The group got lost on their journey.
It seemed we were heading in the wrong direction.
“Thank you. Um, and you are?”
“I’m from a nearby village.”
I see… I wanted to ask a bit more, but the man’s face clearly told me to leave quickly. I wanted to avoid trouble.
“Is that so? Ha ha, well then, excuse me.”
I decided to leave, feeling unseen eyes on me.
“Byron, where have you gone?”
Just then, a cheerful girl’s voice echoed. The strong man standing before us had a look of panic.
“P-Princess Azura! Why are you here?!”
Turning around, a girl with similar features was walking towards us. Seeing her, the ones who were hiding also revealed themselves.
“You mustn’t! Please return immediately!”
“Princess!”
What’s going on? She called her “Princess,” so she might be nobility. The man quickly rushed over and scooped her up.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was bored, so I came out. Byron, who are those people?”
She must have been referring to us. The small princess had the guards flustered.
“Hello, my name is Hiroaki.”
I bowed politely, trying not to seem hostile. Azura chuckled from within Byron’s arms.
“You are an interesting one. Look up, Hiroaki, you say? Where are you from?”
“I am a traveler. I ended up coming here by mistake.”
Then, Azura beckoned me towards her. Amidst the piercing gazes of the guards, I slowly approached.
“Hmm, you have quite a look about you. Not bad. Alright, I shall make you my husband. From today, you are Emperor.”
…What? Was she talking to me?
“What, you don’t seem happy?”
The man called Byron rushed to intervene.
“P-Princess, you mustn’t say such things! This person is an outsider; marriage is not possible.”
“Silence! I have already decided. Now, lead my husband!”
My companions were stunned. I could never have imagined being told something like this so suddenly. I was more surprised than if an assassin had appeared. The guards exchanged glances, but perhaps unable to defy the princess, they urged us to walk.
“Wow, as expected, you’re quite popular. And now you’ve even proposed to a Lizardman.”
“Shh, Karubene, be quiet.”
He always says the most unnecessary things.
“We are a type of Dragoon, descended from Earth Dragons.”
It seemed they had overheard, as Byron said this without looking back. Does that mean they are Dragon Maids? Or perhaps another race?
“You are not Dragon Maids…?”
“That’s right, it’s similar. Just a different way of saying it. Strictly speaking, Dragon Maids are a part of the Drago-nuut. They are called Dragonkin.”
They are the same, just called differently? That’s quite complicated. But they mentioned Earth Dragons. Come to think of it, they don’t have wings, unlike the Dragon Maids, or rather, Drago-nuut, I’d met before.
“You don’t have wings.”
“That’s why they are Earth Dragons. They are blessed with the power of the earth.”
Hmm, but what’s the difference from Lizardmen? If you only look at them, aren’t they the same? Well, the only ones I’ve actually seen were those I passed by in a desert town. Is it the horns?
“Heh heh, see, Hiroaki is trying to learn about me.”
Azura, held in Byron’s arms, smiled joyfully. It wasn’t for that reason; I thought it would be disadvantageous if I didn’t know about the other party. The attendant guards let out sighs. This must be how it always is.
“We’re here, this is my village.”
The place I was led to was a village that looked like ruins. Houses made of rock bricks and residents wearing ethnic costumes. Seeing their princess return, the attendants rushed towards her.
“Princess, where have you been?”
“I just went out for a bit, really, you’re all so dramatic.”
Azura, released onto the ground, started walking with a troubled look at the surrounding fuss.
“Now, come this way. They are guests, so entertain them.”
Byron and the other retainers exchanged glances, their eyes rolling as if this was a common occurrence.
“Um, who are these people?”
“I already told you, they are guests. And this Hiroaki, he is to be my husband.”
The retainers’ gazes shift to me. No, no, I don’t want this either. I can’t just say “yes” when told to marry someone out of the blue.
“Now, Hiroaki, I’ll show you my palace. You others can make yourselves comfortable.”
“Wh-what is this!”
It seemed Philiana managed to hold back Nina, who was about to lunge. Azura took my hand and walked towards the palace.
