"You’ve said that before."
"My father is an Azure Dragon."
"An Azure Dragon of the Black Dragon Clan. The Golden Dragon Clan and the Black Dragon Clan don’t intermarry. My colors and everything about me are different from other dragons."
Looking at Andrew, Christina’s eyes reddened slightly, yet she was still smiling—a sweet, bright smile.
For a moment, Andrew didn’t know what to do.
"They all despise me for being different from them. You... would you despise me?" Christina asked.
Andrew shrugged and answered, "No, what’s there to despise? In fact, I think they’re pretty stupid. Does color really matter? But..."
Andrew wanted to say, "But this has nothing to do with us. Your father is an Azure Dragon, you’ve already been ostracized. If you treat me , would I end up being hunted as well? After all, a Blood Elf is far inferior to an Azure Dragon."
"But what?" Christina asked.
"No, it’s nothing." Well, Andrew couldn’t bring himself to say it after all. Taking a deep breath, he casually said, "Let’s go. Let’s head back. If he hasn’t caught up to us, then we’re probably safe for now. No... wait, let’s find an inn to stay in first. Better not go back immediately."
"Okay!" Christina nodded vigorously.
The wind blew gently, carrying sparse snowflakes with it.
Under the night sky, Linlopes remained as silent as ever, except for a minor commotion in the eastern district where trouble had just broken out.
In the inn’s room, Christina had already fallen asleep, her face adorned with a sweet smile.
And Andrew? He was still tossing and turning restlessly.
Clearly, after completing "The Psychological Training of a Liar," he was now urgently in need of "The Psychological Training of a Scoundrel." This was not exactly an easy task.
"Have I been lying too excessively, to the point where her heart might actually fall for me?" After turning and tossing for a long while, Andrew sat up and muttered to himself, "Is this my fault? Shouldn’t this be her fault? She’s simply too easy to deceive. Even if I hadn’t tricked her, someone else would have."
"But why has she been here for six years without being tricked, only to be deceived by me?"
"Because no one else dares to trick a dragon?"
"Well, seems like that’s probably true."
"Maybe I should confess to her. That’s right, I’m just a liar. I deceived you. I’m not some noble mercenary corps commander; I’m actually a deserter from the Silver Moon Knight Order, a notorious fugitive. Yes, that’s correct! So now, will you still care for me? Care for a piece of trash?"
At this point, Andrew’s mind flashed with Christina’s pitifully tender expression, and his face froze.
"Stay calm! Stay calm! This is an incredibly deep pit; if I fall in, I may never climb out!" Andrew murmured while clutching his face. "I fled from the Elf Forest and have already provoked the White Bone Holy Light Court. If I offend the Golden Dragons next... they might decide to turn me into elf jerky or a post-dinner dessert. Then I’d only have the snow-capped mountains and Titans to live with. Damn it, that place is freezing cold. What should I do? Perhaps I should just tell her the truth?"
"Yes, and then I wait to face the wrath of a Green Dragon. For me, is there really any difference between facing a Golden Dragon and a Green Dragon?"
In a daze, Christina’s sweet, trusting smile flashed through his mind again.
"Ah—! Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, DAMN IT—!" Andrew almost scratched his scalp raw in frustration.
"Mr. Duru, is something wrong?" Christina’s groggy voice came from the neighboring room.
"No, it’s nothing! Everything is perfectly under control!"
In any case, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night for Andrew.