Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 433 - 433 432 Gathering Inspiration

Chapter 433: Chapter 432: Gathering Inspiration Chapter 433: Chapter 432: Gathering Inspiration About Mel’s cousin and Annie’s love story from the Ade Family, even with Russell playing a supporting role, it still failed to gain Earl Merlin’s approval.

“Grandfather is too stubborn!” Once Earl Merlin had left, Mel sat on the stool, huffing and puffing.

“A bit.” Russell nodded.

Mel said, “Grandfather has been the Chief Executive for too long, accustomed to having his way. Once he’s set on something, no one can stop him! Now I understand, if he really was willing to reason, why would Kunstan spread such a false rumor!”

“Ahem.” Russell patted Mel’s shoulder, “Some things are better left in the past, let’s not bring them up again.”

“Sigh.” Mel sighed.

“What do you plan to do?” Russell asked, “Without grandfather’s approval, you probably won’t have a chance to marry Annie, especially since you’re a chosen son and also the heir to the Rainflower Family, the marriage isn’t something you can decide on your own.”

Mel scratched his head, sighing, “What bothers me now is, no one knows when the chosen son ordeal will end. If it doesn’t end for ten years, am I stuck with this status for ten years!”

This system of choosing a son, an uncategorizable institution.

It was entirely a product of a compromise between the Scorching Torrent Dragon and the Shadowflame Dragon, a fact that Russell, allied with the Shadowflame Dragon, clearly understood.

The Scorching Torrent Dragon didn’t want the Grand Duchy of Shadowflame to elect a new duke too soon and become a solid unit, hindering the Scorching Torrent Kingdom from gradually annexing the Grand Duchy; the Shadowflame Dragon was also biding time, allowing Russell and Little Dream Dragon to develop, waiting for the moment to strike back.

One could say.

The dragons hardly cared which of the three chosen sons would win; they were all holding back their big moves, waiting to secure the victory.

After the victory, whether it be the chosen sons or someone else, the dragons could decide the next duke with just a word.

Of course, from Russell’s perspective, the Shadowflame Dragon was sure to win.

After all, standing behind the Shadowflame Dragon were he and Little Dream Dragon, the future Dragon Knights—unless King Ares himself showed up, a mere Scorching Torrent Dragon, despite its hopes and constructing spire-like structures, couldn’t really cause much upheaval.

“Being a chosen son isn’t exactly a plight; it’s at least taught you how to govern a nation,” Russell consoled Mel, “Once you win, just like what grandfather said, this nation would be safer in your hands.”

“But can I really win? I feel like Kunsley has a much better chance than me.” Mel spoke frankly, “The more adamant and stubborn grandfather is, the better Kunsley seems… no one wants an overbearing duke.”

That was a big truth.

But Russell simply waved his hand, “Don’t think too much. Who becomes the duke isn’t necessarily up to the nobles of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy. Anyway, what you need to focus on, cousin, is learning how to govern the nation; let time decide the rest.”

“That’s true… wait, Russell, we are discussing how I can successfully marry Annie!”

“Right, how old is Annie now?”

“Seventeen.” Mel grinned sheepishly, “I’m only twenty-one myself, we’re quite a match, aren’t we?”

“Seventeen.” Russell pondered for a moment, “If, cousin, you can persuade grandfather, you can naturally marry Annie smoothly. If you can’t convince grandfather, I suggest you write a letter to Annie, asking her to wait for you for a few years.”

“Ask Annie to wait for me for a few years?” Mel frowned.

“Yes, if your love is true and sincere, a few years will pass in a blink. By then, cousin, if you’ve won the dukedom, everything would be straightforward; even if you lose, you’re still the heir to the Rainflower Family, which wouldn’t dishonor Annie.”

After a pause, Russell said, “Give her a timeframe, perhaps set a four or five-year period. If time diminishes the feelings…”

“No, that won’t happen!” Mel spoke firmly, “Annie and I fell in love at first sight, and even though we haven’t been together long, both of us believe our love will last till death… I’ll write to her right now, let’s settle on four years!”

