Vol.3 Ch.210 Will He Stop Me?
As the morning sun rose over the horizon, things went much more smoothly in Eldermystpared to Edermines City. Thanks to Tayna for keeping an eye on the two wood elves from creating a ruckus like what happened in Edermines City. Rya had just finished breakfast and made sure to put on her cloak as she made her way to the carriage with Quinus by her side. At the same time, Johan was busy dealing with the city''s mayor and would meet them at the eastern gate before the convoy left.
<span ss="aiText">The rest of the party had gotten their things and ensured their horses were properly equipped for the journey ahead.
The driver, the footmen, and the guards all got into their ces as the Crown Prince came out with Rya by his side. She didn''t want the guards and servants to know that she was a dark elf, so she wore the hood of her cloak up while wearing a less revealing dress to keep her appearance under wraps. She found it surprising that she preferred to show more skinpared to her older self. Something about covering her shoulders,chest, and legs didn''t suit her.
''Ugh... It must have something to do with me being a Dark Elf... I don''t understand. First I stopped liking pants, now long-sleeved dresses... What''s next, no shoes or socks? Oh, wait...'' She looked down and moved her right foot forward just enough to see the tip of her foot, which had a purple open-toe high-heel shoe that looked fabulous on her.
<span ss="userText">''Yeah, I''m not going barefoot when I can wear these... Who knew I would love wearing heels!? I am relieved that these shoes are enchanted; otherwise, I wouldn''t be able to wear them for as long as I do without feeling ufortable... And I''m never going back to boots!''<span ss="aiText"> Rya thought as she and the prince walked over to the carriage.
<span ss="aiText">Rya looked at her right hand, which was being held by the Crown Prince, ''<span ss="userText">Hmm<span ss="aiText">... <span ss="userText">I hope things go well with Quin''s mom... Gah! Everyone says guys have it tough when they have to meet the father! What about the women meeting the mother!?<span ss="aiText"> If they dislike you,<span ss="editText">they will make your life a living hell<span ss="aiText">! I have no idea what Quin''s mom is like<span ss="userText">... She''s had nine miscarriages, seven before Quin was born. He''s her only child, and she will<span ss="aiText">be <span ss="userText">sooo protective of him. Damn, this is going to be harder than I thought.
''I just need to act like myself, right? "But she might assume that I''m attempting to charm him simply because I''m a "dark elf"... No, no, no! Stop thinking negatively, Rya. Sure, she might be tough on me at first. But eventually, I will win her over... Or at least establish a cordial rtionship. Cordial is just fine with me... AH! Whatever! If she doesn''t believe I''m attempting to im, Quin''s soul is a win in my book... After all, she''s just the mother-inw, and I''ll be her daughter-inw. She''ll have to ept that I''ll be with her son,'' the Dark Elf thought.
Quinus observed Rya with a pensive expression, clearly engrossed in deep reflection.
<span ss="userText">"Are you alright, babe?"<span ss="aiText"> Quinus asked, "You''ve been staring at the ground for thest ten minutes."
Rya snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at her future husband. "O-Oh... Sorry... I''m just mentally bracing myself for the worst and hoping for a neutral oue with your mom."
<span ss="aiText">"It''ll be alright. She''s not the best at socializing with people. But she has a good heart. It''s not easy being <span ss="editText">the <span ss="aiText">Queen of a major kingdom. Especially when <span ss="userText">my father has made some mistakes with my uncle<span ss="aiText">," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Yeah, I''d say... To think, you wouldn''t have needed to look over your shoulder if he had been punished for attempting to assassinate you... I have no idea how he''s escaped such a fate<span ss="aiText">... Unless your father wanted him to escape punishment," Rya wondered.
"I don''t think that''s the case... The Prime Minister also helped to prevent my uncle from receiving a death sentence... That didn''t stop him from losing his son, so that''s one less obstacle to deal with," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Or it will make things moreplicated<span ss="aiText"> in the future," Rya replied.
Quinus sighed because it might be true. However, Marcus was trying to kill him when he was younger. Luckily for Quin, his cousin was lesspetent than his father, ric, whose primary goal was to get Marcus on the throne. Now that Marcus is dead, Quinus doesn''t know what his Uncle''s new goals are. All he knew was that ric wasn''t going to take his son''s death lying down. He would surely seek revenge. But the real question was, how?
<span ss="aiText">Rya didn''t need to read his mind to know that the prince was concerned about his uncle''s next move. She couldn''t me him. After all, ric was the reason for their current need to travel incognito.
