Chapter 1: Civility Among the Beast

Prologue
It was not so long ago that the Dragon Kingdom was under constant invasion and attacks by the neighbouring nation of the Beastmen Country, the kingdom itself only survived due to support from the Slane Theocracy and the Baharuth Empire, sending in soldiers to defend their remaining territories after three major cities were captured by the Beastmen. However having enough of the constant violence and bloodshed, the Dragon Princess Aqua Oriculus and the Dragon Priest Marcus Aurelius both initiated negotiations with the Beastmen who refused in the past century. However Aqua with her almost calm and collected voice and neutral tone she carried, was able to settle an agreement and halted the invasions entirely, even securing the three captured cities, but was only able to save a handful of human survivors as many were taken for slave labour, food source or games.

That said, Aqua was leaving an secured location from inside a carriage along with Marcus, wearing her regal royal robe as did Marcus was the two returned back their Kingdom's capital escorted by armed Dragonguards. As they got closer, Marceus decided to open conversation in the dead silence with only horse trotting being heard.

"Lady Aqua? You don't look so well." Marcus' gentle and soft voice penetrated Aqua as she was in a daze, almost near to falling asleep when she jolted herself awake, slapping her checks gently.

"I-I am fine Dragon Priest, why do you ask?"

"Considering your age and the amount of stress of this diplomatic endeavour, can't be particularly healthy for a young one." Marcus' concerns were raised to the Dragon Princess as she listened to his statements on her health as she rubbed her eyes.

"The talks with the beastmen were.. terrifying and I am surprised they agreed with the terms, but I am very tired and have no energy to barely keep my eyes open."

"I'll take about another day to reach the capital, best to sleep now as it is still a long journey."

Having taken some days to return, Aqua and Marcus arrived to the Dragon Kingdom's capital as they were escorted by the Dragonguard to the capital's throne room, where the elder Dragon Queen Draudillon Oriculus sat on the throne room, awaiting their return, taking the form of a adolescent girl. The two kneel as Draudillon stood, a smile on her face to see the safe return of her precious little sister.

"Yay! My beautiful little sister is back home!" Draudillon cheered delightfully as she went to take Aqua in her embrace. "You had no idea how *boring* everything was! Meetings on people and meetings about meeting in meeting people!" Draudillon began to complain as the Prime Minister sighs as he shook his head. "And that Prime Minister is being mean!" Draudillon whined as Aqua simply patted her head.

"It's alright dear elder sister, I came to report my diplomatic mission to the Beastmen country, Queen and Prime Minister." Sorting herself out as she returned back to her throne as she awaited the report. "As per agreement to them, I can not see specific details but we reached a conclusion and they will no longer be a threat." Hearing the news, both Draudillon smiled to which shockingly enough, even the Prime Minister was not only pleased and seems happy, but deeply impressed. "However a condition was one the prison city nearest to their borders was to be theirs, but they had return the other two cities under out authority."

"Oh?" The Prime Minister raised a curious eyebrow. "Did you try to talking that out princess Aqua?"

"Yes, but that was the only thing I was unable to accomplish." Aqua responded but doesn't seem to mind at being unable to get it. "At least we don't need to worry, and elder sister you no longer need to satisfy that sick adventurer no longer." Aqua said as Draudillon childlike persona suddenly shift as she smiled at such a statement.

"Yes... no more will I fulfil that bastard's desire of child exploitations and child grooming." Draudillon said as she stood. "You must be tired, Aqua and Marcus, please head to your personal chambers and get rest, me and the Prime Minister can handle the rest from now on unless something requires you and the Dragon Priest's attention." Soon after, Aqua and Marcus would find themselves in their personal chambers, with the dragon princess being derobed by servants and put on sleepwear.

"I'm so tired." Aqua tiredly said as she jumped onto the bed, blankets over her body as she rubbed the blue scales on her forearm before drifting to sleep.

In the distance, on the border between the Baharuth Empire and the Dragon Kingdom, an large castle-fortress materialized in am clashing boom, the towers of the outer walls clashing onto the ground as if the fortress itself is centuries old. What awaited inside was an young looking woman, passed out as she was stuck under rubble. Wearing a red-piece bra with baggy pants, a jacket tied around her waist as well armour situated over her right arm, she awaken and found herself in a place far from home.

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