The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride
Chapter 96

HERA

For once I am not scared of falling.

I am barely even thinking about it.

And it is not just because I always feel safe whenever he is around but because I am too amazed to be afraid.

I lean my body as far as it would go, craning my head to look down, drinking in the sights below and never getting satisfied.

It like a city of diamonds and nature intertwined in a manner that is almost indescribably unbelievable unless one were to see it for themselves.

The waterfalls, I have counted four so far, catch the sunlight and like liquid crystal mirrors, end up casting mini archs of various colours all around the space so that it appears like there are rainbows everywhere.

I can see elves with their pointy ears and pale skin, fairies with their colourful wings and pretty glows and it is hard not to stare.

But then they are staring at us as well.

Our appearance in their realm is just as strange to them as floating houses are to me.

Perhaps even worse.

So they watch and they point and they stare.

Whispering about the large dragon with the human on its back and...is that the dragon king?!

I sigh wistfully.

"We shall come here again."

"What?"

He leans closer so I can hear him over the sound of the rushing wind. "I said we should come here again. When our realm is no longer in the verge of extinction." Our realm.

Ours...

Who would have thought...

I smile to myself and raise my voice so he can hear me.

"I would not have thought that somewhere this 'loud' would be your favorite place to visit."

"It is not. But it appears it might be yours. So I want to bring you here again. Properly."

I think that I when I start smiling foolishly to myself.

He is already planning our future.

A future with the dragon king.

One with an actual home to call my own.

With children, a boy and a girl that would be as beautiful as he is, although gods willing with my temper and not his and with his common sense and none of my recklessness. Oh would get a a hold of yourself Hera.

I lean into him, my cheeks flaming even as I thank the gods that he cannot read my ridiculous thoughts.

"I believe dragon king that I would like that very much."

"Then so be it."

The castle built at the very top of the semi-flat mountain appears sweeping and imposing the closer we get to it.

For whatever it is worth, the Fae and Elves definitely were not ones to hold back.

And that much is evident just by looking at the sheer magnificence of the Fairy queen's castle.

The home of the queen of the Fae and Elves who preferres to be addressed as the Fairy queen because according to Midas, and in her own words. "The other name makes her feel like she is centuries old." Which she actually in fact is.

I almost cannot wait to meet her.

There is an arched, stone bridge the same white color of pale birch that appears to lead from the main capital and towards the enormous golden gates that leads into the castle.

It is at the foot of this stone bridge that Leo lands, stirring up dust with his wings and flattening a few shrubs in his wake.

Midas helps me slide down and I place Leo's folded clothes which I had taken with me, at the base of his dragon's feet before turning around to stare at the castle gates.

He offers me his arm and I put min through and together we walk towards it.

I expect us to be stopped at the castle gates. At least by well meaning guards wanting to know what in all the realms is going on and why we wish to see their queen.

But there is no guard at the gates and as we approach, the doors simply swing open of their own accord.

It would appear that when one is the custodian of magic and knowledge, they can do things that make doors open on their own.

Beyond the gates and into the courtyard of the palace.

Well kept colourful lawns and hedges.

Skies know how they managed to grow them so lush on the top of a mountain.

Crystal and marble fountains with sparkling clear water drippiyfrom the most intricate of statues and fruit tress with singing birds lends an atmosphere of calm to the entire setting. It is truly a sight to behold.

I note that the courtyard is filled not with people working or performing one task or the other like I am used to seeing in the courtyard of the dragon castle.

No, instead the elves and fae all around appear to be playing.

Laughter and games, some even excessively wild and loud are going on in every corner I look.

"This is...new."

I see Midas' eyes roll almost to the back of his head and I have to stifle a laugh.

The people in the courtyard, unlike those in the capital try to at least be discrete about their staring.

But I can still see them out the corner of their eyes whispering to themselves.

And it takes me a full heartbeat to realize that is not awe or wonder that is on their face.

It is fear and confusion.

The feared dragon king, the one who had promised to wipe them all out should they so much as breathe wrongly within his borders is now here.

Walking in their realm and towards their palace and their Queen.

I have a feeling that were it not for the fact that we were only three and there is now army or company of dragon ryders with us, they would have thrown themselves into a full fledge panic.

As we near the sweeping flight of marvele steps that would take us into the palace, two elven guards run up to us, dressed in green and brown armour with intricate gold detailing carved into the b****t and on their helmets.

They slam their long spears into the dirt, digging it in and then with their right hand over their heart, they bow low.

Really low.

"Your Majesties"

Midas nods.

"You may rise."

They do and I see them glance at each other as if trying to decide who has to be the one to speak.

Leo, right hand to the king, now back to his original form and dressed again in the clothes of his office steps forward making the decision for them.

"We wish to speak to the Fairy queen."

Once more, the guards exchange quick looks, one of them even visibly swallowing.

"Of course, Chief Ryder. But may we perhaps know the uhhh... purpose of your visit so as to better inform the queen of your presence?"

"You may not."

It is Midas who speaks now and when he steps forward, he is no longer just the man who holds me and kisses me and promises to always come for me.

He is the dragon king.

The one who fights battles without batting an eyelid and who had kept all the other realms from invading his realm and attacking his people for over a hundred and fifty years.

But now when I see the difference it is not fear that makes my heart react the way it does.

Leaping and fluttering like a bird in flight.

It is knowing that this powerful, majestic beast of a man is mine.

He stands to his full height and and the elves, who in all honesty are also quite tall, appear to shrink in on themselves.

"I am not here to invade your realm so you might has well tell your silly little hearts to stop trying to deafean me with their loud racing. I have matters to discuss with your queen that are of no concern to you and you would do well to step out of my way." One last exchange and the guards part, one stepping on either side and allowing us to move forward.

Before we can ascend the steps, the doors swing open.

I gasp and my hands of their own accord replace his arm again, my grip tightening.

This is...

I blink rapidly many times, an attempt to clear my eyes.

Yet the image in front of me remains the same.

Unable to do anything more, I simply swallow and stare.

Because standing at the very top of the steps is no one but Hermani herself.