13. Xi, can we be friends?

Click, click.

“You… don’t think you can buy me off with just a few skewers of grilled meat.”

The same words, the same vague meaning.

But what differed was the tone in which they were spoken.

Valentina’s voice no longer carried the earlier hardness; instead, there was only a faint trace of dignity, tinged with a touch of pity.

This was her final stubbornness—hers and hers alone.

How could a proud dragon be reduced to such a state by mere grilled meat?

If word got out, it would be a laughingstock.

No, absolutely impossible!

While thinking this, she tearfully bit a chunk of meat off the skewer and chewed it very gracefully.

Having learned from last time, she now savored each bite slowly, intending to truly enjoy this culinary delight.

Herbert observed all this quietly but said nothing.

He neither mocked nor demanded anything excessive while she was vulnerable.

It wasn’t enough.

Indeed, as Valentina said, a simple barbecue was hardly enough to make such a proud dragon bow her head.

The stakes were far from sufficient.

But so what?

From the start, Herbert never intended to bend her with this alone.

Did he want a hollow, feigned submission?

No.

What he sought was… habituation.

Herbert wanted Valentina to get used to his presence, to adapt to the exchange where he provided her food, to make her feel indispensable.

Better yet… to even develop withdrawal symptoms!

Of course, that was still far off; their relationship needed constant nurturing.

How to cultivate it?

By continuous feeding, by steadily building goodwill.

And to achieve that…

He needed a reasonable justification.

So, as Valentina chewed, Herbert once again made his request—if she refrained from swearing, he would bring her food.

“(Chew chew chew) Hmph, why must you force me not to swear?” Valentina asked in confusion, not understanding why he was so fixated on this point.

“First, I am a paladin, and such language makes me uncomfortable.”

“Second, although you are a prisoner and I the warden, I hope we can become friends.”

“And friendship is built on treating each other peacefully and equally, isn’t it?”

“Miss Valentina, don’t you want to be friends with me?”

Herbert looked at Valentina earnestly; his bright eyes were filled with sincerity, causing her to awkwardly look away.

“This is my only request. Is that too much?”

Friends?

Valentina was puzzled and even a little bewildered upon hearing the word.

As a dragon, she had never had friends.

Expelled from the nest by her mother as a hatchling, she wandered alone all her life, never building a lair nor associating with other dragons.

She would claim a territory, stay for a while, then leave when bored, seeking the next.

Valentina rarely communicated with others; even when necessary, she delegated matters to the human sorceress she had captured.

She firmly believed that the strong were solitary.

Dragons needed no companions.

No need at all.

So why, when that sorceress was hunted down and killed, did she feel anger? Why did she want to destroy those people and their families?

Was it because her dignity had been insulted?

“…Ah.”

During her long imprisonment, Valentina had pondered many things without finding an answer.

But the moment this young mortal made this unheard-of request, a sudden flash of understanding came.

Friend… had she once considered that person a friend?

She fell silent for a moment.

After some reflection, Valentina came back to herself and looked deeply at Herbert.

Was he doing this on purpose?

After holding his gaze for a while, she turned her head aside and muttered uncertainly, “…If it’s just friendship, then I suppose it’s not impossible.”

She didn’t understand why she agreed.

Perhaps she just wanted to use him to prove something deep within her heart.

Upon hearing her reply, Herbert smiled and smoothly withdrew a blank sheet of paper from his pocket, earnestly saying, “Then you shall sign a contract.”

“Um… what!?”

Valentina suddenly turned, eyes wide, glaring at the ungrateful mortal, intending to teach him a proper lesson—

But before she could get angry, her words caught in her throat as she noticed the faint smile at the corner of the young man’s mouth.

She had been played!

“Heh, just kidding.”

Herbert folded away the blank paper and winked at her teasingly.

Then he stepped back, lightly pressed his right hand to his chest, and gave the prisoner inside the cell a slight noble’s bow.

“Though I introduced myself the day before yesterday, allow me to do so once more.”

“I am Herbert Albert, son of a duke, a paladin who has taken a vow of purity, and the new warden of this prison.”

“From now on, please feel free to call me Herbert, and I shall address you as Valentina.”

He stepped forward and, astonishingly, knelt on one knee before the prisoner inside the cell, extending his right hand toward her.

Valentina: “...Huh?”

At any moment, if she wished, she could snap his arm, or drag him to the bars and crush his head.

Yet Herbert still fearlessly stretched out his hand.

Miss Dragon, what will you do?

Will you ruthlessly trample on my goodwill and remain the fierce dragon in the cage?

Or… will you try another possibility?

He looked into the dragon’s eyes and softly said:

“Let us get along well.”

...

After entering the second area, Herbert did not continue forward but stood silently with his head bowed.

After a long while, he slowly lifted his head and exhaled a heavy breath.

“Phew… heh, hehe, haha!”

He had bet right.

The handshake at the end hadn’t been part of the original plan; it was a spontaneous idea that flashed through his mind at that moment.

A risky move.

But he felt it was worth trying!

“Honestly, when did I become such a gambler?” Herbert mused, feeling he had changed somewhat.

In his past life, he would never have acted so impulsively.

Was it the experiences of this life influencing him?

Though this Herbert was an inexperienced nobleman, he was not without the will to make decisive choices when necessary.

Not everyone could abandon everything to join a monastery; such a decision required not only courage but also firm will.

Yet, he still lacked something.

“Not ruthless enough…”

Herbert sighed and turned to look ahead at the water orb, locking eyes with the beautiful gaze concealed within.

He smiled, strode forward, and cheerfully waved, calling out:

“Miss Frema, long time no see!”