The cicadas chirped louder than the rattling wheels of the rolling carriage.

One would think they’d tire of singing so much under the scorching sun, but these insects seemed to be more resilient than humans, as their shrill songs never ceased throughout the journey along the lush mountain path.

Litania gently placed her removed hat on her lap and cast her gaze at the man sitting across from her.

Although the unpaved road made the carriage jolt quite a bit, Orbis sat with impeccable posture, seemingly not inconvenienced at all.

“I had hoped it wouldn’t rain on the day we left, but I didn’t expect it to be this hot.”

“Indeed, Litania has always been weak to heat and cold.”

If the standard for ‘weakness’ was the ability to withstand lightning strikes and hailstorms, then no one but Orbis would meet the criteria for strength.

Instead of arguing, Litania simply nodded slightly.

“Shall I make it not hot for you even in summer?”

“No! I’m not looking for such an extreme solution!”

Two years ago, when they first met at the spring ball, she had complained about mud splashing on her dress due to rain, and then there was a drought for over three months.

If Litania were to say ‘I dislike summer because it’s hot,’ Orbis would likely adjust the climate to eliminate the concept of heat waves from this world.

‘And… the ecosystem would be destroyed.’

That would defeat the purpose of leaving the capital to work on the waterway construction in the outskirts.

“Orbis, you dislike humans damaging and altering nature, yet you seem to have no hesitation in causing major changes yourself. You’re a divine dragon. Have some sense of crisis.”

“I don’t like controlling nature either. It’s just…”

“Just?”

“I simply don’t want to see you uncomfortable.”

Litania’s expression turned flustered, and the corners of her eyes reddened slightly.

‘Really, what am I to do with this man.’

He truly seemed like he would remove mountains if Litania asked to get rid of the ones visible in the distance, or split continents to create an ocean if she requested one.

“It’s natural to feel irritable in the hot summer, but that doesn’t mean I want summer to disappear. This is just… a trivial complaint, you know.”

“A trivial complaint, is it.”

“I’m not asking you to solve the situation, just to sympathize with me.”

It might be nonsensical to ask Orbis, who doesn’t feel the heat even in the dragon city where pillars of fire erupt everywhere, to sympathize with summer heat.

Litania shook her head lightly.

Thud.

The carriage shook violently, likely having hit a sizable rock.

Losing her balance due to the jolting seat, Litania nearly fell forward.

If Orbis hadn’t caught her immediately, she would have bumped her nose against his chest.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“I assume you wouldn’t want me to pave the road smooth.”

Orbis lifted Litania gently by her waist, still holding her, and placed her on his lap.

“O-Orbis?”

“My thighs will be more comfortable than the chair seat.”

“No, this is uncomfortable!”

“I’ll hold you tightly so you won’t shake.”

Orbis’s arms wrapped firmly around Litania’s waist. Her ears turned bright red at the feeling of his broad chest and the heartbeat that wasn’t her own against her back.

“You just wanted to do this yourself… Ah!”

The carriage shook again, causing her waist to bounce.

Orbis pulled Litania closer, stabilizing her posture so her bottom rested firmly on his thighs. He unwrapped his arms from her waist and gently caressed the slender lines of her body, causing her to take a small breath.

“Lean on me, Litania.”

“…Beast.”

“Isn’t it gentlemanly to help a lady in distress?”

“A gentleman’s hands aren’t this lecherous.”

She slapped the back of his hand as it traced her curves upward, and he chuckled softly before wrapping his arm around her waist again.

A leisurely sigh escaped from behind her ear.

“You said you were uncomfortable from the heat. Let me improve your mood.”

Litania rolled her eyes and glanced at Orbis, but didn’t particularly resist.

His low, sweet voice and refreshing scent. The cool fabric of his clothes against her nape certainly made the heat feel less oppressive.

Whoosh.

The sound of leaves rustling in the wind blended with the insects’ chirping to create a cool harmony.

The chirping of the lush forest, too vast to be contained in the small carriage window, poured over their heads like waves.

Is this how it feels to be embraced by the earth?

Litania gently caressed the back of the large man’s hand that was firmly supporting her.

“Hey, can you see? Can you see?”

“Stop blocking my view and move your head.”

“It’s about time they arrived. Simons, you go check.”

“We should confirm first. Who among us has the best eyesight?”

“Isn’t it Eagle? Where’s Arka!”