<span ss="userText">After making their way through the foyer, Rya spotted the carriage they had been traveling in thesest couple of days<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Well, at least we won''t have any problems getting to the city of <span ss="userText">Lomar<span ss="aiText">," Rya said.
<span ss="aiText">"Hopefully. <span ss="userText">Now that we have our double agents<span ss="aiText"> in ce," Quinus said.
"Yes. I think things will be better once we deal with your mother," Rya said in a worried tone.
"You need to stop worrying about my mother... She''ll love you. I promise," Quinus reassured her, "Now,e on. Let''s get you into the carriage before the servants realize that four demi-humans are riding with the Crown Prince."
<span ss="aiText">Rya chuckled and nodded her head. They walked up to the carriage, and Rya let Quinus help her inside. Once <span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">he was in the carriage, <span ss="editText">he closed the <span ss="aiText">door<span ss="userText">. Rya turned around and looked out the window.
<span ss="userText">"I''ll be back. I need to make sure the General is ready<span ss="aiText"> to go," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">Rya nodded her head and watched him walk away. She leaned against the window as she continued watching her beloved prince.
<span ss="userText">''God... I can stare at his ass all day<span ss="aiText"> long,'' Rya thought as <span ss="userText">she ad<span ss="aiText">ored Quinus'' muscr buttocks.
The young girl was enchanted by an absolutely perfect sight. As the Dark Elf stared at the prince''s ass, she heard a cough. She turned and saw Dalia sitting on the opposite side with her head down. She wore a cloak simr to hers to hide her tail and ears. Rya noticed her fidgeting with her hands as if she were nervous about something.
<span ss="aiText">"Are you okay, Dalia?" Rya asked, "You look upset about something."
<span ss="userText">"A-Alpha? Do you think Gamma will make me stop being a huntress<span ss="aiText">?" Dalia asked.
<span ss="userText">Rya''s curiosity was piqued, ''What<span ss="aiText"> the hell is she talking about?''
"I don''t follow? Can you go into more detail?" Rya asked.
Dalia looked up and saw the confused look on Alpha''s face. She blushed and looked down again, "I-I mean, I know I''ve been ying it off as the sweets are what is making me fat... But I''ve been feeling extra tired... more than normal. And sometimes, I feel sick in the morning. And sometimes I get the sudden urge to eat certain foods I never liked before..."
<span ss="aiText">"Are you saying that you''re-"
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Don''t say it... If I do, then my days as a brawler<span ss="aiText"> and huntress are over..." Dalia said.
<span ss="aiText">"So, you''ve been trying to deny it for a while?" Rya asked.
<span ss="aiText">"No, not exactly... I just don''t want <span ss="userText">my Gamma to tell me that I''m no longer needed in the field..."
<span ss="userText">"I don''t follow, Dalia... I mean, I think I know, but there''s something that you''re leaving out," Rya said.
<span ss="userText">Dalia closed her eyes and sighed, "D-Do you remember what I said about why I got enved?<span ss="aiText"> How <span ss="userText">I was sought after because of my grandfather''s bloodline."
Rya recalled the time she rescued Dalia from the goblin nest while they were searching for the dungeon core. Then, when they arrived at the vige of Kishin, Rya informed Dalia that she was a summoned. This led Dalia to reveal that her grandfather had also been a summoned, which resulted in her being captured into very.
<span ss="aiText">"Yeah, your grandfather was a summoned from another world.<span ss="userText"> What about it?"<span ss="aiText"> Rya asked.
<span ss="aiText">"That''s not all..."
Rya sat down in front of the Wolfkin and gave her full attention to her.
"My tribe... sees strong females and wants to breed with us to have strong offspring. Mostly hoping to get males... My bloodline is mostly female, and I saw how my proud sisters became breeding wives for the males... Once they became pregnant, the male stopped them from entering the field. So they could raise their pups... Most of the time, the strongest male wished to impregnate as many females as possible to make a stronger pack. I was afraid of that. That''s why I ran away. And then I got caught by ve traders and sold to a master in the battle arena..." Dalia said quietly.
<span ss="userText">Rya was silent as she took in the information. It was making sense now: why Dalia originally wanted to mark Percy without him marking her, why she was in denial about her showing signs<span ss="aiText"> of pregnancy<span ss="editText">, a<span ss="aiText">nd why she was afraid that <span ss="editText">Percy <span ss="aiText">would try to prevent her from being a huntress.
