"Olesha, don't you think your waist isn't straight enough? Kneel down for me! You can't leave until I say you can!"
"Yes..."
That was a response that had already begun to sound somewhat numb. Olesha still remembered when she had just lost her freedom.
The Empire's Emperor Modrek Vilg commanded her like ordering around a house servant, a maid.
And she could only bury that resentment, that anger deep in her heart. She didn't even dare let these emotions show in her gaze, fearing that the Emperor would again pick one of her kin to "bleed."
It all started with that damned weapon. The demon that swept the world, the master of blood, Blood Demon Azicat was a more pure, more damnable existence than even the current queen of the blood clan.
Olesha had dreamed more than once about that monster who should go to hell. But she had begun to fear—initially, she tortured and killed her in dreams, killed that monster.
But later, she could no longer imagine such scenes. Just a weapon from that demon's subordinates could grant the Empire such terrible power. Then that monster herself... how unfathomably powerful must she be...
Your Majesty Catania... if only you were still here...
Olesha stood beside the Empire's Emperor like a butler, watching the feast of blood below with lifeless eyes. Flame Lion clan member Light had already drained that new toy the Emperor had taken a fancy to. He did well, successfully amusing the crowd and the Emperor himself, though the cost was a life.
"Olesha, pour me some wine."
"Yes."
Olesha bent down to pour wine for the Emperor. Her slender figure was perfectly accentuated by the evening dress. Even with ten thousand reluctances, she had no choice.
As the Dragon King, she had lost. The Empire's Emperor had demonstrated blood magic surpassing that of the blood clan and defeated her.
Her pride had been completely shattered, both as Dragon King and as herself.
Now she could only use her own power as the price to secure the survival of more of her kin.
The Empire's Emperor was doing things that were inhuman—this was what she had learned through her own observations.
Every place he occupied wasn't for so-called conquest. He was just looking for more... "materials."
He seemed to be having a dream, as if as long as he continued feeding more blood into that ominous weapon, he could control it.
In short, this guy wanted to become a second Azicat.
"Didn't I teach you the correct posture many times? You're making me lose face! Olesha!"
"I'm... I'm sorry..."
"Tch! Everyone don't mind. Can't help it—these big lizards are just that stupid, can't learn our ways."
"His Imperial Majesty speaks truly!"
"Indeed, indeed! These dragons only have brute strength! Too bad they're not very smart. Good thing we have Your Imperial Majesty to lead them!"
Sigh, the same flattery again.
Olesha was already sick of hearing it. To flatter this Emperor, these guys could say any kind of nonsense. She even suspected that if the Emperor peed crooked in the toilet, they'd say it was because the local toilet was built poorly.
"Yes... you're right. We are too stupid. Thank you for enlightening us..."
But unfortunately, even though she was disgusted to the point of nausea, Olesha had no options other than to comply and accept.
The Emperor had already grasped their home, the entire Dragon Island. Whenever he wanted, he could capture any dragon he fancied and squeeze them into "juice" to feed that weapon.
At the beginning, Olesha had even wondered if this Emperor would make moves on her.
But later she discovered that this guy's perversion had reached inhuman levels. He had no interest in women—what he cared about most was probably his so-called face.
And then there was that weapon. The fact that Blood Scythe had been obtained by the Empire was already household knowledge, but only the Emperor himself knew where exactly that weapon was kept. He guarded that thing like his own life.
"Sigh..."
Olesha forcibly swallowed back half the sigh she had let out, because she remembered the Emperor didn't like her making any unnecessary sounds.
"You want to kill him, don't you?"
"That's not wrong."
Eh? Who's speaking?!
"No! No no! I don't! Your Imperial Majesty! I absolutely have no rebellious intentions! You heard wrong!"
"No need to fear. He can't hear us. I've cast a barrier on you and me—he can't hear our conversation, and obviously he has no interest in managing you right now."
Olesha glanced at the Emperor. He was concentrating intently on watching the arena, probably very excited by the blood flowing everywhere.
"Do you know where Blood Scythe is?"
Only then did Olesha feel safe to look toward the source of the voice. But as she directed her gaze to the white-haired woman who had somehow sat in the premium seating area,
A pressure that penetrated her mind, even her breathing and heartbeat, forcibly interrupted her thinking.
She froze, unable to say a word.
"You look to be under five hundred years old. As a Dragon King, you're quite young."
She... who is she?!
Olesha's entire face filled with surprise, her hands unnaturally wringing together.
She instinctively looked away, not daring to meet those golden vertical pupils even for an instant.
"No need to fear me. I have no interest in competing with you for any Dragon King position, nor will I harm you."
"You... Your... who are you?"
Olesha finally mustered the courage to meet those golden eyes. Her ankles were still trembling.
Just from a moment's aura—which seemed to be deliberately released for her to sense—she knew.
This being surpassed everything she had ever experienced. Neither the previous Dragon King she had defeated nor the Empire's Emperor himself could give her such overwhelming pressure.
It wasn't fear, but some kind of natural kneeling impulse from the heart, wanting to submit to her.
"Catania."
"Heh?!"
What... what?
She just... said what?
Ca... ta...
nia...
"You... what did you just say?"
"Catania. My name."
Catania... that's not!
Olesha felt like her scalp was about to explode! This name! Not only was it carved into dragon history! It could be found throughout the entire world!
But how was that possible! That being! That elder of hers!
Should have died long ago!
"You're very surprised."
"Your... Your Majesty... is it really you?"
"Yes."
Taking the white tail tip the other extended toward her, Olesha's legs nearly gave out.
She gripped that white tail tightly to barely steady herself.
"You... you've finally returned..."
She almost cried, large tears falling.
"Answer my question. Do you know where Blood Scythe is?"
"I... I'm sorry! I! I don't know... only the Emperor himself knows!"
Olesha turned back, almost wanting to attack the Emperor on the spot, but the white tail tip wrapped around her arm and stopped her actions.
"Don't rush."
Just two words, yet they made Olesha feel substantial peace of mind.
"Speaking of which, Your Majesty... how are you extending your tail while sitting?"
"That's not important."