Akashic Records of the Bastard Child Engaged to a Goddess



White Dragon Labyrinth Exploration Arc.

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(POV: Lumiere)

We were seated on the comfortable chairs in a lavishly decorated room.

It was pretty dirty, the kind of dirt that'd get Fasit pissed.

Several chess pieces were lying around and an array of delectable junk food, including crispy fries, succulent chicken, and tantalizing chips, along with refreshing smoothies and mouthwatering milkshakes.

Yunno, things that shouldn't be in "this" world.

Laura was perched confidently on her throne.

That was the only magnificent thing about this pigsty.

Her piercing gaze fixated on me, and with a regal tone, she spoke.

"Honestly, you Curse Kings have no manners... You should be grateful that I even allowed not one, but two Curse Kings to sit in my royal presence..."

Taking in the eclectic surroundings, I decided to talk.

"Are you sure you're truly an Imperial Dragon?" I queried.

I mean, if she was, she was a really messy one.

Her white garments were stained with something that looked like soy sauce.

Laura's eyes widened at my audacity, yet she maintained her composure, taking a sip of her milkshake.

Unfortunately, the liquid caught in her throat, causing her to cough.

Jeez, this girl, woman?

It was Aaron, the elf standing steadfastly by her side, who provided the necessary pat on the back to alleviate her discomfort, allowing her to regain her voice.

Honestly, now I understand why she didn't off Aaron before now.

"What kind of disrespect is that?"

Laura exclaimed, her voice slightly strained from the coughing fit.

She composed herself and fervently declared, "Of course, I'm an Imperial Dragon!"

There was a momentary pause.

I still found it hard to believe.

"To be honest, if it weren't for the circumstances, I'd mistake you for a girl cosplaying as an edgy character. I mean if you're gonna lie, I mean make I a little believable."

Yes, I know what you're about to say, Eunaria was a loli too, but she's still considered an Imperial Dragon.

At least she was giving off mad amounts of energy, like Klaus.

I always placed Eunaria in the same category as Eris.

They were both idiots.

But at least, Eris was a loveable idiot. Eunaria was just proud.

Those two were power kegs disguised as little girls.

Suddenly, the room erupted in turmoil as Laura's outraged voice pierced through the tension.

"How dare you disrespect me!" she exclaimed, fury coloring her tone.

Slamming her milkshake cup onto the nearby table, she vehemently affirmed her status as an Imperial Dragon.

"What else would I be?!"

As I surveyed the cluttered and unkempt throne room, my gaze returned to Laura, a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips.

"A slob?"

I ticked her off again. "How dare you?!"

"Hm?"

"I'm not a slob!"

"Yes, you are..."

"No, I'm not...!"

"Are too."

"Am not!"

It went on for about five seconds and then Ravenna chimed in.

"She's more like an... Elegant slob..."

Intrigued by Ravenna's statement, I nodded in understanding.

It seemed that Laura was, in fact, an elegant slob.

It reminded me of Aurora.

The two of them were perfect representations of paradoxical combinations.

"Indeed," Laura admitted, a proud smirk on her lips.

"Sure, putting 'elegant' in front of 'slob' makes it sound so much better.." I said.

Laura shot me a glare, taking another sip of her milkshake. "Just shut up," she retorted.

"Still though, I don't have any reason to believe you're an Imperial Dragon," I shrugged. "Besides your knowledge of Serena, what other evidence do you have?"

Ravenna chimed in. "There's also the fact that I've seen the Imperial White Dragon before," she pointed out. "The one I encountered looked much older than the form you currently embody."

"May I speak?" Aaron asked politely, and Laura gave her a nod of approval.

As she began to explain, Laura took a moment to munch on a burger, her words muffled by the mouthful. "Maybe now you'll believe me..."

Or maybe if you'd just get your lazy butt up and transform or something.

"Milady altered her form to appear as a little girl," she stated.

By this time Laura had just swallowed. "Mhm, that's right."

Perplexed, I voiced my thoughts.

"Well that's stupid," I mused.

This made Laura choke on her burger again.

"And isn't Eunaria a little girl as well? Yet she generates immense amounts of energy."

I raised an eyebrow, awaiting an explanation.

Laura bristled at the comparison, her fiery spirit momentarily overshadowing her regal demeanor.

"Never compare me to someone like Eunaria," she admonished. "My foolish younger sister is nowhere near as powerful or as likable as I am. And certainly not as attractive."

I... I didn't ask...

"Oh yeah, I think I get what's going on here." Ravenna snapped her fingers a bit.

I looked at her. "You do?"

Ravenna leaned forward. "An Arcane Soul Sealing," she began. "It's a powerful technique that involves removing and sealing a large portion of one's soul. It's usually done by powerful entities to keep their excess power in check, only to be released when they need it. And sometimes, it can even play a significant role in their growth factor, allowing older individuals to become younger again... Like wayyy younger."

My curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but express my surprise.

"That's really a thing?" I asked.

Ravenna nodded, her expression serious. "Indeed, it is," she confirmed.

"My apologies," Aaron bowed her head. "I suppose I should've started with that first..."

I still felt a bit bad for what I did to her...

Not.

She cut off my arm and drove a hole into my chest, if anything, I was being lenient.

You really are a nice guy, Lumiere.

Finishing her burger with a great gulp, Laura directed her gaze towards me, her eyes flashing mischievously.

"Naturally, you wouldn't know about it, being the idiot that you are," she remarked playfully, her words dripping with teasing sarcasm.

You're the idiot, but okay.

"Oh, sure." I responded while rolling my yes.

"You haven't lived long enough to even begin to understand how much knowledge I have..."

And yet you haven't learnt how to pick up a broom.

"Sure," I replied, underwhelmed.

Laura stretched her arms above her head, her elegant posture accentuating her regal demeanor.

She placed her elbows on the table, interlocking her fingers as she leaned forward.

"But let's not get too distracted," she stated firmly. "What I really want to discuss is you releasing the Imperial Black Dragon to us and surrendering your title as the Curse King."

Two things that would never happen.

My purple eyes flared with a bit of anger.

I narrowed my gaze at Laura, my voice uplifted by a cold intensity.

"But I don't know what you're talking about," I told her plainly. "Her nameʼs Serena, not Imperial Black Dragon... If you're looking for another sibling why don't you check an orphanage."

Laura's lips curled into a sinister smile, her confidence oozing with chilling certainty.

"For now, maybe," she remarked. "But soon enough, she'll be among our ranks. So why not take matters into my own hands, if my dear brother Klaus fails to do so?"

"That sounds like a truckload of crap..." I smiled.