Chapter 69 : Lizardman Kingdom
After completing the dungeon strategy and resuming her adventure, Ariel still hadn’t decided on her next destination, so she decided to eat first.
There was a lake nearby, and since Ariel enjoyed eating by the lakeside, she headed straight there.
A short while later, she arrived at the lake and sat on a suitably wide and flat rock.
Ghost and the black wolf wagged their tails and approached Ariel, while Lu sneaked out from under her hat.
“Sister, it seems that Ghost and the black wolf became close while we were in the dungeon. More than expected.”
What Lu meant by “more than expected” was that they had become lovers. Ghost was female, and the black wolf was male.
It was only natural for romantic feelings to bloom between males and females when they spent time together.
The way the two wolves looked at each other was far more intense than before, and the quick-witted fairy couldn’t help but notice.
However, Ariel remained completely oblivious.
She was simply happy that Ghost had made a friend.
“Anyway, don’t you think we should name the black wolf soon? It seems like he’ll be staying with us.”
At Lu’s words, Ariel nodded.
In fact, she had already named the black wolf when she first saw him.
Pointing at the black wolf, Ariel spoke.
“Black.”
Lu gave a slightly awkward smile, and the black wolf, now called Black, looked somewhat flustered.
After a brief silence, Lu opened his mouth.
“Hmm… It’s a very straightforward name, Black.”
Ariel laughed and nodded. It seemed she had chosen the name quite well.
Ghost and Black.
An adventure with the two wolves.
In any case, it was time to eat.
Ariel pulled out a bunch of raw meat from her inventory and gave it to Ghost and Black, while handing Lu some potato stew and fruit wine.
As for herself, Ariel ate rye bread and milk.
A peaceful meal by the quiet lakeside.
Ariel loved this moment.
She enjoyed the exciting experiences that came with adventuring, but spending quiet, peaceful moments like this was a happiness she couldn’t miss.
After the meal, Lu, having gotten tipsy from the fruit wine, drifted off to sleep, and Ghost and Black, after glancing at Ariel, quietly disappeared into the bushes.
Ariel approached the lake and gazed at the water’s surface. She had become curious during the meal.
Could she use telekinesis underwater?
Lifting a fish swimming underwater with telekinesis seemed entirely possible.
But what if she moved using telekinesis without swimming herself?
The resistance of the water would probably make it difficult, but there was no way to know without trying.
Ariel took a step forward to enter the water. Just then, a voice came from the side.
“Oh-ho, a beautiful elf lady.”
Ariel turned her head to look at the speaker.
Smooth head and snake-like skin.
A lizardman was approaching Ariel.
“My name is Draco.”
The lizardman introduced himself without hesitation and then asked for Ariel’s name.
“If it’s not rude, may I know your name?”
“Ariel.”
“Ariel… What a lovely name, as beautiful as you are. I’ll remember it.”
Draco adjusted his clothes with a gentle smile.
He was dressed like a nobleman, but to Ariel, it didn’t seem to suit him at all.
Lizardmen, after all, looked better when their upper bodies were bare, and they carried tridents or similar weapons.
“…The lake is always so beautiful,” Draco said, gazing at the lake with a distant look.
“Of course, it pales in comparison to your beauty. Hahaha.”
Ariel ignored Draco’s words and turned her gaze back to the lake.
She continued her previous train of thought.
If she could use telekinesis underwater, would it be possible to move like a submarine?
Meanwhile, as Ariel was lost in thought, Draco fell into his own musings.
Draco was from a nearby lizardman kingdom.
In fact, he was a prince.
Barring any unforeseen events, he would soon become king and lead the lizardman kingdom.
Naturally, he would need a queen. His bride had already been decided.
She was the daughter of the most outstanding general in the lizardman kingdom.
She would be Draco’s queen.
But Draco was not pleased. He didn’t want her as his queen.
It wasn’t that she was lacking.
She was renowned as one of the most beautiful lizardwomen, and her martial skills were exceptional.
