110 - The Butler Dismissed by the Saintess Couldn’t Possibly Be the Demon Dragon Princess

Chapter 110: About to Be Burned "Where am I?" Ian murmured groggily as she opened her eyes. Her surroundings blurred, and she couldn't move her neck. "What’s happening?" Looking down, Ian discovered that she and Lilian were tied together on a wooden plank, with a pile of dry straw beneath them. In front of the Holy Knights stood a knight holding a torch, flames dancing wildly and black smoke spiraling up from it. Judging by the scene, it seemed she was about to be cooked like a roasted dragon. "No, no, not like this," Ian thought, her emotions a mixture of despair and disbelief. She had only sought Lilian to take her away, yet here they were, on the verge of being roasted. "Awake?" The knight holding the torch spoke in an icy tone. "Could you let me down?" Ian blinked her sparkling eyes, trying to soften the knight’s heart and spare her. "Of course not. Blame yourself for getting involved with that infected one." "And now, you've been bitten. To avoid potential risks, you'll be sentenced to death by fire, too." Hearing his words, Ian's spirits plummeted. Peaceful resolution was impossible; she might have to resort to force. What kind of force? These Holy Knights were elite, with at least a ten percent progress in bloodline development. Ian was just a fledgling with barely ten percent herself – hardly a match for them. Besides, she hadn’t even completed the first trial mission or acquired a single skill. How was she supposed to fight? "Time's up, sir." "Indeed." With that, the knight tossed the torch onto the dry straw below Ian and Lilian, intent on setting them ablaze. "No, I'm still a normal person! I'm not infected!" Scorching flames erupted instantly, and before long, Ian could feel the heat against her backside. "I’m done for... done for..." Ian was desperate. Who could possibly save her now? To rescue her, someone of high standing in the Holy City, trusted by the masses and able to command the Holy Knights, was needed. But where could Ian find such a person? Amid her distress, a spark of hope flickered in her mind. She did know someone like that – Elia perfectly fit all the requirements. "I need to see Elia! I know her! She can prove that I'm perfectly fine." Ian had no choice but to cling to this last hope. Though she wasn't sure if Elia would intervene, there was no one else to rely on. She’d die with regret if she didn’t try. "The Saintess’s name is not one you should speak so casually, you wretched infected." "Stop struggling. I don't believe someone as busy as the Saintess knows someone like you." The knight clearly didn't believe Ian, refusing to halt the execution and save them. Instead, he scolded Ian sharply. "I think the flames aren't big enough if you can still talk." With that, the knight tossed more straw onto the fire, fueling its blaze. "You scoundrel! I told you, I'm not infected, why won't you listen?" "Is your head stuffed with mush or waterlogged? Can't understand human speech? Or are you simply not human, hence can’t comprehend?" Ian unleashed a torrent of words at the knight, though none held real force. Her vocabulary, a byproduct of her elementary school-age crossing, lacked impactful insults. Nonetheless, Ian’s verbal barrage failed to aid her plight, serving only to amuse the knights, who erupted in laughter. Ian’s vision blurred as she berated the knights, inhaling much of the thick black smoke. "Ugh, coughing." She was about to be cooked alive. As the black smoke filled her lungs, she was left speechless, her mind drifting, becoming increasingly hazy. In simple terms, Ian felt half-dead. Just as Ian's consciousness began fading, Lilian by her side transformed, her hair turning silver as she wore an exasperated expression. "I warned you, letting you control the body was risky. You didn’t listen." "Well, look where it's got us – almost roasted, aren't we?" Silver-haired Lilian sniffed the air around her; the aroma of roasting meat hung in the air. "Smells quite good." "Can you save Ian, please?" Golden-haired Lilian pleaded within her mind. "Save her?" "But isn't this whole mess your doing? Why should I step in now?" "If it weren't for your desire to control the body, we wouldn’t be in this situation. This is all on you." The silver-haired Lilian criticized her golden counterpart, disdain in her voice. She approached Lilian, twirling a lock of her hair playfully. "It’s all my fault. I won't contest your control anymore, just please, save Ian." "You need to offer something in return if you want me to act." Golden-haired Lilian felt bewildered. She'd already promised to relinquish control, yet it wasn’t enough for the silver-haired half. Apart from that, she had nothing else to offer. "I’ve given my most valuable asset. I don’t know what else I can give," her voice trembled tearfully. "Hey, why are you crying?" Amid her usual calm, the silver-haired Lilian seemed troubled for once. "Who said I want the control? What I desire is simple." Hearing this, golden-haired Lilian was puzzled; what could her silver side want? "I only want you to include me when you and sister Ian eventually, you know..." Silver-haired Lilian declared without batting an eye. Lilian blushed instantly at the suggestion. What did she mean by "when you and Ian eventually do that"? Setting aside the unlikelihood of such a situation with Ian, they shared a single body, meaning they would experience everything together, even such personal moments. Therefore, it wasn’t truly a condition. "But I can't imagine doing that with Ian." Silver-haired Lilian merely grinned. "If you weren't going to eventually, I wouldn’t have mentioned it. Just agree to it for now." "I see the future clearer than you do."