Originally, these words wouldn’t have meant much, but coming from the mouth of Clara the princess, even the Captain of the Guard didn’t know how to respond. After all, you can eat carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly—this concerned the reputation of the third princess of the Sea Dragon Clan. What’s more, two major royal families had already proposed to the third princess; if things went wrong, it could turn into a huge scandal, something neither the royal family nor the temple would tolerate.

“Clara, don’t speak recklessly.” Even the King Fisher felt a headache coming on. If something like this happened in his own territory, it would be a loss of face for him, and he’d end up offending the Sea Dragon King, which just wasn’t worth it.

Clara pouted in dissatisfaction. She had long been annoyed with Eleanor. Everyone thought they were the most beautiful little princesses of the sea, and also the most talented and gifted. But why was the Sea Dragon Clan just that little bit stronger than the Mermaid Clan? And why did everyone say Princess Eleanor was understanding and considerate, while she was just spoiled and willful?

And this morning was supposed to be their meeting time, but she got stood up!

“You need to handle this matter carefully.”

The king’s meaning was clear to the Captain of the Guard, who immediately went to carry out his orders.

“We’re surrounded.” After listening for a while, Eleanor knew there was no escape this time. The King Fisher had mobilized the royal city’s guards and a large number of magicians. In such a small area, the two of them couldn’t escape detection.

And she… would have to go back eventually.

“Princess Eleanor, His Majesty the Sea Dragon King will arrive at the Mermaid Royal City tomorrow. Please come back.”

The royal guards had clearly confirmed the princess’s location, but they didn’t act rashly.

“You… are really a princess?” Julius Caesar stared blankly at Eleanor, a sudden, indescribable sense of loss welling up in his heart.

The Sea Dragon Clan could be considered the most powerful of the sea clans, skilled in both magic and martial arts. The princess of the Sea Dragon Clan?

Although Julius Caesar had never thought there was anything wrong with being an orphan—commoners could be happy too—she was the princess of the strongest sea clan, while he was just an orphan who didn’t even know his own origins.

Eleanor removed the scarf wrapped around her head, revealing golden dragon horns—the symbol of the Sea Dragon royal family, representing strength, status, and power.

How could she not know what he was thinking? She walked over gently, the distance between them growing shorter and shorter, until they were face to face.

A gentle kiss, an electric feeling—no status, no rank, no power, only the purest, simplest, and most precious affection.

Eleanor gave her first kiss to her beloved knight, then slowly took Julius Caesar’s hand and placed it on her dragon horns, letting him gently caress them, her face flushing red.

“Did you know? A dragon woman’s first kiss is given to the most important person in her life, and only that person can touch her dragon horns.”

Dragon horns, the noble symbol of the dragon clan—when one allows another to touch their horns, if the other is the same gender, it means a willingness to become their most loyal servant; if the other is the opposite gender, it’s a symbol of love. Though neither of them fully understood the consequences of this act.

Julius Caesar didn’t fully grasp the significance, but he knew he was important to her. The old man always said a man should act like a man, be dignified, and protect his woman. Suddenly, he felt boundless courage.

“Even though I may not be strong now, I will definitely become a knight that Princess Eleanor can be proud of!” Julius Caesar hung the necklace he’d worn since childhood around the princess’s neck, and Eleanor slipped the bracelet her mother had given her onto his wrist.

The two small figures embraced, sealing a simple promise that would one day become the legendary tale of the sea princess and the land prince, shaking the entire ocean and continent.

Chapter Four: The First Kiss—An Insurmountable Chasm (Part 2)

When the two appeared, the Captain of the Guard finally let out a long sigh of relief. Although he’d been confident, if anything had gone wrong, his own life would have been forfeit. The long corridors opened up, leading to a royal carriage drawn by eight sea horse kings at the end.

Julius Caesar was stopped by the guards, but this time he wasn’t afraid or hesitant. He just looked firmly at that elegant, noble figure. From beginning to end, she had been the one making the effort, while he had been running away. This time, he wouldn’t run.

Eleanor glanced at the Captain of the Guard and said calmly, “Please don’t make things difficult for him.”

At this moment, she was no longer the innocent, lively little sea girl, but the noble third princess of the Sea Dragon King—a genius who had shocked the sea clans.

The Captain of the Guard nodded respectfully and invited the princess onto the carriage.

The return of Princess Eleanor finally allowed the King Fisher to breathe a sigh of relief, and the queen took charge of chatting with the princess. The Sea Dragon King would arrive tomorrow, and nothing could be allowed to go wrong. After the war, the sea clans were in a particularly sensitive period; even the slightest disturbance could cause unnecessary trouble.

Meanwhile, Princess Clara, who was being ignored by everyone, was overjoyed. She had just heard an interesting story from the guards.

Hehe, the tale of a princess eloping with a commoner. She had already met Princess Eleanor, and had to admit, she was indeed a match for her. But that only made her more uncomfortable. For a daughter of the sea like herself, one was enough—why bring in another? A commoner from the She’ou clan, rumored to be of unknown origin, maybe even a runaway slave. This made Clara all the more curious to see for herself.