Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 185: The Dragon Mountain

Chapter 185: The Dragon Mountain

Loraline finished arranging Melania’s long, curly hair into a loose braid, securing short rogue strands with small pins adorned with tiny porcelain flowers. Stepping back, she admired her handiwork, then smiled at the princess’ reflection and proudly declared,

"All done, Your Highness! You are now ready to go."

The princess slowly tilted her head from side to side, examining her attendant’s work, and nodded.

"Thank you, Loraline. It looks refreshing."

Curious about Melania’s choice, Loraline asked,

"What prompted you to wear your hair down today? Now that it’s getting warmer as spring progresses, more and more ladies in the Capital prefer to wear their hair up to reveal their necks and shoulders."

Melania twisted her youthful face into a disapproving grimace and retorted arrogantly,

"This is precisely why I do not wish to follow these ridiculous trends. After meeting with that young artist, I feel like... I look at him and see nothing but Lafad. He managed to preserve that unique air about him even though he was born and raised in Geraldion, and I want to do the same. I was the princess of Lafad before I became the princess of Geraldion. And since this marriage is supposed to unite two kingdoms, I see nothing wrong with me remaining the person I was born to be—a person from Lafad."

The princess’ words tugged at Loraline’s heartstrings, and she, too, felt that subtle melancholic longing for the most prominent part of her soul; she, too, aspired to remain who she was and carry it onward instead of merging with something foreign, carrying her legacy until the very end.

Lafadians were very proud people, and she was glad that the princess’ heart refused to forget that.

Taking a seat on a plush ottoman next to her lady, the woman joined her hands on her knees and continued,

"Speaking of which... How was your second meeting with that young artist? What was his name again... Hayim?"

"Hayim Kidar," Melania added, her face lighting up as the topic of their conversation changed to something more pleasant than the noble ladies of Geraldion. "He showed me his paintings two days ago, and I couldn’t believe my eyes! Loraline, he is a pure genius! And most importantly, he doesn’t paint like the artists from the Capital. His technique stands out quite a lot, and I think this is precisely what makes his painting so special. Just looking at his paintings makes me feel in my soul that he is not doing it for money like others do; he strives to express himself with every single brushstroke!"

Loraline smiled and shifted her eyes to the oil painting of the ocean that her lady purchased at the auction. The more she looked at it, the more she believed in the princess’ excitement— the young man’s talent was incomparable, and it pained her heart to think that he might never receive proper recognition simply because he was born a peasant.

Having noticed her lady-in-waiting’s piqued interest, Melania continued,

"You know, Loraline... If I can figure out all the intricacies of the process, I am considering establishing my own charity organization!"

"Truly?" Loraline couldn’t contain her bewilderment. The princess nodded. "Yes. I want to help people like Hayim— those from foreign lands who are trapped here due to the enormous debts they owe to nobles who offered them money while practically turning them into slaves in return. I want to find a way for them to work in honest conditions and have a chance to pay off their debt and go back home."

Although exhilarated at first, the attendant had to take a moment and mull this idea over for a while. The thought was nothing but honorable and only proved how generous and kind-hearted the princess was. However, there was one significant problem that could still stand in her way of achieving that noble cause.

"What about the funds, Your Highness? This affair will mean paying money from your own pocket to ensure that these people are indeed receiving the money that was promised to them for their labor."

Melania leaned back in her chair and looked at her reflection in the mirror, her beautiful face turning darker again.

"If needed, I will use the money from my dowry."

"I wonder if the royal family will approve of this..."

The princess shrugged her shoulders in a rather nonchalant manner.

"I can also ask my brother to help; after all, he is to become the new king. And who knows, perhaps I can even turn it into a continental thing, seeing how the coalition is about to be formed. I am certain that this will only strengthen the international link."

The lady-in-waiting clasped her hands in a cheerful manner, her eyes beaming with joy.

"This is such a wonderful idea, Your Highness! Imagine how proud your family will be of you when this turns into a complete success!"

"Yes... Even though I still feel incredibly lonely here, at least now I have two things to help me feel a little warmer at heart––King Yuraon’s letters and helping people in need."

"Oh!" Loraline clasped her hands again, leaning closer as she lowered her voice as if scared that someone might overhear them. "How is His Majesty doing? The envelopes from him are getting thicker and thicker with each letter. It must be a good sign, right?"

Melania released a somewhat sad sigh and shook her head, her voice becoming quiet as well.

"He has a lot to share, and I like that about him; however... The things he talks about are quite depressing."

"Depressing? How so?"

"He has been quite sad lately. He said that his respected mentor and best friend had a series of rather unfortunate events happening to him and his wife, and it made him restless. His Majesty said that his friend’s wife helped him a lot in the past, and he hates to see her suffer."

Loraline shook her head, the sadness in her voice evident as she replied, "His Majesty has a heart of gold! What a kind soul... He must cherish his friend a lot to feel this way about his fate."

"Yes, that is true..."

The princess looked at the clock on the opposite wall and sighed again, rising from her chair and picking up her hat from the dressing table.

"Well, I have to go now, Loraline. I am meeting Hayim at the Royal Gallery today. I have to discuss something with the owner, and hopefully, the young man will have a chance to work there during this upcoming season."

Offering her attendant a friendly wave, Melania tied the silk ribbons of the hat under her chin and left the room, excited to see Hayim again.

***

Aideen’s bare feet were a mess of blood and snow. Guided by an invisible force, she continued to walk forward, oblivious to her surroundings. She was neither scared nor confused, and the longer she walked, the more at peace she felt because that strange, distant, and unfamiliar voice ringing inside her head was always there, calling her to follow it, urging her to trust it completely.

There seemed to be nothing to stand in her way, and even the magic beasts did not dare to come closer to her, scattering in panic the moment they saw her walk in their direction.

And thus, she walked. She walked through the piles of snow, over the biting cold surface of the icy trails, through the thorny trunks of the black forest until finally, she stopped, standing tall before the towering peaks of the Dragon Mountain.

The legendary Dragon Mountain had its majestic peaks piercing the darkened sky like the serrated spine of a colossal beast. Blue-hued and crowned with eternal snow, these towering sentinels stood as silent guardians over the land, their slopes a treacherous maze of ice and rock.

But it was not just the formidable exterior that lent the mountain its name. Deep within its icy embrace lay a network of caves, winding and dark, whispered to be the resting place of the founding dragon, Utar. Legend spoke of how the founding dragon was sealed within the mountain, his slumbering form metamorphosing into the very peaks that now bore this name.

Aideen couldn’t behold the astonishing aura of the mountain, but she felt a strange pull, a voice calling out to her now not from inside her head, but from the depths of the mountain, urging her to draw closer, to make contact with the ancient dragon’s body that Tillian had carved when he was looking for the dragon’s heart. With a mixture of fear and curiosity, she followed the echoing call, each step bringing her closer to a destiny she could scarcely comprehend.

And just as her hand stretched forward, guided by the unfathomable power that seemed to be lingering over her, her long and thin fingers touched something cold and sturdy, until her entire hand was pressed against the chilling surface of the unknown.

Finally pulled out of her hypnotized state, the loud voice rang louder as if its owner was standing right before her.

"Aideen, my child... You finally came."