Dragon King's Harem Chapter 429. Proud And Stubborn

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 429. Proud And Stubborn

She sipped her tea, her lips curling slightly in amusement. "Doesn’t that sound similar to you?"

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Similar how?"

She tilted her head, resting her chin on her palm. "You say Glasha is stubborn. That she’s proud and won’t back down easily." She smiled knowingly. "Doesn’t that sound exactly like you?"

I smirked. "I’m not stubborn."

Evelina let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You aren’t?"

I shrugged, picking up my tea again. "Not in the way you’re implying."

She arched a brow. "You aren’t stubborn, but for some things… yes, you are that stubborn."

I scoffed, setting my tea down. "All warriors have that quality. Or we wouldn’t survive in this world as one."

Evelina hummed, considering that. "That’s fair."

I picked up a small snack from the plate in front of me, rolling it between my fingers before taking a bite. It was sweet, delicate, and not bad exactly, but not something I craved. As a dragon, I preferred meat—rare, cooked over open flames, thick cuts that filled the stomach. But once in a while, something light was fine.

Evelina caught my expression and chuckled. "You’re not a fan of sweets, are you?"

I chewed thoughtfully before swallowing. "Not really. But I can tolerate them."

She smiled, then reached for a piece of fruit from the tray. Instead of eating it, she leaned forward, holding it up between her fingers.

Before I could react, she popped it into my mouth.

I blinked, surprised, but instinctively chewed. The burst of flavor hit my tongue—a crisp, refreshing sweetness, nothing overpowering. Evelina sat back, clearly pleased with herself, watching me with a smug little smile.

"You’re right," she said casually, picking up her tea again.

I narrowed my eyes at her, swallowing the fruit. "About what?"

She took a slow sip before answering. "About warriors. About stubbornness." Her lips twitched. "About how sometimes, the best way to win a battle isn’t through force, but through patience."

I leaned back in my chair, eyeing her. "You sound like you’re enjoying this."

She grinned. "Maybe I am."

I sighed, shaking my head. "You and Al would get along well."

She laughed at that. "We do get along well."

"Exactly. Which means double trouble for me."

She tilted her head playfully. "Afraid we’ll conspire against you?"

I smirked. "No. I know you will."

Evelina laughed again, light and melodic, filling the quiet space between us. It was easy, this moment. No politics, no war strategies, no looming threats. Just conversation, the kind that felt… normal. "You’re surprisingly relaxed about tomorrow."

I tilted my head. "Should I be panicking?"

She shrugged. "Most people would be. But…" She leaned forward slightly. "I trust you, Argod."

I paused, my fingers stilling against the table.

Her gaze was steady, unwavering. "I trust your strength. Your judgment. If you say you’ll succeed, you will succeed."

I looked at her for a moment before exhaling. "That’s a dangerous amount of faith."

She smirked. "Then don’t make me regret it."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "No pressure, then."

She smiled, reaching for another piece of fruit, but this time she ate it herself. "Do you ever doubt yourself?"

I raised an eyebrow. "I don’t have the luxury to."

Her expression softened. "That’s not what I asked."

I studied her for a second before sighing. "…Sometimes."

She nodded slowly. "You never show it."

"I can’t afford to."

Evelina tilted her head. "Even around us?"

I hesitated, then shook my head. "Especially around you."

She frowned. "Argod—"

I held up a hand. "It’s not because I don’t trust you. It’s because you trust me. If I show doubt, it spreads. It weakens the people who follow me."

She was quiet for a long moment before finally nodding. "I understand."

I smirked. "That’s why I need someone like you—someone who doesn’t question me, but questions for me."

Evelina’s lips curled slightly. "Are you admitting you need me?"

I chuckled. "Wouldn’t be the first time."

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "I’ll take it."

I took another sip of tea, letting the warmth settle. "I leave at dawn."

Evelina nodded. "Then you should rest."

I huffed. "I should."

She narrowed her eyes. "Argod."

I smirked, leaning back slightly, watching the way Evelina’s gaze stayed locked onto mine. There was something mischievous in her eyes, something knowing, something that told me she was playing a game she had already won.

“You keep calling my name,” I murmured, tilting my head slightly. “You know the rules.”

She arched a brow, the corner of her lips twitching upward. “Rules?”

I chuckled. “My name… is only meant for intimate moments.” My voice dropped lower, teasing, challenging. “Or… do you consider this as one? Maybe… you want that thing?”

She didn’t flinch, didn’t waver, her gaze steady, unreadable, and yet filled with something deeper. She leaned forward slightly, her fingers brushing against the table as she smirked. “Which one do you think?”

I held her gaze, feeling the air shift between us, a slow-burning tension weaving itself into the silence. “I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice soft but edged with something deeper. “But you said I should rest.”

Evelina giggled, a soft, melodious sound that sent a ripple through me. “Then let’s just say this is relaxation before rest.”

She didn’t give me time to respond.

She leaned in, closing the distance, her lips bumping against mine. Soft. Warm. Playful. And then, before I could even think about it, I was kissing her back. It was tender, a slow pull of something familiar, something comfortable, something that had long since become second nature between us.

Her hands moved, fingers brushing against my jaw, her touch feather-light but grounding all the same. My own hands found her waist, pulling her just a little closer, feeling the way she molded so effortlessly against me.

Her tongue flicked against my lips, teasing, and I parted for her, deepening the kiss as my grip on her waist tightened.

Evelina hummed into the kiss, her hands slipping up into my hair, tugging lightly, and a low growl rumbled in my chest.