Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 249 - 249 248 Farewell

Chapter 249: Chapter 248 Farewell Chapter 249: Chapter 248 Farewell With the fall of Grand Duke Kunstan, what should have been a victorious battle once again became the new “Battle of the Fallen”.

Two grand wars ended with the deaths of two generations of grand dukes, casting a heavy gloom over the future fate of Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

“This time, the choice of successor for the grand duke’s position is even more difficult than it was twenty-one years ago,” Earl Oskolo Shuiliu said, frowning inside the tent. “The direct bloodline of the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family no longer has a suitable heir.”

No one responded immediately; the great nobles present were all in deep thought.

The direct bloodline of the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family had always been lackluster, especially since the time of Quentin III Shadowflame, it had been in decline with each generation.

Quentin III Shadowflame had two daughters and one son, but his son, Quntro Shadowflame, was born with complications, resulting in mental incapacity and the inability to inherit the title of grand duke. He was only able to be granted the title of marquis. Fortunately, he eventually married Princess Anxia and fathered both a son and a daughter.

As a result, the Shadowflame Grand Duchy was governed by the Council of Elders for twenty years, awaiting Grand Duke Kunstan’s coming of age.

Everything went smoothly, and after coming of age, Grand Duke Kunstan quickly ascended to the grand ducal throne and swiftly took the reins of power.

But what no one expected was that in this war, which only required Grand Duke Kunstan to boost morale from the rear, he rashly went to the front lines and then fell victim to a sneak attack by the Blue-skinned Horsemen, dying on the spot.

Having never married, he naturally left no offspring.

As a result, the only remaining member of the Flamecrest Dragonblood family was Princess Kunlaya, a pity as women could not inherit titles.

“Oskolo, we shouldn’t be discussing this issue right now,” Viscount Mejie said. “Let’s wait for Princess Anxia to arrive, bury Grand Duke Kunstan, and then return to Red Castle to discuss this in detail… Let’s not get discouraged, gentlemen, we will find a proper solution.”

“This issue has to be addressed sooner or later, and it’s impossible to avoid,” Earl Oskolo said. “I want everyone to be prepared mentally.”

“With the situation as it is, do you really think it’s suitable to discuss this? Grand Duke Kunstan’s remains haven’t even been cremated!”

“A country cannot be without its ruler for a single day!”

“We’ve just ended twenty years of governance by the Council of Elders, what nonsense are you talking about!” Viscount Mejie retorted unceremoniously.

Earl Oskolo bellowed, “Watch your tongue! In terms of familial ties, I am your brother-in-law, and in terms of titles, I am a hereditary earl of the Grand Duchy. Mejie, you’d better show me some respect when talking to me!”

“Alright, alright, stop arguing!” Baron Kunbiff interjected with an attempt at mediation. “As for this matter, we should still listen to Princess Anxia’s thoughts.”

Baron Bullhorn Gevedas, troubled, said, “Princess Anxia rarely involves herself in politics, and we’ve always respected her highly, but don’t forget, gentlemen, that the Torrential Flood Dragon’s support this time came with Marquis Arno… the Scorching Torrent Kingdom is not easy to dismiss.”

“Yes, with her maternal family here, Princess Anxia…”

“So what I mean is, we should come to a consensus now,” Earl Oskolo said, narrowing his eyes with a hint of cunning beneath his rough exterior. “The future grand duke, from which branch of the bloodline should he be chosen!”

“Isn’t the opinion of His Highness Shadowflame the most important?” Baron Roman said, pointing out the crux of the matter as the others argued back and forth.

Hearing this, those great nobles, each with their own ulterior motives, fell silent.

The opinion of Princess Anxia was important, the opinion of Count Merlin was important, and even the opinion of Marquis Arno Sunfire had to be considered.

But ultimately, it was essential to first gain the approval of the Shadowflame Great Dragon.