<span ss="aiText">"Why are you so worried, Dalia? I don''t think <span ss="editText">Percy <span ss="aiText">would want to stop you from being a huntress<span ss="userText">,"<span ss="aiText"> Rya said.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia looked at Rya, "But Alpha, you have no idea what it''s like in my tribe. Once a female is pregnant, she bes useless in the field.<span ss="userText"> They must protect the young<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">"Okay, I get that. But it''s not the same thing here. We have the guards and other soldiers protecting the city. <span ss="userText">Of course, you''ll have to wait to be a brawler again until your kids are old enough to walk around and feed themselves at a table or something... But this shouldn''t prevent you from<span ss="aiText"> going hunting. You should just take it easy during the pregnancy. Plus, the guild will make sure that you have the proper training. And once the pups are born, you can return to hunting and fighting<span ss="editText"> monsters<span ss="userText">,"<span ss="aiText"> Rya exined.
<span ss="aiText">"So, <span ss="editText">Gamma <span ss="aiText">won''t try to keep me from being a Huntress?"
<span ss="aiText">"Nope," Rya shook her head, "<span ss="userText">And if he did, well... He''ll have to answer to me<span ss="aiText">."
Dalia regarded Rya with a hint of skepticism as if she didn''t take herpletely seriously. Then, the carriage door opened. She turned and saw Percy climb inside. He sat next to Dalia and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Everything is good to go... <span ss="aiText">So, what have you twodies been talking about?" Percy asked.
<span ss="userText">Dalia looked down at her feet in shame while Rya looked at her and then at the young retainer who had <span ss="userText">noticed Dalia''s odd behavior.
"D-Did I do something wrong, Dalia? Y-You didn''t try to jump me this morning like you normally would... Are you upset with me?" Percy asked as he was beginning to worry.
<span ss="aiText">Rya giggled, "Actually, it has something<span ss="userText">-"
<span ss="userText">"NO! Don''t say anything, Alpha!<span ss="aiText"> Please!" Dalia pleaded.
<span ss="userText">Rya looked at her friend with a bit of annoyance<span ss="aiText">, "<span ss="userText">Dalia... I''m getting tired of this. Do you trust Percy or not?"
<span ss="aiText">"I-I... Do," Dalia replied.
<span ss="aiText">"Then why are you acting like this?"
<span ss="aiText">"B-Because Alpha... He won''t see me as a strong warrior anymore..." Dalia said.
<span ss="userText">"Why would I not see you as a<span ss="aiText"> strong warrior, Dalia? Is it because you''re pregnant?" Percy asked.
<span ss="aiText">"H-How did you know?" Dalia gasped.
Percy went silent as his eyes slowly drifted down toward her bloated belly, which was barely hidden by her dress and cloak.
"I-It''s the sweets! I promise to stop eating sweets!" Dalia eximed. She thought that Percy had discovered her pregnancy and was about to punish her, so she pleaded with him.
<span ss="aiText">"N-No, Dalia... It''s not that...<span ss="editText"> And why would I stop you from doing what you were born to do?<span ss="aiText">" Percy replied.
<span ss="userText">The Wolfkin''s panic turned into<span ss="aiText"> shock as she heard the words from her beloved''s lips. She stared into his eyes and saw nothing but love.
<span ss="aiText">"Y-You won''t?"
"No. Why would I? You''ll be fine," Percy said as he gently caressed her cheek, "Besides, I don''t want to control what you can and can''t do. I love you too much to do that."
<span ss="userText">Dalia couldn''t believe her ears. She stared at Percy<span ss="aiText"> and blinked, "You really mean that?"
<span ss="aiText">"Of course," Percy nodded.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia<span ss="userText">''s tail started to<span ss="aiText"> wag <span ss="userText">uncontrobly as her face slowly approached<span ss="aiText"> Percy''s. He saw the look in her eyes and realized what was about to happen.<span ss="userText"> Rya just smiled and nodded with her arms crossed underneath her<span ss="aiText"> breasts.
<span ss="userText">"I told you, Dalia. You''ve been worrying all this time for nothing-"
"MY WOLF! MY CHIEF!" Dalia shouted as she wrapped her arms around Percy and embraced him tightly.
<span ss="aiText">She rubbed her cheek against his and began to nip at his neck and jawline, leaving little red bite marks behind.<span ss="userText"> Soon, she took Percy''s head and buried it inside her cleavage as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
<span ss="userText">"I know my wolf loves my breasts<span ss="aiText"> and my milk... I can''t wait for our first pup!" Dalia growled happily.
<span ss="aiText">"I can''t wait either," Percy said, his voice muffled by her bosom.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia squealed happily as she kept her mate close to her.<span ss="userText"> At the same time, Rya looked like she was pped across the face as she watched her friend dry<span ss="aiText"> hump her lover''s body.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Dalia!? What the hell are you doing!?<span ss="aiText"> This isn''t the ce to do this!" Rya shouted.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You don''t understand, Alpha!<span ss="aiText"> I have to im my mate<span ss="editText"> so no other women dare try to take him!<span ss="aiText">" Dalia shouted.
