~A/N: Hey Dear Readers! Part 3 as a bonus-bonus here! I really am going to focus on main story chapters now, since I'm losing my buffer xD

Seriously, though, I'm always grateful that you are reading and enjoying little old me's story! As always, I hope you'll continue to enjoy!

Also, I just finished writing the chapter, so I'm releasing it right away! Don't mind the random time and off-schedule date xD

It is probably riddle with errors, though, so please forgive my eagerness to share the story over fixing the little stuff. I'll eventually get to a big cleanup for the whole story.~

***

Empress Ryuogriar gur Lawson represents the apparent line between grace and scandal with a dress that teases at exposing her humanoid form’s most intimate secrets, yet fearlessly flaunts every truth she could possibly bear. Her tail has an overlapping deep slit at the back from which it can protrude, and her horns gleam in the magic-crystal powered light for all the world to see. Though most of her figure takes the form of a voluptuous human graced by the gods to instill insecurities in all who look her way, she is a dragon and does not hesitate to remind anyone who doubts it of that fact.

Surprisingly enough, she does seem to have the most true authority in the Fievegal, second only to the human whose name is emblazoned on her shapely left breast, close to her heart and partially visible at all times with how much of her cleavage the dress makes visible to the entire Peace Conference.

On its own, it is actually the least noticeable trait, given her figure, her wealthy gown and jewelry, and her striking, mystical horns and tail which seem to capture the light and keep it within, swirling with a slow, magic gleam that demonstrates her raw power.

The problem is making an approach to someone with so much gravitas.

Marquis Walved inherited his family’s Marquisate in Mornistae around ten years ago, and he has a pretty solid grasp on its history, its benefits, and its place in the Kingdom. By nature of being a Marquisate, it is of course a rather boastworthy territory, even if it is neither the largest nor the wealthiest. But, it is an old and loyal territory with household members having held some of the most prestigious places in the Kingdom’s central positions in the capital, such as treasurers, defensive architects, and even the occasional Court Mages.

And, more importantly related to the Marquis’s intended task; it has been home to one of Empress Ryuogriar’s kin in the past. If he’s lucky, it was a close relative or even a sibling to the Empress, as it will establish a stronger case for his offer.

“Excuse me, your majestic Grace Ryuogriar. I, Marquis Walved kos Lachslond of Mornistae. I greet the unequivocally beautiful second Empress of the Fievegal.”

“A pleasure,” replies the dragon, offering her hand in a token of neutral, but good faith. Marquis Walved gently kisses the back of her hand, since he needs to make a strong impression.

For the moment, he was able to catch Ryuogriar alone as she sits at one of the conference table seats, though facing away from the table itself.

“I couldn’t help but notice the actual design of your dress. The obvious aside, if you please, may I ask how your designer came to be inspired to make such a dress?”

Ryuogriar smiles with an inviting, but almost predatory smile. Walved will need to be extremely careful, since it’s quickly becoming no secret that the Fievegal cares not for the hidden daggers in words, and will simply insult someone right to their faces. Because of their immense power and wealth, it’s all but required to approach them in good faith and with something cordial or of value to discuss with them.

And, Ryuogriar is no exception.

“I’m afraid all of it should be obvious, then, Marquis Walved. Isn’t it only natural that my dress reflect my lover’s attraction for me?”

It’s direct and blunt, and in a way, completely shameless. It catches Walved off guard, because he was expecting her to toy around with hiding the seamstress responsible or to brag about some sort of more practical reason.

Instead, she came right out and said it.

“Mukori is the center of my world,” replies Ryuogriar without even a shred of hesitation or embarrassment. “Would you expect anything less?”

“I… Uh… Ahem!” The Marquis does his best to recover his composure and clears his throat. “Certainly, your Grace. It seems the Emperor’s tastes are quite interesting. But, if that’s so, doesn’t it leave you feeling a little… uncovered?”

“How do you mean?” asks the dragon, cocking her head to the side. Her shoulders and biceps are quite bare, and the top of her chest is exposed, while her legs, ankles, and tail are on full display even when she’s standing.

“I mean the dress does leave little room to the imagination. I can imagine the cost alone would be prohibitive for a crinoline or bustle design, but even so, given Empress Reignleif’s dress’s more prominent coverage…”

Marquis Walved does notice the tattoo, though he has obviously been doing his best to minimize simply staring at her chest to find it.

