Chapter 391: Drums

Words : 1176 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 391: Drums Luca was momentarily frozen in place after the mention of kids. He was still trying to digest the idea as it hit him squarely in the head. It wasn’t the word itself. But the way Princess Kira had said it earlier—so casual. So certain. Like it was the definite next step for people who were married. And the heir who was actually married was starting to have even more questions! But the questions had to wait because the princess started looking so grave that his mind shifted to concern. "Two weeks is such a short time...But more than anything, I worry about the consequences of his arrival." For one, she would likely be dragged back against her will. But that was if she and the people around them would survive his anger. Two, relationship strains with humans, as some orcs might take this as an insult to their race. In fact, the opposition would surely use this to prove that maintaining peaceful relations with humans was a colossal joke. "If I go back like this, it’s not just my personal life that would suffer—it’d be politics. Inter-species relationships. Entire treaties," the princess said, pacing now. "But the real problem?" Kira spun around. "He might ask for a replacement." "A...replacement?" Luca squeaked. "Yes. And that’s if I could reason with him properly so that none of this looks like a ploy by the humans to humiliate us orcs." And she knows it’s because if they don’t go home with one, the opposition would likely use this to jumpstart their cause. "Yes. He’ll want someone who looks capable. Powerful. Noble." Someone he thinks would be fitting for his only princess. Meanwhile, Luca, a budding humble cheese artisan and pseudo-mechanic, felt himself shrink to about the size of a bread roll. Technically, he shouldn’t be that worried, because Xavier said they were already married, but hearing words like this and seeing the anguish on her face still affected him. Especially when she continued with her story. "And worst of all," she enunciated, "he’ll think I’m incapable of choosing for myself." Princess Kira was devastated, and understandably so. In their culture, it seemed like the smartest thing to do. But she had long gone past that. "I’m not just some breeding machine! I want connection. I want shared glances. I want the butterflies and my knees going weak because my love is just so cute! I want that!" she flailed, with Luca having to duck to avoid the wind that came with it. "But all of them think that love is stupid and would rather I marry some grunting meathead with seven titles and no personality!" "Actually, it’s nine now, Your Highness," interjected Ada, who had long been trying to make her presence small. "Nine! But what’s nine titles if there’s no way I could love that jackass!" Princess Kira snapped, arms flailing again as poor Ada dodged the incoming gust. Luca blinked. This time, not from fear but from a mixture of awe and confusion. "You’re sure?" he asked carefully, eyes wide at hearing someone feel such strong conviction while he’d been having issues all week. "You’re certain you don’t love him?" "Absolutely." Kira’s eyes burned like twin suns. "I would rather take a vow of eternal solitude than have that ox-breathed, one-brained, heavy-fisted, title-hoarding gargoyle near my bed!" The little guide flinched. That sounded very resolute. Extremely certain, if you factor in how her hair looked like it was going to fan out in anger. "So...you’re positive you don’t love him," Luca repeated, trying to grasp the logic. "But you’re also sure you love your Bunbun?" "Of course!" the princess declared with zero hesitation. "I knew from the moment I decided to come here that it’s got to be love!" She was dead sure, even when they hadn’t met in person. "I wouldn’t have risked all that if I weren’t confident in my feelings," Kira nodded fiercely. "Because it wasn’t just his face. It was how he understood me and how we clicked." The man actually had more responses than timed grunts and unusually placed hollering, and it felt refreshing! She put a hand over her heart, remembering the good old days. "The way he laughed at my jokes—even through the screen, I could tell. I could feel it. It made my chest all light and tight at the same time." "And when he sent those stupid little smiley faces with the nose?" she said, voice breaking slightly. "Even those were perfect." "Even when he ghosted you and vanished for three days?" Ada whispered from the side, voice small. "Especially then," Kira said without missing a beat. "Because that’s how I knew he was human. Flawed. Real. Scared." He must be scared, or he’d better be if he’s not there yet. Because while she loved him, she also needed an explanation for all this! But that would only be possible if she survives the arrival of her father. "And I want to protect him. All I need is to find out where he is, and we could just bulldoze our way in." Luca stared, heart thumping lightly at her intensity. "But you...you never met him in person? Not even once?" "No!" She clutched her chest. "Which is why it’s so pure. No distractions. No pheromones. Just soul." It was one way to think of it, and Ada could only sigh. After all, it may sound funny, but she knew better than to doubt the princess’ love. It might be silly, and no one could be certain if the other party loved her the same way, but the sacrifices her boss had made for this relationship were nothing to laugh at. On the other hand, it was as if Luca had found a knowledgeable person and wanted to ask. "...Can I ask," he began hesitantly, "how did you know it was love? Not like, not admiration, not indigestion?" Kira gasped, scandalized. "Luca. It’s love when your chest feels like it’s got tiny drums going off every time they log on." "...drums?" She nodded gravely. "It’s love when they type ’good morning’ and you want to fly into the sun." "Oh." "It’s love when their typing pause makes your soul anxious." "Oh..." "It’s love when you re-read the last message ten times like a royal edict!" "But more than anything, I think it’s love because, despite not having any of those and all the unreturned affections, I’d still choose him every day," she tsked, but her eyes softened as if remembering something important. Luca sat very still. The drums sounded familiar, but Xaver doesn’t really send messages; he just appears. And he didn’t know if what he had were tiny drums because it usually felt worse. "Princess..." Luca’s voice turned quiet, urgent. "I think I might be dying." "What?! Why?!" Now that just so happened to be the exact question on the mind of a certain white-haired prince, who had just teleported outside the door. What dying?! His little chipmunk was dying?!

Chapter 391: Drums

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