“She doesn’t look as irritated with his presence as before,” Selene pointed out.

  Shooing them away from the window, the man’s daughter crossed her arms over her chest. “We had a lengthy conversation after her arrival. I’m sure you expect me to have stomped her into the ground for her audacity, but maybe you’ll consider that I tried using more words than expletives in that discussion.”

  Grea seemed to wait for them to laugh at her or call her out on her jokes, but all she received were expressions of honest understanding and fondness. She was forced to look away, unable to bear those emotions openly, warming up a little more.

  “So, if I believe myself attempting to be better, I thought she deserves a chance too. I’ll be keeping an eye on her, of course, ready to show this bitch hell if she hurts him, but I’m standing aside. Whatever they work out between themselves is theirs. Gods know he needs someone to look after him again. And I guess I can’t be too picky.” She shrugged, still glancing aside.

  Asterios stepped forward and lightly pressed her against the dark metal wall. As Grea turned to face him with slight surprise, he stole her lips with a slow but passionate kiss. She tried her best not to utter any inappropriate noises while soaking in his love. It was a difficult task, but she prevailed.

  He withdrew while stroking her cheek affectionately. “You are so sexy when you care.”

  Nibbling on her bottom lip, she let her eyes wander, briefly peeking over his shoulder. Her brows rose a little, and he joined her, a grateful smile curling the edges of his mouth up.

  The girls had put their backs to them and formed half a circle to shield the pair from the street.

  “Damn, I should have started behaving much earlier if this is what I get for being a good girl.” Grea laughed quietly.

  Her hands eagerly wandered all over Ast’s body as she crashed into him for one more kiss before pushing herself away.

  “Maybe you should cast me aside for a bit longer.” She licked her lips while fixing her clothes. “Just not too long. I don’t need abandonment issues on my shitful list of mental problems.”

  Rolling his eyes at her manic grin, Asterios took Grea’s hand and squeezed it tenderly while leading them back to the others. He offered his other palm to Bryn, and they headed towards the city center. The ladies were content letting the unique pair of women stay a bit closer to their wonderful mate for the moment.

  They intended to walk straight to the Town Hall and see what the Committee had to share with them, but fate must have been paying close attention to them today because no longer than fifteen minutes later, they heard a very recognizable laugh.

  An athletic female adventurer emerged from the side alley. It was their good old friend Rudy. Noticing that she wasn’t alone, holding onto a slimmer person around their waist, they quickly swerved to avoid running into them. By some chance, they weren’t spotted as the pair began walking ahead of them, too focused on each other to pay more attention than necessary to their surroundings.

  “Wait a moment…” Miria blinked repeatedly.

  “My, my… Does this mean the dreadful curse is finally broken?” Selene cast Asterios a sly look.

  Grea cackled lightly, careful not to alert their friends. “That depends. Are you after her too, gorgeous?”

  Asterios scoffed to the side and playfully smacked her on the ass, bringing his hand back to hers afterward.

  Well, their reactions weren’t unfounded. Rudy was sharing a good time with none other than Visenna, the Lesser Dragon female he had brought to Kraedorion from Phasmantia before their departure into the Nethernight realm. The charming lady bore a wide smile and seemed to grace her companion with some refined giggles hidden behind her dainty hand. Meanwhile, the muscular Warrior ate it up like a treat, chatting eagerly, puffing her chest out boastfully. It looked like they were having a lot of fun together.

  “This is just perfect.” Althea’s green eyes sparkled with mischief.

  “How so?” Bryn tilted her head.

  “Jellal will be so mad.” Ast’s mentor fought to stifle her own laugh. “You see, in Lesser Dragon culture, there is no greater shame for a male than to witness his paired female leave… for another female. A lesser being at that.”

  “Won’t he simply blame this on us?” Asterios queried. “Brainwashing, manipulation, or whatever?”