He finishes his thought, “I would think you might have protested the design at least somewhat.”

“If you are worried about the fact that others can see so much of what only belongs to my Mukori, then should we gouge out everyone’s eyes?”

Walved’s stomach twists into an immediate and almost painful knot at these words, and he barely manages to hold his tone level as he croaks out, “Pardon?”

“Hmm? Well, he owns these dresses, the vehicles, that magic sword, and even in a sense, this entire meeting hall. If gazing upon my Mukori’s belongings is sinful, then the only way to solve it would be to remove everyone’s ability to gaze upon it, would it not?” She smirks at him facetiously, obviously toying with him.

He is stunned for a much longer moment than a typical noble-on-noble verbal sparring match would forgive, but the almost white-haired blonde couldn’t care less about hiding the blade of her words. In fact, if she’s anything like Geirahoel at all, she might spark up her flame just to put an even sharper, more deadly edge on each and every syllable.

“Worry not, Marquis Walved,” remarks the dragon with a calm and casual wave of her hand. “Mukori would never give me permission to do something so aggressive. And, even if I did, removing eyeballs is so tedious. It would be far easier to simply leave.”

Walved realizes quickly that he waited too long, and her taking the chance to add more is proof that she’s aware that she has full control of the conversation.

You could wear a different dress! screams Walved’s internal logic, but he knows he dares not say it at this point. He smiles and replies, “Certainly, your jest had me for only a moment, your Grace. I’ve heard my ancestors ran into a similar situation with the dragon who took up residence in my territory.”

“Oh?” asks Ryuogriar with what seems to be genuine curiosity and at least some interest. “A dragon in the east? How rare.”

“Indeed. I’m told his presence brought a great deal of prosperity to our lands, since none would dare invade a land protected by a dragon.”

“Fascinating. Do you know this dragon’s name?” asks Ryuogriar, leaning forward onto her thigh to listen.

Walved clears his throat softly. I wonder if I should go fetch drinks. But,... “I’m afraid it seems dragons are rather guarded with their names, or even more so, even speaking with human-kin like myself.”

Her smile softens. “That is most likely true. We are dragons, after all.”

“The Walved family has long believed in the shared freedom of the strong, your Grace. That is why my family never antagonized nor tried to drive away the dragon on our land. Some even made it offerings, as if it were a lesser god residing in our world for a time.”

“I can sympathize. I routinely feel that way myself,” replies the Empress warmly. Walved doesn’t realize which side of that statement she places herself on.

“I notice that, at least your humanoid appearances, seem to show a unique color for each dragon.”

“That is true to a point, my Lord. There are only so many colors after all. That said, there’s a very short list of dragons that I know of who have ever lived in the east peacefully. If you know the color, I suppose I might be able to identify them.”

“These are only stories, mind you, but the dragon was said to be as black as the darkest of starless nights. Though he never spoke, he is said to have been one of the largest dragons in history.”

“Black…” whispers Ryuogriar softly.

“Does that ring true in your memories, your Grace?”

She looks directly at Marquis Walved in a long and serious deliberation. She finally smiles, saying, “Why yes. You speak of my Father. As his hatchling, it is not my place to reveal his name to human-kin. I’m sure you understand. I may not be the most honorable in terms of filial piety, but I do have the utmost respect for my great father.”

Excitement washes over Walved, and he strains to keep his giddiness buried beneath his noble facade. “Merely having the honor of being an extended homeland of someone as majestic as you, your Grace, is a most gracious privilege indeed. I would most welcome you to join us to see how good the land protected by your great and most noble sire is.”

Walved bows warmly, and he doesn’t see the dragon’s eye twitch.

***

“These are only stories, mind you, but the dragon was said to be as black as the darkest of starless nights. Though he never spoke, he is said to have been one of the largest dragons in history.”

Some part of Ryuogriar was hoping to hear the color to be ‘Gold’, since Gold herself is right outside and could confirm. Though, from the sounds of it, unless the Walved Marquisate somehow absorbed foreign territory in the form of the former Phenglegorn region, which it’s known that Aramellianna was ‘a foreigner’ to Mornistae now, it wouldn’t make sense for Walved to claim a dragon so closely relates to his family.

