Evening...
Fafner returned to Holy Dragon Mansion, his mind filled with the image of Mil confessing on Throne Angel Bridge, his emotions difficult to calm for a long time.
So, that's what a man should be like?
Perhaps... he should try it too?
The thought had barely surfaced before Fafner suppressed it.
He couldn't do it! He simply couldn't!
The city bells chimed, echoing through the city of red-tiled roofs and gray walls.
The maid, standing silently behind him, spoke calmly:
"Your Highness, it's time for your prayers."
Arriving at the chapel, a nearly thirty-meter-tall white Holy Dragon statue stood before him. Moonlight streamed through the crystal window in the roof, fanning out in a cone, like a sacred white veil.
Around the statue, white candles of various heights were piled, their warm flames flickering.
Fafner tied up his hair, donned a white holy robe, and knelt on one knee.
He drew the sword from his waist, gently wiped it with silk, and laid it horizontally before him, his eyes slightly closed as he solemnly swore:
"Holy Dragon above, Dragonkin Fafner Platinumwing Stryker, hereby renews his oath: We... are the guardians of the stars, the gravekeepers of myths.
Born from the abyss, flying towards the firmament, with this as our ambition, and that as our warning. We shall serve the light all our lives, never disgracing your holy command. May you rest in peace, may you show us mercy."
After reciting, he meditated for several tens of seconds before slowly opening his eyes.
Fafner prayed twice a day: in the evening to the Holy Dragon here, and in the morning to Ludofen, the God of Light behind him.
The maid helped him remove his holy robe, folded it neatly, and said with a smile:
"Your Highness, you need to work harder. A letter arrived from Saint Dragon Kingdom today. Your brother seems to be performing better than you."
"Hmph... I can't possibly lose to him. Besides, as long as I successfully get engaged to the Saintess, Miss Alice, my brother will have no more leverage to win against me! The entire Dragon race will be saved..."
Fafner said confidently. Beneath his long eyelashes, a pair of bright, watery eyes sparkled.
Late night...
Holy Dragon Mansion in the night, like a sleeping silver beast, moonlight coating its gray-white stone walls with a cold, frosty hue.
The vine carvings glowed with a faint, mossy light in the moonlight, the entire building exuding the solemn aura of ancient nobility.
Mil and Lilith stood outside the mansion, which was as majestic as a castle.
"Can you handle it?"
"Let's try first... If not tonight, we'll have to come tomorrow night."
As she spoke, Lilith gently stroked the rose vines entwined on the black iron fence, her fingertips touching the night dew.
Then she took out three tiny, fingernail-sized diamond shards and dropped them beneath the wall.
After the shards fell, forming a triangular area, a corner of the mansion's magic array was revealed.
Mil was completely confused, as magic was abstract and conceptual, not a structure assembled like machinery.
After about ten minutes, Lilith revealed a confident smile and said:
"It's alright... Not particularly difficult. We will enter the mansion as 'Time' and 'Oath'. You are Oath, remember not to lie."
"Then you are Time?"
"Yes... You cannot stop, and you cannot look back. If we violate the rules, the mansion's magic array will detect us."
Her side profile was steeped in shadow, moonlight sliding down her high-bridged nose, fine silver glinting on her auburn hair tips, her playful gaze shimmering beneath long lashes.
After speaking, Lilith picked up the three diamond shards, giving one red shard to Mil:
"If you violate the rules, the gem will change color. Just correct yourself in time."
"Alright, then I feel at ease."
Mil's lips curved into a confident smile.
After making arrangements, the two climbed over the wall, carefully avoiding the guards, and walked deeper inside.
They swept through the courtyard like night owls. Lilith's silk skirt brushed past the sleeping bluebells on the stone steps, and Mil's long boots crushed dry leaves, the crisp sound startling sparrows on the eaves.
There were some patrolling guards around the wall, but inside the mansion, it was surprisingly empty.
Lilith's fingertips drew a magic array, creating a sound-insulating spell around them, and simultaneously reducing their presence.
Then, she turned to Mil and asked:
"Why do you insist on coming in to find Fafner? What's the point of doing this?"
"To break his perception, ignite his rebellious spirit, then make him follow my lead, obediently practice the evil technique, and improve the quality of his dragon heart!"
Mil said with a mischievous smile, full of confidence. Lilith secretly glanced at the gem in his hand and sighed:
"Is that so... Another task given to you by Demon God's Child?"
"Yes."
"Your stone is about to change color, isn't it?"
Lilith showed a playful smile. Mil looked at his hand and gasped, quickly correcting himself:
"No, I wanted to do this myself... Don't ask me any more questions about Demon God's Child. I won't answer."
After he finished speaking, his expression darkened. Lilith, however, smiled even more strangely:
"Then... In your heart, do you still like Diana?"
"Stop asking, aren't you afraid of getting caught?"
"If you don't answer, at worst, I'll get caught with you!"
Mil frowned, sighed, and said impatiently:
"I've long forgotten her!"
"It's changing color, isn't it?"
Lilith pulled Mil's hand up to her chest. Mil suddenly tensed up and clicked his tongue:
"Tsk... I haven't forgotten, I remember! But I don't like her anymore."
"Hmm?"
The color was still changing...
"Didn't like her that much either..."
"Uh-huh?"
The diamond shard in his hand began to flicker. Mil gritted his teeth and muttered:
"I like her, I like her so damn much, but only because she's good-looking!"
"Hmph... You like everyone who's good-looking?"
"How is that possible?"
"Hmm?"
"Yes, yes, yes... Every beautiful woman makes my heart flutter!"
Mil sighed, only feeling that the woman beside him was terribly insidious.
Lilith, however, suddenly leaned her face closer, a mischievous smile on her lips, her playful eyes sparkling with enchanting charm:
"Then... who's prettier, me or Diana?"
"You!"
Mil prayed in his heart as he answered firmly.
However, seeing the diamond shard gradually change color, the smile on Lilith's face instantly disappeared.
Mil felt a chill down his spine and could only force himself to explain:
"She's good-looking, but you two just have different styles. You're much more lively and charming than her, a beauty that can topple nations and shame the moon and flowers! Don't ask anymore, I beg you..."
"Last question, was what you said in the love letter this afternoon true?"
Lilith raised an eyebrow, her eyes wide, her expression serious. Mil's head was spinning, he gritted his teeth and nodded:
"Alright, alright, it's a combo attack, isn't it? It's true! I didn't lie to you!"
Looking at the diamond shard in Mil's hand, which hadn't changed color, Lilith's pupils constricted.
Recalling the content of that letter, for some reason, she felt her heart rate suddenly accelerate. She gently touched her face, taking a deep breath.
She was clearly toying with him, so why was her own heart fluttering?
"So... can you really persuade Demon God's Child? Make him listen to you?"
"Yes, the premise is... you join the Abyss."
"Hmph, it changed color."
Lilith crossed her arms, her face clouded, feeling a sense of disappointment in her heart.
Mil, however, suddenly pulled her hand, saying very seriously:
"Correction, even if you don't join, I can still... I'm just not very willing."
What's so hard about convincing himself?
Seeing Mil's diamond shard gradually stabilize in color, Lilith suddenly couldn't understand anymore.