<span ss="aiText">Rya<span ss="userText"> shook her head quickly as she<span ss="aiText"> watched her friend dry hump Percy''sp while her hands were all over his <span ss="userText">head which was buried in her<span ss="aiText"> cleavage.
<span ss="aiText">"Dammit,<span ss="userText"> Dalia! No one''s taking Percy! And no one has your nose to smell his scent<span ss="aiText"> except you!" Rya shouted furiously.
<span ss="aiText">"I still need to mark my territory," Dalia growled as her tail wagged.
<span ss="aiText">Percy lifted his head out of Dalia''s cleavage and gasped for air, "H-Hey!<span ss="userText"> Maybe we should wait until we arrive at Lomar, my love<span ss="aiText">!"
<span ss="aiText">Dalia stopped and pouted at her mate, "Why do we have to wait? I can''t wait!"
<span ss="aiText">"Because<span ss="editText">...<span ss="aiText"> I don''t want Rya or anyone else <span ss="editText">to see<span ss="aiText"> you naked<span ss="editText">. I don''t want anyone to steal you away from me<span ss="aiText">," Percy said.
<span ss="userText">Dalia''s pupils<span ss="aiText"> dted, and her cheeks reddened, "Oh! My wolf! No one will take me away from you. But if you don''t want anyone else seeing me, then I guess I can wait.<span ss="userText">"
<span ss="userText">Dalia nuzzled her<span ss="aiText"> cheek against Percy''s, and her tail wagged. Percy''s heart swelled up, and he hugged Dalia, who joyfully squealed.<span ss="userText"> Percy looked at Rya and gave her a reassuring nod.
<span ss="userText">Rya''s eyebrows raised in surprise, ''Well, I''ll be damned... Percy is slyer than I thought. He knows how to calm Dalia<span ss="aiText"> down and make her do what he wants. Well, at least he''s not taking advantage of her. I''m d she found someone <span ss="editText">who loves <span ss="aiText">her.''
<span ss="aiText">"Ahem. Now, if you''re both done.<span ss="userText"> Dalia... If you need to mark him as your mate. Get him to buy you an engagement ring<span ss="aiText">. A nice big one," Rya said.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia''s eyes widened with glee, "Really?! <span ss="editText">Human women will know that he''s mine with a ring<span ss="aiText">?"
<span ss="aiText">"Of course. He''s your man. And you''ll be his woman soon," Rya smirked.
<span ss="userText">Dalia looked at Percy with a new sense<span ss="aiText"> of confidence, "Gamma! Give me a ring."
<span ss="aiText">"Uh... W-We can do that <span ss="editText">when I get the money... A-And how big is big, my love?<span ss="aiText">" Percy <span ss="editText">asked <span ss="aiText">nervously as sweat started trickling down his forehead.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia tilted her head, "A big one?"
<span ss="userText">Rya smirked, ''Maybe I''ll help him out. Plus, I''m sure Quin will spot Percy enough gold<span ss="aiText"> to get a decent engagement ring. Maybe a diamond one?''
"Dalia. I''ll take you to a jewelerter so you can get an idea of what you like," Rya said.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia jumped with happiness. Her tail was wagging like crazy. Percy smiled, shook his head, and then looked at the carriage door, which had just opened<span ss="userText"> to Yuliana, Nieren, Tayna, and Quinus. Rya noticed that Nieren looked well-rested for the first time in a while.
<span ss="userText">"Well, you seem<span ss="aiText"> better today, Nieren. I''m d," Rya said.
<span ss="aiText">Nieren <span ss="userText">smiled and nodded, "Yes... Dalia finally decided not to give in to her animal instincts and gave it a rest. It was the best night of sleep in a month<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">Dalia stuck her tongue out at the wood elf, "Whatever! I can''t help it! I have a very good nose and must mark my mate''s territory. So that no other women will take him from me!<span ss="userText">"
Nieren shook her head, "Oh, for crying out loud... Can you not have sex with your human lover every damned night? You''re worse than a goblin."
<span ss="aiText">Dalia growled, "No. My wolf and I <span ss="editText">won''t <span ss="aiText">stop.<span ss="editText"> Or you might take him!<span ss="aiText">"
<span ss="aiText">"Ugh... <span ss="editText">I''m not interested in your human<span ss="aiText">," Nieren sighed as she rolled her eyes. "I''m only interested in my prince-Ah! I <span ss="userText">mean! I am interested in myself at the moment<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">Percy and Quinus looked at each other while Tayna just shrugged.<span ss="userText"> Yuliana could only sigh at how her daughter was reacting. She thought that her daughter''s head was in the clouds again.
