Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 63: Unusual relationship

Chapter 63: Unusual relationship

Rhea and Draven found themselves standing outside the door of their given room. Aria had insisted that due to the building’s limited rooms, they would have to share a room for the rest of their stay in The Den Of Pleasure. They had no choice but to take the room.

Opening the door, Rhea and Draven entered the dimly lit room, their tired eyes scanning the space. The room was cozy, illuminated by the soft flickering of candlelight. The room was adorned with rustic wooden furniture, a large bed covered in a warm, embroidered quilt dominating the center. A small table sat against the far wall, where a bowl of fresh fruits and a jug of water were placed, courtesy of the room’s keeper.

Rhea’s gaze drifted around the room, taking in the mismatched but charming decor. The walls were adorned with faded paintings of scenic landscapes, while a beautiful tapestry hung above the bed, depicting a mythical forest. The faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, coming from the dried bunches hanging from a hook near the window.

Rhea sighed, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. She had hoped for separate rooms, but it seemed fate had different plans, she would have to share this room with the dragon again. She glanced at Draven, who seemed equally unsure about the situation.

"Looks like we’ll have to make do again," Rhea said, trying to break the awkward silence.

"Yes, it seems so," Draven replied, his voice betraying a hint of reluctance. He didn’t like the idea of sharing a room with Rhea, because she’d end up taking the bed for herself again, while making him sleep on the floor. However, he had no choice but to make do with this again.

After Rhea and Draven settled down in the room, and the night progressed, the sound of hurried footsteps and distant laughter and chatter drifted through the thin walls of the corridors. Rhea furrowed her brows, curious about the commotion. She turned to the servant, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, who had just brought them their meals.

"Excuse me," Rhea called out, catching the woman’s attention as she set the tray down on the table. "I couldn’t help but notice the noise outside. What’s happening in the building?"

The servant paused, offering Rhea a warm smile. "Ah, yes. There’s a grand banquet happening in the noble city hall tonight. Girls from this establishment were invited to be the event’s entertainment, so they’re excited to attend. That’s why everyone seems to be in a rush."

Rhea’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected such a grand event to be taking place. Such events were mostly thrown by noblemen and royal officials, it was mostly drinks and entertainment only for young men to pass time. If she and Draven could attend, they could find some information in the banquet about the elixirs. Curiosity sparked within her.

"Is it something we could attend?" Rhea asked, glancing at Draven, who seemed taken aback.

The woman hesitated for a moment before responding. "Well, it’s an exclusive gathering for only noblemen and officials, the only women there, are girls from... places like this." The woman remarked with an awkward smile. The only women allowed in such places were; girls from brothels.

Rhea nodded in understanding. And after the woman left the room, she said to Draven, "Hurry up and eat, we have an event to attend."

Draven nearly choked on his meal, but he swiftly regained control. Was she serious? Women were not typically allowed in such places, and Rhea was not associated with the brothel, so why would she attend? Draven pondered silently, but he refrained from objecting. He didn’t want her to misunderstand and think he was behaving like her husband again, so he merely gave her a subtle glance.

Rhea lifted her gaze from her plate and met his eyes. Upon observing his expression, she set down her spoon and glared. "Don’t give me that look. What do you suppose I’m going there for? It’s an occasion where only noble guests, and even a few officials, will be present. I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to discover the whereabouts of the elixirs’ production."

Draven nodded in agreement. She was correct. An event like that could serve as a perfect means to gather valuable information, and they might even uncover the location where Alina stored his dragon powers to make the elixirs.

Draven shifted his gaze to Rhea. He observed her for a moment before saying, "Are you not afraid that what your friend said might be a better choice? Invoving in this matter might further put you in trouble." He said softly.

Rhea scoffed, stating, "Trouble and I have been closely acquainted for a long time. Therefore, I am unfazed by encountering it." She mused nonchalantly, although deep inside she also harbored fear about the potential outcome of the situation. If she were to be caught involving herself with the dragons, she would be executed immediately, as she had already violated numerous rules. Nonetheless, she could not simply stand idle while innocent children were being killed on a daily basis to produce foolish elixirs.

"We must hurry before the event comes to an end." Rhea quickly consumed two mouthfuls of food, swallowing them whole without chewing. Without considering whether Draven had finished eating, she swiftly ushered him out of the room. "Leave, I need to change my clothes." Draven didn’t even have a chance to set his plate down before the door was abruptly shut in his face.

He opened his mouth to speak, but closed them in the end. He was already used to Rhea’s impulsive and rash behavior, he wasn’t a slightest bit angry. He simply sighed and looked down at his unfinished food, before leaning against the wall to finish it up.

