Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 337 - 337 336 Princess Anxias Guess

Chapter 337: Chapter 336 Princess Anxia’s Guess Chapter 337: Chapter 336 Princess Anxia’s Guess “Drink!”

“Ha!”

Clear and crisp shouts like the song of a nightingale echoed from within the palace of Red Castle, where Princess Kunlaya was practicing her battle qi martial arts.

Already eleven years old, Princess Kunlaya, dressed in a short garment, earnestly wielded her fine steel longsword, genuinely engaging in the cultivation of her meridians through the guidance of her techniques.

Her little face was flushed red.

Sweat drenched her forehead and soaked through her entire shirt.

“Kunlaya, take a break,” Princess Anxia pleaded with a heart full of distress when she saw this, urging Princess Kunlaya to rest.

However, though tired, Princess Kunlaya shook her head firmly, “No, Mother, I want to continue practicing!”

“Today is a joyous day, your brother Russell has successfully been promoted to a Flying Dragon Knight. You should write him a letter later… Never mind, he’s sure to be named a Lord of the Grand Duchy, so we’ll invite him over for dinner.”

Princess Anxia then entreated again, “Kunlaya, please take a break.”

“No, Mother,” Princess Kunlaya continued shaking her head.

“You silly girl, why be so stubborn? Taking a day off wouldn’t hurt. What if you wear yourself out?”

“Mother, you have had someone inquire about brother Russell’s circumstances. Don’t you know that when he was younger, brother Russell practiced tirelessly every day without a break? It is precisely because of such perseverance that he succeeded in riding a dragon today!” she argued.

Having said that,

after performing a series of battle qi techniques, she took advantage of the pause to say, “I too must practice hard to earn His Highness Shadowflame’s recognition someday.”

Upon hearing these words, something seemed to trigger Princess Anxia’s nerve; her previously smiling face suddenly turned stern, and she reprimanded, “Why do you, like your deceased brother, set your sights so unrealistically high?”

“Mother, I…”

“Enough, Kunlaya. I acknowledge your hard work, but do not casually speak of earning His Highness Shadowflame’s recognition!” said Princess Anxia, instantly regretting her harsh tone.

As she softened her voice, she said in a more gentle manner, “Kunlaya, set smaller goals for yourself, aspire to earn the recognition of a Bipedal Flying Dragon.”

Princess Kunlaya did not understand why she shouldn’t aim for the recognition of a Shadowflame Dragon, but she obediently nodded, “Yes, Mother.”

“Alright then, you may continue your practice.”

Watching her daughter’s hardworking figure, Princess Anxia couldn’t help but sigh internally, “Foolish daughter, the Shadowflame Dragon has taken interest in your brother Russell. For so many years, this is the first time the Shadowflame Dragon has seriously mentioned a knight.”

In Princess Anxia’s view, the Shadowflame Dragon would never casually mention an ordinary knight.

It is very possible that Russell was the one the Shadowflame Dragon had chosen for himself, just waiting for Russell to grow up.

“After two defeats to Snow Giant Da, the Shadowflame Dragon must have grown weary of the inconvenience of not having a knight. Now, indeed, it should let go of its great dragon pride and cultivate a knight of its own,” surmised Princess Anxia, finding this to be the most reasonable explanation.

Of course.

Even if Russell ultimately does not meet the standards of the Shadowflame Dragon and becomes a Dragon Knight, the title of Dragon Knight would not fall upon Kunlaya.

In Princess Anxia’s eyes, one of the three Chosen Sons was likely to be the direct successor of the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family.

She and Kunlaya, having been completely forsaken by the Shadowflame Dragon since the fall of Grand Duke Kunstan, wouldn’t inherit such a legacy. If not for the Shadowflame Dragon still honoring the covenant with Quentin III Shadowflame, they might have been burned to cinders by a single breath of dragonflame.

After all, her father had always coveted the Shadowflame Dragon’s power.

“The Shadowflame Dragon’s disdain for us is justified. Even I detest the Lieyang Royal Family blood coursing through my veins,” Princess Anxia sighed deeply, quietly leaving the palace and walking down the passageway beneath Red Castle towards Shadowflame Volcano.

Regardless.

The Shadowflame Dragon remained their guardian.

Therefore, Princess Anxia silently approached the volcano, and through the scorching lava, she gazed at the head of the Shadowflame Dragon floating on the surface of the magma.

She prayed quietly, “Your devoted servant, Anxia, has arrived, Your Highness Shadowflame, to bring you the good news. Russell has succeeded in riding a dragon… It is said to be a Black Oil Dragon named Rossay, and your territory has gained a new Warm Enclave…”

Gurgle gurgle.

The lava bubbled and churned.