  “Oh, he will certainly try, but this is just one of those things that evoke unspoken understanding.” She grinned at him. “Females take pairing up very seriously. Much more hesitantly than males. You saw how uncertain Phatru was, even though her relationship was not as tightly bound. When everyone sees her separated from him while he tries to shift the responsibility to others, they will know.”

  “Deserved.” Tina harrumphed, and the ladies nodded.

  Asterios shook his head at this new piece of Dragon lore. “Come on. Let’s give them some space. We’ve dragged this out enough. I can’t hear about all the problems the Committee is going to pile upon me the moment I step into their offices.”

  They shared a laugh and hurried up.

  Chapter 43

  Kingdom in the Building

  By some luck, Asterios and the ladies reached the Town Hall without any further unexpected encounters. However, it certainly didn’t happen without more surprises. The main one being the very destination of their short journey. The building itself made them pause to both admire and think deeply about what they were seeing.

  What previously had been your usual administrative office was now partially redesigned. The foundation and general structure didn’t change, but the outer appearance was visibly altered. It was impossible to miss the draconic motifs running all over the front. Literally running. Lesser Dragon shapes coiled around the supporting pillars. And most surfaces were painted or carved to imitate scales.

  Asterios glanced at Bryn and Grea questioningly. “Is this what the taxpayer money goes to now?”

  His demon lover snickered. “Hey, with how much we are doing for the community, we ought to treat ourselves to something nice from time to time.”

  “I think you should talk with your advisors, Master,” Bryn suggested with a knowing smile. “If I’m not mistaken, this is one of the smaller redesigns in their plans.”

  A groan escaped his lips, to the amusement of his mates.

  “Please, tell me they aren’t eyeing up the castle at least.” Asterios raised a brow at them.

  The silence that descended upon the pair’s lips was very telling.

  Tina giggled softly, patting him on the back. “Don’t worry. I’m sure they won’t overdo things. Besides, we have bigger problems to fuss over rather than how the city is stealthily becoming more Dragon-like.”

  Forced to accept the truth for now, he nodded and led the party inside, eager to confront the Committee about their schemes. While being creative and proactive was great, things could always quickly get out of hand. If some enthusiasms weren’t properly curbed ahead of time, the next visit after a period of absence might greet them with something more outrageous.

  Like a gate or two getting completely re-stylized into a True Dragon’s head to match the Old Town’s public name.

  The interior of the Town Hall remained relatively the same, with just some minor alterations here and there. Upstairs still housed the round main meeting hall with all the advisor offices on the sides. It was tidied up, and the circular table looked suspiciously draconic, but at this point, Asterios chose to just not acknowledge it.

  He was sure some people were doing this for the fun of seeing his reactions.

  “Hellooooooo! Anyone there?” Grea announced their arrival with a jovial call.

  With a bit of shuffling, their elven general administrator scurried out of his office.

  “Oh! You have returned, My Lord!” Ulyssen smiled warmly, coming closer to shake Ast’s hand. “Congratulations on your success, I assume?”

  “More or less,” Silvia answered. “Things didn’t go exactly according to the plans we devised, but the final result can be considered satisfactory.”

  “I’m glad to hear that! Everyone here knows something about deviations. But, if you weren’t capable enough to handle such twists of fate, King Welrond wouldn’t have entrusted the leadership of Glimmervale and then Dragon Valley to you,” the man offered them honest praise, evoking a few delicate blushes.

  “Is no one else here?” Miria peeked around, tilting her head to examine the other offices.

  “Busy times, My Lady.” The elf chuckled. “We are all tending to our tasks at almost every hour of the day. I’m sure you must have noticed the galloping progress of our charming town.”

  “It’s hard not to.” Asterios nodded. “Especially when everywhere you look, there seem to be more draconic themes.”

  “Ah, I told them it was too much.” Ulyssen scratched his cheek. “But, no, it seems like the draconic fever has taken its toll even on our Committee. Trust me, My Lord, the proper constructions aren’t delayed in the slightest by these… negligible adjustments.”

