His whisper was cunning. Her husband had already gambled the lives of all Anschar people for a contract with the ‘Shadow’. A ‘new contract’ suggesting a lenient change in payment would require offering the dragon something comparable to tens of thousands of lives.

But all she owned was her body, a few coins, and tattered clothes.

“But, I have… nothing to offer you. Really….”

[Well.]

“Then tell me what you want from me. Anything, I’ll do whatever I can to ensure the first contract is fulfilled….”

The dragon’s lips twitched. Even that small movement made Adel feel as if he was laughing. Naive Adel, he seemed to say, almost wiping the tears at the corner of her eyes.

[Your husband’s soul is asleep until the contract is fulfilled, so I can’t return it now. And what you’ve offered can hardly be considered a price. Do you think I need the help of a mere human?]

“Then, what kind of… price….”

[Naturally, you should be prepared to wager everything, Adelheit.]

Valentin’s extended index finger gently supported Adel’s chin.

[Your life or the lives of hundreds of thousands in three hundred years to satisfy my hunger. Either is acceptable to me.] Ah. Her mouth was filled with a despairing moan. If she made a contract with the monster, her soul would never reach Morrig’s paradise.

But if she refused here, all the people of Anschar would face a terrible doom all at once.

Like the tragedy of Nassau…

A hollow laugh filled her lungs. It seemed like he was giving her a choice, but in the end, there was only one. Adel barely clenched her trembling fists. She had wanted to flee many times, but whatever choice she made, she knew it would only lead to regret.

Then, perhaps.

“I’ll, I’ll make a contract.”

Adel closed her eyes and said.

“I don’t know what you want as a price, but I…”

[Eventually, it will be you who will desire it.]

“….”

[So please, command with ease, Adel.]

Suddenly close lips whispered gently in her ear.

[To your dragon.]

Poor, lovely Adelheit. You should have listened to your nanny’s voice.

The dragon of Bichlerben is cunning, vicious, and… what else was it?

Ah.

Adel woke up with a short moan. Bright sunlight was streaming all over her face. Someone must have forgotten to close the curtains. It seemed like the day had warmed up, as the sunlight was unusually strong for early winter. She moaned contentedly in her mouth and buried her face in the pillow.

Her cheeks were warm, perhaps from sleeping in. She should have gotten up and moved around by now, but she was too tired last night, and her body refused to cooperate. Just five more minutes…

‘Wait, last night?’

Her flowing thoughts abruptly stopped. Adel’s eyes, heavy with sleep, flickered open. As she recalled last night, the sleepiness washed away as if she had been splashed with cold water.

Right. Last night.

She might have… met the dragon of Bichlerben. Made a contract and saved the people of Anschar. Even for three hundred years later.

As she thought about it with a clear head in the morning, it felt like she had been terribly tricked. Under the bright sunlight, everything seemed false.

‘Could it be…’