Naya feeding me pineapple pie with her own hands?

Not a bad deal at all.

“But can your body handle it? Last night was already pretty intense.”

“Weren’t *you* the one on the bottom? Why would *I* be the one who can’t handle it?”

“Do you really think you could hold back?”

“This… this has nothing to do with holding back! I’m not *that* dramatic!”

Naya’s cheeks flushed. Truth was, she wasn’t so sure. Once the mood hit, even a light touch from Elise would melt her into a puddle.

But for the mission—she’d risk it!

Elise fell silent a moment, then finally confessed.

“But *I* wouldn’t be able to hold back.”

“Why not just lie still? What’s wrong with me taking the lead once? Elise, I’ll say it straight—I want to be on top. I want to see you beneath me, whispering soft moans, your face flushed with desire.”

“No.”

“Why not? What’s so wrong with me leading once?”

“Because I am the Dragon Sovereign. Among the Dragonkin, strength reigns supreme. If you want to lead, defeat me first.”

Wasn’t that just setting her up to fail?

Even with a lifetime, she wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Eliiise~" Naya drawled, voice dripping with plea. “Just this once? You won’t even allow that?”

“......"

It truly troubled Elise.

She was Naya’s usual top—but also leader of the Dragonkin.

How could the Sovereign of all Dragonkin, let alone one once human, be pinned down? To yield would shame her ancestors.

“Hmph! Stingy! Fine, don’t allow it!”

Naya pulled away, eyes glinting with quiet resentment as she turned her back.

Then—Elise wrapped her arms around Naya from behind, pressing her cheek to Naya’s slightly warm ear, gently nuzzling the shell.

“Tell me why, Naya. Why the sudden urge to be on top?”

“I said—I’m just curious if pineapple really changes… *that* scent.”

Elise flicked her tongue against the back of Naya’s ear.

“No. You’re lying.”

A shiver ran through Naya’s body.

【System! Can I expose you?】

【No! If you do, I’ll design missions to frame you and feed you false intel forever.】

(Though framing the host was forbidden by the Supreme Deity.

Deceiving with false intel? Permissible.

Sometimes truth leads hosts to ruin.

The System’s duty: protect the host, complete the mission to eliminate the Dragon Sovereign.

Host death = mission failure. All else is flexible.)

【Then what?! She won’t let me lead, and begging didn’t work!】

Just as Naya fretted, Elise sighed softly.

“Alright. I agree.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll help you research what *that place* really smells like after eating pineapple.”

“R-Really?!”

“Mm. Bake me a pineapple pie this afternoon. Feed it to me. No Eliya. Just you.”

“Yes! Yes!”

Naya’s silvery-white dragon tail, trapped between them, wagged excitedly. Elise smiled faintly and gently pinned the restless tail between her calves.

“But you must promise me too, Naya. No matter what happens… believe I love you deeply.”

“Will something happen?”

“Nothing…”

Elise’s voice dipped. Naya stroked the hand resting on her chest. If she said she loved her—no need to dig deeper.

So Naya pivoted fast.

“Or… do you have other wives out there? Dragon Sovereigns take multiples, right? But I’d never forgive that.”

Elise let out a soft chuckle.

“No. Only you.”

“Good. And *only* you. No more. Speaking of which—Eliya’s already dreaming of taking two wives, thanks to Dragonkin history.”

Records showed many Dragon Sovereigns kept multiple consorts.

At the empire’s peak, how could the Sovereign lack… companions?

“Hmm? Thinking of taking two wives already, little one?”

“Yep.”

*And stealing my wife too!*

If I told you her exact words, would you still groom Eliya as heir?

“Not impossible. Once she becomes Sovereign, taking however many is natural.”

“Heh…”

Why did Naya’s laugh sound so loaded?

“Elise… can female Dragon Sovereigns reproduce with other females?”

“Only one Sovereign exists at a time. The next must be the strongest offspring, to preserve the purest bloodline. A Sovereign’s pride rarely allows submission—so female Sovereigns choose female consorts. They use special means to conceive, continuing the lineage.”

“What means?”

“No need to know. Only Sovereign-blooded Dragonkin can do it.”

“What if a male Sovereign prefers males? Can male Dragonkin conceive?”

“No. Generally, Sovereigns feel no love. Only duty: rule, reproduce.”

“No love? Then you—”

“I said *generally*,” Elise’s tone softened. “And I said—no matter what, believe I will always love you.”

“Mm…”

Naya laced her fingers gently with Elise’s.

Hearing this unsettled her.

Love *was* a weakness for a ruler.

But Elise shared it anyway—trusting Naya would choose belief.

I can doubt all truths in this world… but never Elise’s love for me.

“Elise… why *me*?”

Beauty? Figure?

As Sovereign, Elise could pick from thousands of Dragonkin—far more flawless than a former human.

Like ancient emperors: consorts were rigorously chosen.

So that reason was out.

Special? Yes. But Dragonkin scorn humans. Loving one—wouldn’t that be shameful?

Would Elise love her for something so shallow?

“Because… time reveals true feelings.”

“Huh?”

Elise breathed in Naya’s scent, eyes dreamy.

*My sweet Naya… I wish you’d never wash this delicate, delicious fragrance away.*

Miss Naya—yes, after pineapple, you *do* smell sweeter.

After all… last night, I drank my fill.