Right then, Mel sat down and wrote a lengthy letter.

After finishing the letter.

Thinking of something, he said to Russell, “Every year, both countries send delegations to each other. Russell, you need to recommend and finalize my mission to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom… Only then will I have a chance to see Annie.”

“Okay.”

Everything settled, Mel finally relaxed. At that moment, he remembered something and said, “Willem came to look for you. Have you seen him?”

“I saw him, took him as a student,” Russell said.

“Tsk, tsk, having you as a teacher, a flying dragon knight and Dragon Domain Lord, this kid might really restore the glory of the Kinnaly Family.”

“That’s not necessarily so. If a Dragon Domain Lord could be promoted just by sharing some experience, then our kingdom and my Grand Duchy wouldn’t have produced only Wester Kinnaly and me as Dragon Domain Lords in nearly a hundred years,” Russell was not optimistic about this.

Instead, he said, “Rather than fantasizing about becoming a Dragon Domain Lord, it would be more practical to strive to ride a dragon.”

“Yes, riding a dragon is indeed more solid,” Mel nodded.

After a round of drinks to cheer up Mel and a candid bout of swordsmanship with him—ever since Russell mastered the Secret Technique: Sword of Thunder, it had set off a craze among knights, spurring them to fervently practice their swordsmanship.

“I’ll have someone send over an unedited ‘Three Swords Flow Grand Skill’. Cousin, your swordsmanship is too weak,” Russell disparagingly said after their bout.

Mel blinked but wasn’t discouraged, “Could it be possible that it’s not my swordsmanship that’s too weak, but rather that yours is too strong? At Roland’s wedding last time, I secretly sparred with Roland using the Dual Sword Style you taught him, and we only ended up in a draw.”

“That was then, this is now. If Cousin you remain at the level just now, um, you’ll suffer a terrible defeat when sparring with my big brother again.”

“Roland’s swordsmanship has improved that much?”

“What do you think? My big brother now often consults me on swordsmanship whenever he’s free. His mastery of swordsmanship is almost catching up to Grandpa’s.”

“Really?” Mel was alarmed.

“Anyway, practice diligently, Cousin. Constantly thinking about women will affect the speed of your sword draw,” Russell mildly chastised Mel for his impatient mentality towards training, before he also declined Mel’s invitation to a ball.

He quietly left the Red Castle.

Then, using Unicorn Polly, he transformed into a set of civilian clothes and took a stroll around Furious Wind City. The popularity of ‘Dragon Domain Descends the Thunder’ hadn’t faded yet, and many opera houses were not only screening this drama but also re-screening ‘The Dragonriding Youth.’

It can be said that Russell’s fame still enveloped the entire Furious Wind City, and even the entire Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

As the villain in the drama, Count Rocksaw had a notorious reputation.

In reality, it was said that the Chief Justice Earl Osclo of the Council of Elders had already retreated back to his Gravel Domain.

And he had vowed that he would kill the playwright Nicholas who slandered him.

However, Nicholas, as a widely acclaimed playwright, had already become a treasured guest of the Red Fort Nobility. Numerous nobles and ladies were willing to shelter Nicholas. Marquis Arno Sunfire even declared that Nicholas could live in Evernight Castle for life.

Whether in Red Castle or Furious Wind City.

Nicholas dared not stay any longer. He had already followed a merchant caravan to Glowing Valley to lay low at the time the drama was released.

He was now wandering in Blackfire Plains, gathering inspiration at various pioneering sites.

In part to enjoy Russell’s protection, and also to plan a new play centered on the pioneering of the Warm Enclave.

Of course.

Deep down, Nicholas, like many nobles, looked forward to the Shadowflame Dragon choosing a knight.

On a charcoal-dusted path, Nicholas, accompanied by an old servant, watched the serfs arriving at farms by carriage, feeling deeply moved, “If the Shadowflame Dragon chose Lord Russell, my current gathering of inspiration would all be material for my future play!”