A New Challenger Appears…for Aika’s Hand in Marriage!

A day has passed since the battle. Both Tatsuya and Shen were treated by Dr. Iwa once again before being released that very afternoon. Now, back at the palace, Tatsuya was relaxing on a bench in the courtyard. Just a few moments before, a large congratulatory party organized by the royal family was held in his honor. Everyone he knew ever since coming to the dragon realm was present: the members of the United Front, Regus and his buddies, the nobles and ministers, and even Dr. Iwa and Nurse Yari. Percy and Micky was also present, but Shen declined to make an appearance. According to Percy, Shen’s absences was not out of spite but out of care for his own recovery from the battle.

Despite being the party’s guest of honor, Tatsuya mingled with the other guests for only a few minutes before finding an out and leaving the festivities behind. He wasn’t at all displeased with the party or the people or being the center of attention, in fact he was very grateful for it; he was just desperate for some peace and quiet after the hassle of battle the day before.

As he gazed up at the bright, clear, azure sky, he reflected on his growth ever since coming to the dragon realm. He had made new friends, reconnected with past acquaintances, learned new techniques, and discovered more about his own powers and abilities. But more than anything, he finally arrived at an answer to his rebellion against fate. He looked down at his hands and clenched them tightly. “Twist fate with my own hands, huh,” he said, remembering Shen’s words to him during the battle.

“Dar-ling,” sang a voice next to him. Tatsuya turned to see Aika sitting down next to him with a gentle smile on her face. “Congratulations,” she told him brightly.

“Thanks,” said Tatsuya with a nod.

“I knew you would win in the end,” she told him confidently. Her words made Tatsuya blush.

“Say, do you know anything about the mark on Shen’s hand?” he asked her. “I believe he called it the Mark of Piasa.”

“The Mark of Piasa,” repeated Aika ponderously. “If I remember correctly, it's one of the marks of the Dragonborn. There is actually four marks in total,” she said.

“Four?!” exclaimed Tatsuya in surprise.

“The Mark of Marduk, the Mark of Piasa, the Mark of Azhdar, and the Mark of Kukulkan,” recounted Aika.

“But I thought that the Mark of Marduk was the only mark of the Dragonborn,” said Tatsuya.

“Those four marks are also known as the four Marks of Marduk,” she told him. “I know it sounds a little confusing,” she admitted with a sheepish smile, “but it’ll all make sense, I promise. You see, each of the marks are actually the mark of a Celestial Dragon. These Celestial Dragons are known as the Four Marduks. The word Marduk, in addition to being the name of a god, is also a word meaning ‘Lord’. Therefore, the four Marduks are also known as the four Lords. There is Marduk Marduk, Marduk Piasa, Marduk Azhdar, and Marduk Kukulkan. The four Marduks are protector deities who are associated with each of the four cardinal directions. Marduk Marduk, of whom your mark is the mark of, is the Northern King. Marduk Piasa, the namesake of Ao Longshen’s mark, is the Western Sage. Marduk Azhdar is the Southern Knight, and Marduk Kukulkan is the Eastern Hero.”

“So when they say the Mark of Marduk, it could technically be any of the four marks,” realized Tatsuya dejectedly. He felt like a fool for believing that he was special in the first place.

“There’s a song that my mother used to sing me about the four Marduks,” said Aika. “It’s actually a popular lullaby for children here in the dragon realm.” She closed her eyes as she remembered the happy memories she had as a child listening to her mother’s sweeping voice. And then, she sang the words for Tatsuya to hear: “There are four corners of the universe, And in each corner stands a mighty guardian. Their duty given by the Creator, to protect all of creation. And each guardian is a god with their own story to tell. First stands the Northern King, the mighty Shield of God. A righteous royal who protects all with his life. In his right hand is a shield with which he protects the world. No evil can touch him and he is invincible in battle. In the West is the Western Sage, the wise Eyes of God. A brilliant teacher who protects life with his wisdom. He possesses eyes of pure gold that can see all of time. No evil can escape him and he is prudent in battle. In the South is the Southern Knight, the awesome Sword of God. An incredible warrior who protects his people with his weapon. In his right hand is a sword with an indestructible blade. No evil can defeat him and he is peerless in battle. And in the East is the Eastern Hero, the clever Fool of God. A cunning trickster who protects his land with his wit. On his back are wings of the most incredible swiftness. No evil can overcome him and he is nimble in battle. The four guardians stand tall. They will never fail in their mission. The four guardians stand tall. Praise the Four Marduks.”

