I looked down at Phina, who was still clutching my top with quite the strength.

The serpent mark on my neck was finally glowing. It felt warm, like a constant, pulsing reminder of the mark I had left on Damar. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

It wasn’t just a visual change; I could feel Damar’s lingering satisfaction through the link, a low hum of possessive pride that made my head swirl.

It seems the marks are linked. I thought, and just then, Thalor added,

"From the glow of your mark, it seems Damar’s mark will be a beautiful mark, Arinya," he said softly, his fingers lingering on the back of my chair.

He wasn’t looking at me with jealousy—more like a quiet, intense curiosity.

"I can see the intentions you carved into it through the mark on your own neck." He touched the mark, tracing softly, that it made my already sensitive skin tingle, so I winced.

Was he doing this on purpose?

"It pulses with the strength of the land and the depth of the water. Damar must be... transformed."

"Well," I managed to catch my breath as he took his hand back. "He’s currently ’resting’ since he hasn’t had any real sleep in these three days," I muttered, finally taking a long, desperate gulp of the water Fenric had just set down in front of me. "And yes, he’s transformed. Into a very smug, very marked, very clingy lizard."

Just thinking about how I pleaded for him to go slow at some point makes my own pride burn. I thought I could handle it, but guess not.

I looked up at Thalor, wondering how our three days would be. Surely he wouldn’t lose control like Damar did, right?

But who was to say? A rut made one mindless, and they could only think of claiming the female in their arms.

"Hmm," I closed my eyes, thinking, and the water from my lips dropped down my chin.

Thalor leaned closer and kissed my chin, sucking in the drop of water that was threatening to fall, and my breath hitched.

The cup nearly fell from my hand, but he caught it, as if he had expected it.

"Whoa, look at this, are you trying to speed up your turn?" Fenric asked, his tone by no means friendly. "You have to let Arinya rest, you know."

"I know that, Land Warrior," Thalor said and moved back, looking at the cup I had drunk from. "I simply... missed her."

My heart was racing, and my face was on its way to flushing a bright red when Noah dropped his hand over Thalor’s neck, not roughly, as he was conscious of Thalor’s healing wound.

"Well, we all do. So, why don’t we have a moment to share stories about what happened in the last three days for our Queen to hear?"

I quickly calmed my heart and looked up.

"Yes, that’s right. Did anything of note happen while I was absent?" I asked, and they all took a seat. The babies were on the floor, crawling and attempting to walk, and then it dawned on me. "Where’s Lyra?"

"She’s having her royal nap," Noah teased, and I felt relieved. Lyra slept more peacefully when there was no one making noise around her.

"So, about the wall..."Noah began, and they started narrating what had happened.

It was just three days, but it seemed like they had gotten a lot of things settled. The limestone houses we had built along the way to the palace, close to the roads, were finally occupied.

Since we had done a proper census, we were able to build enough houses, and now, there was no need for the people to stay close to the fences of the wall. There were even some extra unoccupied houses just in case we got any immigrants.

I plan to make more as the time goes by, but for now, it should be just fine.

Noah thought of a plan to use the open space that had been left by the kingdom people to make more watch towers close to the wall and houses for the guards that would be in charge of security. It was a great plan.

Fenric gave his report about the ’training’ he had been giving the scouts and guards. It was gruesome, but the beastmen seemed to be more motivated whenever they watched the females fawning over Fenric when he flexed his biceps and the sweat rolling down his pale, thick muscles.

I know this was for motivation, but the thought of those females having my husband as free eye candy was a bit vexing.

Ah, I know, I should make them pay to watch him train. If I benefit from it, I might not be so jealous. Well, might.

And then Thalor gave his report.

The mer-folks would finally like to meet me, their supposed Land mother. Gosh, quit it with the name. Now, even the sheep tribe won’t call me Queen but land mother. It’s embarrassing.

Reports that they were doing fine came in, and they planned to come ashore with all of their valuable treasures to thank me.

Ah, and there was the fact that they also planned to fortify the waters. After they saw Thalor had been bitten and almost died due to the red scales’ attack, they realized that they could not have just the prince on land and planned to bring in some guards and helpers to fortify the land in order to keep their prince safe.

It was such a win-win situation.

I didn’t know I would benefit from Thalor getting wounded. Was this a blessing in disguise? I still don’t like the fact that he got bitten and poisoned, but I guess everything happens for a reason.

I’m just glad he did not die or suffer for long.

"Wait, did you say they want to meet their in-law?" I asked, blinking in surprise as Thalor told me the other part of his report.

The mer-folks weren’t coming just to give me a gift for saving their tribe, but they wanted to also give gifts to the female who had become their princess.

The mer king was coming.

Gosh, this is so much pressure. Will I do okay?

I was still worrying about this when Thalor held my hand and squeezed gently. I looked up at him and saw him smiling at me.

"Don’t worry, Arinya. They will not be here for another month. There are still some things to take care of and treasures to collect, so you will not be burdened by their presence in this one month."

Ah, that is supposed to reassure me, but hearing that they are taking such time and care to find treasures to bring to me makes me even more nervous.

Help.

"Well, I guess it’ll be fine," I said. "The reports have all been great. I knew I left the kingdom in great hands."

"Well, it was my kingdom to begin with," Noah said snuggly. "Don’t look down on me,"

"Yeah, yeah, put a sock in it, Noah," I dared to say with glazed and unexcited eyes. "Anyway, while I’m having my two days’ rest, I don’t think I can stay idle. So I’ll work."

The three of them looked at me, shocked.

Yeah, I know. The whole point of resting was to regain my strength so I can handle Thalor next. But it won’t exactly be exerting my strength if I just get Oryn, the beavers, badgers, and Robin here to talk things out with them. Ah, and let’s not forget the craftsmen from the rabbit tribe.

I still feel so amazed by the structure of the house they made for us, despite having no support from me.

They were so talented.

"Just get me the people I ask for. I promise I won’t leave the palace or overexert myself, okay?" I winked at them, and though uncertain, they sighed.

It wasn’t like they were going to be able to stop me if I said I wanted to work. My productivity mind was still on fire even if my body was exhausted.

"I will make sure we have a clothing and shoe shop by the end of the month and also properly establish the currency system."

I let out a determined huff, my mind already spinning with blueprints and economic scales, though my lower back was still throbbing in a rhythmic reminder of Damar’s ’enthusiasm’.

​"You are truly a terrifying female," Noah muttered, shaking his head, though I could see the spark of pride in his golden eyes. "Most females would be demanding a week of foot rubs and rare fruits, and you’re already planning to properly establish the currency system."

​"Foot rubs can happen while I’m talking to Oryn," I countered with a grin. There was no way I’d say no to a food rub, of course.

​Fenric let out a long, weary sigh, the kind that said he’d given up on trying to make me rest.

"I’ll go find the badgers and the rabbit craftsmen. But Arinya—if I see you pick up a single heavy stone or a hammer, I’m carrying you back to the Sovereign Wing and locking the door myself."

"Duly noted, sir," I saluted and giggled.