Chapter 83: The Princess and her Agreement

Luka and Iris sat beside each other, listening to the growing sound of Mildred’s voice, how it faintly trembled the more vigorously she shook the bed. Or how she called a certain name that drew strange glances from the dwarven princess.

She eventually couldn’t help but mumble. "Are you sure you’ve never met Mildred? I’ve never seen her react to a male like that before... no, maybe she hasn’t even shown such a reaction to females either."

’How to answer this...’

He imagined explaining everything to his would-be fiancée, with her frowning, slapping him in the face, and shouting at him because of his ridiculous story.

So, he decided to go with a half-truth, half-story facade that’d been his go-to so far.

"I don’t think I would forget such a beautiful woman, especially one with such a unique atmosphere."

Almost instantly, Iris gripped his shirt and pulled him closer.

She glared up at him, almost leaning against his chest, the weight and height difference apparent even while sitting.

"Hmph, don’t even think about it! Mildred isn’t a woman the likes of you can toy with."

Luka shrugged and leaned back, letting Iris fall forward into his arms.

"Ahhh!?"

Though her cry of shock lacked the cuteness of Galatea or Luvia, it was quite amusing to see her face buried in his chest and feeling her fingernails sink into his flesh as she wrapped both arms around his back.

Iris didn’t leave his body, remaining against him as she peeked up at his face with a lovely frown and furrowed brows.

He wanted to hold her tightly.

To lift her chin and taste those plump, cherry pink lips.

Yet managed to stop himself, as she resembled a puppy about to bark.

Somehow, the innate desires and thoughts that once only lingered in the back of his mind became stronger. His hand hovered in mid-air, a few inches from her face, almost capturing her small chin, and taking action.

"What’s that look for?" He shifted his mind away from the swirl of heat growing rapidly in his stomach.

"Hmph, you men always act like this when you find a new woman... my dad was the same!"

"A new woman, do you mean yourself?"

"W-What?! Since when did I become your new woman!"

"From the moment you swore to become my betrothed if I saved this village."

Her lips parted as she seemed to realise what they’d achieved. He’d kept his word, and now Amol village was saved from the initial assault.

But then she knitted her brows.

"W-Wait, I remember saying to make the village prosperous, this is what if goblins come again and break through the damaged defences!? The others haven’t returned and....Mmmph?"

Luka pressed his finger against her soft lips, able to feel the subtle tremble in her body as she focused on it with both eyes, before slowly looking up at him with complete bewilderment.

"Don’t rush things." Luka stroked across her lips, dragging them slightly to the side and revealing her pearly white teeth, something a village girl could never have. "I promised to make this village into a city, a city that would stand for countless eras."

His eyes narrowed, becoming more serious.

"Though things will take time, I promise to focus on restoring the defences of this village, even now, I’ve rerouted most workers to focus on the western wall. Once the construction is finished, I’ll keep Gerard and his knights stationed at this village, and aim to move the knight and warrior training facilities to New Amol."

Her eyes darted from side to side as if trying to ascertain his words, their truth and understand the subtle meaning behind them.

’This is why human nobles and rulers have such tragic lives...’

Always looking for the hidden intent, trying to see two or three steps ahead to avoid losing everything from their wealth to their honour.

Until she finally asked while gently circling her fingernails embedded in his back.

Luka knew what she worried about.

How could a young noble lord who just took over after his father’s death accept such a heavy burden as the deposed princess from another nation?

What was he after?

What did he want from her?

Yet she seemed unable to gather what he sought.

"How can you promise such grand and unbelievable things without benefits?"

Their eyes remained locked together, hers searching for any fault or sense of deceit, while his just savoured and enjoyed the worried look on the pretty dwarf’s face.

"You are to become my wife, what man would I be if I didn’t accept this little issue, for my future will bring you far more troubles than a few goblins or orcs. Let alone those miserable old dwarves who only play fair for their own benefit."

Luka might not have dealt with the other races in any way other than in battle or by acting as his brothers’ proxy.

But he knew the selfish desires and greed most dwarves innately had.