The Shadowflame Dragon seemed to have entered deep slumber. It showed no reaction to Princess Anxia’s prayers.

…

Evernight Castle.

Baron Swan Kunbifu, disguised, quietly arrived at this brilliantly lit castle.

“Kunbifu, when you come to me, just come openly. There’s no need to always disguise yourself as though others don’t know about our cooperation,” Marquis Arno Sunfire sat comfortably in his chair, leisurely puffing on a cigar.

He had completely fallen for cigars lately, especially the Frost cigars made from magic tobacco.

There was no denying that the Frost cigars, marketed as exclusives, were invigorating to smoke. Unfortunately, there were only one hundred boxes available, and sometimes he couldn’t bring himself to partake.

Smoke one, and there’s one less.

Anyway, he never used Frost cigars to entertain guests — he used Mist and Dew cigars instead; after all, they cost him nothing — the profits from the trade of Mist and Dew cigars, made between the two countries, went straight into his pocket, so of course they cost him nothing.

“Marquis Arno, please cut me some slack,” Baron Kunbifu sighed.

“Is keeping company with me a loss of face? Can’t you see that all the poets, literary giants, painters, musicians in Furious Wind City, throughout the Shadowflame Grand Duchy, desire to flock to my Evernight Castle? Distinguished ladies even fight over an invitation.”

“Is it the same thing?” Baron Kunbifu couldn’t help but roll his eyes, “Once Kunslai ascends to become Grand Duke…”

“Not Grand Duke, Duke,” Marquis Arno corrected nonchalantly.

Kunbifu rolled his eyes again and continued, “Now that there’s been a change with Chosen Son Kunslai, haven’t you heard? Russell found a dragon and became a Flying Dragon Knight! Another powerful ally for Mel!”

He counted on his fingers and explained, “Let’s not talk about Augustus, who at most could only persuade Davis Golden Cap to back him, hardly significant. But now that Russell has become a dragon rider, Marquis Arno, behind Mel, there are already three great nobles!”

In his demonstration,

Count Broken Stone and Baron Gold supported Chosen Son Augustus.

Swan Baron, Baron Bullhorn, and Baron Blackgarden supported Chosen Son Kunslai.

Count Flo Pot and Baron Youguang backed Chosen Son Mel.

The forces of all parties were similar, but as Kunslai came from a collateral line of the Shadowflame Family and was cooperating with the Scorching Torrent Kingdom, which was behind Marquis Arno, he was naturally expected to win.

But with Russell’s successful dragon riding, it meant that Mel had gained the support of another baron, and what was most crucial is that Count Merlin, Mr. Luo Man, and Russell were all Flying Dragon Knights, boasting formidable combat strength, which truly caused Kunbifu anxiety and unrest.

“Just Russell alone, and you are this frightened?” Marquis Arno spoke, “Haven’t you been planning to win over Lord Welchi, and have Gevedas to bring Drella to your side? Isn’t that two more Flying Dragon Knights?”

“Guess what’s the first thing Russell did after becoming a dragon rider?”

“What?”

“He went to the Populus Gobi.”

“Hmm, and so what?”

“With what I know of Gevedas, this opportunist has definitely sided with Mel; he wouldn’t give up a marriage alliance with families of two Flying Dragon Knights. Drella’s support is out of the question,” Kunbifu said through gritted teeth.

However, Marquis Arno seemed indifferent, “Look at the bigger picture. Out of three hundred lords, there are eight Flying Dragon Knights. You’ve already drawn Welchi to your side; just attract a few more.”

“Easier said than done,” he retorted.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Marquis Arno flicked his ash, “And besides, you have the support of my Scorching Torrent Kingdom. What are you afraid of?”

“Sigh,” Kunbifu nodded silently, no longer speaking.

In fact, it was the Scorching Torrent Kingdom he feared. Today they might support his grandson Kunslai, but tomorrow they could just as well back Merlin’s grandson Mel, or even Osclo’s son Augustus the day after.

Whoever was willing to sell out more of the Grand Duchy’s interests would earn the kingdom’s support.

Half an hour later, Kunbifu, in disguise, left Evernight Castle with heavy concerns. Marquis Arno, who didn’t see him out, sat in his chair, lost in thought.

“Russell has actually advanced to a Flying Dragon Knight… Is the boy just lucky, or is the Shadowflame Dragon resisting? Heh, a knight who has caught the dragon’s eye… With Shadowflame’s current state, how much can it resist!”

With that thought, he ceased to dwell on Russell’s dragon riding.

Yet, he muttered to himself, “I had planned to take an extra ten percent of the profits from the cigar trade, but now I must give some respect to the Flying Dragon Knight, so I’ll maintain eighty percent… After all, the Shadowflame Grand Duchy still has to rely on these nobles for governance.”