Ch.103 I Promise on my Honor


    <span ss="userText">Uponing into the dining hall Quinus and Rya were greeted by Zellin, Hajdah, Nieren, and a<span ss="editText">n<span ss="userText"> older dwarven woman that looked more noble th<span ss="editText">a<span ss="userText">n the rest<span ss="editText"> while being surrounded by servants<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="userText">The butler intr<span ss="editText">o<span ss="userText">du<span ss="editText">c<span ss="userText">ed <span ss="editText">Quinus and Rya to the party.


    <span ss="editText">"Lord Coldforge and Lady Fyre. T<span ss="userText">he Crown Prince and the Saintess have<span ss="aiText"> arrived," <span ss="editText">stated the butler.


    <span ss="editText">''Is that Zellin''s mother?<span ss="aiText"> Interesting,'' Rya thought<span ss="editText"> as she studied the older female dwarf standing by Zellin.


    <span ss="editText">"Your Highness. Will you be joining<span ss="aiText"> u<span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText"> f<span ss="editText">or breakfast<span ss="aiText">? If not, please feel free to make yourselffortable," The old dwarf woman offered.


    <span ss="editText">"Yes, Lady Fyre. We''ll be joining<span ss="aiText"> you shortly," Quinus answered with a smile.


    <span ss="aiText">Zellin bowed his head slightly to Rya and smiled, "Lady <span ss="editText">Ry<span ss="aiText">a. It''s nice to see you again.<span ss="editText"> You look more breathtaking in formal wear. I hope everything is to your satisfaction?"


    <span ss="editText">''Oh? So, the Baron is the one that got me this outfit<span ss="aiText">?'' Rya thought as she tilted her head. ''<span ss="editText">Well, that was nice of him.<span ss="aiText">''


    <span ss="aiText">"It''s lovely. Thank you Zellin," Rya responded with a genuine smile.


    <span ss="editText">Nieren''s jaw was hitting the floor <span ss="userText">seeing Rya''s dress<span ss="aiText"> and the way she stood next to Quinus.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''ve never seen such an outfit before," Nieren said as she stared at Rya''s dress<span ss="editText"> which wasn''t leaving much to the imagination. Rya''s cleavage<span ss="aiText"> was definitely showing.


    <span ss="editText">"What? Is it wrong to be<span ss="aiText"> wearing something like this?" Rya questioned as she turned around, her ass now on disy.


    <span ss="aiText">"No, mydy. I was simply surprised. This is a rather daring fashion choice for <span ss="editText">a elf<span ss="aiText">," Nieren replied with a blush.


    <span ss="userText">Nieren wasn''t wearing her usual adventurer''s gear<span ss="aiText">. Instead, she wore a b<span ss="editText">rown<span ss="aiText"> blouse with a <span ss="editText">g<span ss="aiText">re<span ss="editText">en<span ss="aiText"> long skirt that went down to her <span ss="editText">ankl<span ss="aiText">es.


    <span ss="aiText">She hadrge silver hoops hanging from her ears and a small ne with three rings. Her bl<span ss="editText">onde<span ss="aiText"> hair flowed down her <span ss="editText">back with the help of a headband<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"You should try it sometime." Rya offered.


    <span ss="aiText">"M<span ss="editText">y mother would kill me if I wore such a thing. Plus, I''m not as well endowed as<span ss="aiText"> you are. My breasts aren''t nearly as big," Nieren responded as she looked away from Rya''s chest.


    <span ss="editText">''Huh? She''sparing her breasts to my ridiculous tits!? That''s not fair. I mean she has what? C-cup-sized breasts? Nieren would look gorgeous in a dress like this... Haah... If she has tits as big as mine, she''ll have to pick up a new profession. Because there''s no way she can use a bow if she gets any bigger.''<span ss="userText"> Rya<span ss="aiText"> thought to herself.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well then, maybe we could go shopping together sometime?" Rya suggested.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">B-But... But<span ss="aiText"> why Lady Rya?!<span ss="editText"> Are you trying to get me in trouble with my mother?<span ss="aiText">" Nieren stammered as she blushed bright red.


    <span ss="aiText">Ryaughed and pped Nieren on the shoulder. "<span ss="editText">Hmm? You need to be more independent sometimes Nieren. You can''t let your mother<span ss="aiText"> control you all the time. Just think about it!"


    <span ss="editText">Nieren didn''t know<span ss="aiText"> what to say. Her cheeks were still bright red <span ss="editText">as if she was just<span ss="aiText"> p<span ss="editText">ped<span ss="aiText">. She looked up at Rya.


    <span ss="aiText">"Thank you for thepliment though," Rya said with a smile.<span ss="editText"> But then Rya noticed that Sir George, Percy, and Dalia weren''t in the dining room.


    <span ss="editText">"Hey, Nieren. Do you know<span ss="aiText"> where the<span ss="editText"> others are<span ss="aiText">?" Rya asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Well, I too<span ss="aiText">k Sir George <span ss="editText">back to his quarters. I think he is still sleeping. And for Dog and her <span ss="userText">mate, I was able to hear them on the other side of the castle and they were shaking the rocks, if you catch my drift<span ss="aiText">," Nieren replied with a wide grin.


    <span ss="editText">''Damn! Here I thought me and Quin<span ss="userText"> were the ones being loudst night<span ss="aiText">.'' Rya thought to herself as she recalled screaming at the top of her lungs when she climaxed.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Dalia is going to get pregnant <span ss="aiText">at t<span ss="editText">his rate.<span ss="aiText"> It shouldn''t surprise me if she was at this point," Rya said with a smirk.