Though Iris seemed genuine, as if those kinds of things were irrelevant, as if she were some pure being void of such corruption.

But they were manifesting right now, as she attempted to push him away and test him verbally, while her nails sank deeper with every answer, softly stroking his back and pulling him closer.

Iris was no different.

Even Luka began to change after his death, becoming more human and corrupted.

There was a long silence, as whatever Mildred needed to do ended with a few drawn-out whimpers and the creak of the wooden bed.

[Injection of Cardinal Sin Complete]

[Lust Genome Awakened]

[Soul Repairation: 69%]

His eyes flicked to the messages regarding Mildred, and thanks to that, his heart and mind finally settled. No longer worried about what might happen, he could face Iris with all his attention without tricks.

"T-Then you must promise me!" She stuttered, her cheeks faintly red as she came to realise her actions might be seen as improper from outside.

"What do you seek this time, Princess?" He asked, letting one of his arms slip down from her arm, slowly along her waist as if burning the curve of her hips to his memory before settling on her thigh.

"Y-You...!" She gasped.

And yet he didn’t release her or answer.

Luka just stared back into her eyes and repeated his question.

"What do you seek, Princess?"

"What do I seek...?" Iris repeated, as if the words tasted foreign.

Her fingers loosened against his back, no longer clawing, but refusing to let go. The small chamber carried the scent of old timber, sweat, and the sharp medicinal herbs Mildred had scattered near the bed. Somewhere outside, villagers shouted over rolling carts and hammer blows, already struggling to rebuild what the goblins had broken.

"I want a place that cannot be taken from me again."

Her voice sank lower.

"I want walls high enough that my people can sleep without hiding blades under their pillows. I want soldiers trained well enough that children don’t need to carry stones to the gate. I want the dwarves who abandoned me to look at Amol and realise they lost more than a princess."

Luka watched her carefully.

For the first time since meeting her, Iris wasn’t barking, pouting, or hiding behind pride. Her emerald eyes shone with something unique to her, something carved by exile, humiliation and determination.

"And..." Her cheeks flushed, but she forced the words out. "If I truly become your wife, then don’t treat me like some rescued ornament. Don’t lock me behind your name and parade me when it benefits you. Give me work. Give me authority. Let me build this city with my own hands."

Luka’s smile faded.

Then he raised his hand from her thigh and placed it over her head, ruffling her fiery hair with a careless ruffle.

Iris froze.

"You really are greedy."

Her eyes widened. "You—!"

"That’s a great way to think, Iris." Luka’s gaze sharpened. "A woman who only wants protection and warmth will become a burden. But a woman who seeks power and wishes to improve can become a pillar."

Iris swallowed after realising his meaning, and her anger faltered.

"So I promise," he said. "New Amol will not just bear the mark of Babylon, of me. Let it be the city we make together, as husband and wife. The greatest fortress city ever created... one that surpasses the great dwarven fortress, Kavak Dur."

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she lowered her forehead against his chest, hiding her face.

He could feel her warmth and smell the sweetness of her natural odour before she hugged his back with her arms.

"...You better not regret those words. I will not forgive a man who lies to me... even if I must burn myself alive to gain revenge."

Before Luka could answer, the door opened.

Mildred stepped out.

Her long hair clung to her cheeks, her breathing still uneven, yet her eyes had changed. The unfocused haze was gone, replaced by a strange, fever-bright clarity. She looked first at Iris, then at Luka, and for one brief second, there was something, a flash of something strange deep within her eyes as her knees almost bent.

"My lord," she whispered.

But as quick as that strange flash appeared, so did the sudden change in her expression as she dropped to the floor and began mumbling strange things.

"Forgive me... I am foolish... It was all my fault..."

The atmosphere between him and Iris shattered as she jumped down to hug Mildred, while Luka tried to focus on what she whispered.

It was at that moment that the door knocked three times.

"My Lord!" Gerard’s shout almost shook the house.

"What is it now..." He mumbled.

That’s when his voice came twice as loud.

"It’s your Fiancée! She has arrived at Babylon... demanding to have an audience with you."