But, hearing the truth makes Ryuogriar feel nearly sick. “Black…” The word slips out of her mouth almost uncontrollably.

“Does that ring true in your memories, your Grace?” asks the Marquis.

Of course it does. All but one black dragon died out a long time ago. Far too long ago for stories to be passed down about any of them this far east.

She realizes her deep thoughts are dragging out, and she forces a smile. “Why yes. You speak of my Father,” lies the platinum dragon. “As his hatchling, it is not my place to reveal his name to human-kin. I’m sure you understand. I may not be the most honorable in terms of filial piety, but I do have the utmost respect for my great father.”

I feel disgusting for saying any of that. While it could be true, I would never forgive myself if I am related to that ancient coward.

Walved makes some more platitudes, and Ryuogriar has something to think about. He’s inviting her to her territory. That much was going to be obvious with any of the dragons and other powerful Empresses. Two angles of attack are the most likely regarding the Empresses; dismantling Daniel’s harem to sow discord among the Fievegal’s leadership, and to lure away the power of the Fievegal to make their own.

She’s fairly confident that this conversation started because of the tattoo on her chest, which she is certainly most proud of. It’s actually more subtle than the true version of itself, but Ryuogriar has taken to wanting to tease Daniel in one of her favorite ways.

To remind him that she belongs to him in mind, body, and soul. Further convincing her forever that it will be true for the rest of her life is the very fact that Daniel unwaveringly treats her like an equal when it comes to authority, and a precious star that his own life orbits around, like a true wife or Empress. He has even agreed to marry her and the others to solidify and make official his love for them.

What he doesn’t know is that she plans to exploit the same power of magic contracts in the process, but that will come when the wedding can be held. She has his promise and his consent, meaning she just needs the ritual itself, now. And, like Doephluev binding herself magically to Daniel using her rune magic, it will help protect the peculiar human when Ryuogriar can’t race to his side.

Shiaulvolgarro… So, he spent some time in the east? Why? What was his motive?

Ryuogriar can’t help but ponder the motives of her ‘father’. The black dragon ruled the Hoard for the earliest parts of Ryuogriar’s life, but once Morthybargaron and his cohorts annihilated the feldroks, the black dragon simply disappeared. Some of the others speculated that Morthybargaron killed him and Sayrdarralouche in order to become the dominant male, but it’s no secret that the two eldest dragons, Shiaulvolgarro having lived for more than ten thousand years, according to some, had no interest in breeding the harem of female dragons, which was more numerous in those days. It wouldn’t be entirely surprising if one of the two, or both, were related to all of the female dragons living. But, that doesn’t mean Ryuogriar has to admire or respect them.

Regardless, they haven’t been seen or heard from in hundreds of years. To hear mention of Shiaulvolgarro coming up under such unexpected circumstances may be useful in the future. As much as she doesn’t want to give these greedy, suspicious nobles or the kingdom of Mornistae any confidence or pride, she does have a reason to play along for now.

“What a generous offer, Marquis Walved. I wouldn’t want to impose, however. My mere presence could prove troublesome, given my rank and the tensions between our nations.”

“We can certainly keep your tour of the territory low profile,” replies Walved. “And, if you are worried about… the holder of your heart, there may be a way around that which can certainly be arranged as well.”

Ryuogriar cocks her head curiously. She knows he’s inferring that Daniel is her master. After all, he has glanced at the exposed part of her breast, more specifically her left side, where her tattoo is. Her bait has worked, but she was hoping for a more desperate, more public attempt to coax out information about her ‘slavery’.

I wonder what method for overwriting a magic contract they think they have would be. Though, they’re fools if they think I would be stupid enough to trust them to free me. They wouldn’t be able to defeat any contract demons that might cross over… Ahhh, that must be it. The artifact, hmm?

“I believe we must arrange for another meeting, Marquis Walved. I will ensure a line of communication opens for us to exchange letters. In code, of course.” She thinks for a moment, and a devious idea comes over her. “We could use draconic… oh, but you said my father never spoke. Hmm…” She notices Walved’s small twitch of fear and slight embarrassment. After all, he is the one who claimed to be ‘practically descended’ from dragons due to one black dragon residing there.

“Ah, Graume Vaudis. Surely you have connections with Imperial nobles, yes? We may need their help in the long run.”

