I walked onto the patio where my grandmother was already sitting. The morning sunlight cast a golden glow on the serene view of the town below and the vast green farmlands stretching out into the distance. As I approached the table, my grandmother looked up from her cup of tea.

"Luca, my dear, you look exhausted," she remarked.

I took a seat next to her and yawned. "I am a bit tired, but it's nothing to worry about."

"Is that so?" She poured me a cup of black tea. "I heard you had quite the adventure last night."

She had an amused expression on her face.

I accepted the tea from her.

"It certainly was," I nodded, taking a sip. "Grandmother, why do you have a dragon below the villa?"

She smiled at me. "Ah, Luca. It's quite the opposite. It's not that I have a dragon below the villa; it's that the villa is above the dragon. My ancestors founded the Town of Ascot in this area a couple hundred years ago precisely because the dragon was sleeping in the caves below. Curiosity and a desire for power led them to undo one of the seals, awakening the dragon from its slumber."

"Why?" I frowned. "From what I learned, Azgralos was sealed away because he consumed hundreds of phoenixes and was punished by being locked away."

My grandmother nodded gravely. "That he did."

"Then why did your ancestors awaken him and build the town here?" I asked. "Why would they do that? Knowing the terrible acts the dragon had committed, devouring phoenixes and all."

"A dragon can be quite a useful creature," Grandma replied.

She paused, her gaze momentarily fixed on the villa.

One of the servants approached, setting down a dozen small dishes on the table before us—a delightful assortment of dishes including soup, sautéed green pea shoots, cooked porridge, boiled eggs, and more. The aroma of the freshly prepared breakfast filled the air, mingling with the fragrant scent of roses below the patio.

I inhaled the scents, wondering how accurate the smells were to the taste of the food. I recalled vividly how disappointed Leona was with the food in the previous round. It was why she preferred to stay back in my bedroom, munching on her collection of food gathered from last night, rather than bothering to come out for the morning meal.

After the servant bowed and walked away, Grandma resumed speaking.

"Luca, my dear, sometimes things are not as straightforward as they seem," she began, her voice carrying a touch of nostalgia. "While Azgralos may have committed grave acts in the past, my ancestors believed that a sleeping dragon, no matter how wicked, offered no protection against the world's evils. They saw the dragon awake as more useful than asleep. Sometimes, a past evil can help curb another more pressing evil."

"But, Grandmother," I inquired, "what kind of evils could a dragon like Azgralos possibly protect us from? What is the purpose of awakening such a creature?"

"You are still young, but one day you will learn that there are forces at play, both seen and unseen, that threaten the balance of our world," she said. "While Azgralos may have committed grave acts in the past, there are evils in this world that even the bravest humans struggle to face alone. That is where an ancient dragon like Azgralos can be most valuable."

I picked up and cracked one of the boiled eggs, pealing back its brown shell to reveal its soft white flesh. I sat back, contemplating her words.

Just what sort of evil did she mean? I had already dealt with unseen forces called the System and this Game, but neither seemed to require a dragon's intervention.

However, I didn't bother asking my grandmother any further; clearly, she wasn't going to speak on the specifics anyhow, seeing as I had asked her twice now, and she only provided vague responses.

"The seal that kept him asleep was taken off, but the protective circle around the caves remains," I changed the subject slightly. "What would have happened if I crossed it?"

"You'd die. Probably." She shrugged and took a sip of her soup. By her pained expression, I decided to avoid the murky mixture. "Or perhaps you'd live on. Honestly, I don't know. Yelena, your birth mother, crossed that seal many a time. But I wouldn't trust Azgralos to be above eating you just because he was friendly with her. He's eaten everyone else that crossed over."

I felt a shiver run up my spine.

So he has eaten humans.

My mind wandered to the caged people.

Were they his food after all?

"Duncan Genuiver," my grandmother commented, completely changing the topic and grabbing my attention. "Ben informed me of the letter that Natalia Ashford sent you. You're getting involved in something quite interesting. I approve."

"You do?" I gazed up at her.

Her dark-painted lips smiled.

"Of course," she replied. "If you're successful in elevating Duncan's stature and positioning him as the heir renew, you will forge a valuable alliance for the future. There's far less value in helping someone already in a secure position. But help someone that's beaten down and on their own? You'll gain dividends upon dividends."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

As her words trailed off, she suddenly succumbed to a coughing fit. However, just as it started, Ben quickly came to her aid. With fast and nimble steps, he glided across the marble tiles, placing the vial of Red Poppy Potion into Grandma's outstretched hand.

She downed the red potion and, having regained her composure, continued speaking as if nothing were amiss. But I knew her hours were numbered, and this was just one of the reminders of the unfortunate timeline.

"Natalia has certainly found some gems on how to improve his image," she resumed, her voice gaining strength once more. "The stories she plans to spread emphasize Duncan's selflessness, portraying him as a compassionate leader who goes above and beyond to assist those in need. By presenting Duncan as a protector of the vulnerable, I can see that Natalia aims to evoke admiration and trust among the public, shaping a positive image of Duncan as a leader who genuinely cares about the well-being of his people."

I nodded. Natalia uncovered several instances where Duncan had quietly helped those in need without looking for any reward. The most notable case was when he helped catch a serial killer in one of the nearby towns. I had no doubt that his Grim Reaper Eyes helped him easily identify the killer.