<span ss="aiText">"If you say so," Rya giggled<span ss="userText"> as Nieren sat to the Dark Elf''s right while Quinus sat to her left. Once everyone got seated, Sir George gave the all-clear to move out of the castle grounds<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> They moved through the city grounds of Eldermyst.
Once they left the estate grounds, Rya whispered in Nieren''s ear.
<span ss="userText">"Hey, you always said that hearing Dalia having... Well, you know<span ss="aiText">... was keeping you awake. But<span ss="userText"> Quin and I did it<span ss="aiText">st night, too. Didn''t we keep you up as well?" Rya asked.
Nieren''s cheeks turned beat red as she shook her head, "W-What? You two had a tryst? I-I didn''t notice! If you did, you two must be respectful or quiet lovers. That must be it."
<span ss="aiText">Rya giggled, "Yeah... Well, <span ss="userText">I''ll try not to be loud<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">I know it must be rough since you think those earplugs will interfere with your duties as my retainer."
<span ss="userText">"Haha... N-No, you don''t need to change what you two are doing for my sake... You two are as quiet as a<span ss="aiText"> mous<span ss="editText">e. Especially His Highness<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="editText"> He''s... I mean, <span ss="editText">y<span ss="aiText">ou won''t bother me," Nierenughed nervously.
<span ss="aiText">"Are you sure? Because I swear we were really loudst night," Rya smirked.
<span ss="aiText">Nieren blushed hard and tried her best to stayposed, "<span ss="editText">S-Sis<span ss="aiText">...<span ss="userText"> You''re worrying over nothing<span ss="aiText">. Your lover''s noises don''t bother me. <span ss="userText">I''m a respected former adventurer, and I''m a princess<span ss="aiText">. I''m a woman who is used to being the center of attention. But, please, keep having fun with him."
<span ss="aiText">"Alright, but if you''re not sure, we''ll stop having fun in such tight quarters until we get to the pce," Rya said.
<span ss="userText">"NO!... I-I mean to say if I don''t hear you two at all, then I will think that an assassin<span ss="aiText"> has snuck into the room," Nieren said, "Besides, you''re not the only ones doing... you know."
<span ss="aiText">Rya raised her eyebrows in surprise, "<span ss="userText">Yeah... Johan and Tayna go at it <span ss="editText">pretty hard as well. I need to thank Yuliana for making those earplugs.<span ss="aiText">"
<span ss="aiText">Nieren''s cheeks redden slightly, "Yeah... <span ss="userText">Luckily, they don''tst as long as you two."
"Huh? But I thought you said you could barely hear us... I swear we were as loud as those two, and if you couldn''t hear us, then how did you know they were... having their fun?" Rya asked.
<span ss="aiText">Nieren looked a bit embarrassed and whispered, "<span ss="userText">Sis! Can you stop asking questions? It''s not loud enough to bug me, okay? I appreciate<span ss="aiText"> you being a considerate sister and not wanting to make me feel ufortable, but I''m not. Trust me, it doesn''t bother me."
"O-Okay... And hey... Thanks for being understanding. I really appreciate it," Rya said as she hugged Nieren, "You''re a great retainer... And sister? I''m unsure if I can adjust to calling you sister just yet... It seems premature."
<span ss="aiText">Nieren was surprised by Rya''s sudden act of affection and felt happy.
<span ss="userText">"You don''t need to force it, Lady Rya<span ss="aiText">. I''m not going anywhere. You''re my sister<span ss="editText"> now, and I''m here to protect you<span ss="aiText">," Nieren said.
<span ss="aiText">Rya smiled and nodded as she continued to hug her friend. <span ss="userText">Yuliana watched as her adopted daughter hugged her<span ss="aiText"> older sister and smiled warmly.
<span ss="userText">After an hour''s ride, they arrived at the east gate, where Johan joined them. With everyone together, the convoy made its way east towards the city of Lomar. It took them two days to reach the city. Upon arrival, they were greeted by the royal guards, who were there to escort them to the Queen waiting at the estate. Rya and her group were escorted by knights towards the gate where the Mayor of Lomar waited. He had a panicked look on his face. He was ordered to keep the citizens from discovering that a dark elf wasing into their city with two of the royal family members who needed to be protected under his watch, which made it even more stressful for the poor man<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">As they arrived at the gates, the Mayor was visibly shaking.