Of course, there was no way he could bring himself to lay a hand on a her.
And it was only during the conversation that followed that he learned the full picture.
The other countries had all sent a princess along with their tributes of gold, silver, and treasures.
One younger than the other. Ariel, who barely qualified was actually the oldest of them all.
As for why they didn't send older ones, it wasn't because they thought he had a certain complex, it was simply that his appearance had been too sudden. Most of the older princesses were already married or already betrothed.
And the ones they sent weren't a problem at all in this era.
———
In the quiet night, Ash lay still in the warm bedding, but he had no intention of sleeping. He was just doing some rare thinking about life while lying in bed.
But just then, he suddenly felt something soft crawl in by his feet. At the same time, an enticing fragrance drifted faintly to his nose. A scent mixed with a maiden's natural body odor, especially noticeable in the silent night.
Ash instinctively opened his eyes, and what greeted him was Ariel's face, flushed bright red.
She really was looking at him with a nervous expression right now, her eyes fixed on Ash without blinking, her cautious demeanor as if she had done something wrong and was afraid of being scolded.
"What are you doing?", Ash looked at the girl before him, truly at a loss for words, his brow furrowing slightly.
When Ariel heard Ash's question, her face immediately took on a pitiful look, and her voice was as small as a mosquito's as she carefully said, "S-sleeping with you?"
Those words came out of her mouth with a hint of hesitation, and what seemed like an indescribable shyness.
But paired with her still somewhat immature features, the scene felt strange no matter how you looked at it.
At least Ash found it strange, "Do you actually know what that means?"
"O-of course...", Ariel bit her lip and nodded firmly, though stammering.
"Even if you do know, it doesn't matter. You haven't even grown all your hair yet, have you?"
"Th-this... I'll try harder?", Ariel tilted her head in confusion, which made him both amused and exasperated, and he couldn't help but retort, "Try harder where exactly?"
"I-I don't know... whatever Ash-sama wants...", Ariel's voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost inaudible. This awkward and flustered atmosphere made the already strange situation even more uncomfortable.
'What now? What kind of weird conversation is this? And she's still not mature enough!', Ash even started wondering if he should just bundle her up and toss her out of the room, just to get some peace and quiet.
But right at that moment, he suddenly keenly sensed a powerful killing intent.
Ash reflexively looked toward the source of that killing intent, instinctively preparing to take countermeasures, and the aura around him shifted abruptly.
"Ah-ah...", Instantly, Ariel seemed to have received an electric shock, her eyes widening as her body trembled violently beyond her control.
Her delicate features twisted in fear, and her originally rosy cheeks turned pale.
But from outside the room came the teasing voice of the old rogue, Gall, "Haha! Fun, right? Scare these little noble girls and they get all interesting!"
"What's interesting about that?", Ash replied with annoyance, casting a glance at Ariel beside him.
She had been so frightened that a large wet patch had instantly soaked through her skirt. Her pathetic state left Ash somewhat dumbfounded, and he reflexively showed no trace of chivalry whatsoever, rolling up the blanket and bundling Ariel inside it before tossing her off the bed.
Thankfully, the sheets were still clean, but... no sooner had he confirmed the sheets were unharmed than he realized he might have been a bit too rough with her.
But just as he was thinking he should show a bit of gentlemanly conduct, be a little gentler with her, at least comfort her, he looked down and noticed...
"Ahhh..."
Ariel's expression had taken on a dazed look, as if she had been scared into wetting herself... but was actually enjoying it?
'Good grief. All elegant and refined on the outside, but isn't she even more perverted than Sophia? And at least Sophia knows shame, this one... actually thinks it's not bad?', Ash had originally felt he might have been too rough on her, but now his face showed nothing but utter disgust.
He looked at this beautiful princess as if she were a pitiful thing.
Because he felt he had to take back his earlier words, this girl was no elegant princess at all; that was all just an act.
And she had severely ruined the beautiful image of princesses he'd held since childhood from reading fairy tales... she was practically a dream ruiner.
"Mmm~", Ariel wanted to hold back her shame, but the terror that had seemed to come from the very depths of her soul earlier, coupled with Ash's cold gaze now, made her feel, amid her shame, as if some strange interest deep within her heart was about to awaken.
That feeling frightened even her, yet she also seemed vaguely expectant, and the daze on her face grew more pronounced.
Just being looked at by Ash like that made Ariel feel tingly all over, and she was absolutely certain. This guy was a genuine divine-level, or even above, monster, and also...
If only she could win him over?
Normal people would probably be too terrified to ever want to see him again, but that thought had quietly taken root in Ariel's heart that night she had been scared into wetting herself, and it kept growing and swelling.
Or rather, before she was sent here, countless maids and noble ladies had surrounded her every day, constantly educating and brainwashing her, repeatedly drilling into her that she must devote herself wholeheartedly to winning Ash over.
Even just keeping Ash from developing a negative opinion of her and her kingdom would be a life well-lived.
The maids who had been arranged to accompany her also never stopped their ongoing education, always whispering these things in her ear, filling her head all day with thoughts of how to win Ash over... perhaps that was the trigger for this strange idea?
Still... for the next month or so, Ash continued his usual research-filled life, just with an extra princess-maid by his side.
And Ariel, under her maids' guidance, would occasionally, when alone with him, tell dirty jokes with an embarrassed look on her face... though she failed to rouse his beastly desires, she did earn his disgusted looks.
But that paradoxically made Ariel happy, as if she had received a reward, and she became even more motivated, leaving Ash feeling she was seriously off.
And after it happened too many times, he couldn't help but, when back in his room, put her over his knee and spank her, swelling her bottom so badly she couldn't get out of bed for a whole day and walked funny, which finally kept her somewhat well-behaved for two days.
Honestly, Ash could somewhat guess the cause of her twisted nature, so he didn't send her away.
As for the other princesses, he sent them all back, because he wasnt interested in them. Keeping one was enough, and Ariel could help handle the explanations for the rest.
Though she was not mature enough, she knew surprisingly a lot. After the guards who had escorted them left, she and Ash were the most cultured people in the entire Sword Sanctuary, aside from the maids she had brought.
So after a moment's deliberation, he left her with a pile of tasks and promised that once everything was gathered, he would send her back to her country. Since she couldn't adapt to the bitter cold of the north and could only stay indoors by the fire every day.
But whether he promised or not, Ariel could only take charge of guiding these illiterate people to collect and piece together the materials Ash needed.
During this time, he also planned to take a little break, to relax a bit, he intended to go unwind and rest.
After giving his instructions, he ignored Ariel's aggrieved and troubled gaze... and directly left the room, abandoning this princess who looked elegant and refined on the outside but was actually a masochist.
And once out of everyone's sight, he left the Sword Sanctuary via spatial transfer.
Even up to the very end, Ariel still couldn't figure out. She had been sent here to be a wife, so how had she... ended up as a tool?