10-18: Sable’s Request
“Before the war, I lived near a wide river of glass-sand. The winds there were gentle. The sky was quiet. I would hunt in the mornings. Sleep in the cliffs. And argue with another dragon over a single thermal current." Aeshryvael started telling a small story of what life was like way back then, though, she struggled with proper wordage. "We fought over it for three seasons. He claimed it first. I claimed it better. In the end, we both fell into the river. Neither of us could fly properly for a month. It was… inconvenient."
The girls all laughed, finding her story rather comedic. Aeshryvael, however, was confused.
"My story, it was comedic?"
"I mean, you made it sound like he was your first love, starting as rivals then into lovers." Cassidy claimed with a smile, wiping a tear from her eye.
Before anyone could say much else, Kazue got up and walked over to Veronica, whispering something into her ear.
"I'm going to check up on Seraph real quick, m'kay?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
Veronica wished she knew Seraph better, so she could actually help her. However, not much could be done, aside from having someone who knows her a lot more than Veronica.
"Do you have any childhood stories, Vyra?" Aviris asked.
Aeshryvael hums softly, as if sorting through memories that are so old they’ve gone smooth around the edges.
“When I was very young,” she begins, “my mother used to leave me alone on the mountain ledge while she hunted. Not for long—just long enough that I could learn patience without freezing to death.” She pauses, then adds, thoughtfully, “I was… loud.”
Apparently, on one such occasion, she kicked. Hard. Reflexive. Startled herself more than anyone else.
“My mother thought she was being attacked from the inside. She nearly took flight in a panic. Instead, she sat down very quickly and shouted at my father for distracting her during gestation. I was born less than a week later. Healthy. Wings tangled. Teeth already sharp enough to bite my own tail.”
She tilts her head. “Father said I came out scowling. Mother insists I was glaring at the world for being too bright. That was the first time I caused an argument. I consider it an auspicious beginning.”
"Wait, wait, wait, roll that back. Gestation? I thought Dragons were a reptilian species?" Sirtia caught.
"Indeed, we are."
"So, wouldn't have hatched from an egg?"
"No. Dragons are mammals and reptiles. We are cold-blooded and scaled, but we do give birth to live young, and even produce milk."
"I'm starting to wonder what dragon milk tastes like..." Cassidy mumbled to herself.
"I am not lactating at the moment. But, should I be, I am willing to let you sample." Aeshryvael responded seriously, as if there wasn't anything sexual about what she just said. Although, everyone's mouths were agape.
As if right on time, preventing Aeshryvael from unknowingly milfing it up, Kazue got her attention, whispering something, though she did start following Kazue back towards the bedrooms.
"Aw... we lost our entertainment..." Cassidy groaned.
"Ah, before I forget, Veronica, I have a favor to ask of you." Sable began.
'Another request?'
"I mean, if it's about marriage, then I have no qualms." Veronica joked.
"Ah, then I don't need to ask. When should we make it official?" Sable answered calmly.
"I was joking!"
"I wasn't. That is indeed my request."
"Why do the nobles all really want to marry me?" Veronica groaned into her hands.
"Ahem. I'm a special case. See, due to my position, I would typically have three options. Marry the prince, marry a foreign prince, or marry downwards. There is no prince, and Father doesn't want me to be married off to foreign royals, or be married to lower ranked nobles."
"Which then now leaves me, a woman who was the privilege to marry multiple people, whilst already married to the crown princess, meaning you would marry up, and there would be no worry." Veronica sighed.
"Indeed. Though, for us, it would only be on paper."
"For now~" Cassidy and Aviris whispered at the same time.
"How long?"
"Technically, until I die. But that would leave a bad name on our family. Not that I would inherit the Dukedom to begin with."
"I'll see what I can do when we get back."
Veronica wondered why everyone wants to marry her, not that she had any qualms with all these beautiful women surrounding her, giving her all the attention she could ever want. But there was a feeling of wrongness of only getting married to avoid negativity.
Though, on the other hand, sexy monk wife.