Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot
Chapter 211 - 210 - Talk With Arietta.

Chapter 211: Chapter 210 - Talk With Arietta.

The moment Raven stepped into the golden dome with Arietta, the entire world outside blurred.

It wasn’t like a door closing.

It was as if existence politely looked away, shielding itself from what was to come.

Even Raven, standing inside, could sense it—no sound leaked in, no gaze pierced through, and not even mana seemed able to eavesdrop.

"...Of course it’s sealed," he muttered, sighing as he rubbed the back of his neck. "This girl doesn’t do halfway."

Omni, who had gone disturbingly quiet during the transition, finally whispered, "Bro... I can’t even sense the shadows in this place. That ain’t natural. This is some stalker goddess high-budget love dungeon, and you just walked into it voluntarily. You got issues."

Raven ignored him, mostly because he agreed.

A soft breeze stirred the air as Arietta walked forward, her divine radiance softening around him.

Her gown—pure white but shimmering with stardust—flowed like moonlight trapped in silk, and the small glow that followed her movements painted her as something out of a dream... or a dangerously romantic fever.

She opened her mouth to speak, her gaze burning like celestial wildfire.

But Raven beat her to it.

"...You look beautiful," he said softly.

Arietta blinked.

Her whole system stuttered like a spirit possession that got unplugged mid-session.

"Huh?" She squeaked.

Raven, seeing that his plan was working, stepped forward, eyes warm. "I mean it. I’ve never seen you like this. The glow, the dress, your hair... You didn’t just upgrade your domain. You changed, too."

The divine murder intent she was about to weaponize evaporated like morning dew under praise.

For a second, she spoke nothing until her hands started fidgeting in front of her, her composure unraveling at speeds that would terrify any responsible deity.

"W-What... really? I just—" Her eyes darted down, then back up. "Do you really think it looks good on me?"

Raven smiled. "It looks incredible. Makes me wonder why you’ve never worn anything like this before."

For a moment, her lips parted to respond sweetly.

Then her smile dimmed.

Just a little.

"I didn’t have a reason," she whispered. "After all, I had never wanted someone who had problems with my looks."

She glanced aside. "But today’s different. Today, for the first time... I was going to meet the other women of my lover," she said, her voice dipping into a dangerous sweetness, eyes narrowing faintly. "...Although, of course... they’re temporary."

Raven wisely didn’t respond to that last part.

Because he already had a bet standing for that condition. He didn’t want to make her change her mind by saying something against it.

Instead, he stepped closer.

"I see," he murmured. "So this wasn’t for me... it was for them."

Arietta’s expression twitched—then hardened slightly, but there was a glimmer of embarrassment beneath.

"I didn’t want them to think... that I was beneath them," she muttered, her voice growing distant. "Although I know that you will eventually come to me... I didn’t want to be out of focus while you flirt in the daylight."

That tone—subtle, fragile—was enough to shift something in Raven.

So he did what instinct demanded.

He leaned in and murmured, "No matter why you wore it... You looked so good that I want to kiss you right now."

Arietta stopped breathing.

Her eyes widened.

She stared at him like he’d just rewritten the divine laws of attraction.

Then, very softly, her toes curled, and she circled one dainty foot on the shimmering floor like a nervous schoolgirl.

"...W-Who’s stopping you?" She whispered, lips barely moving.

Raven smiled.

Then, without a second’s delay, he kissed her.

There was no rush.

No violence.

Just warmth.

Pure, burning, slow warmth as his lips met hers, and her entire body melted like snowfall beneath a summer sky.

Her arms slowly rose, wrapping around him like vines reaching toward the sun.

She sighed into the kiss, trembling, unsure, and helplessly happy.

Omni’s voice, long forgotten in the silence, whimpered mentally. "Bro. BRO. We’re gonna get smitten. You’re makin’ out with an apex divine yandere. This is how horror stories begin."

Raven didn’t care.

When he finally pulled back, their foreheads still touching, Arietta’s eyes were dazed and dreamy, her cheeks pink and shining with delight.

"...Raven," she whispered, like saying his name anchored her.

"...Arietta," he replied softly. "Is it okay if my friends stay? We really need your help. I wouldn’t have brought them otherwise."

Arietta’s breath hitched, her eyes briefly narrowing—not from anger, but from possessiveness flaring again.

Her fingers curled into his back slightly.

But then, she looked into his eyes and saw that familiar steadiness.

The one that always made her feel seen—not as a goddess or a threat—but as her.

He was asking her. Not commanding. Not pretending.

Just... trusting.

A soft pout formed on her lips. "...Fine. But I want to know everything. I want to know what happened, what is happening, and what will happen. I even want to know what you dreamt about yesterday."

Raven grinned. "Of course."