  “Well, it will certainly help some races feel more comfortable and appreciated.” Althea rested a hand on Ast’s shoulder, and their gazes met. “How to better show your hospitality if not by displaying artistic depictions of the people you wish to welcome?”

  “Speaking of which, I wonder how Rusi and the others are doing.” Tina tapped her chin. “Perhaps we should give them a visit. From what I can tell… they are near the dungeon?”

  “Correct,” the elf confirmed. “The Dragon Guard has been using it to train themselves regularly. Keenu believes it helps with their teamwork and cooperation. Since their unit is still freshly made, there is no better way to get to know each other than through combat, where you can entrust your back to your partner.”

  “Wise words.” Selene hummed approvingly.

  “We’ll check up on them afterward, then,” Asterios offered. “Anything you can share with us? Or should we perhaps call for a meeting so that everyone has a chance to chime in?”

  “I can provide you with a short summary,” Ulyssen replied. “They won’t mind, happy to focus on their work.”

  He jogged to bring a few packets of documents and set them down. Looking up at Asterios, he found him somewhat pensive.

  “My Lord?” Ulyssen frowned slightly.

  “It’s just… Since the moment we arrived… I feel like something is missing.” Asterios stroked his chin. “Give me a moment.”

  Closing his eyes, he dove into himself, letting his awareness spread through his mind and heart. It didn’t take long for him to discover the answer. Reaching even deeper into his very existence, he focused on the bond he shared with his mates. To be specific, on the connection with a certain individual, their presence the faintest yet the closest to his soul.

  However, there was still the question of what to do about it.

  Then, Asterios got an idea.

  The others watched his shadow ripple and expand, forming a dark pool spanning over the entire circular floor. While he remained heavily focused, a thin pillar rose from the sea of black. It wobbled and wiggled, soon assuming a familiar feminine shape. When the details settled in, no one other than Tia stood amongst them, albeit painted with just a single color like a statue. A statue that moved.

  “Oh! How curious!” The Dryad giggled sweetly, testing out her new body. “I’m surprised you didn’t ask before grabbing my soul just like that.”

  “Sorry—”

  “I’m just teasing.” She silenced him with a finger on his lips right as he opened his eyes. “I like how kind and considerate you are whenever you do something involving others, but honestly, asking can ruin a great surprise. It’s good that you are growing bolder with what belongs to you.”

  He didn’t have a response to her words, listening to the giggly female’s suggestive chuckles.

  “What’s this?” Grea asked, poking the black depiction of their newest sister-mate. “You didn’t mention finding a way to get her a body during the earlier recap.”

  “It’s still just my shadow.” Asterios shook his head. “But, I deepened my connection with Tia to the level of allowing her to pretty much read and influence my very mind for the moment. Without my supervision. You can say that she currently possesses this shadow by manipulating my thoughts.”

  “That shows a great deal of unconditional trust,” Althea commented calmly, making the shadowy girl beam to the high heavens as she knew that too.

  He shrugged. “Who would I trust if I couldn’t trust my own mates?”

  Tia slid her smoking figure against his and pressed their lips together for a deep, loving kiss.

  “Unfortunately, this form lacks physical sensations, but you know where to find me if you’d like to catch up on that.” She grinned at him, and he could swear he caught a sparkle in her monochrome eyes. “In the meantime, I appreciate the chance to accompany you in the outside world.”

  And so, they brought some chairs and settled around the round table while their friend went through a bunch of topics and changes that had taken place during their absence. The construction and development were well on track, with no serious issues plaguing that sector. As mentioned before, the staff for the academies was slowly gathering. It was revealed that Grea had gone through quite a few applications to filter them, wanting to make Ast’s job of reviewing them easier.

  Clearly, that bit was supposed to stay secret with how the demon lady blushed dark crimson, escaping with her gaze aside, her tail dancing underneath her robes. She then explained that it would be best if the two of them conducted interviews together, deciding on final picks after spending a few minutes face-to-face with the candidates. Everyone supported that idea and left it to her to decide on a date.

