Chapter 430: Sleeping Tea
Adam’s mind was still turning over the encounter with Wincenth as he walked, his crimson eyes fixed on the path ahead. Alice and Azrynn flanked him in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they made their way toward Selena’s headquarters.
Azrynn’s yellow eyes flickered with uncertainty as she glanced at Adam. Her voice carried a note of genuine curiosity.
"Why did you let them go? Weren’t we planning to wipe them all out?"
Adam let out a slow hum, his crimson eyes fixed on the path ahead. His voice was thoughtful, measured.
"Hmm... I could feel tension between them. There was something off about that place—like they weren’t just a group of thugs. I don’t like getting caught up in political conflicts if I can avoid it."
Alice’s tail lashed with visible irritation, her dark violet eyes narrowing as she shot Adam a sharp look. Her voice carried a note of exasperated frustration.
"Haaah... Instead of letting them go, we should’ve just finished them off before they could cause us trouble. I could sense it—that man with the metal arm has bad intentions. He’s planning something."
Azrynn nodded slowly, her yellow eyes thoughtful. Her voice carried a note of cautious agreement.
"I agree. He was too calm, too prepared. And the way he looked at us... it was like he was already calculating how to use us."
Adam’s brow furrowed, a flicker of unease passing through his crimson eyes.
"That’s what bothers me too. He knew I was a dragon. How? Did Selena tell him? Or does he have another source?"
Alice’s ear twitched, her tail pausing mid-sway as she considered his words. Her voice carried a note of sharp skepticism.
"You think the blacksmith might have told them?"
Adam shook his head slowly, his voice carrying a note of reluctant dismissal.
"Maybe. But it doesn’t really matter—whether they know I’m a dragon or not, the result is the same. If they try anything, I’ll just kill them."
Alice’s voice carried a note of weary resignation as she let out a long sigh.
"And that’s exactly why you always end up in trouble, Adam. You wait until someone attacks you before you act. It’s exhausting to watch."
Adam’s lips curved into a faint smile.
"I’m just trying not to destroy another city. That’s called restraint."
Alice’s dark violet eyes narrowed, her voice carrying a note of pointed curiosity as she sniffed the air.
"Fine. It’s your choice." She paused, her tail flicking with sudden interest. "But speaking of interesting things... I can smell Ignis all over you. Did something happen between you two?"
Adam’s steps faltered for just a fraction of a second, his crimson eyes widening slightly before he forced his expression back to neutral. His internal voice was a sharp, panicked whisper.
’Shit. I forgot how sharp Alice’s nose is.’
He cleared his throat, forcing a note of casual dismissal into his voice.
"Uh... we just slept next to each other last night. She was hugging me pretty tightly, and I couldn’t really move. So I just... fell asleep like that."
Alice’s dark violet eyes fixed on him with an unblinking, penetrating stare. The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable. Adam could feel a bead of sweat forming on his temple.
Finally, Alice spoke, her voice flat and measured.
"Hmm... I don’t fully believe you. But I’ll try to trust you—for now." Her tail lashed once, sharp and deliberate, her voice dropping to a cold edge. "If I find out you’re lying, I’ll chop you into pieces."
Adam let out a nervous, defensive laugh, his hands raised in mock surrender.
"Don’t say such terrifying things! And what exactly are you imagining?"
Alice’s cheeks flushed faintly, her tail swaying in an erratic, flustered rhythm. Her voice dropped, carrying a note of shy embarrassment.
"Maybe... maybe you two were... reproducing..."
Azrynn’s yellow eyes widened slightly, her voice carrying a note of genuine surprise.
"Is that true? I didn’t realize your relationship with Ignis had progressed that far."
Adam’s voice rose, sharp and flustered.
"Don’t think about weird things! I didn’t do anything like that!"
Azrynn tilted her head, a flicker of doubt crossing her features.
"But you just said she was hugging you tightly..."
Adam’s eye twitched, his voice rising with exasperation.
"That’s different! Hugging and reproducing are completely different things!"
Alice’s tail swayed with a sharp, irritated flick as she continued walking, her dark violet eyes fixed on the path ahead. Her voice carried a note of pointed curiosity.
"Yeah, okay, fine. I’ll accept your answer for now." She paused, her ear twitching. "But have you noticed that Lilith has been irritated with you lately?"
Adam blinked, his brow furrowing with genuine confusion. His voice carried a note of surprise.
"Eh? Is that true?"
Azrynn nodded slowly, her yellow eyes carrying a hint of unease. Her voice dropped, as if sharing a secret.
"Every time I see her, she looks at me with such irritation and starts teasing me—making me do embarrassing poses while she watches and laughs."
Adam’s voice rose with incredulity.
"Why do you even listen to her?!"
Azrynn’s hand drifted to her chest, a faint flush creeping up her cheeks. Her voice came out soft, uncertain.
"I... don’t know. When she does it... I feel happy..."
Adam’s internal voice was a sharp, bewildered whisper.
’What the hell is this? Did Lilith turn Azrynn into a masochist?!’
Alice let out a low, frustrated growl, her tail lashing with barely contained annoyance.
"She grabbed my tail and said it ’felt exactly like her silk threads—just thicker.’ Then she started measuring it with her fingers like she was planning to weave something out of me!"
Adam’s brow furrowed deeper, his voice carrying a note of bewildered concern as he processed their words.
"That’s... really strange. I didn’t realize she was that upset."
Alice’s tail lashed with sharp, pointed frustration, her dark violet eyes narrowing as she shot Adam a flat, accusing look.
"Maybe it’s because she’s slowly going insane from your behavior back in the dungeon, Adam. You know—when you left her behind. That probably didn’t sit well with her."
Adam winced, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as a flicker of guilt crossed his face.
"I already apologized for that. I said I was sorry."
Azrynn shook her head slowly, her yellow eyes carrying a note of quiet understanding.
"A simple apology won’t be enough to ease her anger, Adam. She mentioned wanting to punish you—but since she’s afraid of you, she’s been taking it out on us instead."
Alice’s tail bristled with irritation as she let out a low, frustrated growl.
"Exactly! It’s so annoying. Every time I try to get back at her for her little games, she somehow knows it’s coming. Last time I tried to lace her tea with something, she just smiled at me and said, ’That’s a lovely blend, Alice. I’ll save it for later.’"
Adam blinked, his voice carrying a note of stunned disbelief.
"What kind of revenge was that supposed to be?"
Alice’s ear twitched, her voice dropping to a defensive mutter.
"It was supposed to make her sleep for a full day."
Adam let out a long, heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as he felt the beginnings of a headache forming behind his eyes.
"Alright, alright. I’ll try to talk to her. See if I can smooth things over." He shot Alice and Azrynn a pointed look. "That way, you two can finally have some peace."
Alice’s tail swayed, a flicker of grudging approval passing through her dark violet eyes.
"Good. Because if you don’t, I’m going to start losing my mind."
Azrynn’s yellow eyes softened with quiet relief. Her voice carried a note of genuine gratitude.
"Thank you, Adam. I appreciate it."
Adam’s lips curved into a faint, tired smile as he turned back toward the path ahead.
"Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get back to the others before Lilith decides to start another ’experiment’ on someone."