A Pet for the Dragons

149.

ARIKA

I almost panicked when the guards searched us. I thought I would be caught with the knives in my skirt's pockets, but surprisingly, the guards said nothing. I'm sure they had noticed the knives and all, but they still let us pass. This was bewildering.

Was this some setup? I searched Ivret's face for some clue but found none. He looked pretty relaxed, a bored expression on his face. He looked like a proper spoiled lordling at that moment. Though a really handsome one at that.

For a moment, I couldn't believe I was looking at the same clueless and innocent dragon who had once asked me what I meant by doing me. It all felt like an illusion.

As soon as we walked into the Grand Hall, my jaw hit the floor. It was grand with capital letters. Every part of the ceiling and the walls seemed to be made of gold. The lights from the candles and torches beautifully reflected off the glass and mirror chandeliers, drenching the grand room in a warm glow. There was music playing somewhere, and I searched the room until I spotted an orchestra in one part of the room. They were playing all these strange instruments I had never seen before.

Apart from that, all kinds of dragons flooded the room, and as we walked in, a few of them stopped to look at us, especially me. I couldn't help but step closer to Ivret, feeling their prying eyes on me. It wasn't that I was shy. It was that... Radrox and Zorge had told me a lot about the stuff that happened here in the name of entertainment, and I didn't want to be part of that.

As we ventured deeper into the room, a dragon approached us and greeted Ivret with a deep bow but completely ignored me. He seemed to be one of the hosts because he led us to our designated seats. Ivret made a low noise of annoyance but said nothing as he sat. He flicked his fingers at me— a silent order to sit by his feet.

I groaned but obeyed regardless. This was all for show... right? I glanced at Ivret's face for confirmation or assurance, but I got none. Instead, he looked so cold and distant, as if he couldn't care less about me.

This is all for show. I told myself before my thoughts could spiral into more negativity. He was playing his role of being a spoiled, arrogant and rich Lord while I was to be his human pet. That's all. It stung my pride to sit by his feet, but it was simply better to be silent and obey in this situation.

As soon as we took our seats, the curtains from the grand balcony were drawn back, revealing Mavie. The music picked up into a pompous tone, signalling the arrival of none other than the Empress.

I couldn't see clearly from where I was sitting, but I could hear everything. As I lightly shifted on the small cushion I was given to sit on, I noticed a dragon on the nearby table staring at me hungrily. He had these strange green eyes that reminded me of snakes. I shuddered and looked away, shifting closer to Ivret. It didn't help because I could still feel his eyes on me, travelling over my whole body.

"Quit moving," Ivret muttered, resting his hand on my shoulder. If he noticed the dragon staring at me, he didn't react. Instead, he remained silent, all his attention on Mavie's speech. Ivret's touch calmed me a bit.

I tried tuning into Mavie's speech, welcoming all the guests for the dinner. I couldn't have cared less about it. I was too busy studying everything and everyone around me. I noticed a high table on one side of the room loaded with much food. The golden throne there gave it away to be Mavie's place.

We were sitting somewhat close to that. I noticed other dragons nearby and how they had brought their pets and slaves, too. I saw a girl sitting by her master's table nearby. She looked like a human for a moment, but when she turned her face slightly, I noticed her strange pointy ears and pink eyes. I shuddered and looked away, trying not to think of what kind of creature she could be.

As Mavie's speech ended, everyone stood up to raise their goblets for the Empress and chanted something in a strange language. I guess it was their version of All Hail the Queen and Long Live the Queen.

Soon after this, chatter filled the room as the night commenced. I tugged at Ivret's cloak, making his head snap towards me.

"What happened?" I asked him, but he completely ignored me. Just then, the dragon who had been eyeing me all this time strolled to our table.

"Lord Kalaz, is that you?" The dragon greeted the Ivret, but his eyes remained on me, devouring me sickly. I looked away, unable to stare into his creepy emerald-green eyes for long. They reminded me of the Cardinal Guards, who never failed to creep me out.

"Lord Halbow," Ivret greeted the dragon who was busy olging at me, "It's me indeed. I'm surprised to see you here,"

"You should be," Lord Hlabow barked almost a savage laugh, sending a shiver down my spine. "Being an absentee of the court does that to you, but I'm so glad to see you're back. And it seems you've brought an exciting little thing with you," He said, stalking towards me. I looked away, my hand going towards the knife, but he took my bun and forced me to look into his creepy green eyes. Lord Halbow smiled at me, flashing me his canines that almost looked like a snake's fang, dripping with venom. "Is she what I think she is?"

~

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