"However, that is not enough." Grandma pursed her dark red lips. "Swaying the common folk and those within the ruling circles are two different tasks. If you wish to help Duncan shed his past reputation as an outcast and present him as a viable heir to the Genuiver Dukedom, you must craft a narrative that highlights his growth and evolution as a leader."

I frowned.

"What do you propose?" I asked.

She smiled.

"Present Duncan with a position where he can make his mark and shine compared to his sister, Anastasia Genuiver," she said. "For example, perhaps as a royal minister to Crown Princess Evelyn? It appears that she still does not have a royal minister appointed."

"Why would she not have one already?" I asked.

"The council is controlled by her sister's supporters," Grandma explained, waving her hand. "Micah said they've only been letting through incompetent idiots."

"If that's the case, how will I get him appointed then?" I asked. "As far as I can tell, Duncan is neither incompetent nor an idiot. He simply has a really poor reputation."

"Ah, well, that's where Duncan's current weakness shines," she chuckled. "His poor reputation is admission enough for the council to let him through without any barriers."

I picked up my cup of black tea and finished it off. The tea tasted bitter.

Tsk.

This was why I hated navigating the social politics of the capital in my original life. If you wanted to get anything done, you had to find a way to make it appear disadvantageous to yourself and advantageous to the other party.

"You should discuss it with Micah," Grandma suggested. "You'll be doing him a favor as well. I heard his current solution to the problem, and I believe presenting Duncan would be a far less… messy method."

I blinked in surprise.

Micah had always been the one helping me throughout my life. I never even considered that there was a way for me to help him aside from preventing the assassination attempts on his head.

"I also have it on good word that Duncan Genuiver is currently at the festival below. It doesn't appear that he traveled under his own name, so most wouldn't recognize him." She smiled. "Ah, but it appears you already knew that."

I nodded.

"Well, I won't keep you much longer then. You ought to enjoy the Summer Festival as well. It only comes around once a year, and youngsters like you typically enjoy that sort of thing. Ben will accompany you," she said.

***

"Peep!"

I want to try those savory crepes and then the grilled corn.

Leona was chirping happily and fluttering about the festival stalls. It appeared she didn't eat so much of her reserves that she didn't have room for more food.

We walked through the bustling Summer Festival. Colorful banners fluttered in the warm breeze while the joyful melodies of street musicians filled the air. The aroma of delectable treats permeated the atmosphere, enticing our taste buds and reminding us of the festival's delicious indulgences.

<> I asked, holding up her crepe for her to munch on. << You'd have an easier time getting food if you were, say, in a human form.>>

"Peep!"

How ridiculous. I'm not having trouble at all getting food in my current form as is. So why would I take on another?

<>

Ben placed a few coins to the stall owner as we moved from the crepe stall toward the grilled corn on the cob. The sizzling sound of corn kernels popping and the charred, smoky fragrance wafted through the air beckoned us closer.

The vendor, a skilled grill master, stood attentively by the grill, carefully basting the corn with a brush, coating each kernel with a luscious glaze of melted butter. The buttery goodness shimmered under the summer sun, casting a tantalizing sheen on the enticing treat.

<> I relayed what Azgralos had told me. <>

I purchased two piping hot cobs, one which I held out for Leona to peck at and the other that bit into myself. The juiciness of the corn explodes in my mouth, the natural sweetness mingling with the smoky undertones. The kernels were tender yet still retained a satisfying crunch. The rich buttery glaze coated my lips, leaving a delightful hint of salt on my tongue.

"Peep!"

Nonsense. I will not take a form where I cannot freely fly about. Nor am I going to change the color of my feathers. I like this color. It is the proper color for the exquisite chicken youngling.

Leona mowed through the cob in my hand, finishing off the kernels at lightning speed.

<>

"Peep!"

Well, I don't plan to fly that much, either. I've seen what these magnificent chickens are capable of. It's a sufficient and most appropriate amount of flying.

As Azgralos predicted, Leona wasn't budging one bit regarding her appearance.

I sighed.

I didn't understand why she was so adamant about being in the form of a chicken. However, it being such a stone-embedded matter meant that if I wanted to keep her safe, I had but one choice: to become stronger and more capable.

"Young master Luca," Ben leaned in, his voice hushed.

"I see him," I said, cutting off Ben's sentence before it could fully form.

My gaze was already fixed on Duncan, who sat in the familiar shadowy corner, blending into the dimly lit surroundings. To the untrained eye, Duncan's current appearance did not indicate his noble lineage as the son of the Duke and Duchess of Genuiver.

This time, however, Ben refrained from drawing his sword as Duncan rose from his seat and approached. His determined stride held an air of urgency, his piercing blue eyes fixed on me—the only visible part of his face amidst the white bandages that concealed his features. And I already knew that he was harmless, even with his intimidating appearance and scary ability.

"I… I need your help," Duncan's voice sounded soft, contrasting with the imposing nature of his straight-line walk. His eyes gazed over my head, no doubt showing the number of lives I'd lived and the number of people I'd killed.

"Of course," I smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Duncan Genuiver."

The tall young man's eyes widened momentarily in surprise.

I motioned for Ben to bring the carriage around.

"Let's go to the villa where we can talk privately," I suggested. "I am certain you have questions, and I am happy to say that I am more than willing and able to offer my assistance."