Drake chuckled.
"Yup. I think I'm gonna enjoy my time with her."
Elsa peeked at him from the corner of her eye, the breeze tossing his black-streaked hair around, revealing a strong jawline and confident smile.
LUB-DUB! LUB-DUB!
She clutched her chest.
"What's wrong with me...? Why's my heart racing like this...?"
She quickly looked away.
"Nope. Cooling down first. We'll talk later."
As the carriage rumbled on toward the kingdom, a warm silence settled between them like a fuzzy blanket.
Minutes later...
Elsa was out cold—sleeping like a log in the middle of a storm.
Her soft "snore~ snore~" echoed through the carriage.
Drake stared at her.
"Damn... she's really out. Like, completely gone. I mean—there's a stranger sitting here, and she still has the guts to nap like a baby in a hammock. Shouldn't she be worried I'd grope her again?"
BOING! BOING!
Her chest bounced with every jolt of the road.
"That's it. I'm losing it. I wanna grab them so bad..."
His mind flashed to when he fell on her, hand-first, into boob heaven. Her flushed face haunted his imagination.
"Haha... haha..."
He giggled. Like an actual pervert.
"Aah... Aah... No daddy, I don't wanna eat my veggies. They taste like rat poop..." Elsa mumbled in her sleep.
Drake held back a laugh.
"Adorable. She sleep-talks. What I'd give to be a character in that weird dream."
THUD-DUP!
The carriage bounced violently over a rock.
Elsa, still sleeping, slid from her seat.
"Whoa—Whoa! You're gonna fall!" Drake shouted as he lunged.
FWUMP!
He caught her just in time, gently pulling her into his side. Her head naturally fell against his shoulder.
Sniff. Sniff.
"AAaaah..."
Her scent hit him like a tidal wave.
"She smells amazing…" he whispered. "Do all girls smell like rose petals and fresh-baked sunshine?"
Sniff. Sniff.
"...Huuuuh. I could stay like this forever..." he mumbled, cheeks flushed.
BOING! BOING!
Still bouncing.
"Geez, do those funbags ever rest? They've got more energy than me at full HP..."
His pants stirred with betrayal.
Little Lorenzo had entered the chat.
"No. Not now. Bad Lorenzo! She trusts us, okay? This isn't the time for—"
THUMP!
Elsa shifted and wrapped her arms around him like he was her favorite body pillow.
"Oooh... I love you... snore snore..."
"Sweet flaming waffles! Her boobs—my arm—it's in between! It's surrounded!!"
His whole face ignited.
Little Lorenzo stood proud.
"No! Down boy! Lie down! You're embarrassing us both!" he muttered under his breath, gently elbowing his own pants.
Elsa stirred.
"...Ah? W-Where am I...?"
Oh no. She's waking up.
Drake smiled nervously.
Elsa groggily opened her eyes, realizing her arms were around him in what looked like a scene straight out of a romance novel.
"G-G-Good morning, sleepyhead," Drake greeted, cheeks red but proud.
"Whaaat—AAAAAAAH! You perv!!"
Elsa screamed and scrambled away, her face redder than a ripe tomato. Drake laughed.
"You're so cute when you're shy."
Her heart skipped.
"What the heck! That smile… he's actually serious?"
"You're blushing so hard, I think your brain might be overheating," Drake teased.
"Stooop it! You snuck up on me while I was sleeping just so you could grope me again, didn't you!?"
Her cheeks puffed in protest.
"Aww... she looks like a chipmunk hiding nuts in her cheeks."
Drake couldn't help but smile wider.
"You didn't answer me, dummy," Elsa pouted.
"Oh, right. Sorry. You nearly fell, so I caught you. Let your little head rest right here." He tapped his shoulder. "Totally innocent. I swear on Lorenzo's... honor."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Lorenzo?"
"...Don't ask."
"Well, thank you." Elsa smiled sweetly.
"My pleasure... Lady Elsa."
"No! No lady! Just Elsa! It feels weird when you say it like that..."
She twiddled her fingers and looked down, her cheeks glowing (yes, anime-style blush with steam practically rising from her head).
"I swear... I've seen an angel."
Drake sighed dreamily.
"Elsa it is," he said.
"That's better, Monkey Boy," she teased with a giggle.
"Monkey Boy again? Really?"
Elsa laughed, her hair dancing in the wind. "What's with that face?!"
Drake found himself entranced by her sapphire eyes.
"How did I not notice how gorgeous her eyes are...? They're like blue gems set in velvet..."
Her laughter softened as she stared at him.
"You're staring. What, is there something on my face?"
"No, your face is fine! I-I mean great! I mean... uh... perfect!"
Elsa giggled. "I'm just curious about you. Where are you from? Why were you up a tree? And what brings you to Sidonia?"
OH CRAP.
"I didn't plan this far! I don't know any place names! I can't tell her I'm from another world—that'll get me tossed faster than spoiled meat!"
"You okay? Or don't you want me to know more about you?"
Her voice dropped, soft and teasing.
THUMP-THUMP!
Dangerously cute.
"N-No! I'd love to share!" he panicked.
"Great! The stage is yours, mystery boy." She leaned in close, eyes glittering.
"Okay okay THINK. Time for my 10,000 IQ to shine..."
"I'm Drake Lorenzo, which you probably knew already... ha..."
"Idiot. She knows that. Think, you moron!"
"I'm from a small village to the west."
"The west? Like near Dragvath, the Dwarven Kingdom?"Elsa asked
Dragvath!? That's new... mental note to study that.
"Y-Yeah! Near... that place! Totally!"
"What's the name of the village?"
INTERNAL PANIC.
"Oh no... this is it. Goodbye, cruel world..."
DING!
[SHADOW ARSENAL SYSTEM ]
You hopeless clown. Say you're from Novaria. Small farming village near Dragvath. Fertile lands, surrounded by mountains. Great for crops and rare minerals. They trade with the dwarves for tools. Peaceful place. You're welcome.
"System...? You came back...?" A tear welled in his eye.
Didn't you tell me to go 'bitch somewhere else'? Well, I did. But clearly, you need babysitting.
"You do care! I'm sorry for calling you a slut. Please don't leave me again!"
Shut up and lie properly. She's still staring. Bye.
System screen vanished.
Elsa blinked. "You okay?"
"Huh? Oh! Nothing! It's just... man, is it hot in here?"
"Whew. Crisis dodged. I hope."
"So? Village name?"
Drake cleared his throat. "It's... Novaria. A quiet little farming village near the Dwarven Kingdom."
Elsa froze.
"Say... what now?"
Oh God. Oh no. That reaction—was it made up?! System, if you lied I'll smack you into next week—
She stared at him. Unmoving. Unblinking. No smile.
"What... have I gotten myself into...?"
Drake clutched his head.