The servants of the dragon city had gathered early by the riverside to observe the forest path densely packed with trees.

Though they could move instantly from the northern dragon city to the upper reaches of the river southeast of the capital if they wanted, their master chose to take an uncomfortable and time-consuming carriage ride to enjoy a precarious tryst with his lover.

“Our master, really. It would be better to just bring her cleanly in one go.”

“It’s a wonder she’s coming at all. I thought we’d never see the lady again.”

“Pepper, your nose is running. Ugh, gross…”

“What comes out of the nose when crying isn’t mucus, it’s tears!”

As Pepper raised his bear-like arms in protest, the surrounding servants slowly backed away.

It was then that Hazel, who had been observing from atop a tall tree, scurried down.

“Hey! They’re coming, the carriage is coming!”

“Where? Where!”

“Everyone, get ready!”

With a clap from Simons, the servants who had been gathered in small groups lined up with determined faces.

Rumble rumble.

The tiny carriage that had been rolling along with a clamorous noise grew larger and larger until the face of the white rabbit sitting in the driver’s seat became visible.

The carriage finally came to a screeching halt when Snow’s annoying expression, not particularly welcome after so long, became clearly discernible.

Snow hopped down from the driver’s seat and walked over to open the carriage door.

A shiny shoe tip, ill-suited for walking on the rocky mountain path, stepped down onto the ground, followed by their master with his long golden hair.

He didn’t even glance at the servants, instead extending his hand towards the inside of the carriage.

A pale, slender hand was placed in the man’s hand.

Gulp.

The servants all swallowed simultaneously as they followed with their eyes the small figure stepping down from the carriage.

Dressed in a bright lavender outfit with a wide-brimmed hat. Soft brown hair swayed gently in the breeze.

Under the shade of a large tree with lush greenery, Litania, holding Orbis’s hand, smiled and greeted the familiar faces.

“It’s been a while.”

“My lady… Oof!”

Simons struck Pepper in the side as he tried to greet loudly.

Leaving the groaning and staggering Pepper to Hazel beside him, the silver-haired butler approached Litania with calm steps and bowed respectfully.

“We’ve been waiting, Princess Litania. We will serve you wholeheartedly.”

“Haha, serve? I’m the one who asked for this. It must be your first outing, yet I’ve made you all come out here to work… I’m sorry.”

“Not at all. This will be a very valuable vacation for us.”

Leaving the dragon city and coming to the outskirts of the capital, even doing waterway construction, was not at all difficult for them.

Because they could meet Litania.

Although she wasn’t returning as the mistress of the dragon city, they were relieved just to witness Litania, like a welcome rain, by the side of their dry master.

“Hmm. Since the construction will take time, we should first decide where to stay. I looked into inns in nearby villages…”

“Ah. We’ve already built that.”

“You built it?”

“Yes. Over there!”

On the hill Raven pointed to stood a grand mansion with white walls gleaming in the sunlight.

Not a hut, not a two-story house, but a grand mansion.

“…You built that? You all?”

“Yes. After the construction is finished and you return, we’ll dismantle it without leaving a trace, so don’t worry about waste.”

At Raven’s answer, Litania looked up at Orbis with round eyes. Smoothly avoiding her gaze that seemed to demand an explanation for this unbelievable situation, Orbis smiled.

“The servants of the dragon city are capable, my little friend. You won’t have any inconveniences while working here.”

The construction progressed smoothly.

The dragon city’s servants built houses at an unbelievable speed, then created reservoirs by building embankments just as quickly, and now they’ve started digging underground waterways.

It was a moment that made the excuses of the bureaucrats, who had been saying for decades that progress was impossible due to technical and manpower limitations, seem hollow.

‘So this is why the repairs to the detached palace were completed in just one day.’

It wasn’t just their appearance that had changed by magic; they swiftly removed soil and gravel, paved roads to transport materials, and built barriers to control the flow of the river.

Litania wasn’t the only one amazed at the sight of the graceful group following Simons, like flamingos, effortlessly moving heavy stones with their slender arms.

Hearing the news that the princess had come out of the capital with the divine dragon to help stabilize people’s lives, nearby residents came to offer help, but ended up leaving in awe after eating the lavish meal prepared by Pepper.

“Only Princess Litania cares even for the citizens outside the capital!”

The waterway construction was intended to earn merits for Orbis, but for some reason, it was Litania’s popularity that kept rising.