What Is Your Relationship with the Princess?

The Demi-human chief watched Lynn hold Lilim for who knew how long before letting out a helpless sigh.

It was mainly because their strength was insufficient. The demi-humans were too divided now; no one was united.

Lynn holding Lilim meant they were close... Did he want Lynn to become king?

"So, is he Your husband?"

"Huh?"

In an instant, Lilim's face turned red. She immediately replied, "How could that be? That guy is a pervert—disgusting. Impossible!"

"I knew it! Damn humans! Her Highness the Princess, you must have been taken hostage!" Karl could not help but rise to his feet on the spot, ready to show Loyalty to the King.

The hall immediately turned taut with drawn swords.

Lynn nearly lost his grip on his cup.

There was no Hongmen Banquet in this other world, was there? What was going on?

"Lilim, what did you tell him?"

"N-Nothing."

"I don't believe you. The situation is dangerous now. Though I'm not afraid—I have three hundred soldiers outside, and I'm already a Tier 4 professional. I can definitely cut down the chief."

It was over. Lilim could only tell the truth. "He asked whether you were my Husband. Of course I said no, then I cursed you, and he misunderstood."

Lynn was speechless.

"So Her Highness the Princess is being coerced?" the priestess said, covering her mouth.

The chief and the surrounding demi-humans immediately looked ready to seize the Merit of the Dragon.

Lynn made a snap decision. "Lilim, kiss me. Quickly."

"Huh? Y-You... what are you saying?!"

"You made them misunderstand, so we need to clear it up somehow. Kiss me, quickly. It won't cost you a layer of skin. The main thing is to show them that you and I are very close."

"Bastard! You little bug, are you trying to take advantage of me like this?" Lilim cursed. "Have you even considered the consequences?"

"No. Hurry up and kiss me. Otherwise, if we really start fighting, I'll have to change my policy toward the demi-humans—that is, use Unification by Force. You don't want me slaughtering demi-humans for the sake of Territory Expansion, do you?"

Lilim clenched her fists. "You... you're using my Subjects to threaten me?"

With her heart set, Lilim leaned over and kissed Lynn on the cheek.

The demi-humans: "Huh?"

Seizing the opportunity, Lynn pulled Lilim into his arms and placed her on his lap.

"What is going on?!"

Lilim hurriedly said, "H-He's just a bug! D-Don't, don't misunderstand! Besides, why are you all so concerned about my relationship with him? We should be discussing your surrender."

The chief's mind went completely blank.

People of this era had Democratic Consciousness but no National Consciousness. Their identities were basically divided by race, or else by Religious Faith.

The rule of states basically relied on nobles, who served as vassals.

So everyone recognized bloodlines. Lilim had kissed Lynn of her own accord, leaving them utterly baffled.

At that moment, a Cat demi-human elder who had been to the Human World stepped forward and said a few words to Chief Karl.

"Chief, I understand this. In human Artistic Works, this is called tsundere."

"Humans are so powerful—we can't beat them anyway, so we should just submit. My son told me that when he went to work among the humans, he heard them casting magic every day and throwing things that exploded. They truly beat several thousand Orcs until they were nearly wiped out."

"We can just tell the other Demi-human city-states and villages that we submitted to Her Highness the Princess."

The chief raised his cane and smashed it against the ground. "How can you speak for humans?"

"You're wearing their so-called Artificial Silk, and now you're speaking for them?"

The elder hurriedly stopped the chief. "What do you mean, speaking for humans? I'm speaking for the People of the Land of Extreme Cold. Their things really are useful. My son had only been there a few days before he said he wanted to live in the city. Apparently, the beds in their winter houses are warm, and they dress well too. If you join them, you get land. They teach you how to farm and help you build a house that won't be cold in winter."

"Basically, there are no taxes—only an Agricultural Tax. The first three years are tax-free, and they only start collecting it in the following three years. But if you join a Cooperative, you don't have to farm yourself. They farm for you, and once the crops are harvested, they take thirty percent of the grain, just like taxes. That way, you can go find work and earn more money."

"Chief, think about how many people froze to death last year."

"If our demi-humans did not generally have many children—each birth producing Twins or Triplets, with children being born every year—we would not have clan members strong enough to endure the winter."

The chief looked toward the priestess, whose line inherited the clan's knowledge.

The priestess nodded.

"Very well. How do You want us to submit? I will provide You with soldiers and wealth. What else do You want?" The chief dropped to one knee and took out the box in his hand. "Please accept this."

Lilim had not accepted the item in that box last time, but this time, she put it away.

Lynn asked curiously, "Lilim, what is this?"

"One of the White Priestess's staffs. She has two staffs like this in total."

Lilim held the two staffs in her hands. One was the token of demi-human royalty, and the other was the Proof of Kingship.

"So what do these two mean to the demi-humans?"

"They are equivalent to the empire's Sword of Kings and Shield of Kings."