Tatsuya listened to the song with intent ears. It was beautiful and he found himself captivated by Aika’s sonorous voice. He had never heard her sing before and it amazed him just how wonderful she was. She weaved the story behind the song brilliantly with her words and Tatsuya actually felt like he was being sung to sleep. He could picture the gods in his mind and see them standing guard in each of the four cardinal directions. The clarity with which he imagined them proves just how clear and beautiful the song and the story and Aika’s enchanting voice was.

Once Aika finished the song, she took a breath. She then opened her eyes and asked, “Did you like the song?”

“Uh-huh,” answered Tatsuya with a simple nod. He swallowed a gulp and quickly said, “You have a really amazing voice.”

His compliment suddenly made Aika’s cheek turn a deep shade of cherry. She then laughed it off and tried to downplay the praise by saying, “I’m not really that good. My voice is nothing compared to others. Even Ingrid’s voice is better than mines. She sings like a fairy queen! You should hear her sometime.” She then got closer to him and added in a quiet voice, “Just don’t tell her that I said any of this. Especially the fairy queen part.”

“But I really like your voice,” admitted Tatsuya with a laugh. “I really do. Honestly!”

Again, Aika’s cheeks turned a deep shade of cherry. Normally, she would’ve loved to hear her Darling’s praises; but this time, to have him comment on her very own voice, something that was a part of her that she had never showed anyone else, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. If it was about her outfit or her actions or her personality, she would’ve accepted the praise wholeheartedly and relish in the moment. Although she knew that it would only be a matter of time before they start exploring each other’s vulnerabilities, especially since she wanted them to grow closer as lovers, she had never thought that it would this embarrassing.

“T-T-Thank you,” she said in a quieter voice.

“So if Shen has the Mark of Piasa, that means that Percy and Micky have the other two, though I don’t know who has what,” said Tatsuya to himself.

“But you still won anyway even though he tried to fight you with his mark,” announced Aika, returning back to her usual self. “Your mark was far too superior to his,” she added confidently.

Tatsuya didn’t know how to respond to that. Their marks were pretty much equal, and he only won because he used his Lindworm abilities to mess with Shen’s Mark of Piasa. In the end, the battle wasn’t really won because one mark was superior over the other.

“Anyway,” said Aika, changing the subject, “since you won, that means that we can focus on the future!”

“The future?” asked Tatsuya.

“Our future!” announced Aika. And she quickly circled her arms around Tatsuya neck and puckered her lips. As she tried to pull him in for a kiss, Tatsuya used his strength to push back. This little struggle between them, peppered in with back-and-forth arguments, was quickly interrupted by a loud and obnoxious voice.

“Hold it right there!” announced the voice. Aika and Tatsuya turned their heads to see just who the voice belonged to. He was a very handsome young adult man with thick red hair in a glossy pompadour and blazing red ruby eyes. On the bridge of his nose was a smooth gold pince-nez. His cheeks were well sculpted and his jawline was well-defined like a Grecian statue. He had a pronounced chin and his nose was slightly upturned. However, it was the way he dressed that caught Tatsuya’s attention the most. The man wore a sparkling bold red shirt with sterling silver buttons and a pair of silky black pants with embroidered images of dragons and fire. His hands were clad in white gloves and his feet were clad in wine-colored shoes. And around his body was a silver sash decorated with various jewels and gems. He reminded Tatsuya very much of Duke Cors Khyber.

“I cannot let this to continue in my presence,” continued the young man.

“Um, who are you?” asked Tatsuya.

“Hah! Who dares to ask? You should already know!” announced the young man haughtily.

