LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 65
Chapter 65: The Use of the Dragon Girl
Leila’s life was intertwined with darkness.
She hatched from her eggshell in a dim cave. Unusually for a White Dragon, Leila was born in the hatchery beneath the Demon Lord’s Castle.
For a White Dragon, shining with the light attribute, exposure to sunlight during incubation generally led to strong and intelligent offspring. They were less reliant on the hatchery compared to other dragons.
However, to entrust a brighter future to the White Dragons, her father Faravgi struggled to secure a space closer to the heart of the hatchery to obtain a stronger child.
“Look! A cute little one. Those eyes look just like yours.”
“Hahaha, those shimmering scales are just like yours!”
She was raised with love from her father and mother. Though she only vaguely remembered her time as a hatchling—when she couldn’t even fly—it was filled with happiness.
But as relations with the Dark Dragons worsened, the clouds began to gather.
Negotiations with the Demon Lord were handled by the Dark Dragons, who were well-suited to those dark dealings. White Dragons, known to have a poor relationship with Dark Dragons, often drew the short straw.
Missions on dangerous frontlines, allocation of food and hunting grounds, priority in treating the wounded—bit by bit, over hundreds of years, frustrations had built up.
Then one day, it finally broke. Perhaps that was exactly what the Dark Dragons had been aiming for.
Faravgi’s faction went to protest at the Dark Dragons, aiming for Orphen’s head, leading to an assassination attempt—at least, that’s what Leila had been told.
It turned into a fierce battle with breath attacks flying everywhere. She was shown the corpses of White Dragons, including her mother. Others, including her father, fled, leaving Leila behind.
That’s what she had been told.
“Normally, I would kill you too, but…”
Orphen and the Dark Dragons surrounded Leila, looking down at her.
“Even for a White Dragon, it’s merciless to harm a young girl. As a special exception, we’ll let you live.”
However, life among the Dark Dragons was harsh and painful. Without reason, she was bitten or struck with tails; it was constantly terrifying and painful.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
No matter how much pain she endured, all Leila could do was plead for mercy…
But after she learned the transformation magic and was forced to remain in human form, such violence became a thing of the past.
Her human body was too fragile; being struck or bitten by a dragon could easily kill her. No matter how cruel they were, the Dark Dragons never intended to kill Leila.
However, after the White Dragons formed an alliance and attacked the Demon Lord’s Castle, Leila’s situation worsened. Bullied, insulted, and worked like a servant, she somehow managed to survive until today…
But it seems that life is finally coming to an end.
“Leila, your father has died.”
“Huh…”
When Orphen finally revealed himself, he opened with those words.
“He was hiding within the Demon Lord’s territory. Then, he, of all things, attacked the Demon Prince and caused harm. He was then countered and met his end…”
Leila collapsed, her knees giving way. In the ceaseless darkness surrounding her, she had at least hoped her father might come to her rescue. That dream, that sliver of hope—
“The attacked prince is extremely furious. Because of your father—because of the White Dragon, our position as Dragons has worsened.”
Orphen’s hand gripped her shoulder so tightly it felt like his claws were digging in.
“You really are nothing but a harbinger of disaster. But Leila, it’s a good thing I kept you alive despite your incompetence and uselessness.”
His icy gaze pierced through Leila.
“I’ve decided to offer you to the prince. You can atone for your father’s sins with your own body.”
†††
“Uu…sniff…”
Leila was sobbing on the floor but was slowly becoming quieter, as Liliana worriedly stayed close to her.
“…For now…”
I felt like I had swallowed lead, and forcing my sluggish brain to work, I opened my mouth.
“I want to talk with her. Can everyone else but Liliana please leave the room?”
“Eh, but, master… is that safe?”
Garunya objected.
“Well… she’s technically a dragon…”
Leila didn’t look like she’d cause any trouble—nor did she seem to have the guts to do so—glancing worriedly at her.
“Ah, it seems Garunya hasn’t heard,” I said, gesturing to the metallic black collar around Leila’s neck.
“It’s a dwarven-made collar. If the transformation magic is undone without removing it, it’ll choke her to death. The key is currently with Sophia.”
Apparently, Leila had been forced to remain in human form this whole time. They’d even put this keyed collar on her.
Generally, anything worn would stay on during transformation. Clothes would rip apart the instant the magic was undone unless removed.
Conversely, if the jewelry had sufficient strength not to break under dragon form—and was sized for a human—undoing the magic would crush her body.
