Blue-Eyes White Dragon: Adopted by the King of Knights [90]

France
Orléans

Though Bluey raced back as swiftly as possible, night had already fallen by the time he returned to the city with the two monster girls in tow.

"Huh? She's not in the castle?"

"Then…where did she go?"

Unable to find Jeanne Alter immediately, Bluey reached out with his senses and soon realized she was back at the pasture where they'd eaten grilled meat together.

Did she finally calm down? Did she go there to clear her head?

But it's already this late—why hasn't she come back?

Feeling curious and slightly worried, Bluey gently set Kiyohime and Elizabeth down, then spread his wings once more, heading directly toward the pasture on the outskirts.

...

Night had completely descended.

It was a moonless evening, and darkness blanketed the land. The cattle—smart animals that they were—had long since drifted into peaceful sleep, oblivious to the turmoil of the outside world.

Jeanne Alter lay quietly on the haystack from before, staring up blankly into the pitch-black sky above.

She watched the faint silhouette of a dragon circling there.

"It's already this late. Why even bother coming back now?"

She spoke suddenly.

Her voice carried no trace of her former rage; rather, she sounded more like an emotionless machine—too numb now even for hatred.

"You must have known, right?"

"Of course. You’re her summoned creature, after all. How could you not know?"

It didn't take much thought to understand.

The white dragon had appeared alongside that Saber. How could he not know who was hidden beneath that armor? How could he possibly have missed when Saber silently swapped places?

Yet, there wasn't much point dwelling on it anymore.

"I won’t blame you. After all, she’s your real friend."

"You can go now and do what you really want to do."

"I'm fine—"

She watched as the white dragon landed gently beside her, clearly wanting to comfort her. But Jeanne Alter’s voice remained cold, devoid of any emotion.

—But was that truly how she felt?

"Graoo?"

Bluey turned his head, first glancing at the peacefully sleeping cattle, then lifting one of his claws and pointing at the banner Jeanne Alter had carelessly tossed aside on the grass.

"I want grilled meat."

Even without words, his meaning couldn't be clearer.

Jeanne Alter, frustrated and speechless, couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"Really…you stupid creature."

"Eat, eat, eat. Is eating all you know?!"

Jeanne Alter continued grumbling, but despite her complaints, she finally stood up from the haystack, climbing back down to the ground.

Maybe this was the charm of "being needed."

Bluey understood well that what Jeanne Alter truly needed right now wasn't pity—in fact, she would despise any hint of it.

What she genuinely craved was someone needing her.

Right now, she desperately needed something to occupy herself, something to fill the aching emptiness in her heart.

Bluey's simple request was exactly what she subconsciously yearned for.

"Fine, keep eating until it kills you!"

She muttered under her breath, gathering sticks and dry hay to build a fire.

Soon, the crackling flames chased away the darkness and cold, illuminating Jeanne Alter's pale face clearly.

Bluey noticed her eyes were swollen and red, her cheeks damp—no, more than just damp, they bore obvious tear streaks.

"What are you staring at?"

"Hurry up and kill a cow already!"

Realizing her pitiful state had been discovered, Jeanne Alter quickly shouted to divert attention. As Bluey turned away obediently, she wiped her face hurriedly—forgetting she'd been handling firewood moments ago, inadvertently smudging her once-beautiful face with soot and bits of dried grass.

Bluey quickly dispatched a cow and easily tore off several large pieces of fresh meat with his sharp claws.

Just as before, Jeanne Alter skewered the meat onto her banner pole and carefully began grilling it over the campfire.

—Yet, the atmosphere was no longer the same as before.

Jeanne Alter said nothing, and Bluey remained silent too. Only the crackling flames and sizzling meat broke the stillness of the night.

Jeanne Alter soon finished grilling the first piece of beef.

"Here. Eat."

She removed the perfectly cooked meat from the banner pole and tossed it gently into the dragon's mouth. Then, she quietly skewered another piece, placing it back over the fire.

—It was such a simple action.

But…why?

Watching Bluey devour the meat contentedly, Jeanne Alter felt a sudden urge to cry—an overwhelming impulse that took her completely by surprise.

Her body trembled, unable to hold back any longer.

"D-Don't look at me!"

She clenched her teeth, desperately choking back sobs, forcing words through her tight throat.

But when tears fell continuously, dripping silently onto the grass, Jeanne Alter finally realized she had already broken down crying, unable to control herself.

Jeanne Alter dropped the banner pole onto the ground.

Realizing she'd already lost her composure, she finally gave up what little pride remained and sobbed loudly, openly.

"You all lied to me!"

"You, them, everyone—you all lied to me!"

She wept bitterly over the shameful betrayals she'd suffered.

But right now, the true reason behind her tears was far deeper than mere betrayal.

"You scared me to death, do you know that?"

"I thought you'd never come back!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry—I shouldn't have chased you away!"

"I was wrong, I was really wrong—I should never have pushed you away!"

Jeanne Alter hugged the white dragon’s large head tightly, pressing her now-filthy face against Bluey’s scales.

She continued to cry openly, her tears hot and endless.

Yet slowly, her expression shifted from sorrow to happiness, from despair to hope.

"Don't leave me, okay?"

Her voice was hoarse, filled with cautious yet desperate hope as she gently stroked the dragon.

"I'll grill meat for you every day—so please don't leave me!"

"You’re all I have now—"

"If I lose you too, then I'll truly have nothing left…"

---

T/N: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ARTORIA YOURE SO MENA

This is a fan translation of 综漫：青眼幼龙，被骑士王捡到了 by 歌冰丽月. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!