The Defeated Dragon

“How come I did not see you dancing?” Athena took a sip of her juice and asked.

“I am not very skilled at dancing. As a result, I prefer to quietly appreciate other people dance.”

“Then you should go and dance. The steps are very simple, you can learn them by just practicing a few times.” Blinking her eyes, Athena had an expectant expression, “I can teach you if you want.”

As the gentlewoman took the initiative, it was not convenient for Liszt to outright refuse her. Therefore, he could only stand up and extend his hand: “Can I invite you to a dance?”

“It would be a pleasure.” Athena gave Liszt her hand and stood up.

Like this, Liszt led Athena to the dance floor. Accompanied by soothing piano tunes, he took hold of Athena's waist with his right hand, held her right hand in his left hand, and then started to dance with her on the dance floor. The pace of the aristocratic ballroom dances was always exceptionally simple. Liszt had never danced before, but his predecessor had quite a lot of experience in this regard.

“Your dancing is not lacking. It seems that you have deceived me just now” Athena smiled and said as they danced.

“Perhaps I am just on a roll.”

“Is it? Then I will believe you.”

After a moment of silence.

Athena asked away: “I have never been to the Coral Island. In fact, I have never left the Red Crab Island. Is the Coral Island very far from the Red Crab Island?”

“Not that far. The journey takes less than a day. If there is tailwind the whole journey, then it could take just half a day.”

"What does the Tulip Castle look like?"

“It was built on a cliff of the sh.o.r.e and is much smaller than the Longtaro Castle. However, the surrounding hillside is covered in tulips, looking very beautiful.”

“It must be very beautiful. If there is a chance, I want to go visit the Tulip Castle.”

“There will be a chance.”

“Do you live in the Tulip Castle?”

“I grew up there. But now, I live in my own town.”

“Right, I heard from Sir Meopal that you have been enfeoffed as Baron of Flower Town.”

“Yeah”

“There must be a lot of beautiful flowers there. The castle you live in, is it also full of flowers?”

“You may be disappointed. There is only a dozen or so mu of tulips, with wheat being grown everywhere else. As for the castle, hmm, I am planning on planting gra.s.s to set up a horse field and possibly raise some cows.” Liszt said indifferently. He had the feeling that Athena was inquiring about his circ.u.mstances.

Perhaps the girl was attracted by his handsome looks and wanted to become Baron Liszt's Madam.

Not letting her mull over it, he continued after a pause: “Well, the town is in a very remote location, there is a lack of wheat and milk, and even vegetables cannot be eaten often. Also, even if one has gold coins, it is still quite difficult to buy meat. Because it is separated by a mountain ridge from the rest of the island and the mountain ridge has magic beasts, there are no caravans willing to come over.”

Athena opened her mouth in surprise: “Are you an Earth Knight?”

“I have just recently advanced and am still to practicing my qi secret manual.”

Liszt, who had the height of at least 1,80 meters, looked down at Athena, who had the height of at most 1,60 meters. Her expression was a bit stiff.

She was probably disturbed because of the disparity between imagination and reality.

Anyone who saw Liszt for the fist time, mainly women of course, would have a favorable impression of him. However, after getting acquainted with Liszt's situation, they would avoid him like a plague. A baron of a desolate and remote town who was not valued, was poor, and was lacking in qi apt.i.tude, quite probably would have to sell their fief sooner or later and be driven to be another lord's subordinate.

Managing a fief was not a simple matter. Many lesser aristocrats went bankrupt, and then became teachers or knight captains.

Gort was one such an example.

And even greater aristocrats would also go bankrupt and loose their fief once they mismanaged their property.

“Next, she will probably let go of me, indicating that the dance is over.” Liszt secretly mused.

However, Athena did not let go of him. She quickly recovered her previous faint smile: “Your father, the Count of Coral Island, would not be indifferent to your situation in the Flower Town, right?”

“My relationship with my father is not too harmonious, possibly because my brother and sister are too outstanding.”

“But I think that your temperament is more outstanding. When you and Sir Meopal stand next to each other, you look like a pair of brothers.”

“I take after my mother in terms of looks.”

“Your mother must be a n.o.ble and graceful Madam.”

“I do not really remember what she looked like. She pa.s.sed away when I was two years old.”

“Sorry, I should not have mentioned it.”

“Never mind.”

With his hand around her waist, the two did not talk for the rest of the piece. Yet unexpectedly, when it was time to rest, Athena followed him to their seats.

After sitting herself beside him, she looked for things to say: “My family lies in the Whitefish City. Our castle has no name. I have a brother. He has already married. He is married to Lydia, a daughter of the viscount family Zewail. They met last year in the Longtaro Castle's ball.”

“Oh, no wonder I have not seen your brother here today.” Liszt gave a somewhat perfunctory reply.

“He and Lydia have a very good relationship. They rarely partic.i.p.ate in this kind of social b.a.l.l.s.” Athena blinked her eyes. “Liszt, if there is time, you could pay my home a visit. My father is very friendly.”

“I am afraid that there is no time. Grandfather is recovering. Tomorrow, I am returning to the Coral Island.”

“When will you come again?”

“Not until the New Year Festival.”

“Oh.”

The piano sounded again, and Liszt and Athena went to dance once more. Then, with the pretext of the dance floor being too stuffy, he declined to continue to dance with Athena.

After taking a walk around the castle, the ball had already ended when he returned.

When the music stopped, as the host, Meopal announced that the ball would end here. Aristocrats that lived nearby rode carriages home, while aristocrats that lived far away were led by servants into rooms in the castle arranged for them to stay the night. Liszt was also preparing to return to his room.

At this moment, Athena spotted him and came over, only saying: “Good night, Liszt.”

“Good night, Athena.”

Before returning to his room, Meopal walked up to him: “Liszt, did you have a good time chatting with Athena?”

“We just danced twice.”

“I can tell that Athena is quite interested in you. What do you think?”

“I have no idea.”

Seeing that Liszt was serious, Meopal nodded. “Okay, I understand. Rest well. Right, Grandfather said that tomorrow he will give you your coming of age present. He is very regretful that he had not witnessed you coming of age. Therefore, he hopes to somewhat make up for it.”

“Grandfather is too polite.”

“Okay, good night.”

“Good night.”

……

Deep at night, Liszt had yet to fall asleep. He was thinking about what the marquis would give him as his coming of age present. It should not be too shabby.

“Perhaps a magic sword?”

Gifts among aristocrats, especially those bestowed from seniors to juniors, were for the most part weapons, implying that a knight's honor had to be acquired through swords and lances.

A weapon gifted by the marquis was bound to be at least a magic weapon.

Magic weapons were very precious. He never had one. Therefore, the more he thought about it, the more agitated he was. To some extent, the agitation also included the enthusiasm leaked by Athena, who was interested in Liszt and wanted to become a Madam Baroness.

Being liked, furthermore, by a pretty gentlewoman.

Was always a delight.