La Folia, the First Princess of the Kingdom of Aldegia, stepped into the restaurant.
Her striking sapphire eyes swept across the room, and the sheer authority she exuded caused the diners, who had been whispering and sneaking glances at her, to quickly avert their gazes.
Anyone who found themselves under the Princess's gaze felt their heartbeat quicken, a sense of fear creeping into their very soul.
The guests couldn't help but marvel, thinking to themselves, As expected of Her Highness—her presence is overwhelming.
Upon spotting Saigou, a flicker of amused surprise crossed La Folia's face.
She walked over with her long, graceful legs, her silver hair fluttering slightly in the breeze that followed her. Her movement was so commanding, it evoked the image of a fierce wind, bringing to mind the phrase "like a tiger on the prowl."
"Princess La Folia, what brings you here?"
Saigou furrowed his brows slightly as he looked at the Princess. After a brief moment of contemplation, he offered a faint, subtle smile as he spoke.
"I heard that you were here, Mr. Zarathustra, so I came to see you," La Folia replied bluntly, pulling out a chair and sitting down beside Saigou, as if she were the true master of the establishment.
In truth, for La Folia, the future ruler of Aldegia, this was not far from reality. She was destined to be the future ruler of not just this restaurant, but the entire kingdom.
The restaurant staff quickly hurried over, bowing respectfully as they approached the Princess. "Your Highness, what would you like to eat? Here's the menu."
La Folia accepted the menu from the server and leafed through it with her elegant fingers. She finally selected an open sandwich with blueberries, apples, bacon, and kiwi—a signature dish of the kingdom.
After the waiter retreated, Saigou leaned back leisurely and asked, "So, Princess La Folia, what brings you to me today?"
"I thought you were busy discussing the upcoming peace festival with officials from the Warlord Dominion?"
La Folia waved her hand dismissively. "Negotiations with the Warlord Dominion aren't particularly important. Compared to that, you, Mr. Zarathustra, are far more important."
Her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief, as if she were shy but trying to mask it. Yet, before long, she straightened her back, lifting her chin in a haughty manner, displaying a regal aura no one could imitate.
"So, Mr. Zarathustra, have you given any more thought to that matter?"
Saigou raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Which matter?"
La Folia's expression suddenly turned playful, her smile cunning. She showed no hesitation, not even glancing at the people nearby, as she spoke in a clear, confident voice: "Our engagement, of course."
"Back on Gozo Island, didn't I tell you, Mr. Zarathustra, that if you're willing to help the kingdom, you'll become my king consort!"
Saigou seemed to have anticipated her bold statement, as he showed no surprise at all. His expression remained calm, unfazed by her sudden declaration.
However, the diners around them were not so composed. The restaurant, once filled with quiet conversation, suddenly buzzed with commotion.
La Folia had spoken loudly enough that everyone heard her daring words, causing the patrons to break into hushed gossip. Their shock and curiosity about the unfolding drama momentarily overpowered their fear of the Princess's imposing presence.
All eyes turned to Saigou, their gazes filled with a mix of scrutiny, envy, anger, and frustration. The emotions swirling through the room were palpable.
None of them could comprehend why the First Princess, whom they held in such high regard, would choose this foreigner.
For La Folia to say that if he helped the kingdom, he could marry her and become royalty was shocking. The idea of him marrying the Princess and instantly becoming a member of the royal family seemed like an impossible dream.
After all, La Folia was not just any royal; she was the first in line to the throne of Aldegia. Marrying her would mean that her husband would inevitably become the future king of the kingdom.
Though there had been queens in the past, such cases were rare. If there were no male heirs in the current royal family, the female heir could select a worthy consort to become her king, ensuring the royal lineage continued.
La Folia's own father was a case in point. Her mother had been the true heir, the previous Princess, and it was only after marrying La Folia's father that he had taken on the royal surname and become king of Aldegia.
La Folia's proposal was not just an invitation to marriage—it was a promise to become king.
For any man, this kind of proposal would be an unimaginable blessing.
Adding to this, Princess La Folia's ethereal beauty—countless men across the kingdom dreamed of her, longing for just a moment of her favor. Yet now, the chance to be with her was falling into the hands of a lowly foreigner. How could that not spark outrage among the crowd?
After all, the Princess ranked first in the country's most authoritative magazine's survey of the most desirable women to marry. The celebrity who ranked second was leagues behind her in terms of votes.
"How about it, Mr. Zarathustra? Or could it be that I'm not attractive enough for you?" La Folia's voice carried a hint of sadness as she spoke, her expression on the verge of tears—a fitting display of her cunning nature and charm.
But in the next bold move, the Princess tugged slightly at her military uniform's collar, revealing to Saigou alone the enticing curve of her collarbone, which hinted at a sensuality that could steal any man's soul.
Seeing her brazen gesture and hearing her seemingly heartbroken tone, the onlookers grew even more enraged.
Saigou, however, remained unfazed, despite the murderous glares now aimed at him from all directions.
At that moment, Avrora spoke up in surprise. "...Is she your blood partner, O Primordial One?"
"If so, she possesses remarkable and powerful spiritual energy. Should she become your blood partner, O Primordial One, she could easily subdue the ferocity of Alrescha-Glacies."
Avrora's tone carried a sense of joy as she spoke.
Saigou shot her a sharp glance. "Are you implying that without a blood partner, I wouldn't be able to control that insignificant familiar?"
Avrora recalled the nearly limitless magical power Saigou had provided Alrescha-Glacies before, almost enough to overwhelm and destroy the familiar entirely. With that in mind, she quickly corrected herself, "Of course not! I'm merely celebrating the fact that you've found a blood partner to ease your vampiric urges."
"Even though I'm not the most orthodox vampire, I understand how difficult it is to control the thirst for blood."
Hearing this, Saigou let out a chuckle. "...I'm not a vampire. Where would I get such urges?"
Then, turning his attention back to La Folia, his gaze became teasing as he said.
"Well, Princess, I accept your proposal. However, I'm not interested in becoming the king of this kingdom. How about you offer me something else instead?"
La Folia lifted her chest, proudly raising her graceful neck as she vowed, "Whatever you desire, Mr. Zarathustra, I can grant it!"
"Oh, really? Then what I want is the Chaos Zone. If I marry you, I would become the ruler of that zone, wouldn't I?"
"And how about you, Third Primogenitor Giada Kukulcan? There are very few people in this world who know your name, let alone understand a fraction of your power."
"I must admit, I never expected the Third Primogenitor to offer herself to me so readily. Is it because you can no longer suppress your vampiric urges, needing a man to fill the emptiness inside you?"
Saigou's voice was low as he laughed.
___
If you're interested in reading more, feel free to visit my pat reon:
https : // www .pat reon. com /XElenea