First Princess Afra

“The Rosén family must be rolling in gold…”

Black muttered under his breath, still stunned by the palace’s opulence.

Just then—

click-click—

delicate footsteps echoed down the corridor,accompanied by a chorus of curtseys from the maids:

“Your Highness, Princess Aphra!”

That name…

Black looked up.

Aphra approached—pink hair cascading like silk,eyes bright as starlight,dressed in a white layered gown—blue bow at her throat,gold embroidery shimmering with every step.

She looked like a princess stepped from a fairy tale—sweet, dreamy, effortlessly graceful.

And strikingly similar to Alice—yet utterly opposite in spirit.

If Alice was a thorned rose,this girl was cherry blossoms in spring.

So it really is her.

Black recognized her instantly—

Princess Aphra,

First Princess of Dragonheart,

Alice’s elder sister.

And yes—in the flesh,she was far more radiant than her game sprite.

In Dragonheart Online,

Aphra was a major antagonist—allying with the Draconic Parliament to achieve a hidden goal,only to be betrayed and used by them in the end.

Yet, in Black’s eyes,she was no true villainess—just a naïve, pure-hearted girl

who trusted too easily.

“Hello! Wow, your manacles are so cool!”

Aphra bounced toward him,eyes sparkling as she examined his magic-restraining chains.

Black almost laughed.

Most royals would recoil from a murderer.

But her? She’s geeking out over my cuffs!

The two Dragon-Slaying Guards—Leon and Land—clearly relaxed in her presence.

“This is Black, Your Highness,” Leon explained.

“The Empress’s prisoner—arrested for murder and ship destruction.”

He added, almost proudly:

“Also… Princess Alice’s personal guard.”

“Black?!”

Aphra’s eyes lit up like supernovae.

She leaned in, scrutinizing him with girlish excitement:

“You’re that Black?!

The ‘Mysterious Little Pirate’?!”

Black: “…Huh?”

Since when did I get a title like a Disney sidekick?

But Aphra rattled on, breathless:

“I heard you won ALL the Su Lan Three Fights!

And you BEAT Seth silly—stole his Overlord Spear!”

She threw him a thumbs-up, grinning:

“Good job! I’ve wanted to punch that jerk for ages!

Mom just won’t let me!”

Given her reputation as the Empire’s strongest young swordsman,she absolutely could humble Seth.

Black and the guards exchanged stunned looks—

This royal heir is… refreshingly unhinged.

Then—the interrogation began:

“How’d you even MEET Alice?!

She’s so independent—why’d she pick YOU as her guard?!

What did she DO on the Hodyr?! Tell me EVERYTHING!”

Black’s head spun.

Of course she’d ask this.

Alice despised her sister—refused every olive branch Aphra offered.

But Aphra?

She ached for her little sister’s love,hurt by every cold shoulder,yet never stopped trying.

“Your Highness,” Black said carefully,

“I’m only Princess Alice’s guard.

Other matters… I shouldn’t discuss.”

He added, pointedly:

“And the Empress is waiting.”

Aphra’s smile flickered—then bounced back, sweeter than ever.

“Fine, fine! I won’t keep you.”

But as she turned to leave,she glanced back,eyes glinting with playful mischief.

“We’ll meet again, Black.

Count on it!”

A chill ran down his spine.

Oh no. She’s got that “plot device” look.

After passing through gilded gates and marble halls,they reached the Grand Audience Hall.

Black stood on the pearl-white floor,gazing toward the throne dais.

There—a figure turned.

Empress Elizabeth.

Her black-and-gold gown hugged curves legendary across the continent,slit to the thigh, revealing flawless legs.

Her golden hair, bound by a crystal diadem,framed a face of devastating, imperial beauty.

Beside her stood Lucy, the Sage, silent as a shadow.

The Dragon-Slaying Guards knelt:

“Your Majesty—Black has arrived.”

“Leave us.”

Elizabeth’s voice was ice and velvet.

As the guards withdrew,tension thickened like fog.

Black lowered his eyes—this woman had torn a Dragon King apart like paper.

Do I say “Long time no see”?

Or just scream “I’M INNOCENT!”?

He chose silence.

Elizabeth stepped forward—

her frost-blue eyes pinning him like a specimen.

“Black…”

She let his name hang in the air—then, without warning—

smiled.

It was not a kind smile.

“Tell me…”

Her voice dropped to a lethal purr:

“…how does a Level 19 pirate kill a Level 70 Dragon King?”