  The population was booming thanks to all the arrivals, and the first iteration of the noble system was working relatively well. Those who had taken the oaths were showing their dedication through visible efforts in the fields belonging to the specific ranks and files. It was something new and exciting for many. Having a clear guideline on what to focus on instead of guessing and thinking up their own plans to gain recognition fell well with many previously foreign nobles, even if they had to start from the bottom.

  As for the Dragon Guard, it had become another iconic attraction of the region. Its members didn’t stay idle, taking care of missions and quests all over the small nation. Thanks to that, their sightings were more than regular, and people had many chances to interact with the new elite squad of Dragon Valley’s protectors. They were already making a name for themselves, slowly carving their way to becoming as recognizable as the Royal Division.

  There were some minor problems in almost every category, but Ulyssen didn’t want to bother them unnecessarily when those issues were his and his colleagues’ responsibility. Unless something truly required the group’s attention, there were plenty of people more than glad to handle things. In the end, everyone wanted to show how capable they were. Asterios had stressed numerous times that he relied on the help of professionals as he wasn’t perfect in every area. Relying on one’s subordinates wasn’t a weakness.

  “That reminds me, we have a message for you from King Welrond,” the elf administrator mentioned amidst his presentation. “It arrived about a week ago through a courier escorted by a representative from the Royal Division. It was to be handed to you at the earliest convenience, but they were aware that you were currently off-world, My Lord.”

  Taking the envelope from the man, Asterios cut it open with his draconic claw. The girls gathered over his shoulder to read along. Still, he mouthed the words out loud for everyone to catch the missive. It simply requested his visit to discuss an important matter regarding their nations.

  “Are you going to jump there right away, Master?” Miria glanced at him excitedly, her chin resting atop his shoulder.

  He gave it a longer thought than they would have expected.

  “No,” Asterios answered, which was another slight surprise. “I’m no longer just Asterios the Adventurer. As a certain beautiful lady of a high standing often reminds me, I’m now Asterios the Ruler, and I should act as one. We’ll send a reply, notifying the king that I will come in three days. Have one of the Dragon Guard deliver it. That should be an adequate response, am I right?”

  Silvia met his gaze with a wide smile, taking hold of his palm to squeeze it affectionately.

  “You pass,” she announced, letting out a quiet chuckle. “If it were to be a test, of course. That’s more than a proper response, My Lord Husband. I’m proud of you.”

  Asterios smirked, feeling a little bit embarrassed now. “Well, if it really was something critical, he would have contacted us straight through the connection, definitely noticing our return. So, I figured it’s alright to follow the usual procedures.”

  “It’s so hot when you act like a proper monarch.” Grea bit into her bottom lip deliciously. “Maybe I’ll get to experience it a bit more now that you don’t need to be as embarrassed by me as before.”

  He snorted, shaking his head at her. “Sure. I’ll gladly take you with me if you are going to behave. In public, at least.”

  She chewed on that lip even more, definitely considering how much she would be able to control herself already if given such an opportunity.

  “I think you can take care of this when we visit the dungeon,” Tia chimed in merrily, delighted that she could interact with them this way.

  “She’s right.” Ulyssen nodded. “Allow me to draft the reply for you, My Lord. Just a second.”

  The man hurried back to his office and did as he had said, returning a few minutes later with a scribbled message. They verified it together, and he went to transfer it onto the proper royal medium, bringing a sealed envelope and the royal sigil Asterios had left in his care for the duration of their expedition. Taking the seal, the true monarch heated it up and marked the blob of crimson wax with the draconic symbol, stuffing the letter and the stamp into his spatial storage.

  Not wanting to take more of Ulyssen’s time, they gathered up and began heading for the dungeon camp. There was no doubt that they would learn about many more things from plenty of other people in their domain, so it wasn’t necessary to torment a single person. He had his duties too.