"Also, if one of them tries to get too chummy with you in front of me, I get to trap them in a flower that screams forever."

"I’ll... negotiate that clause."

She glared.

He leaned in again and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you."

Arietta flushed pink again, immediately forgiving every transgression in the history of mankind.

The silence around them pulsed with divine peace as they sat inside the dome.

After all, Raven had to tell her everything.

That everything included the situation he was going through and whatever plans he had for his friends.

...............................

It had been a while since Raven entered the dome.

Everyone was staring at it with different expressions.

They hadn’t said or moved before, but now it was... concerning.

Clara, with her eyes narrowed, stood closer to the dome, her mana subtly stirring. "This... doesn’t look like a normal privacy veil."

Selena’s shadow twitched at her feet, stretching unnaturally toward the dome. Her voice was calm, but a note of ice slipped through. "...It’s blocking even my senses."

Siris tilted her head, utterly unfazed. "So what? It’s just black. He’s fine."

She twirled a dagger between her fingers like it was a nervous tic. "Probably."

"Probably?" Rufus’s voice cracked. He took a step back like the dome might suddenly explode. "I-I’m telling you, he’s not fine! That thing ate light! Normal things don’t do that!"

Jessy crossed her arms, leaning lazily against a glowing crystal. "Relax. He went in willingly. If she wanted him dead, he’d already be stardust."

She tilted her head. "...Probably."

"Stop saying probably!" Rufus snapped. "This is a goddess we’re talking about! Shouldn’t someone—I dunno—do something?!"

"Yeah!" Graye yelled, stomping her armored boots. "We should go in after him! What if she’s hugging him too hard and he can’t breathe?!"

Lia immediately grabbed her by the collar before she could charge. "Nope. Bad idea. Suicidal idea. Sit."

Alex, crouched on a boulder, squinted at the dome like it was a puzzle he couldn’t solve. "...Blargh, any clue?"

Blargh’s muffled voice echoed faintly from his chest. "Nope. Zero. Nada. That’s above my pay grade. I’m going back to sleep."

Meanwhile, Nibbles quietly raised a wooden sign: HE’S EITHER GETTING TRAINED OR GETTING MARRIED.

Clara exhaled slowly, hands sliding into her pockets. "We wait. If she wanted to harm him, we’d already know."

Selena’s lips curved into the faintest smile. "Or... she wants to harm him slowly."

That earned her a look from Rufus, who was now pale. "...You’re all insane."

Everyone, however, turned to him now.

"Says the guy who asks a squirrel if he would ever get a girlfriend." Jessy shook her head, and Rufus’s face turned red.

"That was private!"

Before anyone could say anything—

A soft click echoed through the clearing.

The dome shimmered once, then began to dissolve like golden mist retreating from the stage. Light spilled out, warm and divine, revealing Raven and Arietta walking side by side.

Or rather, Raven walked normally, while Arietta tried to glide with goddess-like grace, her gown fluttering behind her, posture straight, and chin lifted.

But her steps were just a little too stiff, her foot caught the hem once, and her arm accidentally bumped Raven’s as if she forgot how to walk next to a mortal.

One couldn’t blame her, though. This was her first time behaving like a real goddess with confidence.

Everyone noticed it, but no one said anything.

Well, no normal person said anything.

Graye squinted and pointed, "Wait... are you limping a little? Did you trip in there? Hey, are you even walking right?"

Arietta froze.

Her celestial aura flickered like someone had just insulted the laws of gravity. Her wide eyes slowly turned to Raven, shimmering with silent panic.

’Was it true? Was she not elegant? Was this mortal girl mocking her?!’

Raven’s smile didn’t even waver.

He casually slipped his hand into hers and replied smoothly, "You look like the epitome of gracefulness. It’s like stardust has learned how to walk."

Clara, without missing a beat and understanding what was going on, stepped forward and added, "Absolutely. It’s honestly a little unfair how flawless she looks. Some of us have to try, you know."

Selena’s voice followed like a shadow laced with charm, "If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was floating. Maybe it’s divine pressure."

Arietta blinked. Then blinked again. Her shoulders loosened, and the divine glow returned with double intensity.

"...Thank you," she murmured, clearly trying not to smile too hard. Her steps smoothed out, and her fingers tightened around Raven’s hand just a bit.

Graye opened her mouth again, likely to say something very unhelpful—

But Lia immediately placed a firm hand on her armored shoulder. "Nope. Let her have this. Please."

Graye pouted but stayed quiet.

Rufus mumbled, "This group is terrifying."

Omni’s voice echoed faintly from Raven’s back, "Y’all better get ready. That was Phase One of divine diplomacy. Phase Two involves tea, celestial gossip, and maybe emotional trauma."

Jessy nodded. "Sounds like a Tuesday."