    <span ss="aiText">"I <span ss="editText">never seen a beast-kin take to a human like that<span ss="aiText">," Nieren replied with a frown.


    <span ss="aiText">"Don''t worry about it. She''s <span ss="editText">in love, Nieren. And Percy is her champion now<span ss="aiText">. So there''s nothing wrong with it," Rya reassured Nieren.


    <span ss="aiText">"I don''t know if I am ready to see more beast-kin start to fall in love. Especially not with humans," Nieren admitted.


    <span ss="userText">"What? A<span ss="editText">re <span ss="userText">you getting jealous of Dalia<span ss="aiText">? Or are you just upset because you<span ss="editText"> want a human, like Percy<span ss="aiText">?" Rya teased.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">N-<span ss="aiText">No! That''s not it. I<span ss="editText"> don''t want to love a creature that won''tst longer than a hundred and thirty years, if I''m lucky war doesn''t take him sooner<span ss="aiText">. Humans die young and quickly. No offense. It''s not that I hate humans, but they''re frail creatures." Nieren mumbled under her breath.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Your loss<span ss="aiText"> then, Nieren. If you want a strong man who can protect you from anything, then you should try to <span ss="editText">get a human. They are way more passionate<span ss="aiText">," Rya teased again.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">H-Hey! My mother would disown me if<span ss="aiText"> I tried to have a rtionship with one of those human men," Nieren retorted.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Closed-minded, I see<span ss="aiText">," Rya taunted. "But I suppose it is your choice. Don''t worry though, you''ll find someone someday. Maybe even a human?"<span ss="editText"> She added with a smirk.


    <span ss="aiText">"Y-You can''t say that!" Nieren eximed.


    <span ss="editText">"<span ss="userText">Calm down... I''m only teasing you<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText">" Rya said, holding her hands up in defense.


    <span ss="aiText">"Okay, okay. I''m sorry<span ss="editText">. I''m probably still not used to being around a dark elf. And I didn''t return home afterst night<span ss="aiText">," Nieren apologized.


    <span ss="aiText">"It''s fine," Rya said with augh. "Anyway, I guess we better <span ss="editText">sit down and eat. Do you mind if I sit next to you?<span ss="aiText"> There are some chairs by the fire<span ss="editText">ce<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">"I don''t mind. In fact, I''d like it if you sat next to me<span ss="editText">. I haven''t been around another elf in years. Besides my mother of course," Nieren replied.


    <span ss="editText">''Man! There she goes again about her mother. Is she going to freak out because I''m a dark elf? God, she is, isn''t she? Haah! Well, I''ll deal with it when the timees.'' Rya thought<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Good. Then let''s go. The food smells great," Rya chuckled.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, it does. <span ss="editText">I miss the pce life<span ss="aiText">," Nieren said politely.


    <span ss="editText">***


    <span ss="editText">Quinus was talking with Zellin and his mother before he noticed Rya and Nieren taking a seat<span ss="aiText"> in front of him.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Baron... My Lady<span ss="userText">... It seem<span ss="editText">s<span ss="userText"> my future wife is ready to dine<span ss="aiText">," Quinus announced.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Future wife? You p<span ss="aiText"<span ss="editText">n<span ss="aiText"> to <span ss="editText">marry Lady Rya, your Highness?" Zellin<span ss="aiText"> asked<span ss="editText"> with a raised brow while his mother, Fyre, was surprised<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes. But I must ask my father for permission<span ss="editText"> out of tradition<span ss="aiText">," Quinus answered.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Huh... You are nothing but surprises<span ss="aiText">, Lord Quinus. <span ss="editText">A human marrying a dark elf?<span ss="aiText"> This is unheard of.<span ss="editText"> The humans and dwarves of Ironside coexist together in harmony, but we have never seen any get involved romantically. What a novel idea," Fyre<span ss="aiText">mented.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Your Highness... I am relieved you''re taking a wife that''s not a part of the Divine Three. But, should the people of Ironside prepare for war? <span ss="editText">I<span ss="aiText"> know t<span ss="editText">hey don''t like <span ss="userText">the Fiafyr Kingdom because of us <span ss="editText">dwarves being a part of the kingdom," Zellin worriedly questioned.


    <span ss="editText">"Yes. And the arranged marriage with Princess Hildawill be another issue<span ss="userText"> when word gets out that you<span ss="aiText">''re <span ss="editText">wedd<span ss="aiText">ing a dark elf. It will cause political unrest," Fyre added.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes. If there is trouble, we must be prepared<span ss="editText">. I will not sacrifice my people for political<span ss="aiText"> gain. And I will take care of the political side of things. I promise on my honor," Quinus stated.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Hmm. <span ss="aiText">Okay. We will inform the <span ss="editText">Ironside <span ss="aiText">Council of our ns. I suggest you inform the other noble families as well," Zellin said with an understanding nod.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes. Thank you, Baron. I appreciate it," Quinus said gratefully.


    <span ss="aiText">Zellin bowed his head respectfully then <span ss="editText">moved to the head of the table with his mother<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"What did I tell you, Mother? <span ss="editText">The future king is going to<span ss="aiText"> be a good leader," <span ss="editText">Zelli<span ss="aiText">n praised.


    <span ss="aiText">"I know. But still, <span ss="editText">King Cyndre was the one to okay the arranged marriage in the first ce. And if it wasn''t his idea, then it was an idea that was given by his council. The prince may be fighting an uphill battle<span ss="aiText">," Fyremented.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">"He won''t let me down, Mother. I''m sure of it," Zellin said with confidence.