“I’m familiar with it, your Grace. Leave the codex to me. I’ll find a way to ensure it is delivered to you securely, using the Graume Vaudis language as a base. You’re quite wise. It’s typically only learned by high ranking Imperials, so it should prove difficult to be noticed as amiss.”

She nods in agreement, and her gaze is suddenly pulled away to a new scene.

Many awkward moments have arisen, but nothing is more unpredictable than the two princesses who snuck their way into joining the Peace Conference.

Ryuogriar knows that goblins as children are durable, at least compared to the children of most other races. Comparatively, they are similar to adult goblins, which are much weaker in relation to the adults of the other denizens of Zenkon, including humans.

Of course, there’s a reason small children are generally not brought to official meetings, conferences, and audiences such as this one.

Ryuogriar watches as Jieka dashes giddily across the floor, faster than one would assume she can move with her small size and with a town’s budget worth of fabric dragging across the floor behind her while Veiranoei nervously tries to chase after her.

More interesting is Jieka’s apparent destination, or more specifically, the person she is running towards.

***

Erimaya watches the Peace Conference going on around her. The ‘nobility of the Fievegal’, which is mostly Empresses, rather than nobles, have spread out to mingle with the many nobles of the Empire and Mornistae, as well as Mattarglos, who have all gathered for this historic meeting of powerful nations. While Mornistae is arguably the weakest nation involved in the Peace Conference, they are actually one side of the negotiations that took place thanks to Rikuto’s superweapons, which Count Baumalde seems to have taken credit for.

Wait… I don’t see Count Baumalde. Did he leave already?

The young princess finds it peculiar, though not everyone wanted to stay and speak with the peculiar rulers of the Fievegal.

I guess they did have a rather heated disagreement during the negotiations…

She wants to go to Hekate and join her black-haired friend, but Erimaya’s father has forbidden her from straying too far from his side. And, he seems content to completely ignore or avoid the Empresses, simply observing and speaking with nobles who both have and haven’t met with the Empresses.

Father, I could act as a further bridge. Why won’t you just let me have this? What better status could I gain than Empress? Not that it’s my priority, but I would ask Hekate and the others to share the Fievegal’s strength and wonders with Mornistae. Isn’t that my role? To make Mornistae stronger through marriage? Shouldn’t it be all the better that I like my partner?

Erimaya shoots a glance at Daniel, who is introducing Kera’tai to some of Sundenelle’s followers, while the albino Empress also speaks to and about Kera’tai.

Daniel notices Erimaya looking at him, and he crosses his right hand over his chest and bows subtly. Just being acknowledge by him makes Erimaya blush, and she grips the collar of her expensive dress, which was a gift from the Fievegal. It’s not another cuddlewool dress like the first one, but it is still exquisite and designed with wealth in mind, in spite of the much smaller design than the more layered and structured gowns being worn by some of the nobles. Daniel, himself, insists against corsets in the Fievegal, and Erimaya can’t help but think it stems from his own shared experience with her and how a corset can be hazardous under certain circumstances.

He insists it’s barbaric to try to cinch down one’s waist and chest forcibly, since it can cause all kinds of medical problems. But, he also told Erimaya that she looks plenty cute enough without it.

Hekate and I will have our work cut out for us, Daniel, but don’t think I will allow you to call me merely ‘cute’ forever!

Erimaya can’t help but smile a little giddily as she realizes that fate itself seems to be urging Daniel and herself together. It was she who spoke out in defense of Daniel when he was revealed to have no magic, and he fearlessly came to her rescue, complying with everything Mornistae wished as a result, in spite of how heartless and foolish it was.

And, in spite of how powerful he obviously could have always been.

He did not turn his dragonslaying strength against her father or Rikuto, even with such a reason. He did not abandon Fort Peony in their time of need. And, when Erimaya went to look for him, he treated her kindly every day.

But, she also can’t avoid the gossip going on around her. The nobles and even her father are making all sorts of speculations about the Empresses, including how to try to lure some or all of them away, how to try to recapture or legally seize the Grand Duchy, whether or not they should sanction Mattarglos, and how to capture weapons of the Fievegal to try to level the playing field.