Both Tatsuya and Aika were getting quite peeved with their guest’s shameless display of arrogance. Aika, in particular, had already guessed who this young man was and she glared daggers at him.

The young man turned to Tatsuya with a smug grin and asked, “Never mind me. Who might you be?”

“Owatatsumi Tatsuya,” introduced Tatsuya slowly.

“Well, Owatatsumi-kun,” began the young man, “you are no longer needed here. Could you please leave?” He made a shooing gesture at Tatsuya. However, Tatsuya remained where he was. The young man ignored him and focused his attention on Aika. He got down on one knee and took hold of her right hand. “Princess Ashira, as always, your beauty outshines the sun and the heavens combined!” He then planted a kiss on her hand.

Aika squirmed under the touch of his lips and quickly pulled her hand back. “What are you doing here?” she asked him coldly.

“Haven’t you heard the news?” asked the young man. Aika made no answer to his question. With a smile, he got back up on his feet and put one hand behind his back. “Princess Ashira, what would you say if I told you that fate dictates for us to be together? What if I told you that our lives are destined to be intertwined?”

“What are you getting at?” asked Aika harshly.

The young man grabbed Aika by the shoulder and pulled her in close to his chest. Tatsuya felt the anger rising inside of him from seeing how familiar this rude jackass was acting towards Aika. He wanted to badly punch this twit’s lights out, but refrained from causing any unnecessary commotion.

“Ashira, how would you like to be my wife?” asked the young man with a suggestive smile. He didn’t at all try to hide his lascivious behavior and quickly tried to pull her face in for a lewd kiss.

His words lit a dangerous fire inside of Aika and she responded with a megaton uppercut under his well-chiseled chin. The young man fell down on his butt and blinked a few times to clear away the stars dancing in his eyes. Aika stood before him with her arms crossed over her chest and a disgusted glare of sharpened daggers at the young man. “Try this again, and I’ll have your head,” she threatened coldly.

The young man recoiled a bit from her threat, but quickly picked himself up and tried to put on a brave face. “Oh?” he said in an almost taunting fashion. The sweat pouring down his face from the fear of death by beheadal was obvious despite his attempt to appear unflustered. “Judging by your behavior, I guess you haven’t heard the news yet,” he said.

“What news?” asked Aika.

“Your father have given to me your hand in marriage,” answered the young man confidently. “In fact, my father and your father, the king, have already agreed on it and made the necessary preparations! We are to be wedded this coming week!”

This news made Tatsuya and Aika jump up in surprise. They were beyond flabbergasted by what they had just heard. Aika couldn’t believe it and refused to accept it. With a strong finger pointed at the young man, she coldly declared with a crazy glint in her eyes, “Lie to me again, and I’ll—.”

Tatsuya had noticed the look in Aika’s eyes and quickly intervened, not for the benefit of the young man (in fact, he couldn’t care less what happens to the young man after invoking Aika’s anger), but for his own and for hers. “Wait just a minute!” he protested to the young man.

“Oh, are you still here?” scorned the young man with a disgusted look on his face. He made a shooing gesture at Tatsuya again and said, “Leave us alone. Commoners such as you are not worthy of our attention.” Before Tatsuya had a chance to reply to him, the young man quickly turned his attention back to Aika and said with a triumphant smile, “It has already been decided!”

“You’re lying!” screamed Aika in anger.

Her sudden burst made the young man recoil a bit in fear. He quickly regained his composure and cleared his throat. “We can go ask your father if you want to know the truth,” he suggested. The confidence with which he made the suggestion made Tatsuya assume that what he was saying was true. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suggested such a bold course of action. Aika quickly accepted his suggestion and, grabbing Tatsuya’s hand, dashed into the palace to find her father. The young man, taken aback by the fact that he was left in the dust like an insignificant afterthought, quickly took off after his betrothed.

