Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 62: Enemies for life

Chapter 62: Enemies for life

Shortly after the couple strolled along the corridors, they eventually reached their destination. Rhea softly knocked on the door, and a gentle voice responded from inside, saying, "Enter."

Rhea turned the doorknob and guided Draven into the dimly illuminated room. With a smile on her face, she exclaimed, "Aria, my dear, the stunning belle of the city. Your beauty never fails to captivate me whenever I lay eyes on you." She deliberately elongated her words, imitating the crude behavior of men who frequented brothels.

The young lady in the room was dressed in a fitted maroon gown that emphasized her natural curves. The dress had a lengthy slit that began at the thigh and extended downward. She sat at the edge of the bed, her milky white legs visible through the opening, maintaining a straight posture. Without even glancing in Rhea’s direction, she continued to apply scented oils to her leg, with her silky ebony hair pouring down her shoulders like satin with her movements.

"You seem quite pleased, Lord Malcolm. Have you managed to deceive yet another noble with a drinking problem?" Her voice resembled the gentle tinkling of clear bells, soft and delicate.

Draven couldn’t help but be amazed by the woman’s breathtaking beauty. She was enchanting and incredibly stunning, surpassing any description. Every movement of her hands, the way her eyes flickered, and the gentle lift of her delicate fingers radiated grace and charm. However, he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her voice. Moreover, there was a faintly familiar scent in her aura that reminded him of his realm. Draven shook his head to clear his mind of the scent, even though it was soothing and calming.

It was all so strange...

Rhea quickly strode towards the bed and took the oils from Aria’s hands and began to apply it for her. "Not yet." She answered her earlier question, "but I was thinking of doing so very soon." She grinned.

Aria lifted her head to meet Rhea’s gaze. "Where have you been? It’s been months since I last saw you. Did something happen to you in the Duke’s mansion?" she asked softly, but the edge in her voice was unmistakable.

Rhea nonchalantly waved her hand. "Oh, please, nothing happened to me. I was taken somewhere, but it’s not worth mentioning right now. Anyway, I’m back."

"I’m glad to hear that you’re back. But I’m surprised you’ve come to see me at this late hour. Don’t tell me you’re here because you need my help with your scheming again?" Although Aria’s tone sounded cool, her eyes were filled with amusement.

"Of course not!" Rhea quickly responded. "You make it sound like I only come here to make money and get free meals!"

"Well, isn’t that the case?"

"Exactly," Rhea leaned closer to Aria’s face and seductively whispered, "My dear Aria, come on, let me stay in your building for a few days. I promise you won’t regret it; I’ll satisfy your desires just the way you like."

Hearing Rhea’s words, Aria’s red lips broke into a smile. She rolled her eyes and gently pushed Rhea’s face back. "I have no idea where you learned all these words and how you dally about with women. Move over, I have some guests waiting for me."

Rhea hurriedly spoke. "Let’s have some tea before you go and meet your guest." Rhea placed three cups onto the table and carefully filled them up.

Aria glanced at Draven, who was still standing to the side, and then shifted her attention back to the tea that Rhea had just finished pouring. After taking a sip, she commented, "It’s the first time I’ve seen you with someone else, and now you want to spend some days in my building. So, spill the beans, who is this good-looking man? Have you finally found someone you love and want to elope with?"

Rhea nearly choked on her tea. "There’s no way I would ever fall in love with someone like him. He’s a disaster in my life and my biggest problem. We came here to see you for something else," Rhea muttered. Why would she elope with this guy? It was impossible! Love was the last thing on her mind.

Aria’s eyebrows twitched slightly. She set down her tea cup and motioned for Draven to join them at the table. "Please, have a seat," she said. Then, turning to Rhea, she asked, "Tell me, what is it that you want?"

Rhea’s expression turned serious, she then said. "You see, this man here...well, I can’t tell you his identity, but with your gifted sense, I know you can already smell his unusual aura."

Aria frowned, "I sensed it even before you entered. His aura has a distinct scent unlike any other being I have encountered. So I assume you are here to obtain the mask, am I correct?"

Draven narrowed his eyes slightly at Aria. She was a sharp and attractive woman, and individuals like her were dangerous. The fact that she wasn’t a fire controller, but a human who could detect his aura, indicated she was not an ordinary person. Additionally, the faint familiar aura surrounding her only confirmed that she was not entirely human either.

