Chapter 516: Princess Ariel's Water Magic Strength (For this month's votes

「Sylphy……」

「What's wrong, Second Princess Ariel? 」

「I really envy you, being able to live such a carefree life! 」

Under the tree shade of the big tree planted by the Dragon God species, a stone table cut from white marble was placed. The Second Princess of the Asura Kingdom stirred the black tea brought up by Maid Lilia, watching Aisha and Ellis playing catch in the courtyard, and couldn't help but say to the green-haired girl beside her.

「Huh, Second Princess Ariel actually likes this kind of country life? I thought you would prefer a glamorous and luxurious life more! 」

Sylphy, eating the court sweets Ariel had brought when visiting, said somewhat surprised.

「Is that the impression I give? 」

「After all, the sweets you brought, Your Highness, are high-class goods that can't be bought outside. 」

「But if you want to eat them, can't your little husband get these things for you too? 」

「That would be too troublesome. I don't actually have such high requirements for desserts; as long as they taste good, it's fine. 」

「It's not that they can't be gotten, but that I don't want to bother getting them. That's something only someone with confidence can say.

Compared to that, I don't have much confidence. A seemingly glamorous and luxurious life is nothing more than the privileges enjoyed as a princess.

But regarding how to live, I don't have much freedom of choice, like a caged canary in a cage. 」

Princess Ariel's gaze showed a hint of melancholy.

「I don't really understand, but are you in some kind of trouble? 」

「My father's health hasn't been good lately, which has made my older brother and my older sister fight fiercely, fiercely enough that even I am affected. 」

「Does Second Princess Ariel have thoughts about the throne? 」

The adventure in this timeline had made Sylphy grow a lot. Regarding this princess who had been relatively close to her across multiple timelines, she now had some deeper opinions, so she directly asked.

「How is that possible? I just want to live. 」

Hearing this, Princess Ariel immediately shook her head, and indeed she now just wanted to protect herself.

「Is the royal family struggle of the Asura Kingdom really that fierce, that even a princess who doesn't want to fight for power and profit isn't willing to be let go? 」

Beside her, Roxy asked curiously.

「Miss Roxy, the other princes and princesses are fine to say, but it's very hard for me to keep myself out of it, because I am the legitimate eldest daughter.

My mother back then was just because she was pregnant with me, and not long after I was born, she was assassinated by assassins sent by others.

The assassinations I experienced as a child are unimaginable to outsiders. Until I met Sylphy and became acquainted with Sylphy, my life wasn't so full of fear.

And this time, after hearing that your family returned from adventuring outside, I also rushed over here without stopping, saying it was visiting friends, but actually just seeking your protection. 」

Princess Ariel picked up the black tea in front of her and took a sip, very straightforwardly stating the purpose of this visit.

「Sylphy, can I trouble you to take me in? I have nowhere to go now. 」

This Second Princess put her hands together and began requesting of Sylphy.

「This……」

Sylphy looked at Roxy, and Roxy tilted her head and shouted Broly.

「What's wrong? 」

Broly jumped out of the window of Nanahoshi Shizuka's room, crossed a not short distance, landed beside the stone table, and asked.

After hearing Sylphy's concerns about whether taking in the princess would affect their family, Broly directly pinched Sylphy's little nose.

「You're really underestimating me too much, right? The political struggle of the Asura Kingdom, that really doesn't need to be worried about, okay? Whether it's me taking action, Orsted taking action, or letting Perugius come, the political struggles of this country cannot affect our family. 」

「Got it, don't pinch my nose. 」

Sylphy said somewhat nasally.

「You don't call me big brother anymore? 」

「Uuu, Broly big brother~」

Ariel: 「……」

Although this wasn't the first time she had seen Sylphy's intimate interaction with a boy, she still felt it was amazing. Clearly the girl who looked older was calling the boy who looked younger big brother.

And regarding the names Broly casually mentioned, only Perugius was clear to her, which only made her more curious.

What kind of relationship did the other party have with Armor Dragon King-sama to be able to act like they didn't care about the Legendary Hero at all?

「Second Princess Ariel, I'll have Miss Lilia prepare a room for you later. You can stay here and avoid the limelight for as long as you want. 」

「I am extremely grateful. 」

Princess Ariel stood up, lifted her skirt, and slightly bowed to Sylphy to express gratitude.

「Just, I don't know what relationship Broly-sama and Perugius-sama actually have? 」

Ariel subconsciously probed.

「I don't have much of a relationship with Perugius. It's just that my friend Orsted is of the same race as him, so I can ask him to help do some things. 」

Broly gave an explanation.

「Uh, please forgive my ignorance, but who exactly is Orsted-sama? 」

Regarding the issue of how much protection it could give herself, Princess Ariel didn't dare be careless, but asked in detail.

