We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Dragon Princess and the Dragon King.
Mistral hid her unresponsive chest with one hand, her face bright red as she pressed herself against me.
Ah, the danger to my life was imminent.
A blow that could injure even an ancient dragon species was something I couldn’t possibly defend against.
Pushed by Mistral’s presence, I landed on my behind.
Then, Mistral stood before my eyes like a guardian deity.
Though she no longer held her fearsome one-handed club, the sight of her right arm raised high made me tremble.
“Waaah, please help me.”
I bowed low, begging Mistral for her forgiveness.
I’m sorry for thinking you had a flat chest. I apologize for wishing you had a larger bust. So please, spare me.
Or rather, isn’t it Old Man Sleigsta’s fault for reading my mind and speaking it aloud?
Grumble, it’s true that another’s mouth can be the source of disaster.
I prostrated myself.
Mistral’s iron fist…
It never fell, no matter how long I waited.
When I tentatively raised my head, Mistral still had her right arm raised.
Panicked, I prostrated myself again.
“Apology?”
“I-I-I’m sorry.”
I apologized desperately.
If I can be forgiven, I’ll do anything. So please forgive me. Please save me.
At my heartfelt apology, Mistral eventually sighed and forgave me.
“Honestly, Old Man, and you too…”
Muttering complaints, Mistral left my side.
“So. You will explain properly, won’t you, Old Man?”
Mistral moved to Old Man Sleigsta’s side and beckoned me over.
“You come here too. You must be troubled by the Old Man’s prank.”
Troubled or not, I stood up and moved to Mistral’s side as instructed.
“Hmm. There’s nothing to explain, as I said earlier.”
However, Old Man Sleigsta averted his gaze. Mistral unsheathed her one-handed club again without a word.
“Aaargh, I get it. I get it, so put away that dangerous bludgeon.”
Even the ancient dragon species seemed to be afraid of Mistral’s one-handed club. Mistral urged the flustered Old Man Sleigsta to explain then.
Seeing the two of them, it felt less like a giant dragon and a human, and more like a grandfather playing a prank on his grandchild.
“Hmm, if you feel the relationship is like grandson and grandfather, perhaps it is so.”
Old Man Sleigsta answered, reading my thoughts.
“Mistral is someone from the clan I protect. All members of the clan are like my grandchildren or children.”
“I have no blood relation with the Old Man, though.”
Um. The Guardian of the Dragon Forest, a legendary giant dragon. An ancient old dragon protecting a clan. And just now, Old Man Sleigsta referred to Mistral as a dragon person.
In other words, she isn’t human, but a dragon person who lives on the western Dragon Peak.
I looked at Mistral, standing gracefully beside me.
Her appearance was no different from a human. That she was taller than me or had a smaller bust were trivial matters.
Yes, trivial matters.
Compared to her beauty, everything seemed insignificant.
Overwhelmed by her beauty, I found myself staring at Mistral.
As if embarrassed by my gaze, Mistral smiled shyly.
“Mistral comes to see me representing our clan.”
“This is a sacred domain, so only a limited number of people from the clan can visit. Currently, I am taking care of the Old Man.”
I see. Old Man Sleigsta protects Mistral’s clan, and in return, a member of the clan takes care of him daily.
The firewood and fruits he had me bring every day were gathered by Mistral, who was in charge of his care.
Of course, that makes sense. A giant body like Old Man Sleigsta going into the forest to gather firewood and fruits, which would be tiny to him, would be impossible.
I should be grateful to Mistral, not Old Man Sleigsta. Thank you.
“Hmph, Mistral is a good girl. She’s close to your age too. Won’t you make a good couple?”
Old Man Sleigsta, still reading thoughts.
“Please don’t read my thoughts and have conversations that only the two of you can understand. And you too, try to be careful so your thoughts aren’t easily read.”
Mistral said, looking at me and Old Man Sleigsta.
Be careful so they aren’t read… how do I do that?
“In any case. Please explain to me and him, c-l-e-a-r-l-y.”
Mistral’s intensity made Old Man Sleigsta hang his head. It’s like his dignity as an ancient old dragon has vanished in front of Mistral.
“Hmm. This is troubling.”
“We’re the ones troubled.”
“Um, yes. Troubled… am I?”
As for me, having a beautiful woman like Mistral as a bride would be a dream come true.
However, I was certainly confused by Old Man Sleigsta’s sudden bombshell.
“Mistral, you have become the Dragon Princess. From now on, it will be difficult to navigate negotiations with other tribes and power struggles, and you will be unable to move freely. I fear your power as the Dragon Princess will be dulled.”
Speaking of which, Old Man Sleigsta called Mistral the Dragon Princess. Does that mean she’s like a princess of the dragon people? In other words, perhaps the daughter of the clan chief.
Perhaps a question mark was floating above my head. Mistral provided a supplement.
