“GIDEON is safe, lady,” Dragon whispers.
“I’m so glad…”
Bringing the shield to her face, Princess lets out a sigh of relief.
A bright-green ribbon flutters in her hair. Sparkling dust mixed into the wind is all that remains of the blue demon beast that crumbled away. Blown away, the remains disappear into the dawn sky. Princess watches them go, shedding a single tear.
“Farewell, my cousin.”
✦ ✦ ✦
DANGLING from the rampart and bathed in the morning sunlight, I absently watched the last fragments of the demon beast vanish until the very end.
“What a funny feeling. Don’t feel nothing. No resentment, anger, or hatred.”
“Perhaps she felt the same way?” Witch offers.
“Is that how it works?”
“That’s the path she chose, after all.”
“…Am I interrupting something?” A puff of warm steam caresses my face. Dragon descends from the sky right before my eyes.
“Nah, just enjoyin’ the lovely view. Besides, I was waiting for you, partner.” I push off the wall and swing over to Dragon’s back with the help of Witch’s thread. Princess immediately jumps on me. Puffing out her sullen cheeks, she glowers at Witch.
“Oh dear.” Witch shrugs her shoulders in an exaggerated way, but she looks like she’s having fun.
“He succeeded,” Dragon informs her.
Witch answers, “But he was saved by his princess.”
“He’s the one who raised the princess.”
“…So it appears.”
Her big eyes going round in my arms, Princess asks them, “What are you talking about?”
“About how you have the greatest knight on your side, Princess Lala.”
“Yup, I know!”
Now, that’s another fine answer outta this girl.
“Oi, hang on a sec. Am I the only one outta the loop here? What’s goin’ on?”
Dragon doesn’t answer and instead releases a puff of steam from his nostrils. Why that overgrown pair of leather booths! He’s laughin’ at me, I just know it!