Just when he was about to look for the kitchen to return the plate, the room’s door opened again. "Draven, I urgently need your help." Said Rhea. "Can you please come help me tie my hair just like you do yours?" She asked with an awkward smile.

Draven was taken aback by her request, raising an eyebrow in surprise. He examined the outfit she was wearing, he had expected her to dress provocatively like the other girls at the brothel for the banquet. However, to his astonishment, she was dressed in men’s clothing. It appeared that she had bound her chest, as it looked entirely flat. If someone didn’t know she was a woman, they could easily mistake her for a small teenage boy.

Rhea struggled to brush her long silver hair, frustrated that it was longer than a typical man’s hair. She clenched her teeth in annoyance and made a few more attempts, but still couldn’t get it right. Eventually, she let her hair fall back down around her shoulders like a waterfall.

She pouted childishly and stamped her feet on the ground in frustration. "Ahh, Draven. My hair has grown longer than before, I can’t seem to get a man’s hairstyle right. Please tie my hair for me." Without giving him a chance to refuse, she pulled him into the room and shut the door behind them.

Draven watched as she went and sat down in front of the dressing table. She held a brush in her delicate hand, her silver locks cascading down her back. He gazed at her reflection, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

She then handed him the brush. "Here..."

Draven’s blue eyes flickered with surprise, his aloof demeanor momentarily broke as his gaze lingered on Rhea’s lush, beautiful silver hair, as if spellbound by its enchanting allure. He subconsciously reached out for the brush, but when he saw their reflection in the mirror together, his hand suddenly stopped.

"It’s inappropriate for me to brush your hair, it’s an intimate act between real couples." He said indifferently.

Rhea laughed in amusement at his words. "Yeah right, dragon. You’ve already touched me inappropriately while taking my blood, you’ve also kissed me without my permission, so what else? How can styling my hair be a problem after you’ve done all that to me?" Rhea rolled her eyes, before Draven could speak, she added, "If any intimacy would cause any romance between us, then I’d have been madly in love with you by now. So, rest assured that brushing my hair wouldn’t change anything between us. Hurry up."

Draven mulled over it for moment. Well, she wasn’t wrong. The both of them had an unusual relationship. Each had their own plans in mind. Rhea was already in love with Azure, as for him, Alina’s betrayal had left him wounded for life, he could never give his heart to another woman ever again. It was exactly as Rhea had said; it was impossible for any intimacy to happen between them.

Draven’s hesitation melted away as he reached out, he took the brush from Rhea’s hand, his fingers accidentally brushing against hers in a subtle caress. His long fingers began to work through Rhea’s silver locks, his touch gentle and tentative at first. But as he continued, his confidence grew.

The room fell into a peaceful silence, broken only by the soft sound of the brush gliding through Rhea’s silvery locks. He swiftly gathered her hair on top of her head and used a black hair cloth to bind them together, making Rhea subconsciously close her eyes in relaxation.

Rhea slowly opened her eyes again, she looked at Draven’s reflection in the mirror. He looked completely engrossed in styling her hair, his eyes never waving away from her hair. She silently studied his aloof face. She hated to admit it, but they did look like a real couple with the way he was gently handling her hair.

Throughout Rhea’s entire life, nobody had ever touched her hair as delicately as her foster mother, except for now. The more time she spent with this dragon, the more she realized that he wasn’t as terrible as she originally thought. Just like in the wagon, she had pretended not to notice when he shifted to make her more comfortable and covered her legs with his coat.

Although she initially despised him after he had harmed her in the cave, for some inexplicable reason, she couldn’t continue hating him. Moreover, his treatment of old lady Lila, resembling that of a loving grandson, made it evident that he had a kind heart...

It could be deduced that he was once a gentle dragon many years ago. However, now he had transformed into someone who didn’t even know how to smile, appearing somber and indifferent all the time. Alina could be blamed for being the one who ruined this man; a man with unparalleled powers reduced to a mere commoner living among his enemies. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was like when he was a king.

She began to imagine him on his throne, his subjects bowing to him. That would have been a sight she’d like to witness someday. Rhea’s breathing slowed, her body relaxing in the soothing rhythm of Draven’s fingers in her hair.

"All done." Draven removed his hands from her hair and raised his head to observe her reflection in the mirror. However, he noticed that she had closed her eyes as if drifting off to sleep. He furrowed his brows and flicked her forehead. "Wake up, we need to go." Without waiting for her response, he exited the room.

Rhea snapped out of her drowsiness and scolded herself. "Idiot, how could you doze off like that!" She quickly got up and chased after Draven. "Wait for me!"