The Adventures of Rose Hood

Royce entered the city with a stern guard.

“The king said to let you in, but don’t think we trust you.”

I heard this as Elren went to meet. I decided to hide nearby.

“So, you are Sir Royce, I do believe you are aware of your nation’s relationship with this one.”

“Yes, but I was looking for someone. I need to find her, and I thought you may know about her. I heard you know everything that happens in this kingdom.”

“And why would you think this person would be here?”

“Because she was heading in this direction when I last saw her.”

Elren was judging Royce. Royce picked up on this. Elren decided to test him.

“You know it is customary to kneel before royalty.”

Royce knew how to respond,

“I will only kneel to the king I swore loyalty to. I apologize.”

“Insolence!”

An elf shouted but went silent when Elren raised his hand smiling.

“Sir Royce, you have loyalty, but I’d like to know, are you afraid of me?”

“Am I cowering?”

Elren let out a laugh.

“I like you, come with me. Rose, I agree, he is safe.”

I step out and smile nervously at Royce who looks at me with his jaw dropped.

“Ahem.”

Elren makes a conspicuous cough and gives side eye to Royce.

“I’m fine with you being here, but don’t think that means you can flirt with my sister.”

That got Royce’s attention. Wait, flirt? Is he stupid?

“Sister? Wait that means-”

“Yep, it’s as the rumors say,”

Elren smiles.

“I’m a dragon.”

_

Thalia glared at Royce in a dark expression and Elren looked confused.

“Thalia be nice.”

“But Rose.”

“May I remind you that he saved our lives.”

“Hmph.”

She left and I sighed.

“No anger, huh?”

“Yep, she is still bitter, can’t really blame her though.”

“I can’t.”

Royce looked at me in shock, his mouth slightly opened again.

“What, is there something on my face?”

“N-no.”

Elren was again giving Royce a dark glare.

“Elren?”

“Sorry.”

Doleaira walked in and grabbed her husband.

“Come with me, third wheel. You two just call if you need anything.”

Royce had an odd expression as Doleaira left. I decided to speak first.

“I didn’t know there could be third wheels with friends.”

Royce flinched.

“F-friend?”

“Yeah, I mean you named me and even saved my life. I’d consider you a friend like Jalad and Dallel.”

“Ah.”

He had that odd look again.

“Y-you look nice.”

“Thanks, I’d much rather my armor, but apparently it doesn’t fit this setting.”

“You also look good with your armor.”

“Thanks.”

I gave him a friendly smile and Thalia walked in with Alice.

“Alright that was painful.”

“What does that mean?”

“Aunty? Is that your mate?”

Oh, that’s why Elren was glaring.

“No, we are just friends.”

Thalia gave an odd look to Royce.

“Aunty, what would you say makes a good mate. Other Aunty said my equal in strength, but Daddy said someone that I liked being around. What do you think?”

What made the ideal mate? Hmm.

“Well, if it were me, I would want to be with someone I liked being around, but also was loyal to me. Someone who would never betray me, and also enjoy daily company. Strong or weak doesn’t really matter as one can be strong without doing combat. Someone who I’d consider my best friend, and who’d be able to be casual with me as well as respect me. I don’t want to be able to make them do anything, nor would I want them to think they could make me do anything. Basically, my equal. Not necessarily in strength, but equal to me, nonetheless.”

“Does someone like that exist?”

“I dunno. I’m only 100.”

“Well, I’m certain you have a decent chance of meeting someone like that, Rose.”

“I do?”

“Yep.”

Thalia seemed quite confident that I could meet someone like that.

“That’d be nice.”

“Yeah, and you could meet them soon.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice.”

“Ugh.”

“What?”

“Too oblivious.”

“...?”

What was she on about? And what was with the odd look Royce was getting?

_

“So, he wanted to apologize?”

“Yes, he asked me to tell you that.”

“Does he think-”

I raised my hand causing Thalia to stop.

“I understand your anger, but remember, he was afraid of us, and Galswell did it. As Galswell is dead, there doesn’t need to be any anger.”

“...”

Thalia became quiet.

“But I don’t think I could come back after all the guild won-”

“The king ordered everyone to keep your identity a secret.”

“What?”

“Mammon also agreed to hide your identity unless you want to reveal it.”

“So...”

“You are still a B rank adventurer.”

Elren got an idea.

“Hmm... it’s still only rumored that I’m a dragon, and the only ones who know Rose is a dragon is the border guard and palace guard, so it should be easy enough to stop word from spreading. What do you think?”

“I.... I honestly want to be an adventurer; I want to help.”

“Then you do that, I’ll stay with Elren for now.”

“Thalia?”

“Yeah, I can do stuff too. Make swords, armor, and whatever else.”

“Sure.”

Then we decided that I’d return to the capital after scaring off the dragon.

“Would they believe that?”

“They already think she killed an arcane dragon.”

“Fair.”

Me and Royce headed out.

“Wait, one second.”

Royce turned.

“Tell the king I am open to negotiations once again.”

Royce smiled.

“Sure.”

We headed out and Royce prepared for a hike.

“Why hike?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not hard, the border knows me, and their king is a dragon. I could just fly right over.”

“Yeah, but...”

“It’s easy.”

I shifted and spoke,

“Just get on my back.”

I lowered my wing. He gulped nervously.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going eat you.”

“Not what I’m gulping for.”

“Okay?”

He’s an odd fellow. After he got on my back, I took off. He screamed at the speed and grabbed on quite hard.

“Calm down, you won’t fall.”

“O-ok!”

He looked up and immediately I heard a gasp of awe.

“Is this what you see?”

“A dragon’s eye view. Beautiful isn’t it.”

“Yeah.”

“Get comfortable, we have 10 hours. I frankly have no clue how you got to the palace almost as fast as I did.”

“Someone teleported me to the border.”

“Ah, I see.”

We stayed quiet and saw the world below. Small towns, people living their lives, I could see it all. Even Royce, with not as good eyesight as me, was in awe. I glanced down at the people and couldn’t help but smile. They had such kind lives. Wait... one village is...

“That village is on fire!”

“Bandits?”

“What?”

“They’re attacking the village.”

“We need to help.”

“I agree. No time to shift.”

I came down to fight the bandits.