Chapter 2386: Dream Lover

The Mermaid Queen's expression changed. She instinctively took a few steps back, maintaining a safe distance from the Dragon King.

Although his words were veiled, how could she not understand his underlying meaning?

The Dragon King's intention was clear: if he were to make an enemy of the otherworldly demons, he would be taking a huge risk.

He needed a reason to take that risk, and that reason was her.

If she married him, he would have sufficient motivation to do those things.

Thinking this, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger: "Dragon King, I came to you about these matters not for my own selfish interests, but for the future of the entire marine race. Why would you link it to such things? Such an act from the Dragon King is truly petty."

The Dragon King's face darkened. At this moment, his trusted confidant, Prime Minister Turtle, chuckled beside him: "The Queen constantly speaks of the marine race's future and the well-being of all beings, but has she considered how much risk our Dragon King must take and how many sacrifices he must make?"

"Now, it's merely asking the Queen to sacrifice a bit of her personal happiness—and marrying the Dragon King is a dream for countless women, so it might not even be a sacrifice of happiness."

"The Queen only needs to agree to one small thing to benefit all beings and save countless lives, yet she immediately refuses. Isn't this truly a case of the Queen saying one thing and doing another?"

His barrage of words caused the Mermaid Queen's beautiful face to cycle through various expressions of displeasure.

She knew the other party was clearly distorting the argument, but for a moment, she couldn't think of how to refute him.

The Dragon King then spoke: "Prime Minister Turtle, stop your nonsense. The Mermaid Queen has lofty aspirations and noble character; how could she be the kind of person you describe?"

Prime Minister Turtle immediately bowed and apologized: "The Dragon King is right to admonish me; I have been impolite."

Only then did the Dragon King turn to the Mermaid Queen and say: "Please don't be offended, Queen. Prime Minister Turtle was merely anxious just now, which led to his offensive remarks."

The Mermaid Queen watched the two of them play their well-rehearsed act with a calm expression, yet a cold sneer formed in her heart. The Dragon King hadn't stopped him earlier, waiting until Prime Minister Turtle had said all he needed to say before pretending to be the good guy. Did he truly think she couldn't see that Prime Minister Turtle was merely speaking on his behalf?

With her beauty capable of captivating nations, countless men pursued her. If she weren't intelligent enough, she would have been taken advantage of countless times over.

Without exposing their ploy, she gently said: "I understand the Dragon King's difficulties. However, what you've said today came as a complete surprise, and I'm unprepared. I need to return and consider it before giving you an answer."

The Dragon King was overjoyed: "Please, Queen, consider it thoroughly, thoroughly!"

His grin was now wider than a rifle. The most beautiful woman in the marine race, possibly even in the entire world, was about to fall into his arms. How could he not be thrilled?

Who cares about the Demon Emperor? He was once so arrogant and powerful, but now he's gone. The woman he relentlessly pursued back then will ultimately be mine!

He sneered inwardly. All his previous efforts to show concern and meticulous care for the Mermaid Queen had failed to move her unyielding heart. Yet, this matter concerning the otherworldly demons had surprisingly turned things around. It was truly wonderful; he even wanted to hug and kiss the envoy of the otherworldly demons.

After the Mermaid Queen returned to her residence, she locked herself in her room and refused to see anyone. Many powerful individuals from various races who had come to seek her out were all asking what had happened to her recently, wondering who had upset her.

Many of these powerful figures clamored indignantly, demanding to know who had offended the Queen, vowing to immediately help her vent her anger.

Hearing the peacock-like "declarations" from outside the palace, the Mermaid Queen grew increasingly irritated. How could she not know that these individuals merely lusted after her? If they knew the culprit was the Dragon King, she wondered if they would still dare to make such boasts.

"Queen, that Dragon King is truly despicable, using this to threaten you!" her pretty personal maid couldn't help but curse. As her closest attendant, she naturally knew what had just transpired in the palace.

The Mermaid Queen rubbed her forehead: "My mind is in turmoil right now; I don't know what to do next."

The maid was startled: "Are you really going to agree to the Dragon King?"

The Mermaid Queen shook her head slightly: "The Dragon King merely wants to use this opportunity to possess me. He doesn't genuinely want to help me. It's clear that he, too, is inclined to surrender to the demons."

"But if even the Dragon King surrenders, who else can you turn to for help?" The maid said, her face clouded with worry. "Perhaps you shouldn't worry so much; maybe the demons will truly keep their word."

The Mermaid Queen's expression became serious: "Over the years, I've studied the demons' ways. They are cruel, bloodthirsty, cunning, and unpredictable. After the fact, they will certainly tear up any alliance agreements. At that point, our entire marine race will either be annihilated or completely enslaved. I absolutely cannot give up now."

"But now that even the Dragon King is like this, who else can we find?" The maid's brows furrowed tightly, and despair filled her heart.

The Queen actually had many friends, but most of them, to varying degrees, coveted her beauty.

Resisting the demons was by no means a trivial matter. Those without the capability, even if they wished to help, would be useless. Those who *were* capable would likely make improper demands of the Queen, just like the Dragon King. It seemed like a dead end from every angle.

The Mermaid Queen, however, remained calm: "Ever since I was very young, I've often had a dream. In it, there's a figure of a man shimmering with golden light, though I can never clearly see his face. But I believe he will come to save this world."

Hearing this, the little maid couldn't help but roll her eyes repeatedly. The Queen was truly hopeless. The perfect goddess in the eyes of outsiders actually believed so strongly in something that appeared in a dream.

She had heard this story countless times. At first, she, like the Queen, was full of fantasies, wondering what kind of hero would arrive on a colorful auspicious cloud to save the Queen. But after all these years, not a single hair of that hero had appeared, and she had gradually come to terms with reality: it was just the Queen's fantasy.

Over the years, because of the existence of that figure in her heart, the Queen had rejected countless top men in the world, even the once unparalleled Demon Emperor.

She had rejected powerful men like the Dragon King even more often.

This led everyone to speculate whether the Queen disliked men and preferred women.

In their wild imaginations, she, the personal maid, became one of the main characters, one of the Queen's most favored companions.

Although at first she felt a chill and anger when hearing such talk, she later thought about how beautiful the Queen was, and that if she could truly be close to her, the thought itself was wonderful.

However, she knew that the Queen was a woman's woman, and her heart already belonged to someone.

If the excellent men of the world knew they had lost to a figment of her imagination, she wondered if they would die of anger on the spot.

"What are you laughing at?" The Mermaid Queen noticed her small expression and felt a little displeased.

The little maid quickly straightened her face: "I wasn't laughing, Your Majesty. You must have seen wrong."

"You were clearly laughing. Are you mocking me?"

"I truly wasn't laughing, oh dear, please spare me, Your Majesty."

Meanwhile, in another palace within the Dragon King's domain, the inhabitants were far from smiling.

A white-robed guard bowed to a beautiful young woman, his face extremely grave: "Princess, the Dragon King has left us waiting here for so many days. It seems he has no intention of forming an alliance with our demon race!"