Naturally, espionage is a common part of international politics. Each country is always looking for an edge on the others in trade, in warfare, and most importantly, in territorial stability.

More aggravating, some of the nobles continue to speak harshly about Jieka and Tekten simply because they’re half-goblins. Ahok was a Court Magic Artisan for a time, though part of that may have been Rikuto’s comparable lack of racial bias like Daniel’s. Regardless, anyone who has interacted with the princesses for even a few minutes would see that they are no different than any other children. In fact, they are far ahead of children their age, since goblins are ‘precocial at birth’, as Daniel calls it. Like buckrokhs and many other animals that are able to function even as newborns, goblins can walk and forage for food almost immediately, and Jieka and Tekten learned to talk within months of being born. Daugli and Pomiel, and their youngest sisters are much quieter, but Jieka and Tekten could almost reasonably start learning etiquette in the next couple of years, if they continue to absorb knowledge at the rate they are now.

I’m so far behind already, but I do hope you’ll be good siblings to my children, muses the blonde princess.

Just as she’s thinking this, she hears her own title called out. “Wait princess! Stop! You’ll trip!”

Like a name, it is something Erimaya is trained to respond to, or at least search for the source of. Naturally, she’s not the only princess in the world, and since her own sister was a princess until last year, she is obviously used to verifying which ‘princess’ has been addressed. That said, the voice is Veiranoei, who is the second newest of Daniel’s consorts, though ‘Yuna’ is only faking it. Erimaya is a little surprised Heralesse hasn’t revealed who Yuna really is, but it doesn’t really matter. Rikuto’s interest in ‘Yuna’ is strange, but a bit understandable, so maybe she doesn’t have the heart to break the illusion for Rikuto, who finally has someone tied to his homeland.

The princess in question, though, is Jieka, who is running right for Erimaya, even though her dress doesn’t fit and it’s an absolute wonder that the tiny half-goblin hasn’t tripped yet.

Erimaya panics, lifting her own dress’s hem to jog towards the tiny princess. “P-Princess Jieka! Please don’t run!”

“Your Highness!” call out the Mornistae guards that King Father Greydald assigned to both guard and restrain Erimaya the moment she was returned to Mornistae’s custody like some sort of art piece or a prized buckrokh.

The way has cleared for the Crown Princess of the Fievegal, since everyone is afraid of either her status as a princess of the Fievegal and the unknown weight that title carries, or because she’s a goblin, known for their penchant and apparent thirst for violence ingrained in their blood.

As such, there’s no one in her way.

And no one to blame when the nearly-inevitable occurs.

The world seems to come to a stop as Jieka’s foot finally catches the hem of her dress, and she is launched in a forward fall that no one is close enough to prevent.

Even Erimaya is horrified watching what she was afraid would happen come to pass.

Jieka flops square onto her front side, face and all, in the way that only a child does because they don’t have the full muscle-memory for how to protect herself.

Anything could happen. Everyone’s instincts cause them to freeze because of fear. There is nothing more fearsome than enraged parents, especially a father.

And, this child’s father in particular is the Emperor of the enigmatic and, consequently, feared Fievegal.

Jieka whimpers as she lifts her head, her cute nose and forehead scraped from the impact with the floor. Her eyes are watering, and her broad, leaf-like ears droop pathetically.

Erimaya hesitates for only a moment longer. Jieka is an adorable little girl. Her skin is a soft, strangely cute green hue, rather than sickly looking, and she has freckles on her shoulders, neck, and cheeks. Her ears are at least times larger than a humans would be, which emphasizes her childish appearance even more.

Erimaya is a human, but only an unfeeling wretch would be able to completely ignore a crying child.

And, Erimaya doesn’t want to be the kind that fails to act.

In fairness, it’s not a conscious decision on her part, so much as her legs move before the rest of her really catches up. The former ‘Second’ princess of Mornistae, now the only Princess of Mornistae, dashes forward, forgetting about her own risk of tripping. She cries out, “Jieka!”, ignoring her guards who try to stop her.

Erimaya reaches Jieka and dives to her knees, scooping the half-goblin Princess up as the tiny girl begins wailing at the top of her lungs. The whole conference hall has fallen silent in response; yet another outburst that seems to have drawn everyone’s attention.

