The cardinal's face was blank, but he was sweating bullets behind it. He was not sure how much he could help in a situation where he could not even approach his patients to check up on them.

The dragon was guarding Layla well and did not allow anyone to come close to the pair.

Only Mary was allowed to hold the young lady, but the dragon seemed to tolerate this barely.

Dragons were possessive creatures, and they could be vicious when they felt like something of their own was being taken. That was especially true for their treasures and partners.

"Miss Maid, has this dragon chosen Miss Layla as its partner?"

Cardinal Bishop could not approach Mary and check up on her that way, but he could still feel that bond pulsing before him. He was certain that he had not made a mistake in his observation.

"Hmm, that's right. Miss Layla has been chosen as this dragon's partner. How did you know?"

Mary asked with a small smile, and the Cardinal sighed one last time before his eyes hardened.

He was about to speak some words that had the potential of ending his life. But he felt he had to speak those words for world peace and a dragon not go mad out of irritation.

"I am afraid that neither I nor any other power can help your young miss at this point. Your young miss has slipped into a healing coma because that was what the dragon wanted for her.

She will only wake up once her body has recovered significantly and is strong enough to handle the pressure of a dragon's vow. There is no need for you to be worried about her."

The Cardinal made his position clear on the topic, and he avoided the maid, who shot him with her hopeful look.

Mary felt annoyed by this answer but did not press the Cardinal to give her more answers. She felt this was the case ever since her eyes fell on the dragon, which made him miss its home.

"So, this is happening because of my miss's bond with this dragon? And this is helping her recover?"

Mary asked again, just to be sure that she had not made a mistake.

The Cardinal sighed before he nodded back at her.

"That is right. Usually, a dragon would lose their mind if their bonded partner was in trouble. They would cause all kinds of havoc and try to end the world. But seeing how clear-headed this dragon is makes me certain of this.

So, we do not need to worry about your young miss. She would wake up when she needed to. It might take ten or so years, though. Your miss does not have her core, so her situation is even more dangerous than a normal person's."

The Cardinal told the maid and her party the truth.

Their expressions look bitter but resigned. They knew they could do nothing about it, but this news did not make them happy.

"Tsk, this sucks. But I guess there is nothing else we can do about it either. I will take my miss and go into hiding. I will also keep the seeds she had sown and grow them into reliable roots that will support her once she wakes up.

Kids, what about you? If you have nowhere else to go, then come with me. I will take care of you from here on."

Mary offered this to Rosette and Adam.

The pair had left the temple to help her and her young daughter, which made them Mary's responsibility.

Adam looked ready to say no, but Rosette beat her to the punch and spoke first.

"Please, let us help you out. The temple is nice, but I need to do more. Staying by Lady Layla's side feels like the right idea."

Rosette spoke in a firm voice, and it was decided.

That day, a lot changed, and the world was not ready to handle these changes.

The cardinal felt sorry for those who would have to deal with Mary and her small party, but he did not feel that bad as an accomplice.

"Let me know if you have nowhere to keep your young miss. I have a secure place where we can keep her until she opens her eyes."

The cardinal offered, but Mary had a different idea regarding her young miss.

"Ah, that is fine. As much as I would like to ask for your help, I am afraid I need to draw the line somewhere. Don't worry! I have an idea about what to do with Miss Layla's unconscious body. She would want to be used for her plans anyway."

The maid spoke in a firm voice, and her eyes showed she was planning something naughty.

That was the last the Cardinal heard of her and her young miss.

He still got visits from Raziel and trained the kids (Rosette and Adam were not included in his training regime). That was how he got most of his news.

And it did not take long before Lady Layla's name was established as something everyone in the kingdom knew.

She was the most powerful but reclusive lady the world had ever seen. Not a single place was spared from her influence, yet no one had seen her before.

It was as if she was a phantom that disappeared when the crown looked for her.

And slowly, 12 years passed like this. The world has changed and advanced. And the more it moved forward, the more the name of Lady Layla spread across the land.

She was someone everyone aspired to be, and those in power were careful of her. This was all made possible by the efforts of those who supported Lady Layla and her ambitions.

But one day, a weird rumor spread across the lands. The young Lady Layla had been kidnapped, and her supporters were not sparing any effort looking for her.

They had even set up an astronomical prize for those who could tell them their Lady's whereabouts.