Then, this princess heard the title of Dragon God, Second of the Powers, and directly fell into a dazed state.

Unlike Broly who had no reputation in this timeline, Orsted's Dragon God title was always well-known and infamous, exposed to the world.

And probably only a Power could be friends with a Power. Princess Ariel hurriedly asked: 「Broly-san, I don't know which of the Seven Great Powers you are? 」

「I'm none of them. I'm just a Saiyan passing through this world. 」

Just as Princess Ariel wanted to continue asking something, the communication magic tool in Broly's pocket reacted.

「Someone is contacting me. I have things to do. Second Princess Ariel, if you have any questions, you can ask Sylphy. 」

After saying this, Broly directly flew away. Princess Ariel didn't find it strange, because she had long known the boy could fly, but she looked at Sylphy and probed the girl about the specific situation.

Not to mention her matters here, after Broly came to the village of Ilo in the Northern Region, he saw Rudeus whom he hadn't seen for five months.

The other party had matured greatly, but more importantly, standing by his side was a blonde girl with a slightly protruding abdomen and an extra presence of Qi within her body.

"Broly-san, I'm going to be a father."

This was the first thing Rudeus said.

"Sara wants to return to Buena Village with me to live."

And this was the second thing: Rudeus, not yet fourteen years old, had gotten a girl named Sara pregnant in less than half a year, and was preparing to take her back to his hometown for a shotgun wedding.

As for this, what could Broly say? He could only ask the pregnant girl's father if he was willing to let his daughter leave with Rudeus.

Although Gain was reluctant to part with his daughter, there was a life-saving debt involved, and Rudeus's hometown was said to be within the borders of the Asura Kingdom, a fertile region. For his daughter Sara's happiness, he agreed.

"Don't worry, we will definitely be able to come back and see Father again in the future."

Rudeus held Sara's hand, offering comforting words to his pregnant wife, mature like a reliable husband.

"Please, Broly-san, in the next cycle, please make sure I meet my wife Sara again, preferably as childhood sweethearts."

After that, Rudeus's posture of sliding to his knees to beg was so swift that even Broly didn't know what to say.

"Rudy, you need to know that your wife liking you is probably mostly because you saved her father in this cycle. Before you saved her father, she might not have liked you at all."

"It's okay, I believe in Broly-san!"

"No, why do you believe me?"

"I believe in Broly-san's capture wisdom, and I believe you definitely have a way to make Sara like me again. Please, this is a request of my lifetime. As long as you can help me achieve it, no matter how many cycles, I, Rudeus, am willing to be an ox and a horse for you, Broly-san."

For a childhood sweetheart wife he had grown up with since childhood, this cycle's Rudeus had also gone all out.

In the 53rd cycle, November of the 420th year of the Jia Long calendar, Rudeus, the son of a knight from Buena Village, and Sara, the daughter of a hunter from Iro Village, were officially married.

In the same month, Asura Kingdom's Second Princess Ariel Anemoi Asura learned of this world's time reversion.

Also knowing this was the secret of the Crystal Palace being able to preserve memories, which made this Second Princess, who had never had much security since childhood, quite moved.

However, regarding how to join the Crystal Palace to obtain the qualification to preserve cycle memories, she found herself in a dilemma, because she and Sylphy were close confidantes, and wanting to join the Crystal Palace was like competing with a best friend for a husband.

Even Ariel knew that such a thing might destroy her relationship with Sylphy, so she could only probe cautiously.

"Sylphy, if I told you I want to join your husband's Crystal Palace, would you agree?"

"Eh, Second Princess Ariel, do you want to join the Crystal Palace?"

"Ah, don't misunderstand, I just want to preserve cycle memories, not compete with you for a husband or anything."

Princess Ariel pretended to be flustered and hurriedly waved her hands, only to lower Sylphy's hostility and competitiveness.

"I don't have an opinion, but whether Second Princess Ariel can join isn't something I can decide alone."

The guard the girl opposite had expected did not appear; instead, she was told that there were also outsiders within the Crystal Palace, which made Ariel breathe a sigh of relief.

And upon learning the condition for joining the Crystal Palace (Nanahoshi Shizuka's joining condition)—whether happiness points could be produced in sufficient quantity to break even—this made Princess Ariel a bit unable to hold back.

Unlike Nanahoshi Shizuka, who only realized after joining, Princess Ariel, who had long resided in the deep palace and seen too many open and covert schemes, saw at a glance the problem within the Crystal Palace's requirements for outsiders' happiness point production.

"This is equivalent to using one's own emotions to fall in love with someone, in exchange for the opportunity to preserve cycle memories..."

Princess Ariel's heart was somewhat complex, but compared to facing the treacherous and dangerous political struggle over succession rights, joining the Crystal Palace at least could save her life.

