"I want to marry a dragon, Bertha," Liana's voice rang out as she walked hand in hand with her caregiver, along the familiar cream colored hallways of the Rancher's mansion.

A few maids cleaning the windows and others engaged in other chores along the hallway threw varying glances at her, most of which screamed contempt.

But Bertha gave the opposite reaction. She let out a hearty laughter as they continued their walk, ignoring everyone around them. Having been Liana's caregiver ever since the girl was born, she knew the child like the back of her palm.

Twelve years old, dreamy, beautiful, and the second daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Rancher, Liana wasn't liked by a lot of people. She was considered spoiled and unfit to be the Minister's daughter, even though her only crimes were hating shoes, burying her head in a book all day, and generally being her sweet self. Only one person understood her perfectly, and that person was Bertha.

"Dragons don't exist, Liana dear. And even if they do, it would be impossible for a human to marry one." Bertha responded, after her laughter died down a little.

"But Avery married one." Liana argued, and Bertha shot her a look.

"Who's Avery?"

Liana waved the book in her left hand, in response to Bertha's question, before saying, "the girl in my book."

Just then they rounded a corner and Bertha prepared to remind her of the difference between fiction and real life. But a sudden commotion caught their attention, and it emanated from Liana's older sister, Lily's room.

By the time they arrived there, they found Lily's tutor, Agatha, gathering all of Lily's paintings into her arms, while the latter looked on in confusion.

"What has my drawings got to do with any of this? Why are you doing this? I already explained why I couldn't come downstairs," Lily cried out in a half pleading voice.

"I've been lenient enough with you. Sick people don't paint. They stay in bed." Agatha argued, not stopping what she was doing even for one second.

"I was in bed. The painting was done last night." Lily said, hoping the woman would listen, but it was all futile.

"Enough. No more painting for you until you take your studies seriously." Agatha decided.

"What's going on, Agatha?" Bertha stepped in.

"Nothing that concerns you. Stay out of this. You should be minding that little brat under your care, not meddling in my affairs." Agatha shot at Bertha.

"She is your employer's daughter. You are being paid to serve her, not the other way around." Bertha reminded Agatha, but her words made the latter stop and shoot her a glare.

"I'm her tutor. My job is to turn her into a proper lady fit for the throne. And I am doing just that. You wouldn't know anything about it since you are doing a perfect job of spoiling the one placed under your care." Agatha said, moving her gaze to Liana, who instantly moved to hide behind Bertha's back in fear.

Agatha walked out, taking along with her all of Lily's drawings she could lay eyes on, including paints and brushes.

Lily let her body drop on the bed as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I blame father for this."

"Calm down, Lily." Bertha said.

"Why should I? Didn't you see what she just did?" Lily asked and Bertha let out a sigh.

"Tell me what happened." Bertha moved further into the room.

"I woke up feeling sick this morning and I couldn't go downstairs for my dance lessons. I told the maid to inform her of my condition, only for her to walk in here now and accuse me of lying because of the painting I made last night." Lily explained, tears streaming down both her cheeks. "She just hates me for no reason and I hate her right back." She added, hiccupping.

"Calm down,"

"I won't calm down," Lily said, climbed fully onto the bed and turned her face away from the door. "Please leave me alone, Bertha. I don't want to talk to anyone right now."

"Very well. I'll get the doctor to come check on you." Bertha relented, then turned to Liana when she recieved no further response from Lily.

Liana kept her sorrowful gaze on her sister's back for a while longer before she followed Bertha out. In silence, the two walked until they arrived at her room.

"Agatha is so bitter and mean. I feel sad for Lily." Liana broke the silence, planting her bottom on the bed.

"It's because she will soon be betrothed to the prince. But yes, I agree with you. Agatha is being unnecessarily mean to Lily."

"What kind of prince desires his wife to be a robot?" Liana asked, catching Bertha by surprise.

"A robot?"

"Yes. That's what they're turning Lily into. He could just go to a store and buy a robot for himself. Why turn a human into a robot?" Liana frowned. "If that's what it takes to marry a prince, then I don't want a prince. That's why I want to marry a dragon."

Bertha let out another hearty laugh, putting one last book in its place on the shelf. Once that was done, she walked toward the girl and rubbed her hair lightly. "Don't worry, you still have a lot of time to make that decision. For now, I just want you to be your happy self, okay?"

Liana nodded, and flashed a smile.

"I have to make a quick trip to the market soon. I'll come see you when I return. Stay in your room. Don't go wandering off without your shoes." Bertha instructed, but the smile already disappeared from Liana's face after the first sentence. Her ears didn't catch the others.

"Take me with you, Bertha. You promised to take me the next time you go. I really want to see what a market looks like." Liana pleaded, her round blue eyes growing even wider and more irresistible.

"Your father would not approve of your leaving the mansion, Liana. The town is not safe."

"Father won't be coming back until late at night. And I'll be with you. You said you would be quick. We'll be back before father returns." Liana reminded her, adding a "pleeeease" when she felt Bertha might refuse her request again.

"Alright. We'll leave in an hour. Get ready." Bertha agreed, then walked out of the room with a smile after hearing the girl squeal in excitement. Once outside, she began to think of ways to smuggle the girl out of the mansion and back.

***

Miles away from the mansion, stood the majestic palace of Manbila, it's high stone walls as intimidating as always.

Three knocks were released on the door of a certain room located in the east wing of the palace, and a pair of completely black eyes snapped open.

The owner of the pair remained silent despite hearing the knock and knowing the person was still standing outside the door.

"My prince?" Bernard called from outside the door. "Everything is set."

"Enter," Prince Sion said, and in no time, Bernard pushed the door open.

He walked into the room, training his eyes on the bed where the prince lay, fully dressed. "Are you alright, my prince?"

"Never been better." Sion smirked, pushing himself off the bed. "Tell me Bernard, what sound is better than the moans of sexual pleasure?"

"The cries of measly humans burning in the hell you create. The smell of their roasting flesh is a heavenly delight to my prince's soul." Bernard answered in a heartbeat.

A full blown smile settled on Sion's face at Bernard's answer. "That is why I have you beside me. You know how to make my demons happy." Sion turned to the floor to ceiling mirror, and adjusted his coat's collar. "How many bombs at the clubhouse?"

"Eight, my Prince." Bernard answered.

"And the market?"

"Twenty four," Bernard answered yet again.

"Perfect. Tell Ezra to be on standby. We'll bomb the market first." Sion declared with an evil smirk, as a glint of red flashed across his eyes. "Today is going to be a good day."