Chapter 8

Did she just say they were going to hunt a dragon? The kind of dragon that makes people drop to their knees and pray rather than run when they see its shadow?

And she planned to go with just the three of them—Viretta, the stranger, and Lanken?

It was a wildly improbable statement, but Viretta had a habit of saying outlandish things. Today was no exception.

"Oh, I see... Hahaha, Viretta really knows how to joke around."

Lanken laughed weakly, hoping she’d tell him it was all just a joke.

But Viretta, as always, was determined to shatter his expectations. She put her hands on her hips with a lively air.

"Come on, Lanken! You know I’m not joking. You, of all people, should know I always speak the truth!"

He knew her well enough to know she was a notorious bluffer. Lanken recalled her nickname, "The Bluffer," and gave her a skeptical look.

"Don’t you have any sense of reality? Why are we suddenly going to hunt a dragon?"

"Miss Viretta intends to prove her resolve to marry the person she loves by hunting a dragon and presenting the proof to her father."

"What?"

Lanken shouted, having never heard anything about Viretta being in love with someone.

It was impossible that Viretta had some secret love interest he didn’t know about. After all, he had been her escort on many trips to meet prospective suitors.

The last time he’d seen her, she had seemed resigned to an arranged marriage with someone her father had chosen.

So this must be... another one of her bluffs. Having known her for so long, Lanken quickly reached the right conclusion.

As he glared at her, Viretta offered a sheepish smile, which was as good as a confession.

Lanken narrowed his eyes.

"Viretta, the engagement is in three days."

"That’s why I left in such a hurry. Once the ceremony happens, there’s no turning back, so I had to summon my courage."

"Forget the courage! Just leave me out of this! I had a nice outfit pressed and even bought new shoes for your engagement!"

"Oh, how touching."

"Don’t be touched! I’m disappointed! You said there’d be raspberry tarts! I was looking forward to them, and then you ran off right before the engagement!"

"Oh, Lanken, you think I’d forget? I brought a raspberry tart just for you, so don’t worry."

Viretta dug through her bag and pulled out a piece of raspberry tart.

Lanken, looking like he might cry, took a bite. The sweet and tart flavors of the sugared raspberries were just as delicious as he’d hoped.

"Thanks, but no thanks! I wanted to eat this at the engagement!"

If she was thoughtful enough to pack his favorite treat for their runaway journey, couldn’t she have just stayed put for the engagement? Her kindness felt bittersweet.

"You’ll have two chances to eat at engagements now! Twice is better than once, right?"

"Your optimism and quick thinking are really something."

"I don’t need that kind of positivity! And by the way, who are you?"

"Ah, I apologize for the delay in introductions. I’m Iola, son of Jin. I’m Viretta’s fiancé."

"Her fiancé? …Wait, her fiancé? So you’re from that huge mercenary family…?"

The mention of the word "fiancé" left Lanken’s tongue twisted in shock.

"That’s correct."

As Viretta’s fiancé, he was supposedly the nephew of some renowned leader from a powerful foreign mercenary family. He had even studied at the Royal National Academy.

In terms of status and wealth, he was leagues apart from Lanken. Stammering, Lanken switched to formal language.

"Ah, pleased to meet you. I’m Lanken, a mercenary hired by the Medleridge family. I’m hardly worth mentioning compared to your family."

"I’ve heard about you already from Miss Viretta. She speaks of you as her loyal knight, ready to join her on the perilous journey to slay a dragon."

"No, that’s not right."

His blunt correction slipped out even before he could think. Lanken had to pause and reflect on his rudeness as he studied the young man’s bright expression.

"Excuse me, but you’re fluent in our language, right?"

"Of course. I could even write a doctoral thesis in Phillion."

"And you understand that Viretta’s trying to call off the engagement?"

"Yes, absolutely!"

The cheerful response felt like a slap in Lanken’s face, bringing him to a bleak realization.

Could this guy also be… out of his mind?

He scrutinized Iola, hoping he might find some semblance of sanity hidden there.

"Do you have someone you’re in love with?"

"No."

"Anyone you’re not in love with but don’t want to marry?"

"No."

Many people want to break off unwanted engagements. Iola could be one of those people.

But if that were the case, why hadn’t they mutually agreed to break up instead of running off together? Did he have his own reasons for this crazy scheme?

Lanken prayed that Iola wasn’t another lunatic as he threw in some questions to get to the bottom of it.

"Then is there someone you’d like to date?"

"No. Honestly, I’ve been too focused on my studies to even consider dating."

Iola smiled shyly, but Lanken wasn’t in the mood to find it endearing. He squinted at Iola.

"Do you have a mysterious backstory?"

"No."

"Are you caught up in some power struggle or inheritance dispute?"

"No."

"Maybe you find the Medleridges too lowly as a merchant family?"

"Absolutely not. That’s an insulting question, but I understand where it comes from."

"Then what is it about our young lady that makes you want to break off the engagement? She’s got money, looks, she’s cheerful and positive, adaptable—okay, maybe she’s not perfect, but what more could you want?"

Lanken’s voice rose as his anger flared at Iola’s desire to break off the engagement.

This wasn’t just about indulging in Viretta’s absurd scheme to escape. It was about Viretta herself.

Sure, she had flaws. She was a notorious bluffer and impulsively acted on those bluffs.

But she was full of life and not at all naïve. At least, she wasn’t someone who would be dismissed at first sight.

Lanken, who’d known Viretta for a long time, looked at Iola with a hostile gaze. Viretta, with her cheeks flushed, seemed moved as she put her hand over her heart, and Iola smiled innocently, forming a gentle arc with his lips.

"Miss Viretta is truly remarkable. She possesses indomitable courage, resolve, and decisive judgment."

"Iola…"

Viretta’s admiration now included Iola. But to Lanken, Iola’s praise sounded shallow. He hardened his tone.

"Then what’s the reason?"

"I can’t marry someone who’s willing to risk their life hunting a dragon for the one they truly love."

"…That’s all?"

Lanken paused before repeating his question. Iola’s smile remained steady and unflinching.

Even in the deepening night, his declaration was filled with the radiance of midday sunlight.

"Yes. What more reason could there be?"

In other words, ‘No reason’ or ‘It’s all nonsense.’

Lanken nodded slowly, filled with certainty.

"Alright, I’ve heard enough. Let’s go back and just do the engagement. Viretta, pack up and turn around!"

"No way!"

Viretta grabbed Lanken, spinning him back around before he could retrace their steps. Facing him directly, she spoke in a soft, persuasive tone.

"Lanken, we’re not going back today. We’re going to hunt a dragon. Got it? We’re. Going. To. Hunt. A. Dragon."

"But why?!"

"So I can marry the person I truly love, of course."

"But why?! A few days ago, you—mmmph! Mmmp!"

Viretta swiftly reached out and clamped a hand over his mouth before he could finish. She launched into a speech loud enough to reach the group of merchants sleeping nearby.

"I was who I was a few days ago, and I am who I am today! People can change overnight! Iola has put his complete faith in me, and I can’t let him down now!"

What utter nonsense! Lanken struggled in silence against her hand.

He didn’t know where this talk of a "beloved" had come from, but it was clear that Viretta was steadfast in refusing to let go of her bluff.