Evil Dragon, Without a Princess, I Had to Transform Myself!-Chapter 57 : Don't Choke

Patunasankus should have known.
The closer she got to the Dawn Kingdom's royal capital, the more people who knew Latifa there would be.
At first, Patunasankus hadn't worried about this problem.
After all, she only planned to end her journey after reaching Taurant and return to her lair to capture a new princess.
The evil dragon's monster servants had privately bet that their master wouldn't have a new princess, but Patunasankus obviously didn't think so.
She was an evil dragon.
As an evil dragon, she should have a princess no matter what.
"Who are you?"
Patunasankus asked her directly.
"My name is Hisalli, a messenger from the kingdom visiting the Bluefin Bay city-state."
The woman performed a standard royal etiquette that the evil dragon couldn't understand at all—she just thought her movements were comical like a clown.
"It's normal that Your Highness doesn't recognize me. I'm currently working for your sister, Princess Yanis," Hisalli added. "She often hangs your portrait in her bedroom, so I have a deep impression."
Yanis? Sister?
Patunasankus finally remembered.
Latifa had mentioned once that she had a sister.
However, the evil dragon rarely heard specific details, because the princess had only mentioned it occasionally. But unusually, Latifa would show a troubled expression because of this. Yet she never told Patunasankus the details, as if afraid the evil dragon would cause some trouble because of it.
Ridiculous—the evil dragon had absolutely no interest in listening.
Really.
"Meeting Princess Latifa here is truly exciting."
She was obviously very excited, but then she couldn't help wondering who had the ability to rescue the princess from the legendary Dragon Lord Patunasankus.
"How did Your Highness escape after being captured by Black Death?" Hisalli asked.
Without hesitation, almost instantly, Patunasankus pointed at the Hero in the front seat and said, "She did it all."
Standing aside being inexplicably pointed at, Loranhir tilted her head.
Hisalli obviously recognized the Hero known throughout the kingdom, suddenly understanding.
"I see, I see... that makes perfect sense."
She muttered.
"I do have some things I'd like to chat with Your Highness about, but I still need to attend Grand Mage Oz's guardian succession ceremony," Hisalli thought for a moment and suggested: "How about Your Highness comes with me?"
"Guardian succession ceremony?" Elaphia felt something was wrong. "Didn't Oz resign from his duties before his impending death and transfer all the magical golems and guardian tower authority to Bluefin Bay's own people?"
Elaphia had quite an impression of the magical golems Oz created, having fought these iron lumps over a hundred years ago.
Individually they weren't very strong, but there were quite a lot of them. Without enough people to help, even eighth-circle professionals would have to be wary.
"Because of the increasingly dense goblin activities, people are panicking. No matter how reluctant they are to give up power, the nobles and wealthy merchants of the upper city can only again seek the old guardian's help. You know how afraid of death they are."
Hisalli shrugged.
"What is Your Highness's opinion?"
She turned to Patunasankus.
Patunasankus had absolutely no interest in such human social activities.
The evil dragon originally wanted to refuse.
But...
"Though it's a rather boring social occasion, since they're entertaining wealthy noble guests, they've still prepared quite a lot of delicious food and desserts. Speaking of which, these merchants who are filthy rich really live luxuriously and extravagantly."
Hisalli continued.
Patunasankus frowned and said word by word, "You shouldn't have said that word."
Hisalli was stunned and asked, "Sorry, Your Highness, what did you say? Did I offend you somewhere?"
Patunasankus continued word by word, "You shouldn't have said 'delicious food,' much less 'luxurious and extravagant' and 'desserts.'"
"Is there some problem with these?" Hisalli was even more confused, never understanding what she had said wrong.
The evil dragon sighed and said, "Because after you said these things, I can't refuse anymore."
○
On the swaying carriage, Hisalli chatted with Patunasankus.
"Your Highness is returning to the royal capital on this journey, right?"
"...Yes." Patunasankus nodded, though it wasn't in her plans at all, she still pretended it was so.
"I don't want Your Highness to go back," Hisalli said seriously, leaning close to Patunasankus's ear and whispering, "If Princess Latifa can avoid returning to the royal capital, then by all means don't return."
"Hm? Why?"
Before Patunasankus could finish asking, she saw Hisalli jump down from the carriage. They had arrived at the succession ceremony venue, and Hisalli went to talk with the mercenaries responsible for registering visitors.
For a moment, Patunasankus was so angry her head seemed to be smoking.
Come on, couldn't people who only spoke half their thoughts just be roasted directly?
The evil dragon usually hated two types of people most—one was people who only spoke half their thoughts.
But the lavish buffet soon made Patunasankus feel she hadn't come in vain.
Her rapidly operating brain immediately calculated the number of people present and counted the quantities of food and desserts.
The evil dragon quickly reached an important conclusion.
This was a group social activity centered on eating!
She tasted a freshly made custard cream.
The cream wasn't lumpy, the flavor was even, and the sweetness was just right.
With her taste buds greatly satisfied, Patunasankus completely let down her guard, wielding her knife and fork and destroying the sweets at an elegant yet ferocious speed.
"Your Highness, eat slower," Elaphia tugged at Patunasankus's sleeve. "Don't choke."
The evil dragon ignored her, her momentum describable as a fierce tiger descending the mountain.
Elaphia tentatively attributed the princess's fanatical obsession with food to aftereffects of long-term hunger in the evil dragon's lair.
Poor princess.
Elaphia sighed, yet felt grateful in her heart that the invincible Hero had rescued her from the evil dragon's lair.
She glanced toward Loranhir, seeing the Hero sitting on a distant bench, intently reading some letter.
Elaphia didn't know what was written on it, but it must be something very important to the Hero.
After all, she had never seen Loranhir with such a serious expression.
The evil dragon ate happily.
Until the bell tower rang three times, and the wealthy merchants and nobles in the hall stopped talking one by one.
The crystal chandelier in the center of the hall lit up, and a handsome man with black hair and black eyes walked down the two curved staircases leading to the second floor.
He held a spiral staff inlaid with deep green gems, and the entire court fell silent.
All unrelated people had already tactfully retreated to different corners.
Only Patunasankus remained, holding a plate and standing in the center, still wielding her knife and fork at the dessert table piled high with sweets.