Maliny turned to Druvok with a mischievous smile and asked,
"Now you'll play with me, whatever I ask — as you agreed earlier."
Druvok groaned in frustration.
"Yes, yes… I agreed."
Maliny smiled wider.
"Then carry me on your back! I want to touch the big tree in the garden that everyone talks about."
She stretched her arms out in the wrong direction. Druvok chuckled slightly when he saw her reaching toward the wall, remembering she was blind.
He walked over and lifted her onto his back, heading toward the grand garden of the Duke's palace.
As they walked, Maliny suddenly asked,
"What does the garden look like? Is it as pretty as everyone says?"
Druvok answered simply,
"Yes. I think humans would find it pretty."
His tone was indifferent — as a Green Goblin, he much preferred the wild forests or muddy swamps over this elegant, manicured garden.
Maliny pouted and tugged at his hair from behind.
"I mean describe it to me, you idiot. You know I can't see it."
Her voice held a hint of frustration and longing.
Druvok growled,
"Yes, I get it. You're such a demanding little thing. You barely know your way around but you're still bossy as hell."
His tone was furious but carried a teasing, not unkind, edge.
He paused, scanning the garden — red roses arranged in artistic shapes, lush green leaves shimmering in the sunlight.
"There are a lot of red flowers, and some green leaves… it looks like they spent a fortune on it. Humans just love wasting money," he grumbled sarcastically.
Maliny pouted more and slapped his shoulder.
"That's ugly. Describe it like you're describing your lover, not like you're judging it."
She shook Druvok slightly and nearly slipped from his back.
"Make it sound romantic — like you're describing your first love."
Druvok snarled,
"Stay still! Fine — I'll give you your stupid romantic description."
He sighed heavily, then muttered,
"If you could see… you'd find a land that breathes beauty itself. The flowers here are red, like cheeks blushing from love, swaying gently as if they're dancing to a song only we can hear… as though this garden keeps its secret just for you."
Maliny clapped her hands in delight, and Druvok tightened his grip on her to keep her steady.
"Stay still, and wrap your arms around my neck," he growled, then mumbled under his breath,
"I can't believe after I was the most feared general in the monster armies, now I serve this demanding little thing."
Maliny leaned closer, her breath brushing against his ear.
"Did you say something?"
Druvok's face flushed slightly, and he barked,
"I didn't say anything! You're imagining things."
They finally reached the massive tree in the middle of the garden. The tree had a strange appearance — a gray trunk with pink leaves.
Druvok stared at it for a long moment before Maliny spoke.
"This tree is sacred to the duchy. Legend says the first Duke buried a dragon's eye here to bless the land, and it grew into this tree."
She paused, then giggled softly.
"There are rumors he did it to heal his first love from an unknown illness, and only the leaves from a dragon's eye tree could cure her. Sounds like bullshit, right? Just an old legend."
But Druvok didn't reply — he could feel a strong, ancient magic coming from the tree, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Suddenly, a cold voice cut through their conversation.
"Well, well… if it isn't Maliny, the duchy's little disgrace. I'm surprised to see you out here and not hiding in your room like a frightened mouse — and with that monster, no less."
An elegant young woman appeared, her hair the same shimmering silver-blonde as Maliny's, cascading over her shoulders in perfect waves. Her eyes were sharp, her expression dripping with disdain.
Maliny instinctively hid her face against Druvok's neck from behind and whispered,
"That's my cousin… All members of the Duke's family have silver-blonde hair."
Druvok's brow furrowed.
'Why would her own family treat her like this?' he wondered.
The woman approached them slowly, her voice like silk laced with venom.
"I see you've made a pet out of one of the monsters now. How fitting. A blind little thing like you clinging to beasts — as if any respectable human would bother with you."
Her lips curled into a mocking smile, her gaze flickering to Druvok with a mixture of disgust and thinly-veiled jealousy.
"I would've thought even a monster had better taste."
Maliny clenched Druvok's shirt, trembling slightly, while Druvok's expression darkened, an angry growl rumbling low in his throat.