“Dragon Princess is a title. Yes, it’s like a Hero or Knight designation for humans.”
So it’s a title given to people with strength and achievements.
“The Dragon Princess is a daughter of the dragon people who has gained power exceeding that of the Dragon King.”
At Old Man Sleigsta’s supplement, my eyes widened.
How can a Princess be a stronger and higher title than a King?
“In the past, only the title of Dragon King existed among the dragon people. But at one time, the wife of the one who obtained the title of Dragon King achieved more power and accomplishments than him, and a new title was born.”
“Then, wouldn’t titles like Dragon Empress or Dragon Queen have been fine?”
If she was the Dragon King’s wife, those titles would seem more fitting.
“Hmm. She was a dear one. The title of Princess suited her best.”
Hey, hey. Perhaps it was Old Man Sleigsta who created the new title.
“Hahaha. Anyone can create something. But very few have the authority to create something new and have it recognized by the world. Therefore, the title of Dragon Princess that I created has appropriate efficacy.”
“The person bestowed with the title of Dragon Princess is granted the power to rule the Dragon King by me. While the title of Dragon King itself requires considerable power and achievement, the Dragon Princess is an absolute symbol for the dragon people that surpasses it. Therefore, when an unmarried Dragon Princess appears, it causes a great commotion over who she will marry and which tribe she will be united with.”
Mistral said, letting out a deep sigh. She’s truly troubled.
And the Dragon King is merely a title, not necessarily the king of the dragon people.
The dragon people live in various parts of Dragon Peak by tribe, and the clan is led by the clan chief, right? I remembered what the teacher said about the dragon people during a lecture.
“I grew weary of the tribal conflicts surrounding the Dragon Princess. Then, you appeared.”
Old Man Sleigsta shifted his gaze from Mistral to me.
“I made a promise to you, didn’t I? If you could pique my interest, I would grant your wish.”
He did say that first.
But I thought my wish had already been granted. I learned the dragon veins, danced, and received firewood and fruits daily; I was satisfied.
“Were you satisfied with everything so far? However, what you desired most was a bride, wasn’t it?”
He didn’t say “boobs” this time, thankfully.
I do want a bride. I’m a man, after all.
But, I looked at Mistral.
Mistral also had a perplexed expression.
Her dignified posture exuded elegance, and she was undeniably the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life.
But that’s precisely why she’s not suitable for me.
After all, I’m just an ordinary boy living in the capital city, known as the village idiot at school.
If it were the Hero Listea, I think it would have been different.
If Mistral stood beside him, I don’t think it would feel out of place. In terms of height, in terms of status.
“Mistral will be seventeen this year. She’s a little older, but that shouldn’t be a problem. You two are standing side-by-side now; you look good together.”
At Old Man Sleigsta’s words, Mistral and I met eyes and then looked away, embarrassed.
“However…”
Mistral’s perplexed expression deepened.
Ah, I think I understand.
Mistral doesn’t like this. But she can’t defy Old Man Sleigsta, the ancient dragon who protects her clan.
Of course not. It’s impossible to expect her to be happy being told to suddenly marry a stranger, a human man.
Dragon people probably see humans as a lesser species.
“Mistral, if you don’t have anyone you love, accept it. And Elnea, Mistral will surely be helpful as you grow. I know this is sudden and causes both of you confusion. However, for the moment, as interests align, please accept it.”
At Old Man Sleigsta’s very forceful and one-sided proposal, my and Mistral’s eyes met again.
What kind of expression was I making?
Mistral gave a troubled smile.
“Now, Elnea. Didn’t you have some business with me?”
At his words, I remembered the purpose of my visit.
That’s right, I had to tell him about tomorrow.
With the encounter with Mistral and the sudden proposal, I had completely forgotten.
I informed Old Man Sleigsta that I wouldn’t be able to come here for the next three days due to a school event.
I came here early in the morning because I had to hurry back to prepare.
“Hmm, camping practice? That shouldn’t be a problem with Mistral there.”
“No, no, no, Mistral isn’t a student, so I can’t bring her.”
If people found out she was a dragon person, it would cause a huge uproar.
Although dragon people live on the western Dragon Peak, they don’t interact much with us humans.
Only a few times a year do dragon people come down from Dragon Peak to trade.
Even in the capital city, many people have never seen a dragon person. I myself had never seen one until I met Mistral.
“Hmm, is that so? However, since you’ve come all this way, you should train. Mistral, you prepare what’s needed for camping.”
“……Yes.”
She must have had many thoughts about the marriage proposal, but Mistral began acting as instructed.
Did she start acting?
Mistral turned back the way she came and disappeared into the Ancient Tree Forest.
“Are you really going to train now?”
“Of course.”
“Is the marriage proposal between me and Mistral serious?”
“Absolutely.”
Hahaha. I had a complicated smile, feeling both pleased and troubled.