After all, the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family could only claim direct lineage if someone was acknowledged by the Shadowflame Great Dragon. Otherwise, however authentic the bloodline might be, it wouldn’t matter without the Great Dragon’s approval—gaining the Grand Duchy was out of the question.

“Dismissed,” Earl Oskolo said with a roll of his eyes as he pushed aside the tent and stepped out.

By afternoon.

The knights had fully cleared the battlefield, and standing silently around Grand Duke Kunstan’s casket were the Knight Regiments.

The Shadowflame Great Dragon, sleeping soundly not far away, did not emit any excess heat. It was still a world of ice and snow.

As a Lord, Russell stood at the forefront of the Glowing Valley Knight Regiment and could clearly see Grand Duke Kunstan’s coffin, as well as the equally still and silent great nobles standing before it, including Marquis Arno Sunfire.

The silence was unbroken, save for the occasional roar of a bipedal flying dragon nearby.

Everyone was waiting.

Dark clouds churned, and heavy snow fell.

At that moment, a group of flying beasts rapidly approached from the sky, landing in the open space before Grand Duke Kunstan’s coffin.

Riding on the backs of the beasts were several knights, as well as Princess Anxia and Princess Kunlaya.

Leading the great nobles, Earl Osclo quickly moved toward the beasts, welcoming Princess Anxia in armor and Princess Kunlaya, wrapped up like a small sticky rice dumpling, and helped them down from their mounts.

Both had eyes red and swollen from crying, making their way to the coffin step by step.

Standing before the coffin all day without eating, Count Merlin, seeing Princess Anxia approaching with a face devoid of life, could no longer calmly face it all. As Princess Anxia drew near the coffin, he collapsed to his knees before her.

“Your servant… your servant… your servant has failed Your Highness!” Count Merlin burst into tears, his head full of white hair disheveled in the wind and snow.

Princess Anxia did not look at Count Merlin, but numbly walked to the coffin, bending down to look at Grand Duke Kunstan’s dismembered body within.

Her tears had dried out on the way; now she just reached out, wanting to touch her son’s face.

“Your Highness, please do not touch,” a knight guarding the coffin blocked Princess Anxia’s hand and explained earnestly, “Touch by the living can cause the body to decompose, preventing Your Highness’s soul from resting in peace.”

Upon hearing this,

Princess Anxia withdrew her hand and, seeing Princess Kunlaya wanting to come forward to see her brother, quickly covered Kunlaya’s eyes.

With a hoarse voice, she said, “Brother knows you came to see him off, that’s enough, don’t look.”

“Brother… I want to see brother…” Princess Kunlaya pleaded.

But Princess Anxia never allowed it and instead handed Princess Kunlaya over to two maids following close behind.

Only then did she turn back to see Count Merlin, still sobbing at her feet, her numb gaze seeming to shift slightly, piercingly glaring at Count Merlin, her trembling body seeming to exude immense hatred.

“Why!” Princess Anxia asked hoarsely.

“Your servant has failed Your Highness,” Count Merlin made no defense, only repeating the same words.

Russell watched his grandfather kneeling on the ground before Princess Anxia in agony, feeling a strange sensation within.

Having served two generations of Grand Dukes, both of whom fell in battle, the pain in Count Merlin’s heart was unimaginable.

But the most pitiable was Princess Anxia.

This was Russell’s first time seeing Princess Anxia and not the once-dubbed first beauty of the Shadowflame; all he saw was a mother mourning her son’s death.

He also saw Princess Kunlaya for the second time, cradled in a maid’s arms, shivering like a homeless puppy.

“Is this war…” Russell’s thoughts were in disarray when suddenly, he thought of John, his own attendant knight.

John too had fallen on the snowfield.

“Going back to my land, I really don’t know how to announce this news to John’s family… Should I have Eric or Charles do it in my place, no, better I tell them personally… It’s my responsibility.”

All of a sudden, Russell felt that being a Lord was not only about enjoying privileges but also a weighty responsibility.