Book 2: Chapter 99 (2/2)

“That, I do know,” the dwarf said with a nod. “She’s currently at the Abyssal Alley of Alliance-breaking Anti-Allies.”

Tafel and Emile blinked at the dwarf. “Right,” Tafel said. “And which way is that? Do you have a map?”

“I’ll get one for you right away,” the dwarf said and gestured for his companion to go inside the palace. “But can you prove your relationship with our king? If we sent an enemy after his aunt, even if we were tricked, we’d be executed.”

Tafel bit her lower lip. “Proof…”

“Anything,” the dwarf said and furrowed his brow. “A matching wedding ring perhaps.”

“Our rings weren’t teleported with us when we came to this continent,” Tafel said and sighed. Her eyes glinted. “How about matching suits of armor?” She lifted her shirt, revealing the blue leviathan-scale armor the fishmen had crafted for her. “Does that work?”

“Uh, His Gloriousness doesn’t wear armor,” the dwarf said and scratched his head. “Or a shirt, for that matter.”

Tafel’s expression darkened. “Didn’t he tell you some way to identify me?”

“His Gloriousness is not that responsible,” the dwarf said, lowering his head. “We were given no way to identify you.” He raised his head. “Ah! E might know. I’ll ask him.” Before he could leave his post, the guard that had went to fetch the map returned. With a silver dragon in tow.

“This is the person claiming to be Vur’s mate?” Lulu asked, a grin on her face.

Tafel retreated a step, the hairs on the back of her neck stiffening. A chill ran down her spine as Lulu leaned forward, her neck extending towards Tafel. Lulu’s nostrils flared as she sniffed Tafel before frowning. “Are you sure, dwarf?” Lulu asked, looking at the trembling guard. “She smells like a phoenix. Dragons and phoenixes don’t mix well.”

“S-she said she was,” the dwarf with the map said. The map dropped to the ground as his hands stopped working, his whole body freezing under Lulu’s scrutiny.

Tafel crept forward and picked up the map while holding her breath, careful to avoid drawing Lulu’s attention.

“So, little phoenix person?” Lulu asked, turning her gaze onto Tafel. “What do you have to say for yourself? Are you Vur’s mate or not?”

Tafel stuck her chest out, her knees trembling. “That’s right,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’m Vur’s wife!”

Lulu’s eyes narrowed as she chuckled, taking a step forward. “Vur’s a very fine dragon, you know? I’ve set my eyes on him,” she said. “So fight me for him.”

“Vur’s not property we can fight for,” Tafel said, biting her lower lip. A bead of sweat rolled down her back. “Vur chose me as his wife. It was his decision, and even if you beat me in a fight, it won’t change the fact that he loves me.” She took a step forward. “B-besides, his parents also approve of me. They’ll definitely fight you if something happens to me.”

“It seems like you don’t understand how dragon customs work,” Lulu said, standing on her hind legs. Silver flames leaked out of the corners of her mouth. “We don’t fight with words. We—”

Tafel’s horns glowed silver. “Ah! It’s Vur,” she said, turning her whole body to the side.

Lulu blinked and turned her head, following Tafel’s gaze. There was nothing on the horizon. She squinted and shielded her eyes from the sun, but she still couldn’t see anything. Her head turned back towards Tafel, but the demon was gone. Lulu blinked, the flames in her mouth dispersing. “Uh, where’d she go?”

“S-she teleported away while you weren’t looking,” one of the guards said.

Lulu stared at the space Tafel had occupied. “The heck? How rude. Well, if I stick around Vur long enough, I’m bound to meet her again.” She scratched her head as she lumbered back towards the palace. “But why did Vur fall for someone so weak?”