Once they made their way inside, Aika stormed into the reception hall where the celebration was still being held. Everyone was intoxicated and having a merry time. Aika found her father, slightly inebriated, talking to a group of nobles alongside her mother and brother. As she made her way to her father, a very dangerous aura of heat surrounded her body. Tatsuya, who was more or less dragged into the hall against his will, felt the heat radiating from her body and knew exactly what it meant. ‘She’s about to explode,’ he noticed fearfully.

“Father!” Aika shouted to her father.

King Rexus stopped talking and turned to the direction of his daughter’s voice. “Ah, Ashira—!” called the king. A quick look at his daughter’s condition turned his face into stone. He worried for his daughter and didn’t like what he was seeing. “Ashira, what’s going on?” he asked.

“Tell me, what did you promise Duke Khyber?” she asked her father. King Rexus opened his mouth but nothing came out. Aika didn’t like how her father responded to her question. She let go of Tatsuya’s hand and slowly walked up to her father. “Did you promise my hand in marriage to that despicable son of his?” she asked him in an accusatory tone.

“Ashira—,” began the king.

“Tell me!” cried Aika. King Rexus had his eyes on the ground. And then, in answer to Aika’s question, he solemnly nodded.

The entire room quickly became silent and the festivities and merriment came to an end. Queen Liana and Price Nobi looked at the king with surprise in their eyes. Zazo, the royal advisor, shook his head disappointedly, and Alekso, the Minister of War, broke a glass mug in his clenched fist. Everyone else didn’t know how to respond to this news.

“Father, when did you decide on this matter?” asked Prince Nobi. There was a rising anger in his voice.

“I decided on it with Duke Khyber right before the battle between the Dragonborns resumed on the second day,” revealed the king. “Minister of the Interior, Dex Lector, was also present to witness the exchange.”

“But—!” protested Nobi.

“It has already been decided, Prince Nobi,” said Duke Khyber. He walked up to join the king with an arrogant smile on his face. “This is something to be celebrated!” announced the duke to the entire room. “In a way, this celebration is also to celebrate the betrothal of my son and Princess Ashira.”

“Bullshit!” cursed Prince Nobi. “This celebration is held in honor of Owatatsumi Tatsuya in his victory over Ao Longshen! You have no right to take control of this event as if it’s your own. And speaking of Owatatsumi Tatsuya, he is the true fiancé of my sister, Princess Ashira!”

“My prince, there is no need to protest this any further,” came Dex Lector, who had by now joined up with Duke Khyber. “This matter has been settled. Besides, this is for the benefit of the Draco tribe. It is more reassuring to have another Draco as a member of the royal family than someone from the outside, is it not?”

“Tatsuya and my sister have already sealed their bond!” argued Nobi.

“And we have discussed this before,” said Dex with a nod of his head. “This bond is not certain. It can be broken just as it can be mended.”

“Enough!” ordered the king. “Ashira,” he said, turning to his daughter, “you are to be wedded to Ralus Khyber next week. This matter has been settled.”

“I will never accept anyone else besides Darling!” protested Aika adamantly. “We are betrotheds! We have already sealed it with a kiss!”

Hearing Aika’s words made Tatsuya’s heart jump a little. He had always known that she loved him, but it was serious moments like these that made him question his own emotions for her. In fact, for a while now, as he watched his relationship with Aika become more intimate, he realized that he indeed felt a strong emotion towards her. But to call it love…he wasn’t sure.

“Still going on about that?” groaned Duke Khyber in displeasure.

“There is but one way to test their bond,” said Dex Lector with a mischievous smile. he approached Tatsuya and tilted his head to the left. “Owatatsumi Tatsuya,” he said in a soft voice.

Tatsuya was a little unsettled by the minister’s distance from him and his behavior. “W-W-What is it?” he asked awkwardly.

“Do you love Princess Ashira?” asked the minister.

That question struck Tatsuya like a truck. ‘What the hell is he talking about?!’ he wondered crazily to himself. His heart began to increase in speed and sweat formed on his temples. “Umm…,” was all he could utter.

“Well?” prodded the minister with an intrigued smile.

