”

“That’s good, while you’re young, follow your heart and take action.”

After a brief chat, the three siblings expressed their desire to depart, and the Marquis did not insist on them staying. Instead, he said to Liszt, “I missed witnessing your coming of age ceremony, so to make up for that regret, I have a gift for you. Meioubao, bring the prepared gift over to Liszt.”

Meioubao quickly entered, carrying a long box.

Seeing the box, Liszt immediately understood and guessed correctly that the Marquis’s gift was indeed what elders most liked to give to their younger relatives—a weapon.

“What kind of magic weapon might it be?” he wondered in eager anticipation.

Meioubao handed over the box, “Liszt, your grandfather is giving you the Crimson Blood Sword, in hopes that you will blaze a trail and shine bright as a knight.”

“The Crimson Blood Sword?”

Liszt opened the box, and instantly, a bright snow-white knight’s two-handed sword caught his eye.

The slender blade, guard, and hilt all came together in an ensemble reminiscent of a German two-handed sword. Where the guard and hilt met, a fiery red gemstone was conspicuously inset. Just by looking, one could feel the magic power emanating from the fiery red gem, circulating endlessly along the blade.

One could even see fine, blood thread-like red traces emerging on the blade’s surface.

No wonder it looked snow-white but was named Crimson Blood Sword.

Most importantly, this wasn’t just a magic weapon, but something even better—a gemstone weapon!

“A ruby?” Li Vera saw the red gemstone at the intersection of guard and hilt, and was immediately shocked, her eyes revealing deep envy and jealousy.

A normal magic weapon would cost around a hundred gold coins.

But a gemstone weapon could be worth thousands of gold coins, ten times that of a magic weapon.

Just this Crimson Blood Sword might be worth several years of tax revenue from a wealthy small town. Her Falcon Town was roughly equal to a small prosperous town, and after scrimping and saving for years, could barely afford a gemstone weapon—but she would never give up her luxurious life, so there was a very high chance she’d never be able to afford one.

With jealousy in her heart, and characteristic straightforwardness, she voiced her thoughts, “Grandfather, you’re playing favorites with Liszt. You only gave me a dress for my coming of age gift.”

“Wasn’t a Little Minor Elf given to you by the lad from Coral Island, and didn’t he also bestow you with the title of Baroness? But Liszt couldn’t enjoy that. Coral Island’s lad can play favorites, but I can’t?” the Marquis spoke as if it were the most natural thing, also revealing his dissatisfaction with Coral Island’s Count.

Liszt, who had scored a bargain, quickly ingratiated himself, “Thank you for the gift, Grandfather. I’ll cherish the Crimson Blood Sword and keep its brilliance untarnished.”

A gemstone weapon, which could immediately be sold for one to two thousand gold coins—how delightful—but of course, he wouldn’t sell it. The ruby inlaid on the Crimson Blood Sword clearly had fiery attributes, which would assist his cultivation much more effectively than using magic potion ingredients.

A Dragon produces nothing but the finest goods.

With the Crimson Blood Sword in tow, Liszt prepared to return home under the watchful eyes of Meioubao and a large group of servants.

His brief stay at Long Taro Castle thus came to an end.

He felt no great reluctance to leave, after all, there were piles of matters waiting for him back in Fresh Flower Town, and no nest was as cozy as one’s own. Just as he was about to board the carriage, someone suddenly called out to him, “Liszt, wait!”

Turning around, he saw Asina.

“Miss Asina, good morning.”

“Good morning.” Asina was a bit out of breath, probably from running over from the castle, “Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

Levis, who had gotten on the carriage but then stepped out again, suddenly chimed in, “If there were a beautiful girl looking forward to my return, I’d rather not go back.”

Liszt turned his head and shot him a glare, “Brother, please get on.”

Levis shrugged, “Miss Asina, you two talk.”

“Thank you, Sir Levis.”

With space left for Liszt and Asina, Asina fidgeted with the hem of her dress, “Won’t you stay a few more days?”

“There are many matters waiting for me to deal with in town.”

“Then will you come to visit White City?” Her eyes were filled with anticipation.

Liszt smiled as he declined, “I’m sorry, but I have no reason to visit your house; I do not know your father, and we have no social ties.”

The interactions between nobles always required an excuse, one could not simply visit without cause.

“You could come to see me,” Asina said, and then lowered her head, the meaning couldn’t be clearer—if a man was unmarried and a woman was unmarried, a visit implied only one kind of relationship.

Liszt sighed inwardly.

Feeling that his next words might hurt this sweet young lady’s heart, but he had to say it, “Miss Asina, I appreciate your affection for me, but, I have never considered the possibility between us. Please, do not dwell on me; someone as beautiful as you will surely have many suitors better than I.”

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

“Thank you, take care,” Liszt spoke, then turned and entered the carriage.

The coachman cracked his whip, and the horses, pulling the carriage, sped down the mountain. On the gravel-paved road, there was no dust, only the sound of the wheels clinking and clattering.

“Liszt, you rejected the overture of a noble young lady with such a cold heart,” Li Vera remarked with a hint of an indefinable emotion, probably doubt over her brother’s character, soft as she thought he was, to be able to turn someone down.

“If there’s no feeling, why should I force myself and harm both parties?”

He looked back through the carriage window and saw Asina still standing at the castle gate, her petite and exquisite figure clad in a dress fluttering in the wind.

She was brave, but he simply couldn’t accept her feelings.

He felt like reflecting on this for a good ten minutes.

But Li Vera’s scoff broke the mood, “Who needs feelings for a noble union?”

“If that’s the case, why don’t you just randomly pick someone with good conditions to marry?”

“Because I do not wish to be a vassal. Even in marriage, it must be he who comes to Falcon Town! Or, they must have the charm to make me give up Falcon Town and move into their castle. If I were to meet such a person, even if I gave my all to them, what would it matter?” Li Vera said proudly.

Liszt chose not to comment.

A few moments later, Li Vera stretched out her hand, “Let me see the Crimson Blood Sword.”

Beholding the masterfully crafted Crimson Blood Sword and the vibrant ruby set in it, Li Vera’s envy was undisguised, “Why is Grandpa so good to you? A gemstone sword, I might never even be able to afford to use in my entire life! Liszt, it’s a waste on you. Give it to me, and I’ll give you a hundred Naldas in return!”

“No deal.”