Dragonsā Cry Genesis (Part 18)
āSo, you have to go out again?ā asked Lucia, with a soft sight. She gently patted Nona, who was in her arms: āDid you not say that you wouldnāt be leaving again? I thought you were serious. I guess that means I was stupid for believing you.ā
I smiled helplessly. Then, I touched Luciaās head. I looked at the ahoge on Luciaās head twitch and explained, āSorry, Lucia. I promise that I wonāt be going anywhere dangerous this time, though. Iām not going to some strange place, either. I promise Iāll be in the North. Iām just heading northwest.ā
Lucia didnāt buy any of it. She then sighed again: āYour Highness, do you still not understand? It doesnāt matter where you go. Once you leave, youāll definitely be at risk⦠I wonāt stop you this time, either, but I hope you bring Ying with you.ā
āIs Ying already capable of being a bodyguard?ā
I was quite surprised. Ā I wasnāt informed of Yingās situation. She was still training with Tanya. Honestly, the two of them were very compatible. Because Tanya was a child, the majority of people disrespected her to a degree. However, as she was the captain, they had to respect her on a surface level; they couldnāt get serious when a kid was imposing upon them. Yingās case was different, though. Ying was a serious girl; therefore, she acknowledged Tanya as her leader for as long as Tanya was her captain. Further, she genuinely respected her on the surface and deep down. Tanya was also very happy to be respected, so the two of them would get along very well.
āAlthough she hasnāt completely graduated, Ying can counter magical species. So accordingly, by bringing Ying along, you will be safer if you run into magical species.ā
Lucia sighed, and then looked at me with a hopeless expression. She seemed to have completely given up on dissuading me. The worst insult a man could suffer is making his wife reveal an expression of utter despair as Lucia did. I sighed. I gently hugged my wife. Nona, who was between us, looked at Lucia and I with a smile. If my memory does me justice, that was the first time we were so close.
Nona reached out to grab our chests. She giggled and tried to get me to come closer. Unfortunately, I was going to have to leave her behind for some time. I gave Nona a kiss on her forehead: āIf we were in the past, Iād definitely bring Ying, but I canāt bring her this time. Iāll bring Dragon Mom this time. You should know that dragons are the strongest species, so Iāll definitely be safe.ā
Lucia smiled: āI feel more reassured after hearing that. With that said, Your Highness, you still havenāt told me where you are going. Is there some secret place in the North that you canāt tell me about or are you going to search for another woman? I am at my limit with that, you know? Your children are this old already, so if you go out there and mess around with more women, youāre ridiculous.ā
I shook my head with a hopeless smile: āLucia, I will never do that again. I will never hurt you again. I donāt have the foggiest idea as to where Iām going this time. More precisely, Iām not sure of the exact location. All I know is that Iām heading somewhere northwest. Iām going to search for Dragon Momās dragon kin. Iām searching for the dragons in the N-ā
āStop!!ā yelled Lucia, with a frown before I could finish.
Nona wasnāt the only one who was frightened, because I was startled, too. Lucia continued in a loud voice, āAre you out of your mind?! The dragon race is the elven raceās fiercest nemesis! Do you not know that already?! The dragon race is very dangerous for male elves, such as you!! Countless elves have died to them. Dragons are elvesā born nemesis! We even designated their territory out as out of bounds, yet here you are approaching them on your own accord?! Are you crazy?!ā
āNo⦠I mean, youāre right⦠But look at Dragon Mom. I donāt think itāsĀ thatĀ dangerousā¦ā
āQueen Sylvanas is a different sort of dragon! If you and Queen Sylvanas werenāt related, do you not think that she wouldāve killed you?!ā
Lucia had always viewed dragons as very dangerous existences. It was only fair, though, as all elves consider dragons to be dangerous wild beasts. After all, they had always been at odds with dragons. Dragons had victimised countless elves. As a pure-blooded elf, it was only natural that she was afraid of dragons. I didnāt consider them that scary, nevertheless.