Tatsuya didn’t know how to answer that question and struggled to find the best way to articulate his feelings as accurately as he can. In the midst of his struggle, the question echoed in his mind again. The second time his mind processed the minister’s words, his body settled down and his expression became ponderous and introspective. ‘Do I love her?’ he asked himself. He thought carefully about their relationship and his feelings toward Aika. Although the answer felt obvious, he didn’t know if he can wholeheartedly admit that that was what he was really feeling. Her attraction towards him was more than obvious, but his attraction towards her wasn’t. Or at least, it wasn’t that obvious to him. ‘Do I really love her?’ he asked himself again. He knew for a fact that he likes her, he enjoys her company, and their relationship was like that of intimate friends. But can he really say that it was true love? He may love her as a very important person in his life because of the experiences they shared together, but is that the same type of love the minister was asking him? Isn’t that more of a “love between friends” than a “romantic love”.

Having felt like he arrived at his answer, he closed his eyes and took a breath. “I love her,” he began. This single statement elicited applause from the room. The royal family and their allies looked relieved upon hearing his words, and Aika smiled brightly as she knew that her Darling would come through for her.

“You do?” asked Dex curiously, his expression remaining the same as before.

“I love her as someone very important to me,” continued Tatsuya, “someone special who I can’t part with.”

“Darling—!” exclaimed Aika happily.

“I love her as a very close friend,” finished Tatsuya. The room quickly became silent. Everyone wore dumbstruck expressions after hearing the Dragonborn’s conclusion. Even Dex Lector couldn’t help but show his astonishment at the declaration.

“Come again?” asked the minister.

“Like I said, I love Aika as a very close friend,” repeated Tatsuya with a gentle smile. “She’s someone who I can’t live without, someone who I can rely on and who helps make my days brighter by just being next to me. She’s that special someone to me who I enjoy spending time with. We’ve grown pretty close over the time since she arrived in the human realm to live with me. Ever since then, I felt like she’s a friend whom I met since childhood! She’s that special and that close to me. And that’s exactly how intimate our relationship really is.”

“But you don’t love the princess romantically?” inquired the minister.

“I don’t think I do,” said Tatsuya, shaking his head. “I mean, I know that she sees me that way, but I never once looked at her that way myself. Like I said, I’ve only ever seen her as a close friend.”

“I see,” said Dex with a giant smile.

“D-D-Darling?” stuttered Aika. The revelation caused her to feel lightheaded as if she became afflicted with some curse. She couldn’t believe the words she was hearing and was horrified to see them come out of her Darling’s mouth. It was like her worst nightmare had come true! Actually, her worst nightmare was just beginning. However, she refused to accept this and ran up to Tatsuya, leaning into him with her fists on his chest. “Darling, tell me that’s not true!” she cried.

Tatsuya could only smile gently at her. “I’ve given it some thought,” he told her, “but everything I just said was true. I know about your feelings toward me, but I’m sorry. I just can’t return them back. I can’t love you the same way you love me. Please understand.”

Like a flash of lightning, driven by an uncontrollable impulse, Aika struck Tatsuya across the face, her body shaking the entire time. The pain stung Tatsuya’s cheek while his eyes were now focused on his right. He didn’t do or say anything in response to Aika’s action. He couldn’t. Not when Aika was hurting. Silent tears were streaming down her eyes as she sobbed on the inside.

As if to make light of this display, Dex Lector announced to the entire room, “Everyone, you have heard the Dragonborn of the human realm’s true feelings for Princess Ashira! The bond between them, as per the laws of our realm, with the blessing of Amora, has now been broken! This means that the Dragonborn of the human realm, Owatatsumi Tatsuya, is not recognized anymore as the betrothed of Princess Ashira. Therefore, her betrothal to Ralus Khyber, son of the esteemed Duke Cors Khyber, shall be recognized and made official! Join me in celebrating the union of the Khyber family and the Draco royal family! Praise Amora, may their love be eternal!”

Everyone in the room, still surprised by the development between Tatsuya and Aika just moments before, exchanged uneasy glances. This uneasiness was quickly broken by a person toasting to the minister’s words. One-by-one, everyone joined in and the room quickly became alive once again. And just like a bad memory or an insignificant display of adolescent drama, everyone forgot about the exchange between Tatsuya and Aika.