Even Veiranoei, the gatonine Empress of the Fievegal who was pursuing Jieka, is frozen in fear and horror, unsure how to respond. She’s not Jieka’s mother, nor is she truly an Empress of the Fievegal in the ‘lover of Daniel’ sense. It’s fair for her to question her right to try to comfort Jieka, who holds a power she has no idea is in her hands yet.

But, a child was hurt and has since begun crying. Daniel wouldn’t hesitate because of some silly political nuances or other restrictive noble precedents and etiquette hang ups.

Lifting Jieka, who is crying uncontrollably and seemingly inconsolably, seems to trigger an automatic response where the goblin princess hugs Erimaya’s neck and clings to her surprisingly tightly for someone so small, bawling into the young teen’s neck. Some reflexive part of Erimaya’s mind worries momentarily about her dress, which could be stained even by the tiny amount of blood that could be potentially coming from the scrapes on the young princess. However, the young human future Empress of the Fievegal feels utter shame at even having this thought for the briefest of moments, and she hugs Jieka affectionately. “It’s alright, Jieka. It’s alright. You’ll be fine. You’re the bravest and strongest princess I know.” These words come out of Erimaya’s mouth steadily and with a strange sense of serene confidence.

Heralesse once comforted Erimaya in the same way, having received the same from their mother, Orphelexia. More important than the words themselves, of course, is the tone and confidence the one doing the comforting can give off. Erimaya may be the most denied willing Empress-to-be of the Fievegal, given Daniel’s otherworldly restraint against marrying anyone under the seemingly high-age of 18, at least by Zenkon standards. But, she still cherishes Jieka and Tekten, since she got to know them. It was obviously this simple connection that caused Jieka to come running towards Erimaya was plenty enough of a bond between them.

It’s only right that Erimaya return that affection.

“Jieka!” calls out Daniel’s voice as he pushes through the crowd that has gathered, unsure how to help otherwise. Everyone shies away in fear from the otherworlder human, but his sole focus is on his crying child. He rushes directly to Erimaya, and she has an immediate impulse to defend herself and proclaim her innocence, but she hesitates.

Daniel’s gaze is most focused on Jieka, and he drops to a kneel in front of Erimaya. “I’m here, sweet Princess. Papa’s here. Let me see.”

Jieka’s face is already a mess as she sniffles and snorts, streaming tears and dribbling mucus running down her face and onto connecting in yucky strings to Erimaya’s shoulder.

“Oh geez…” murmurs Daniel as he observes it all. The goblin princess immediately reaches for Daniel, and Erimaya offers her over to the young girl’s father without hesitation. The young man takes the goblin princess, quickly withdrawing a handkerchief to clean the slimy stains on Erimaya’s shoulder, as well as try to clean up the tiny goblin’s face to prevent further spread of her tearful mess.

“Sorry, your Highness,” whispers Daniel. “I’ll make sure you get a fitting replacement dress.”

Erimaya can’t help but smile softly. Compensation for the inconvenience she is exposed to is normal. But, nothing ‘normal’ is enjoyable given how the Fievegal is.

“I would rather you steal me away, Daniel,” replies Erimaya with a warm tone. Daniel probably takes it as a joke, though she has expressed her desire to forcibly attach the Fievegal to protect Mornistae, but also because she has great affection for her savior, who is undeniably kind.

The otherworlder Emperor chuckles softly, replying gently, “Would I could, if only for Hekate’s best friend.”

Though he says this, Erimaya gasps lightly when she notices precisely what Daniel is wiping Jieka’s nose with.

The handkerchief is like any other, since a handkerchief is a handkerchief. But, this one has a black bird with soft-angle chevrons behind it formed from ivy-wound sword blades. A half wreath also adorns the upper section over each wing, emulating a sort of ‘military crest’ that Daniel wore on Earth when he served in an ocean-centric service known as the ‘Navy’.

Erimaya recognizes the embroidery on the handkerchief with ease.

A handkerchief entrusted to the care of Daniel’s first, and seemingly most, if only tied for most, precious daughter.

After all, the young princess is the one who embroidered it.

Her eyes widen as she gasps lightly. Daniel notices her sudden surprise, and he runs through possible causes before his gaze lands on the object in his own left hand. The realization hits him quickly, and he locks eyes with the young princess. She smiles happily, and Daniel is speechless for a moment. She knows he’s not ‘inexperienced with women’, so much as caught off guard.

