Why Wasn't I born in a Dragon Clan?

That's kiddo, how I met your father…s.

As we approached Axel's colleagues in the ballroom, I prayed not to voice some dirty thoughts out loud.

I froze in my place as everyone eyed me with trusting and admiring gazes, smizing and showing off their pearly whites. I counted three of them—five, including Axel and Grey.

Axel's arm was on my lower back as Grey took my left side. People in this circle sure were out of this world. Damn it! How could they be so dazzling while I could barely brush my hair! Did you know what effort took to comb wavy hair? Pft... Where could I find the boss of the life to quit?

"They can hear your thoughts." I flinched as hot breath ghosted my ear shell.

"Shoo!"

I nudged Axel, whose smirk was palpable in his low chuckle while he straightened again.

His vibrating laugh was accompanied by his friends as one of them, with green hair, handed me a drink.

"Relax, my lady. We are your servants till the day we die in fighting for your safety."

Hm, really?!

"Really," The green-haired confirmed my musing as his lips tugged into an enticing smirk. His crimson eyes were boring into mine and urging me to take in his irresistible appearance. Everyone there had the same solid built as Axel, but not the same aura. "Oh, how rude of me. Let us introduce ourselves."

They all inched forward and bowed at me again.

"We are all from the dragon clan. I am Danu."

Beautiful. It was apparent that these folks were from the dragon clan. Why wasn't I born in the dragon clan?

"I'm Ash," sang the blonde with golden eyes as his voice was sweet and pleasant to hear. Adorable!

Ash quirked his eyebrow at me.

"Oh, you heard it, didn't you?" I retorted and narrowed my eyes at him playfully.

Ash let out a boyish charming laugh. As if a magical melody enveloped me, I sheepishly smiled and shook my head.

This atmosphere was warming my heart and etching the word 'family' in my skin. Suddenly, the murmurs and chatters didn't rile me anymore. I listened to Axel's crew ladened with joy, freedom, and solid loyalty to each other – eternal friendship.

Maybe Axel wasn't that bad. I was still new to this, to Axel's world, and too quick to judge him. The person who cherished and understood friendship couldn't be on the wrong side of life.

"Harley," this one was the most unusual so far. Harley was as restrained as the soft breeze - caressing your skin tenderly while still firmly proving his presence and stealing your attention with sweet torture as his gaze chained mine to his azure eyes.

Harley had soft features compared to others as the sky blue eyes danced with mine. His dark hair reminded me of someone. Oh-

"He is my younger brother." Axel's honey-drenched voice answered my thoughts. Every time he parted his lips, sweet poison was seeping inside me. Damn you, dragon! I wanted to be strong and look strong, but Axel shattered my past, naive self as time flew by. His character was mysterious yet fascinating to me.

"Well, can I change our contract, only your name, Axel?" I remarked, and everyone laughed. Even Harley silently chuckled, who seemed as unfazed persona as a stone.

Axel just tightened his grip on me and shot me an 'if only I catch you alone' look.

"It would be a pleasure, my lady," Harley commented, and I swore my heart melted at that moment. Charisma was embedded in their bloodline. While getting easily flustered was in mine.

"Tsk, you little," Ash stuffed his pockets as he clicked his tongue. I couldn't come up with relevant adjectives to portray his youthful and ravishing looks. Ash would have been the type to be wisest but masking it up with mischief and a careless attitude.

"I know, right! Axel, it's your deed," Danu ruffled Harley's hair as the younger rolled his eyes and shoved his hand away.

"Introduce yourself, my lady," Grey advised and shushed his friends.

"Yeah, Rebel, how do you like in here?" Danu crooked his head like a puppy and beamed at me.

"Um… I developed some liking for you four, and the palace is cool too. But this thing beside me-" I motioned at Axel, "I'm not sure about that thing."

The boys smacked Axel's shoulder and let out laughs while Axel pursed his lips and gazed down at me.

"What a brilliant queen you will be!"

"Haha, I will poison you and become the king."

"Hm? Dragons are immune to any poison, sweetheart."

A lazy smirk played on his flawless face as he gazed at me like an adult lecturing his kid.

"Unfortunately," Ash agreed with Axel.

"Nothing can kill us. Except," Axel drawled while shooting a perky gaze at his buddies who listened to him intensely. Amused expression was written on their impeccable faces, "a kiss from your enemy." He finished his sentence, and Harley rolled his eyes while others playfully threw taunts at the king.

"Axel, hand off," I ordered, and every eye in that circle laid on me. God damn you for being this good-looking!

Axel looked utterly displeased with the way I spoke to him.

"Don't worry. I don't go crazy about it either. We just have to hold on for a little longer."

Ash whistled, and Danu shook his head at Axel.

"Axel, we have to start with the championship," Grey announced.

"Good."

"What championship?"

Axel gestured for his comrades to move as the loud bonk suppressed everyone.

Why did nobody explain the details? Perchance, I was about to be sacrificed?

"No, my princess," Axel clarified, "Nobody is going to touch you. You are in my grasp." His lips tugged into an indifferent smirk as his hand on my lower back urged me to move with him.

"This battle will determine the identity of your private bodyguard."

I pinched his arm, and he gawked at me dumbstruck.

"How many panties do you have to adjust?" He mocked me.

"You are the biggest pain in my panties."

"Nah, I won't take you that way, princess-"

Please give me the strength to not punch this idiot! I just had to ignore his remarks. I was in fault, too; I provoked him.

"I don't need a bodyguard, or did you forget I am one?!"

Sheesh, I had been cut to form a perfect bodyguard my whole life, but look at me now. I was about to become a queen and required my own sentry.

"Former." Axel corrected me with that icy cold eyes as he pushed me forward harder.

"Rebel, I will always protect you, but it's an ancient tradition. Queens have their own guards. Hm?"

I sighed but gave him a few jerks of my head.

But wait!

My eyes lit up as the dumb…A COOL idea hit me. Phew, Axel wasn't reading my mind.

What if I won this contest. I hadn't shown them my full abilities. I was becoming all riled up.