That collar fit Leila’s slender neck perfectly. If she were to undo the transformation magic just like that, what would happen? I didn’t even want to imagine.
“So, there’s no safety issue here.”
I said with a sigh.
Well, even without the collar, I couldn’t see this kid actually doing anything like that…
If her current, utterly hopeless demeanor was an act to catch me off guard, she was quite the performer…
It seemed Garunya had accepted this, and in accordance with my request, everyone left the room except for me, Liliana, and the lifeless-eyed Leila. I promptly set up a soundproof barrier.
“Oh, planning something shady? If you kill the father and then have his daughter as your… well, that sounds like quite the power move.”
Ante… seriously…
Even if you’re joking, you need to think about the time and place…
I let out a deep sigh—Leila jumped at the sound, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you—and got up to grab a spare cup from the shelf.
“It’s hard to talk like this. You can sit down too.”
Leila probably didn’t want to sit so close to me, so I moved to the edge of the sofa and indicated to the other side.
Reluctantly, Leila sat as told. She didn’t want to get too close, yet seemed afraid to disagree.
The distance was just enough that I could almost reach her shoulder if I stretched.
Pouring some herbal tea into the spare cup from the pot on the table.
If I were in her place… what would I think?
“…You probably don’t want to speak with your father’s murderer. But I’d appreciate it if you could hear me out a bit.”
Leila flinched again.
“That’s not true! I’m honored to be able to speak with you, your highness…”
With her red, puffy eyes from crying, she forced a smile that was painful to witness.
I won’t apologize for killing Faravgi.
How would it feel if that green bastard said, “I killed your father, sorry,” and bowed his head?
If he truly felt guilty, he should just die right there, that jerk.
Apologies only matter when there’s a way to make things right.
Even if I apologize here, Leila would have no choice but to accept it due to her position. Regardless of how she truly felt, the mere fact that she accepted my apology would only add to her suffering.
Therefore, as her bitter enemy—I figured it would be better to boldly act unrepentant.
“First, I want to clarify that I don’t mean to hold you or the Dragon Kind responsible for your father’s deeds.”
While sipping my tea, I stated.
“While it is true that I had a confrontation with Faravgi… if we consider his attack on me a crime, his death has already settled that.”
Leila stayed silent, staring intently at the steaming cup.
“Of course, as a prince of the Demon Race, it may be wise to leverage this incident to pressure the Dragon Kind. However, that balance shifted once Orphen offered you up.”
I made sure to maintain a serious face, but here I allowed my dissatisfaction to surface.
“It’s quite upsetting, really… it seems that Orphen thought of me as a twisted, bloodthirsty monster.”
Huh, is that not so? Leila looked at me, wide-eyed.
This was simple agony.
“Well, it can’t be helped since I have Liliana close by…”
Liliana, who had been sitting quietly, then started playfully nudging me as if to say, “Did you call?”
“Leila, do you know about the conflict between the Forest Elves and Night Elves?”
“Eh… um, yes… to some extent…”
“Liliana had been held captive by the Night Elves. They removed her limbs, chained her, and tortured her for seven long years.”
“…”
Leila, while being petted on my lap by a content Liliana, stared at her as though she were seeing something unbelievable.
“I couldn’t bear to see her suffering. So, I decided to…”
What should I say?
“…rewrite her personality into that of a dog and kept her under my control, making her my pet. It was the worst of two choices—either become a dog or face continuous torture… but at least she chose that…”
Liliana was licking my hand and rubbing her face against my stomach—she looked happy at this moment.
“I considered giving her her limbs back, but due to the Night Elves’ objections and the need to surgically remove the devices fused to her limbs, that hasn’t happened.”
I glanced at Leila hesitantly.
“…So, I want to assure you that I don’t have a hobby of cutting off the limbs of daughters from other races and treating them as pets. You can rest easy regarding that!”
“Y-yes…”
Leila seemed to nod in accord, absorbed in the ambiance of my desperate plea.
“So, taking that into account, I want to discuss your future treatment.”
With a gulp, Leila tightly clasped her hands in her lap.
“…Before that, I have one question, or rather, an earnest request.”
“Eh, um. If I can do anything, please let me know…”
With a forced, strained smile, Leila faced me, and I got straight to the point.
“If possible, could you teach me the transformation magic?”
“Heh?”
Leila looked at me like I was crazy.