As Jill faced the ground, he bent down and peered into her face, his tone low.
“You can free the Dragon Emperor from the curse of the Dragon God,” he said. “You may be able to turn him back into his true form.”
“Is that how you convinced the Dragon Consorts until now?” Jill asked.
As she locked eyes with Canis, he widened his eyes in surprise. She smiled as she saw herself reflected in his shocked pupils. Despite everything he’d been through, Hadis never felt any sort of hatred toward Dragon God Rave. And Jill wasn’t arrogant enough to deny her husband his adoptive parent.
“Your invitation is tempting, but I like every bit of His Majesty, including the side of him that acts erratically.”
Canis sat up and let out a strained chuckle. “Your words are filled with bottomless love. Is it because you’re a Dragon Consort, I wonder?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I see, I see… The Dragon Consort of this generation is tougher than I thought. Still, I find that you’re greatly misunderstanding something. We speak from a place of goodwill.”
“Goodwill, you say?” Jill knitted her brows.
Canis nodded. “That’s right. We always just wanted to save you all, including the Dragon Consort who had lost her purpose during the truce, the crown prince who aimed for a revolution, the princess who yearned to escape from her father and brother, the twin older brother who couldn’t become the Dragon Emperor, and the captured princess who wished to become a Goddess!”
His voice grew louder, culminating in a smile, and he hid his smirk.
“Among them all, the twin Dragon Emperor who had his head thrown into Calvariae Valley as Dragon God Rave also fell was the perfect stage!” Canis cried. “It’s a tale that’s been passed down among us with great joy!”
“I understand now,” Jill said slowly. She quietly stood up and looked down on Canis, who met her icy gaze. “I know why I have to wipe you all out upon sight!”
Magical energy coursed through her body, and Canis instantly snapped his fingers. A magic circle activated at Jill’s feet—a powerful magic seal guarded the entire manor. It was no wonder that Jill’s hands were freed. Her feet were glued to the magic circle and locked her into place. Canis grabbed the bell on the table and rang it. A group of people wearing black mantles burst through the door and surrounded Jill, their blades pointed at her.
“It’s also got an effect of sapping away magical energy,” Canis said. “The more you struggle, the less likely you are to move. Don’t worry. As long as you remain obedient, we won’t harm you. Unlike the Dragon God, we’re pacifists, though I don’t know if the Dragon Emperor will accept you.”
“What…do you mean by that?” Jill demanded.
“A Dragon Consort who works for the enemy is a classic tale, and I quite like it, but a Dragon Consort who’s been defiled since her youth and lost all will to fight is a tragedy that I wouldn’t wish to abandon. Which will the Dragon Emperor like best, I wonder?”
“You lowlife!”
Jill let out a loud roar as she punched the floor. A crack ran through the ground as it crumbled away. Canis watched in astonishment as she fell, and for a moment, the power of the magic seal weakened. Jill honed her five senses; she only had a few seconds, but it was more than enough time to find a hole in the opening of the sturdily placed barrier. It was powerful enough to restrain people who had as much, if not more, magical energy as she did. It’s that tower over there!
She transformed her Sacred Treasure into a whip and repelled everything around her. She launched herself up off a wall and ran across a roof that was slippery from the rain. Her legs felt heavier than usual, a sign that some sort of seal enveloped this entire area. But I can move more nimbly than during the Riot of the False Emperor!
Jill leaped off the edge of the roof and onto the window of the stone tower. The moment she wriggled inside, the magic seal barrier grew even more intense. She was aware of that as she landed on the staircase and rushed up. It only took a few moments before she reached the prison on the highest floor.
“Queen Faris!” Jill cried.
“Lady…Jill?” Faris asked.
The young girl was lying on the cold, stone floor. Only a single ragged cloth covered her body, and nearby was a small bowl of water as though a dog was being fed. Faris enjoyed no bed and had no lights, much less a fireplace for warmth.
“Are you okay?!” Jill cried. “They didn’t do anything to you, did they? I won’t forgive you if you were done in so easily!”
“I-I’m fine…” Faris murmured.
She sat up, wearing the same exact clothes as the day she’d parted ways with Jill.
“Good,” the Dragon Consort said as she grabbed the iron bars.
“Lady, Jill, leave me be,” Faris spoke up feebly. “Please make your escape while you still can.”
“I don’t want to feel any sympathy toward you!” Jill shouted. She could usually tie iron bars into a pretty bow, but they refused to budge an inch. “Why can’t the Dragon God and the Goddess’s vessels just obediently ask for help? Ugh, dammit! These bars are tough! They’re cheeky for simple iron bars!”
“Lady Jill, you’ll really get caught at this rate,” Faris warned.
Jill could hear some people shouting on the staircase below, and a pale-faced Faris approached the bars nearest to her.