The over-the-top screams of Jambavan and Vyaghra nearly deafened me. I didn't know why they reacted like that, but I was smart enough to realize I had done something I shouldn't have.

"G-guys, can you explain the reason behind your reaction?" I stammered.

"You really did something worth dying of," Vyaghra muttered.

"Kid, ya can't talk yer way out of dis one," Jambavan sighed.

"Hey, stop scaring me and tell me clearly," I demanded.

"Sometimes I wonder if you're a complete idiot or if you really know nothing," Nymeria said, slapping her forehead.

"The beasts consider their ears as an intimate and sacred part. No one, absolutely no one, has the right to touch their ears without consent. To safeguard the rights of beasts, the Emperor has even declared it a criminal offense punishable by death if the victim refuses to marry the offender," Nymeria sighed. "Of all the body parts, you had to go for her ears."

"Th-that's ridiculous. They're just damn ears," I protested.

"Raj, are you insulting our culture right to our faces?" Vyaghra glared. "Because of your mistake, Her Majesty can't marry anyone else as long as you live."

"Oh, right?" I snapped my fingers. "Ume, tell me one thing."

"Speak."

"Did I physically grab your ears?"

"Yes, you held them in both of your hands."

"Where did I do that?"

"In the mind realm—" She gasped, realizing what I was trying to say.

"Exactly. I grabbed them in the mind realm, so I didn't physically touch them."

"Hm… what you said does make sense," Ume murmured, having second thoughts.

"But Your Majesty, if he touched— I mean, if he committed the offense in the mind realm, doesn't that mean his soul directly contacted yours, making the violation even more serious?"

"Vyaghra, shut your damn mouth," I muttered. "Instead of resolving the situation, you're escalating it further."

"Raj, do you hate the idea of marrying me that much?" Ume asked in a low voice. "Am I not pretty enough in your eyes?"

I sighed, moved closer to Ume, and spoke.

"Ume, I don't hate the idea of marrying you, nor do I think you're not pretty enough. On the contrary, you're one of the most beautiful women I've ever laid my eyes on. Any man, including me, would fall head over heels for you if you just looked at them warmly with your ethereal eyes for more than a second. You have no idea how much self-control it took me not to let my inner demons get the better of me that night."

"Then why—"

"Because it's only been a month since we met each other, and I spent most of that time in that pond. You don't know anything about me. What if I'm a womanizer? What if I can't meet your expectations? It's not just you—even I don't know who I am. Only a few months ago, I was living a normal life with my family, and now here I am, fighting literal gods. Moreover, I don't have anything in my name to offer you. I'm not even sure if I won't vanish from this world the next moment—just like I came here. I can't commit to you or any other woman until I get these answers."

As I finished my explanation, everyone remained silent, waiting to see how the lady in question would react.

Ume's eyes shimmered in the firelight, her lips parted as she finally spoke, "So you're not denying marrying me? You just want more time. It's alright, I shall wait for a few years. Until then..."

She held my hand, raised it to her heavenly lips, and kissed my ring finger.

"U-Ume, what are you—"

As her lips parted, a black-colored ring of vines appeared on my finger. It had a pink gem embedded on top of it, carrying the sweet, flowery scent of Ume.

Ding...

"Congratulations!! You have obtained the epic item: Goddess' Ring of Engagement.

Description: A Goddess' Ring of Engagement is an extremely rare and epic item gifted by a goddess to her betrothed.

Skills: Locked

Condition to Unlock: Unknown"

"Th-that is the Goddess' Ring of Engagement," Nymeria exclaimed. "You are extremely lucky. No one is going to bother you in Vyoman now."

"You are not mad?" I asked.

"Why should I be mad?" She scoffed. "The number of mortals who have received a Goddess' Ring of Engagement can be counted on one's fingers, and they are all extremely influential people. None dare confront them, for who can withstand the wrath of a goddess? And also..."

She spoke further, her tone growing serious. "You are not aware of how dangerous the outside world is. I'm happy for you that you now have something to protect you."

I turned to Ume, slightly bowed my head, and said, "Thank you for this undeserving gift, Ume."

"No need to thank me. You are my betrothed now. I shall wait to receive my ring till you sort yourself out," she murmured, getting up.

"And one more thing..." She pulled me closer by the hair and whispered in my ear in a cold, eerie voice, "If I find you flirting with another woman besides Sister Nymeria, you won't be able to protect your balls again."

A chill ran down my spine the moment her frightening words reached my ear. I nodded aggressively. "I shall heed your warning, Your Majesty."

She let go of my hair and walked toward Nymeria with a warm smile on her face.

"Sister, what did you say to Raj?" Nymeria asked.

"Oh, it's nothing, Sister Nymeria. I was only telling him how to tighten the leash on a pet," she said nonchalantly as the duo went hand in hand inside the tree house.

"Vyaghra, what's the temperament of your Queen?" I asked, sweat pouring down my face.

"She was very kind and patient with the subjects of the kingdom. She treated them as her own kin and not even once abused her authority," Vyaghra explained with a proud smirk.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead as I sighed inwardly. "I was worried for noth—"

"However, if she found out someone had betrayed her, the fate they met was so cruel that even death seemed like mercy."

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