Any other lizardman would have been overjoyed to marry such a top-tier bride.
‘But not me…’
Draco didn’t want her.
More precisely, he didn’t want a marriage arranged purely because he was a prince and she was the general’s daughter.
What Draco wanted was a marriage born of passionate love.
He had tried to fall in love with her at first.
But he failed.
Being with her didn’t make his heart race, nor did it make him happy.
She felt the same. She didn’t love Draco, nor did she want the marriage.
Still, the two of them would marry in the end.
The king had decreed it. And the king’s word was absolute.
There was only one way to change this situation.
Draco had to find another bride.
If Draco found someone he loved, and someone fit to be queen, the king might reconsider.
And so, Draco left the kingdom.
To find his bride.
And now, he had found the perfect match.
Ariel.
Her appearance was exactly to Draco’s liking.
Her shimmering silver hair and sorrowful red eyes.
She was indeed as beautiful as one would expect from an elf.
Draco felt he had finally met someone who made his heart race. He desperately wanted Ariel as his queen.
Most of all, he was drawn to the fact that she was an elf.
Elves were not only beautiful but also a noble race.
If Draco could marry an elf, he would become the envy of all lizardmen.
The king would surely be delighted as well.
‘Hmm, but what about children? Would they be hybrids?’
A hybrid of a lizardman and an elf.
He had never heard of such a thing.
But it didn’t matter.
Draco and Ariel would simply be the first.
A love that transcended race.
It was something Draco had always dreamed of, and now it was finally within reach.
He just had to extend his hand and grab it.
Draco carefully pulled out a ring he had hidden in his pocket.
It was a ring made of woven grass, with a small flower attached to it.
Although it wasn’t adorned with shiny jewels, this was far more romantic—at least, Draco thought so.
‘After all, elves are a race that loves nature and has no greed…’
Draco gently stroked the grass ring and looked up at Ariel.
Ariel was still staring at the lake. Her beautiful profile made Draco’s cheeks flush red.
“Um, excuse me…”
Draco awkwardly spoke up.
Ariel turned her head and looked at him.
“Although we just met…”
Draco knelt on one knee.
“Will you accept this ring…?”
His voice trembled as if there was an earthquake.
In truth, this wasn’t how Draco had imagined proposing.
He had envisioned a much more romantic and impressive proposal.
He had even practiced by himself a few times and was somewhat confident.
But now that the moment had come, Draco couldn’t be as suave as he had hoped.
Just meeting Ariel’s gaze made him feel like he was going to stop breathing.
Ariel silently stared at the grass ring Draco held out.
Her face remained expressionless.
Draco’s heart was pounding desperately.
‘Please, please, accept it!’
That was his inner thought, but he didn’t say it out loud.
After all, Draco was still a prince and a gentleman.
Ariel slowly reached out and took the ring.
“!!”
Fireworks exploded in Draco’s mind.
‘At last… my beloved bride… and an elf, no less…!’
Smiling faintly, Ariel tried the grass ring on her finger.
Draco felt as if he were dreaming. It was hard to believe this was real.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
Even his breathing became labored. Draco struggled to catch his breath as he stood up.
“Well, then, I suppose we need to get into the water now…”
There were two ways lizardmen proposed.
The first was, like with any other race, offering a ring.
The second was to enter the water and share their love.
“Would it be alright to join me in the water…?”
At Draco’s question, Ariel nodded immediately.
“Sure.”
“!!”
Draco’s eyes widened, and he took another deep breath. If he didn’t, he felt like his heart might burst.
“Huff, huff… huff…”
Watching Draco struggle, Ariel tilted her head in confusion.
Was this lizardman sick or something?
“Are you okay?”
Ariel approached and placed her hand on Draco’s forehead.
Since they were of different heights, she had to stand on tiptoe a bit, but she managed to reach.
Draco’s smooth, round forehead was burning hot. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes kept darting back and forth.
“You’re running a fever.”
Just as Ariel said that—
Plop.
Draco’s legs gave out, and he collapsed on the spot.