Chapter 20: The Queen's Darling
As Liz carried Will into the Dragonite Kingdom, he had to admit that he had severely underestimated the speed of human development in this era. Will had assumed this so-called kingdom would be nothing more than a large fortress made of ugly, gray stones.
He was wrong.
While the Dragonite Kingdom was certainly not as advanced or luxurious as the cities of the future, it was far from the primitive image Will had in his mind. It was more like a town from medieval Europe. The streets and alleys were relatively clean, with almost no signs of filth or squalor.
And Queen Liz herself was not the high-and-mighty ruler depicted in movies and anime, completely detached from her people. She walked freely through the streets holding Will, casually greeting the common folk on either side of the road. The people, in turn, did not react with fanatical worship, nor did they rush forward to ask for autographs. They simply offered her warm greetings.
It was Will, however, who drew all the attention. This little primal beast, held personally in the arms of the Queen, caused everyone to turn and stare, successfully achieving a 100% head-turn rate.
First time seeing a Dratini, huh? Hahaha~
Will was quite enjoying being the center of attention. Most Dratini lived hidden in the dark depths of the water, only emerging after they evolved into Dragonair and gained the ability to fly and protect themselves. As such, a Dratini was an incredibly rare Pokémon, not just in the Era of Primal Beasts, but even in the far more peaceful Era of Leagues, where it was considered a "Mirage Pokémon."
But Will was mistaken.
For the common people living in the Dragonite Kingdom, there were countless Pokémon they had never seen before. They couldn't recognize how rare Will was, unlike Liz. The reason they paid him so much attention was simply that it was the first time they had ever seen their Queen be so intimate with a primal beast. For the past twenty years, Liz had never had contact with any beast other than those of the Beedrill line, typically entrusting their training to her close ministers and subordinates.
Will was the very first beast to be allowed so close to Queen Liz.
They continued on their way. Soon, Will saw the castle where he would be living for a very long time. It was a beautiful and luxurious structure, its entire exterior a pure white, with the tops of its towers formed by yellow spires.
"Your Majesty?! Why are you holding a primal beast?! Please, put it down at once! Be careful, it might attack you!"
Shortly after they entered the castle, a tall woman with long, straight black hair, dressed in a traditional French maid's uniform, hurried over, her expression stern.
"Hestia, it's alright. Lan is very gentle," Liz smiled, not paying her concern much mind. She even reached down and playfully pinched Will's tail.
This action made Hestia's eyebrow twitch. She anxiously jumped in front of Liz, snatched Will away, and dropped him on the floor.
"What the..."
Dropped on the hard floor, Will saw stars, his head spinning. When he came to, he glared furiously at Hestia.
"Hestia! How could you treat him like that! Lan is still a baby!" Liz's face darkened. She rushed over, picked Will up, and carefully inspected him for injuries.
She was no longer the young girl who knew nothing about primal beasts. She knew that all beasts went through an infant stage. During this period, they were extremely fragile, so weak that even a full-power attack was like a gentle, playful scratch. But the moment they left that stage, even if only for five seconds, they would possess immense strength. When Liz had first picked Will up by the lake and felt his struggles, she knew instantly that he was still an infant. This was why she dared to hold him so fearlessly, without worrying about being attacked.
"Your Majesty?!"
"Say no more! I have already decided to raise Lan. When he grows up, he will be my most important partner, as important as Goldie!" Liz's attitude was resolute.
She had always believed that her encounter with this little beast was no coincidence. The moment she first laid eyes on him, a stir in her heart told her that this child was a beast partner she could absolutely trust. It was a feeling no other beast had ever given her, not once in twenty years. She didn't know where the feeling came from, but she trusted it.
"This... very well. But please, Your Majesty, you must be careful!" Hearing this, Hestia could only nod helplessly. When she heard Liz invoke the name "Goldie," she knew the matter was no longer up for debate.
"Goldie."
That name held an extraordinary significance throughout the Dragonite Kingdom. It was a name recorded in the annals of the Dragonite Tribe's history, a defining stroke in the Queen's own story, the crowning touch in the founding of the Dragonite Kingdom.
Hestia's next actions were decisive and efficient. Since Her Majesty had decided to personally raise this beast, then they must naturally provide the most perfect methods of care.
For the entire day, none of the maids in the royal palace got a moment's rest. There were countless things they needed to prepare and research. For example:
What kind of living environment does Lan prefer?
What flavors of food does Lan like?
What kind of toys does Lan enjoy?
What elements is Lan afraid of?
...
These were all things they had to study and observe, bit by bit, all to raise Her Majesty's personal beast into a powerful, independent partner as quickly and perfectly as possible.
"This child probably likes to live in water. Move a large tank into my chambers. Remember to change the water with fresh, clear water every day," Liz said, holding Will. She remembered finding Lan by the lake, and his body had been very moist, clearly having just come out of the water. So she guessed he would like a place with water.
Oh my, my life is about to get so good, Will thought, lying comfortably in Liz's arms, leisurely watching the beautiful maids bustle about for his sake. He could already imagine the lavish, happy life he was about to lead. Finally, he wouldn't have to struggle so hard like he did in his first life.
He didn't even have to wait for the next day. On the very evening he arrived at the palace, news that the Queen had a new darling pet had already spread through all the major taverns in the capital. It wouldn't be long before the news spread throughout the entire Dragonite Kingdom, and perhaps the entire Johto region.
But at this moment, Will didn't care about any of that. Because night had fallen, and he was now lying on the Queen's massive bed.
So, what was the point of preparing that giant tank for me? Will thought, looking speechlessly at Liz, who was hugging him so tightly he thought he might be strangled.
At the same time, he glanced covetously at the large glass tank by the bed. Under the moonlight, the crystal-clear glass tank shone with a beautiful light, and the rippling water within looked so inviting. Will couldn't even imagine how comfortable his skin would feel after a swim in there. It was his first time being a Dratini, and he didn't know what would happen if he stayed out of water for too long, but he was sure it would be an unpleasant experience.
But...
"Lan, be good and sleep now, don't fidget~ Goodnight~"
Liz didn't know why, but she just wanted to sleep while holding Will. The feeling gave her a sense of nostalgia, just like how she felt sleeping next to Goldie twenty years ago. The only difference was that sleeping on a hard tree trunk back then had been very uncomfortable, whereas this soft, luxurious bed was so much better.
"Mew~ (Goodnight...)"