For all of Daniel’s bravado in disregarding noble etiquette, he does actually pay it some mind, knowing that it exists and respecting certain nobles like Erimaya, Heralesse, and even Sundenelle, Byleathea, and Walliskah enough to try to preserve their noble dignity, even if he doesn’t worry about that of his own nor the Empresses, who are allowed to behave as they wish.

Daniel knows the ultimate, if subtle, significance of Erimaya giving him a handkerchief with what she believed, at the time, was his family crest from Earth due to pictures she saw of him in uniform.

It’s a subdued, but sincere sign of affection for a lady to give hand-sewn handkerchief to a man she fancies. Erimaya has made it no secret that she fancies Daniel, though with Hekate’s permission, of course. Something even the young princess finds amusing is Hekate’s contradictory stances on fiercely protecting Daniel from new mistresses, yet also fiercely protecting the ones she has as her own family. And, Erimaya is the young Empress’s best friend, at least excluding Daniel, who the feldrok girl desires as far more than a best friend.

Erimaya blurts out in a whisper, “Daniel, you… kept it?”

The unorthodox Emperor clears his throat, before declaring in a voice loud enough for others to hear, “Ahem! Thank you, your Highness, for looking after my child. I will reward you at another time. The Kingdom of Mornistae is truly fortunate to have a princess so honorable and kind as you are.” He adds at a whisper that should only be audible to Erimaya and only the most attentive shenwulves, “You will never be without our protection. Please stay friends with Hekate for a long time.”

He stands up, holding the crying Jieka to his own shoulder as she clings to his neck. He’s doing his best to nurse the scrapes on the little girl, but he doesn’t make a particularly big deal out of it, since he seems to know she tripped on her own. More importantly, he is focused on making two princesses happy; the one crying and the one who came to the aid of the other.

Erimaya is comforted by his reassurance. She figured a golem would be stationed with her as before, but now that she’s such a close friend to Hekate and all but officially Daniel’s fiancee along with the others, hearing Daniel confirm his own personal concern for her safety is every possible thing short of a formal declaration of engagement in her young mind.

Daniel doesn’t shirk his gentlemanly behavior either; not just in appearance, but a true ingrained kindness within his very soul. He offers his hand and helps Erimaya to her feet, even while holding his sobbing daughter, who mostly just wants to cling to him while she’s in pain. Erimaya sympathizes with Jieka, but she is also starstruck by Daniel’s unending kindness.

Remembering where they are and their respective stations, at least to the outside world, Erimaya says, “Oh! Th-Thank you, your Grace.”

Daniel smiles softly. “Huh… It sounds odd coming from you.”

She blushes a little and averts her eyes, gingerly squeezing his hand for a moment while she has it. “D-Don’t… forget about me. I will keep my promise.”

The Earthling sighs softly in resignation. “Got me between a rock and a Hekate, anyways.”

Erimaya giggles, and one of the guards approaches cautiously, bowing his head respectfully to Daniel for a moment. “Pardon me, your Grace. Your Highness, we should prepare to return.”

“Understood,” replies the young princess. She then curtsies to Daniel, “Your Imperial Majesty Daniel, your beautiful Highness Jieka, it seems I must bid you farewell for today.”

“Take care on your way, your Highness Erimaya. Farewelle. Jieka, say farewell to Princess Erimaya.”

“Papa, Ewi stay?” She sniffles with pink eyes and a dribbling nose.

“No, Princess Erimaya can’t stay. She’s going home to her mama and papa, alright.”

“Mmm…” grumbles the small goblin. “Bye bye Ewi.”

“Bye bye, Jieka,” replies the blonde princess as she gently strokes Jieka’s cheek, which comforts the sniffling little girl some. “I promise I’ll see you again.”

“Okay!”

With that, Erimaya parts ways. She knows they aren’t actually leaving just yet, but the guard needed to pull her back on Greydald’s orders. He seems to be afraid that Daniel will order her taken “hostage” again.

Father, you are so foolish sometimes. Her expression becomes serious as she returns to the Mornistae-controlled end of the conference hall.

If they wanted to capture or kill us all, not even Castle Northwall would withstand the Iron Drakes camouflaged just outside of the valley for more than a few minutes.

***