Rhea giggled softly. "You know me so well, Aria. I came here specifically to ask for the mask," Rhea held Aria’s soft hand in hers and praised, "My beloved Aria, I understand that the mask is expensive, but I don’t have the money to pay for it. If you could help me get it for free. I’ll sell my soul to you and be your lover forever. Please, I beg you to assist me with this."

Aria chuckled at Rhea’s words. "Oh, you’re so dramatic." She playfully tapped Rhea’s forehead.

Rhea’s eyes widened like a cute bunny. "So, is that a yes?"

Aria nodded. "Hmm, unfortunately, I just gave away the last mask I had, and it would take more than a month to make another one. However, there is another mask available, but its downside is that it absorbs all types of auras, including human aura."

Draven and Rhea exchanged glances. Absorbing all aura would raise suspicion when encountering any fire controller. But at this point, Draven couldn’t simply roam around the city with his strong dragon scent. It would only get them into trouble even before they got far. The capital was the main residence of all the fire controllers. They couldn’t afford to take that risk.

Before Rhea could respond, Draven interjected. "By any chance, do you have the mask with you now?"

Aria shook her head. "No, I don’t have it here. But if you need it urgently, I can send someone to retrieve it for me tomorrow."

Draven’s usually sealed lips broke into a faint smile, giving him a more youthful appearance than he already had. Rhea wished he would smile more often as she watched him express gratitude to Aria. "I would appreciate that, my lady. Thank you so much," he sincerely mused.

Aria returned the smile and replied, "There’s no need to thank me. Just thank your friend. I rarely see her help someone so wholeheartedly - you’re the first." Despite only knowing Rhea for a year, Aria understood her mindset. Rhea hardly displayed her willingness to help others in their presence, so her insistence on obtaining the mask for Draven indicated his significance to her in some way.

Draven turned towards Rhea, but upon noticing her smug expression, as if expecting gratitude from him, his "thank you" got stuck in his throat. It should have been simple, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter the words. His pride was at stake. Instead, he stared at her with tightly pressed lips before looking away and clearing his throat.

"You ungrateful jerk!" Rhea clenched her fist and aimed a punch at his shoulders, but her blow hardly affected him. He remained unbothered by her actions and maintained his indifferent expression.

Observing the interaction between the two, Aria’s lips curved into a faint smile. She then inquired, "Is that all you need my help with?"

Rhea wanted to nod, but then recalled what the ghost had told her about the elixirs. "Aria, do you happen to know about the dragon elixirs in the city?"

Aria raised an eyebrow, but didn’t speak. Rhea continued, "Well, I recently heard of these elixirs that the fire controllers are producing by using dragons essence. They sell them around the world, do you know where these elixirs are being produced in the capital?"

Aria dropped her tea cup, she was silent for a few seconds before speaking. "So you want my help in finding this establishment where the elixirs are being produced?"

Rhea nodded.

Aria let out a sigh. "To be honest, I cannot reveal any information about this matter," she stated. Getting up from her seat, the silky maroon ends of her skirt cascaded on the floor like a river of blood. She walked slowly towards the window, gazing at the bustling capital city. "If you’re thinking of getting involved in this, I strongly suggest you reconsider," she began, her voice serious. "By doing so, you will attract the attention of the fire controllers and the royal officials of Birhhan. These two groups hold immense power in Birhhan and they have authorized the production. So, Rhea," Aria turned around, her expression grave, "even if they are engaging in illicit activities by creating those elixirs, it is still legal in Birhhan. Although I wish I could assist you, I’m afraid I don’t have the authority to do so."

Draven glanced at Rhea, anticipating her withdrawal, but to his surprise, she smiled. "Aria, your words really resonated with me. I understand if you don’t want to get involved. As long as you can get the mask for us, it would already be a great help." Rhea set aside her teacup and stood up. "Well, I’ll be staying in The Den Of Pleasure for a while. Thank you." With that, Rhea took hold of Draven’s wrist. "Let’s go, I’ll explore and choose a room." Rhea exited the room with Draven.

However, Aria, who was standing by the window in her own room, observed their departure from the corridor. She called out, "Rheanna, I don’t understand why you decided to involve yourself in this. It could ruin you. Sometimes, to live a peaceful life, you must learn to overlook certain things, whether they are good or bad."

Rhea’s footsteps slightly halted. She looked up and then grinned, revealing her bunny-like teeth. "Aria, I thought you knew me better than anyone. If I have to live a peaceful life by turning a blind eye to evil, then I don’t want that kind of peace. Peace and I have never been friends, so I suppose we’ll remain enemies for life."