āI donāt think theyāre that frighteningā¦ā
āI canāt stop you if you insist on going, but I adamantly ask that you take Ying with you. Ying is the only person who can slay dragons. Furthermore, if you see a dragon, can you guarantee that Queen Sylvanas will stay on your side? If the dragons attack you, who will Queen Sylvanas help?ā asked Lucia. Stern, she continued, āPerhaps I sound as though I am crossing the line by saying this, but nonetheless, you must be wary of dragons. They have always been a race that attacked us, and that fact still stands. Normally speaking, there are only two sorts of people who would search for dragons. The first type is the type who wants to slay a dragon. The other is those who no longer want to live. You have children now. What need is there for you to go there?ā
Lucia sounded truly very vigilant and prejudice against the dragon race. I think Lucia would consider it for the best if Dragon Mom wasnāt in the North. I sighed and touched her head. In a soft voice, I said, āItās fine, itās fineā¦ā
āThatās your attitude every time!!ā exclaimed Lucia, before I could finish. āYou do this time and time again. You always try to placate me with gentle words, and then run into danger. In the end, Iām left worried sick! This attitude of yours angers me, but what can I do?!! Iām your wife! All I can do is wait here! You never just go and do things; instead, you tell me first, and then you leave me worried by myself!! You always say, āitās all right, itās all right.ā You think that puts me at ease?! Iāve told you before, but you refuse to listen to me! I tell you itās dangerous, but you insist on going!! You donāt care about anything!! Weāre never part of your concerns!!ā
Lucia literally roared out all of her inner thoughts. Once she was done shouting, I was truly scared sheād throw Nona straight onto the ground in her emotional state. However, she continued to tightly hug her daughter and sit onto the bed. She looked away. I walked over to her. Nona looked at her mom fearfully. She reached out to me, wanting to go to me. Lucia wouldnāt let go, though. I pressed my hand on Luciaās shoulder. Before I could speak, she spoke out first, albeit facing her back to me: āSorry, Your Highness, I got a little bit too worked up⦠I got a bit too wilful⦠Your Highness. I am your wife⦠I already feel very blissful that I got to marry you⦠I canāt ask for so much⦠If you have to consider things out there and us at the same time, you wonāt be able to do anything. You just have to do what you want to do. Iām happy as long as you can come back. I will wait for your return here⦠I just want you to come back.ā
I couldnāt hold my feelings in anymore, so I pulled her into my embrace. I tightly hugged her from behind and stroked her face. I could feel her cold tears on my hands. Lucia bit down on her lip to avoid her sobs being heard while she finished what she wanted to say. I subconsciously hugged her and rested my head on her shoulder, āLucia⦠Please⦠donāt be so understanding, okayā¦? It hurts me so much⦠when youāre so understanding⦠How can I leave when youāre so understandingā¦? Sorry⦠Lucia⦠I know that itās meaningless for me to say any more⦠I know that my apology is pointless, but I can promise that Iāll be back as soon as I can, and I promise to come back safe and sound. I will definitely return to you and our girls!ā
āIām not understanding⦠Iām not⦠Iām your wife⦠So I should think this way and do this⦠Iām your wife, so I must ensure everything I do is for youā¦ā replied Lucia. Her body quivered a little, but she remained in my arms. In a soft voice, she carried on, āIām your wife⦠Iām now the wife of the Prince I love most⦠Thatās why I must do whatās best for you⦠But whyā¦? Whyā¦? Why do I feel that life has become tougher after marrying youā¦?ā
āI donāt want to hear your apology⦠It makes me sound as though Iām burdening youā¦ā
Lucia turned her head around to gently kiss my lips. She then pushed my arms away and stood up. She placed Nona into her crib. Being sleepy, Nona yawned, and then shut her eyes. She grabbed onto her sisterās arm.
Lucia gently stroked her daughtersā heads and, with her back facing me, said, āWhat can I do? I love you too much. I know I should be angry about these things. I know that I should be angry about you not being considerate of me. But despite that, my mind is blank when I see you. I just want to be by your side⦠I feel Iām already living in bliss when I think about my current circumstance⦠Therefore, I canāt think of anything. Your Highness, you must be careful out there⦠You must come back, Your Highness, you must. My Prince⦠Safe travels.ā
I got to my feet and gave Lucia a light hug. She had suffered too much. She went through so much for my sake. It was time she experienced bliss, yet I kept taking advantage of her love and patience. As long as she was by my side, however, sheād be able to wait forever and love forever.
āIāve never disappointed you, Lucia. Never.ā