Dion easily found his way along the path he had traveled many times before. The deeper they went, the stronger the light from Dion’s left arm became. Even when they reached a fork in the path, he found his way without hesitation.

“We’re here.”

Before Clementina’s eyes stood a massive wall. The wall was covered with indecipherable ancient languages and geometric patterns.

Clementina carefully observed the enormous wall from top to bottom, left to right. It was impossible to tell whether the markings were writing or drawings.

But among the numerous patterns, one at about chest height particularly caught her eye.

A small triangle inside a large circle, with even smaller squares and circles connected inside the triangle, and at the very center was a tiny circle about the size of a human finger joint.

Starting from that small circle, incomprehensible characters were chaotically drawn from the inside out.

Dion caressed the wall in front of that circle.

He seemed lost in thought for a moment before his eyes flashed. He slowly drew a dagger from his waist. It was a silver dagger with a dragon and sunflower embossed on the cap and handle.

Then the sharp dagger in Dion’s hand pointed toward Clementina.

The dagger Dion had drawn was clearly not meant for killing.

Dion turned the dagger around and handed it to her. Looking at the handle embossed with the head of a dragon with its mouth open, Clementina recalled the conversation she had with Dion.

‘There’s something I want in the Siara Mine. Just one thing I’d like to have. But to get what I want, I need…… something.’

‘Why are you being so hesitant? It’s not like you, Duke. What do you need?’

‘One drop of your blood.’

The magic circle filling the entire wall was very complex in appearance, but the method to open it was simple.

“Will it really open this way?”

“This is a magic circle drawn by a special mage.”

“But I don’t understand why my blood is needed.”

“The name of the mage who created this magic circle is Caroline.”

“My mother created it? My mother was a mage?”

“Since she used magic, she must have been a mage, right?”

“Did you know my mother?”

Dion remained silent at Clementina’s question. He appeared to be contemplating whether he should talk about it now.

“I’ve met her. Just once.”

Clementina’s questions were gradually being answered. Why Dion had been so fixated on her dowry, why he acted as if he knew more about the Siara Mine than she did. All of it originated from her mother, Caroline.

“When? Where? How did you meet?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you now.”

Dion spoke with a smile, but his words were firm. Clementina was beginning to feel that she had been deceived. But she couldn’t refuse.

From the beginning, Dion had said he needed her blood, and he had told her that he would take just one thing from her dowry.

So if she refused now, she would be the one breaking the contract.

Perhaps feeling a bit guilty, Dion awkwardly scratched the back of his head as he watched Clementina’s frustration.

“It’s not like I’m the only one with secrets.”

Clementina closed her mouth under his penetrating gaze.

“With Caroline gone, you’re the only one who can open this door.”

“If my mother cast a spell, how can I possibly open the door? How much blood do you…… need? Am I going to bleed to death here—”

“I told you one drop would be enough. You don’t need an incantation or special magic. She cast a spell so that this door could be opened with just one drop of your blood.”

Dion extended the beautifully crafted dagger to Clementina again. Her hand grasped one end of the dagger.

“So a sacrifice is needed.”

“Yes, it’s needed. It’s true that even one drop of blood is a sacrifice.”

Dion was still holding the dagger. When Clementina applied force, Dion was pulled toward her.

“You do it.”

Dion removed Clementina’s hand from the dagger and placed it on top of his own. In an instant, he opened the dagger’s cap and pricked her index finger with the sharp blade.

It happened so quickly that Clementina didn’t even have time to feel the pain. A vivid drop of blood formed at the wound, creating a large droplet.

Dion took Clementina’s hand and pressed it against the wall where the magic circle was drawn. He made sure her finger with the blood droplet touched the small circle.

Rumble. Rumble rumble.

The stone wall that had been closed for a long time moved with an agonizing sound.

As the darkness opened, an eerie sound accompanied by wind blew through.

As they stepped inside the door, Dion’s left arm grew brighter. Torches were no longer necessary.

Before them was a precipice. The cliff was surrounded by numerous steep walls, and below, it was impossible to gauge the depth, as if black sediment had settled.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew up from the bottom of the cliff, disheveling Clementina’s lemon-colored hair. She staggered, feeling as if someone was pulling her.

“What exactly is down there?”

Just then, a strange smell mixed with the wind coming from below brushed against her nose.

Unlike the damp, musty smell characteristic of underground places, this one gave a warm and cozy feeling.

“Everyone prepare for flight.”

As Dion raised his hand and quietly gave the preparation order in a low voice, the dragon riders stroked their dragons.

“We’ll ride dragons down there. Be careful not to fall during the flight. If you’re too scared, ask Lillian to hold your hand.”

Dion grabbed Clementina’s waist with a suppressed smile. His firm hands instantly lifted her onto Mago’s back. Leaving behind the blushing Clementina, Dion moved away from her and lightly mounted Arakan’s back, where Berche was seated.

“Duchess. Hold on tight. As tight as you can. As long as I’m riding, you won’t fall.”

As Clementina’s eyes wandered, unable to find their bearings, the cool-headed knight raised his kindness to comfort her. Clementina embraced the knight’s waist with all her strength.

Six dragons slowly rose from the ground. One by one, they fell at a rapid pace toward the bottom of the precipice, led by Arakan carrying Dion and Berche.

“Aaahhh!”

Only Clementina’s scream echoed throughout the Siara Mine.

Mago began descending at a frightening speed. Clementina desperately clung to Lillian’s back.

The closer they got to the bottom, the brighter Dion’s left arm glowed.

Only after Clementina had somewhat adjusted to the floating sensation did she gently open her eyes. The sheer cliffs, like polite gentlemen, were kindly guiding them. By now, the width of the hole had expanded enough for four or five dragons to fly up together.

Suddenly, a sharp wind blew up from below. Mago abruptly swerved to the left. Clementina’s head swayed in all directions as she clutched Dion’s jacket more tightly.

Clementina tightened her grip around Lillian’s waist, applying force to her tilting body.

Before them was another cave with its mouth wide open to the side. Bright light poured out from within that cave.

Something was there.

As the flight speed slowed and her hair no longer fluttered, Clementina relaxed. Mago had already landed gracefully.

Lillian, who had quickly descended to the ground, extended his hand to Clementina. Thanks to Mago folding his legs and sitting down, Clementina slid down easily.

“Huff, huff, huff.”

Though she hadn’t been running, merely clinging to Lillian’s waist while riding Mago, Clementina was out of breath. The cave was still blindingly bright.

As Dion muttered in a small voice, the light emanating from his left arm instantly disappeared.

But the surrounding light still showed no signs of dimming.

The massive cave surrounded by walls was entirely golden. Even the stones underfoot were golden.

“Oh! This is amazing. I’ve never seen so much gold.”

“Whoa! How much is all this worth? Whoa! Whoa!”

Berche folded his arms and looked around the walls, while Vance flicked his tongue out and licked one.

“Whoa! It’s real, it’s real! Is all this really yours, Duke?”

“It belongs to the Duchess.”

“Hehehe! Then, from today, my loyalty is to the Duchess—”

Smack!

Lillian struck the back of Vance’s head.

“Shut up, you fickle-minded fool.”

Lillian crushed his impudent brother without hesitation.

Clementina sank to the ground amidst the massive gold. Her body trembled slightly.

“It seems you didn’t know.”

Clementina looked around with large eyes, then slowly nodded.

“If my father had known, he would never have offered it as my dowry.”