Dragon King's Harem Chapter 308. Impolite IV

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 308. Impolite IV

I couldn't help but frown at the unexpected request. "A memento?" I echoed, my brows furrowing. "You mean like jewelry?" I ventured, seeking clarification, because this was definitely a first. In all my years as the Dragon King, no one who wasn't deeply connected to political affairs had ever asked me directly for a keepsake. It was a strange request, especially from someone I barely knew.

Evelyn seemed to backtrack a little, as if she didn't want to make it difficult for me. "No, it doesn't have to be that. It's just whatever," she quickly assured me, her words tinged with an almost self-deprecating tone.

I couldn't help but let out a contemplative hum as I considered what kind of keepsake to offer. Given our impromptu meeting and the lack of grandiose gifts on hand, it was a bit of a puzzle. "Hmm," I pondered as I tried to come up with a solution. "Okay, I'll ask Eir to send something suitable to you," I suggested, hoping to bring the conversation to a close.

But Evelyn wasn't quite ready to let it go. She took a step closer, then hesitated and stepped back again, her words a tad cryptic. "No," she corrected herself, her voice soft but insistent. "I mean, whatever you're currently using. And I don't mind if it's your hair," she explained, leaving me more than a little bewildered.

‘Hair?’ I thought, puzzled by the request. It was an odd thing to ask for, and it gave me pause. She sounded almost like a shaman seeking a lock of hair for some mystical purpose. Uncertain of what exactly she had in mind, I decided to offer something more tangible. I unbuttoned a button from my shirt and handed it over to her.

I handed over the button from my shirt, a small yet meaningful keepsake. I did it deliberately, opting for the button from my shirt rather than one from my blazer. My blazer bore the prestigious crest of Draconis, which, although not a problem, might have made things unnecessarily complicated. I wanted to avoid any potential misunderstanding or unwanted repercussions. Plus, the recording crystal was evidence enough that I had no sinister intent during this strange encounter.

Evelyn accepted the button with evident delight, her gratitude shining through. "Yes," she replied, her smile warm and her eyes showing genuine appreciation. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she added, offering a polite bow as she excused herself, leaving me with a mix of confusion and intrigue.

As she departed, I couldn't help but mutter under my breath, "What a weird lady." It was an understatement, really. She'd been an enigma from start to finish, and I couldn't shake the feeling that our encounter might have consequences down the line. I could only hope that this odd exchange wouldn't stir up any unforeseen problems in the kingdom.

With Evelyn's departure, I quickly canceled the recording crystal's enchantment, causing it to fade into a translucent shimmer and then disappear entirely. The green gem was safely returned to my Dimensional Ring.

With the crystal stowed away, I went to find Evelina.

-----

Evelyn held the button from the Dragon King's shirt in her palm, her fingers tracing its smooth edges with a sense of genuine pleasure. The small, ordinary item now held extraordinary significance for her. Her heart was heavy with the knowledge that she had already agreed to marry Naganthor, the Prince of Serpent, and there was no way she could back out of the arrangement.

As she looked at the button, a deep longing welled up inside her. It wasn't the prince who had captured her attention and ignited her desires, but the enigmatic Dragon King himself. The power and charisma that surrounded him were undeniable, and she couldn't help but be drawn to him.

However, her joy was tinged with a sense of hopelessness. Her sister was already in the Dragon King's company, accompanying him, and that was an unbreakable bond. She wracked her brain, trying to recall any tales or legends of two sisters marrying the same man, but she came up empty. The prospect of such an unconventional union seemed almost impossible.

Evelyn knew she was in for a complicated journey, one filled with heartache and difficult choices. As she clutched the button in her hand, she couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to rewrite the rules of destiny. That was why she requested this meeting.

Her original mission had been to confess her deepest emotions to the Dragon King. It was a love that had quietly simmered within her heart, an affection she had longed to express. But, as the recording crystal stood witness to her every word, she couldn't bring herself to risk her reputation or, worse yet, potentially spark conflict between the tribes. The consequences of such a confession could be disastrous, and she couldn't afford to be the catalyst for strife.

Instead, she opted for the next best thing – requesting a memento from the ruler of dragons. It was a discreet way to hold onto a piece of this extraordinary encounter, a tangible reminder of the time they had spent together. Her plan was simple: she'd treasure this keepsake carefully, allowing it to serve as silent proof of the secret emotions she'd decided to bury deep within her heart.

For Evelyn, it had always been clear that, despite her royal status, she was little more than a pawn in the game of politics. She knew that to figures like Elixar, Naganthor, and Argod, an adopted princess like her held value primarily as a strategic asset. The idea of her own feelings carrying any weight in the grand scheme of things was a bitter reality she had come to terms with.

However, what truly gnawed at her was the undeniable jealousy she felt when she observed the close bond between Argod and her beloved sister, Evelina. It was a relationship that stirred an ache deep within her, a stark reminder of the unattainable affection she craved but couldn't have.