And judging from Sylphy's living situation, she could definitely retain a considerable part of her freedom, which made Princess Ariel reach a decision.

"Mr. Broly, I request to join your Crystal Palace. For this, I am willing to give my feelings, swearing that after joining the Crystal Palace, I will dedicate all my love to you, and promise to definitely let you break even on the happiness points consumed by my joining the Crystal Palace."

Princess Ariel liked to plan before acting. By the time she came before Broly to make her request to join the Crystal Palace, she had already prepared the chips she could offer.

After learning that Broly needed happiness points, Princess Ariel believed she could bring sufficient benefits to the Saiyan boy, thereby making him accept her.

What she didn't expect was that after hearing her request, Broly merely looked at her with a somewhat eerie gaze.

"Mr. Broly, may I ask what's wrong? Is there something wrong with what I said?"

Princess Ariel asked calmly.

"No, there's nothing wrong with what you said, I just can't give you an answer immediately."

"Eh, why? I heard Sylphy say that there are non-capture targets like you in your Crystal Palace, so why are you refusing me?"

"Is it because of the rumors that the upper class of the Asura Kingdom play around? I admit that is a fact for many upper-class nobles and even royalty."

"But at least I myself am clean. Except for letting my personal maid help, using fingers to probe into my body a few times, I guarantee absolutely no opposite sex has entered my body."

The princess's purity was also a chip. Princess Ariel did not lose her chips just because of fooling around. Although it might be decent for winning over people around her, at this point in time, she had not yet been pushed to the point of doing such a thing.

"It's not that problem."

"Then what is the problem?"

"Your joining, I need to discuss it with others."

"Isn't it enough that Sylphy and Miss Roxy and the others don't object?"

Princess Ariel asked. Before this, she had given a treasure sword to Ellis, top-grade pastries to Roxy, sincere thanks to Sylphy, Court Butler Books that Aisha might like, and magic stones and magic crystals that Nanahoshi Shizuka lacked, catering to their preferences and brushing up the favorability of everyone in the household.

This could be seen from the fact that after she proposed joining the Crystal Palace, someone was surprised by it, but no one stood up to clearly object.

"It's fine if they don't object, but you are special, special enough that I need to discuss it with others."

Princess Ariel made Broly think of Shinclair Balon. The person before him was not coming to request, but to do business, and it was a business that sounded like it would definitely not lose him money.

Originally, if his wives like Roxy didn't object, he wouldn't object either, but unfortunately this Princess was quite special.

"May I ask boldly, who do you need to discuss with?"

"Dragon God Orsted."

"Eh, why?"

"Before answering your question, I want to ask you a question."

"Please ask."

"Princess Ariel, have you heard of a human god, whether in reality or in dreams?"

After Broly asked this, he locked his Qi onto the princess before him.

"No, may I ask who this human god is? Have I heard of him? Does it have anything to do with whether I can join your Crystal Palace?"

Princess Ariel's behavior was genuine; at the very least, Broly could detect no lie in her words.

"The Human God is a true god, and I promised Orsted to do some things in the future, which puts me somewhat on His opposing side; the reason I asked this is because I felt you might be the other party's Apostle."

"Eh?"

"As for why, that's because I also know you; in some of the previous loops..."

Broly didn't conceal anything either, directly recounting how, in the earliest loops, under the Human God's guidance, he had many times resolved assassination attempts against Princess Ariel in her childhood.

This left the Princess Ariel of this loop, already a young woman, listening in a daze, but she imagined that if she had truly experienced those assassinations, and if the other party had truly helped...

Sitting on the chair, this Second Princess of the Asura Kingdom suddenly felt the chair was somewhat damp, and a feeling of her heart pounding arose within her.

"What scent?"

At the side, Ghislaine sniffed her nose.

"What what scent?"

Eris looked over in confusion; she couldn't smell anything at all.

"It seems to be the scent of being in heat?!"

Sniffing the scent, Ghislaine locked her gaze onto Princess Ariel.

Broly's narration stopped, and just like his family members, he looked at the Princess Ariel opposite him with a shocked expression.

Princess Ariel also hadn't expected that her own act of silently casting water magic without chanting or traces could actually be smelled out; face red, she embarrassedly defended herself: "I'm also a young woman, it's perfectly normal for a young woman to harbor romantic feelings, especially when listening to a story about oneself encountering difficulties and being saved by a hero similar to a Knight; this is a normal reaction."

Regarding this, Eris thought for a moment, then unexpectedly nodded seriously, indicating agreement.

"To be able to achieve silent, traceless release of water magic without chanting just by hearing some stories she has no memory of, without even moving a hand — is this the true strength of the Asura Kingdom's Royal Family?"

In the aspect of silent water magic casting, Roxy directly conceded, acknowledging Princess Ariel's strength.