Chapter 394 Arrived
Michael blinked at the sudden barrage of questions, then let out a small laugh. "I wasn’t expecting an interrogation."
She flushed slightly, but didn’t look away. "Sorry. I just... really like magical beasts. Especially flame-attribute ones. They’re temperamental, yes, but full of pride."
Michael found himself amused—but also mildly puzzled.
"I’ve encountered a pride of them before," he said, then paused, his gaze narrowing slightly. "But Princess... didn’t you receive a Flame Lion yesterday? From your father, I assume?"
His tone was casual, but his eyes flicked toward her face, searching. "Or am I mistaken?"
Arianne’s cheerful expression faltered in an instant.
She blinked once, then twice. Her smile faded, and her brow furrowed in quiet annoyance. But her next words weren’t directed at Michael.
"No," she said flatly. "You’re not mistaken. I received it."
Her jaw tightened, and a visible tension crept into her posture as she folded her arms across her chest.
"That beast—the one my father had delivered to me—wasn’t the one I asked for. I’d specifically gone to him a week ago and told him I was ready to contract a new beast. Something younger, something I could bond with properly. He smiled, patted my head like I was still twelve, and said not to worry. That he’d find the perfect Flame Lion for me."
She shook her head, her tone growing sharper. "Do you know what they brought me yesterday? An old male. Not just old—ancient. The poor thing looked like it had been through a dozen wars. Scars all over its body. And don’t get me wrong—he was strong, an early advanced stage beast, strong enough to make seasoned tamers hesitate. But he was dying. You could see it in his eyes."