But while the majority of the room returned to their celebratory selves, there were still a number of people who were impacted by the now strained relationship between Tatsuya and the Draco princess. The Draco royal family all wore grim faces; Percy and Micky were angry and confused respectively over how the relationship ended; Manami and Daiki openly showed their disappointment over their friend’s decision with their expressions; and the other princesses were all in a state of shock and anger and sadness and a whole mix of other combustive emotions.

King Rexus walked down to where his daughter was and touched her shoulder. “Ashira,” he said in a soft voice, “it is done. Tatsuya has revealed his true feelings. Now, it is time to move on. Ralus has—.”

Aika, still driven by the furious flame burning inside of her, allowed her emotions take over her actions and she struck her own father, the king, the same as she had done to Tatsuya before. This one act silenced the room once again. “I refuse to accept this!” she announced furiously. “There is only one person for me, you know that! I will never marry someone else, especially that pompous, dirty, sleazy, rat-faced bug of a noble! You can’t decide for me and I won’t let you decide for me! Whatever you say, I refuse to accept it!” And then she promptly turned around and ran out of the hall while sobbing into her elbow. She was quickly followed by Ingrid and Helen.

The king said nothing and let the numbness of his cheek spread throughout his face. Despite the grim face he wore, his eyes looked like they were on the verge of tears. Nobi noticed this and knew that his father was struggling with the decision himself. The prince then turned to glance at Tatsuya. The Dragonborn’s eyes were exactly the same as his father’s. Although Nobi was furious with the both of them, with his father for agreeing to this disastrous betrothal with the loathsome duke's son, and with Tatsuya for not accepting his sister’s feelings and reciprocating them, he knew that his own feelings were selfish and trivial. He couldn’t immediately forgive his father for doing something so stupid as this, but his own attitude towards Tatsuya was quick to change to one of understanding. The prince knew that he hadn’t asked the Dragonborn for his own feelings towards his sister. In fact, he let his selfishness take control and assumed that they were made for each other without consulting the people involved whatsoever. If he had done that, perhaps he could’ve helped his sister to avoid this humiliation. Perhaps he could’ve prevented his father from going along with the duke’s deal by coming up with an alternative proposal. Nobi had never felt anymore useless in his entire life than right now.

A few minutes after Aika tearful departure, the sound of heavy breathing entered the room and everybody’s attention turned towards the source. The young man whom Tatsuya had met in the courtyard just moments before was slumping inside the hall with heavy waterfalls of sweat raining down his face like overflowing rivers. His clothes were drenched in perspiration and he was dangerously out of breath. Upon his entrance, he quickly took to a nearby tray of wine glasses and downed three glasses. After finishing his last glass, he let out a satisfied sigh and smiled. He then quickly took out a handkerchief and proceeded to dab at his sweaty face.

“Ralus!” called out Duke Khyber.

The young man turned to the duke and yelled out happily, “Father!” He ran up to join his father and father and son embraced each other in a hug.

“Congratulations!” cried the duke happily. “The Dragonborn had relinquished his betrothal to Princess Ashira! She’s all yours, now!”

“Really? Yippee!” cheered Ralus giddily. He then turned to the room and asked, “Where is the Dragonborn so I can thank him?” Duke Khyber pointed for his son to see. Ralus was surprised to see his father leading his eyes to the sad, depressing statue standing quietly still below them. What’s more, this person was the very same person whom he had met in the courtyard just moments before! “He’s the Dragonborn?!” rudely shouted Ralus in surprise.

“Oh? Have you met him before?” asked Dex.

