TYPHONE

  The next morning, I decided to leave a day early to fly back to my kingdom along with Grimore. People still have this notion that dragons don't belong with humans and that they should be banned from existing, but it's just a shitty excuse to enslave them.

  It was still dark when I walked out of my room. I stopped in front of my future wife's room and slipped a note under her door.

  Sleep well, my princess. I shall see you in a few days.

  "Your Majesty, is it really alright to just leave a message to your future wife? Are you not going to say it in person?" Grimore asked, rushing behind me to match my pace.

  We left the castle and headed to the forest behind the kingdom walls. We ended up in an open field and I made sure that no one was around. I whistled and moments later, my red scaled pet landed on the open space. He huffed, making the trees shake off a few leaves.

  "I rather she don't see me. It's better that way. Besides..." I turn to look up at Calagon, "I'm not sure how she'll react when she sees him."

  With that said, I mounted my dragon and caressed his shiny scales. I felt him purr. Grimore mounted his own dragon and we flew back to Lazarith without looking back.

  We'll see each other again, princess.

  **********

  It was a short journey since dragons are quicker than stuffy carriages and moments later, we were already in the dragon's nest which I decided to build a few years back. It is not a nest per se, but it's almost as big as a castle and its design is not as intricate. Its exterior is just simple concrete and the ceilings are high enough for dragons to fly about. There are two separate buildings. One is where new dragons are brought to, kind of like a safe space for them to adjust to the new environment and for them to realize that they are safe. The other is for our female dragons when they give birth and care for their hatchling. They are usually separated from their mates for a few days to help them recover before they are being allowed back to the main hall.

  "Your Majesty." Leonis, the captain of my knights, greeted our arrival. He bowed his head and looked at me with his usual stoic expression. His single emerald orb is devoid of emotions as usual.

  I wonder how his wife deals with this guy.

  "Leonis. I suppose everything was peaceful while I was gone." I said, taking off my armor and cape. Grimore took my things and I ushered him to go do his other duties.

  "There were a few wild wolves lurking around, but it was not a big deal." Leonis replied, following behind me as I walked towards the entrance of the dragon's nest.

  Walking inside, I felt Calagon following behind us. I shut the huge steel doors behind us and watched the dragons play, eat, and sleep. Most of those dragons are not for hunting. Several of them, however, are trained for battle and are used to hunting.

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  "There are no new dragons today, Your Majesty. So far, we haven't seen any dragons in danger near our kingdom." Leonis stated as he threw a leg of a wild wolf to two baby dragons who were running around him.

  "That's a relief. I'd hate not to be there to save another dragon in need. If you know what I mean." I smirked and looked back at my trusted knight.

  "Please don't look at me like that, Your Majesty. The aftermath is hard to clean up as it is." Leonis sighed and a rare hint of frustration was evident in his eyes.

  I scoffed, "By the way, prepare in two days. I have to go to Ynkerthia Kingdom. Prepare some gems, jewels, whatever it is that you bring as a wedding gift."

  "A wedding... gift? What for, Your Majesty?"

  I looked at Leonis and said casually, "I'm getting married."

  Leonis looked at me in disbelief. There was a long pause and for the first time in years, I heard him yell, "WHAT!?"

  **********

  I am currently seated in my office as Grimore and Leonis quarrel. I rubbed my temple and sighed. I was dragged here against my will because Leonis wanted a good explanation on my irrational decisions.

  "You didn't bother telling me that His Majesty is about to get married! To a girl he only met a couple of times, no less!" Leonis yelled.

  "I didn't have the time to tell you! It was all so sudden!" Grimore hid behind the chair as Leonis stopped himself from strangling the smaller man.

  "Your Majesty! Please explain it to me further!" Leonis slammed his hands on my desk and I looked up at him.

  "There's nothing else for me to explain. I just happen to like the princess and decided to marry her." I lied, but I know my men. They won't fall for this pathetic excuse.

  "Yeah and I wanted to be the captain of your knights because I'm your brother." Leonis sarcastically replied.

  This bastard.

  "I wanted to marry her because she looked hot and adorable." I lied again. Maybe this time he'll believe me.

  Leonis scoffed and said, "I'm pretty sure that petty reason isn't why you wanted to get married in just a short time. Let me remind you that you were the one who told us that you will never get married. Even in other lifetimes."

  He saw right through me. Leonis crossed his arms over his chest and said firmly, "The truth, Your Majesty."

  I sighed and pushed my hair back, "Fine. I wanted to marry her because Ferhann wanted her and I was not going to let that piece of shit taint the innocent woman."

  "So you pitied her, Your Majesty?" Grimore asked, standing at a good distance from Leonis.

  "I already feel bad for the poor girl and you're not yet married." Leonis chimed. I growled at him and huffed.

  "So what? I always pitied people and dragons alike." I reasoned.

  Both men looked at me in disappointment and I glared at them. Just as I was about to reprimand them, there was a knock on the door. It was a knight.

  "Your Majesty. A letter from Ynkerthia Kingdom."

  I raised a brow and took the letter. I ushered the knight to leave and read the letter. It was actually from the princess.

  "What does it say, Your Majesty?" Grimore tried to take a peak, but I didn't let him.

  The letter said:

  To His Majesty, King Typhone Fervocour,

  I do not appreciate that you left without telling me in person, but I admire your courtesy to tell me that you're leaving a day earlier. I have made peace with my mind that I will be married to you. I have a written proposal regarding our terms and conditions as well. Let me remind you though, in two days, I expect you to be on your best behavior here in my domain. I do not really tolerate brutes wanting to own my kingdom and intimidating my people. That is all.

  P.S. I admire your handwriting. It looked like a mouse scribbled on it.

  I smirked and huffed, "I'm getting a little impatient, Grimore. Prepare the gifts and some carriages. We'll go to Ynkerthia tomorrow."

  "What?!" Grimore and Leonis exclaimed in unison.

  "Your Majesty, have you gone insane?" Grimore asked, panic settling in his eyes.

  "I want to see my future wife already and I'm itching to get that wedding done." I folded the letter and hid it in my desk drawer.

  Grimore and Leonis looked at each other before looking at me like I'm an insane person.

  I could smell roses and violets on that letter. Must be the princess' perfume. Cheeky woman is trying to tempt me. Fuck. I'm aching to see you, princess.