Ralus ignored the minister’s question and, puffing out his chest in a very prideful manner, walked down to Tatsuya. “So, you’re the Dragonborn?” asked Ralus cheekily. “I’d never thought that someone who looks like they were raised by lesser beings to be the great Dragonborn of the human realm. Forgive my ignorance.” As he spoke those words, the duke’s son displayed a very arrogant smile. “Thank you, for breaking your betrothal to Princess Ashira,” said Ralus in a loud voice for everyone in the hall to hear. “You are a hero, a man of morals. I applaud you for your moral judgement in letting go of the princess. What benefit would it be for either party if such a relationship was allowed to continue? You, a hero, should dedicate yourself to your duty of protecting the people. You have no time for love! On the other hand, Princess Ashira cannot fully devote herself to a person if they cannot make time to reciprocate her feelings in full. It would only hurt her fragile heart. A woman’s heart is more precious than the most precious of jewels and that much more fragile. If you, a hero, would break her heart…well, you wouldn’t be much of a hero now would you?”

Tatsuya took the smack talk without saying anything back. No matter how infuriated he felt from being patronized by this arrogant noble, he just couldn’t emotionally react to it at all. But as he absorbed those words, he began to start seeing some sense in them. Maybe the noble was right. Maybe it was for the best that he let her go.

“Hold it right there!” yelled out an opposing voice.

Ralus turned to see someone he had never met before approach him rather familiarly. But just one glance at them was enough for him to feel immense hatred and disgust towards them. “And who do you think you are?” he asked spitefully.

“This is not over yet!” declared Manami. He had heard everything the noble had said and thought that this was his moment to come to his friend’s aid. “Tatsu-chin has always been a little slow when it comes to understanding his feelings,” began Manami, “so don’t go try making his decisions for him!”

“How dare you speak to me so familiarly, you scum?” spat Ralus. He then turned to Tatsuya and added insultingly, “Why would you dirty your hands by being friends with that half-blood? Despicable!” He then turned around to join back with his father.

Manami’s body shook violently from that insult. He was prepared to jump and cause a scene when a hand stopped him. He turned to see Tatsuya’s face pulled in a restrained frown and, understanding his friend’s intentions, ceased his actions. They then began to walk for the hall’s entrance. As he followed behind Tatsuya, Manami quickly flashed the duke’s son a crude expression behind his back.

When Tatsuya came to the hall’s entrance, his path became blocked by the others. Percy and Micky stood close to his left while Mr. Urushihara and Daiki flanked his right. The other princesses lined up in front of him. They all wore varying expressions, but didn’t say or do anything that would cause Tatsuya even more pain than what he was already feeling right now. After a few seconds of silence, the princesses broke their line and allowed for Tatsuya to pass through. Everyone then followed him out as he exited the hall.

Ralus watched them leave with indifference. “Who knew that the Dragonborn had that many allies?” he commented apathetically.

“Most of his allies are the princesses of the other tribes,” informed his father.

“Really? That little worm of a ‘hero’ was able to capture the attention of the other tribes’ princesses?” said Ralus with fake amazement. He didn’t feel at all intimidated by Tatsuya’s luck with women or by the number of allies he had. To him, as long as he relinquished his bond with Aika, Tatsuya was nothing more than an insignificant bug. With a smile more arrogant than his father’s, he turned to the crowd and shamelessly announced, “Everyone, this is a day of celebration! I would love for you all to join me in celebrating my betrothal to the majestic Princess Ashira! I have always loved her with all of my heart for the longest time! I only care for her heart and her wellbeing. The fact that she is the second heir to the Draco throne has never once influenced my decision to love or marry her.” A tiny smile tugged at his lips as he finished that last part, but he quickly regained his composure and continued with his speech. “I will love and treasure her for eternity! I pray that you all give me your blessings to be a worthy suitor for an even more worthy girl.” He then turned to the Draco royal family and bowed his head. The royal family respectfully returned his bow, except for Nobi, whose head didn’t go past his shoulders at all. Ralus didn’t really care much for the formalities and turned back to the audience once their heads were raised back up. “Praise Amora, may our love be eternal!” he toasted.

Everyone joined in his toast and raised their glasses. Once again, the entire hall came to life. Everyone forgot about all of the drama that occurred today and turned their focus back to celebration. Today was a day to be celebrated indeed. It was the day that Aika’s hand in marriage was secured by Ralus Khyber, a more than worthy suitor and heir to the Draco throne.