Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 456 - 456 455 As Old as the Dragons

Chapter 456: Chapter 455: As Old as the Dragons Chapter 456: Chapter 455: As Old as the Dragons Three giant dragons crouched at the mouth of a volcano, each with their eyes closed, feigning sleep to conserve their strength.

The entire Red Castle bustled with excitement as all the residents welcomed the arrival of King Ares. Perhaps there were disputes among the higher echelons of the state, but to ordinary people, a Dragon Knight was the most honorable guest in the world.

Inside the Inner Fort Hall.

Count Merlin, Marquis Arno, and others were busy attending to the reception and the banquet, leaving King Ares and Princess Anxia alone to spend time together as mother and daughter.

With no outsiders present, King Ares’s tone became a bit softer, “Anxia, you’ve worked hard over these years.”

Caught off guard by these kind words, Princess Anxia was momentarily stunned and then felt as if a block of ice in her heart had melted. Her resentment towards King Ares also faded unconsciously, “Father, perhaps this is Anxia’s destiny.”

“There is no destiny in this world. Each person’s life is the result of their own choices,” King Ares said.

Princess Anxia gave a self-deprecating smile, “Father, do you think I have the right to choose?”

King Ares fell silent, but soon spoke, “Our parents give birth to us, the earth nourishes us, and the people support us… One must always take responsibility for their actions. Anxia, even I have duties that I cannot avoid fulfilling.”

“Isn’t that destiny then?”

“If you insist on thinking so, then let it be destiny,” King Ares conceded without further argument.

Princess Anxia took a couple of breaths before continuing, “I don’t understand the affairs of the world, nor can I shoulder the responsibilities of a nation. Father, I have resigned myself to my fate and only want to stay with Kunstan and Kunlaya… Now Kunstan is gone, only Kunlaya is left.”

She looked deeply at King Ares and asked with difficulty, “Father, will you take her away from me?”

“Men must marry and women must be given away in marriage,” King Ares said expressionlessly. “The blood of the Lieyang Royal Family flows through your veins, and your rights and duties were determined the moment you were born. Perhaps to you, this is destiny.”

“So, being a Regent Lady is not my end. Becoming a widow of a fallen nation is my ultimate destiny,” Princess Anxia scoffed. “You are a high and mighty Dragon Knight who can decide everything, but I don’t understand, does all of this truly matter?”

“It matters,” King Ares responded.

Watching the hatred in his daughter’s eyes, the king’s beard concealed any change in his expression.

After a few seconds of silence, he spoke slowly, “The world is becoming increasingly difficult. The kingdom’s astrological tower has surveyed the stars and discovered that the Dragon Sleep Continent is slipping into an unknown orbit. The legendary Frost Titan could step through our door at any time.”

“Frost Titan?” Princess Anxia was astonished.

“I know you hate me, Anxia, but I must be prepared,” King Ares revealed some secrets.

With the appearance of the Frost Giant, King Ares finally felt compelled to disclose some secrets he had long kept from his daughter, “Stopping the Frost Titan from appearing is my duty as a Dragon Knight. Compared to the continuation of the Lieyang royal lineage, what is the father-daughter affection between you and me?”

The Frost Titan brings the end of the world; the Dragon Knight protects it.

Such a topic was too heavy.

Princess Anxia couldn’t cope with it. She could only gasp and ask, “Father, is it really necessary to annex the Shadowflame Duchy to save the world, and must I be sacrificed to complete the annexation? Is there no other way?”

“Annexation is not the only option, but it is the simplest one,” King Ares said. “While Quentin III was alive, my choice was to cooperate, and marrying you to Quentro was part of that cooperation.”

He paused, then continued, “After Quentin III’s death, my choice was to support Kunstan’s rise to power, so he would obey me in the future… Now that Kunstan is also dead, annexation is the only option left.”

“What about Russell?”

“What?”

“Russell, Russell Fluorescent Fungus, the genius born in the Grand Duchy, everyone says he is the chosen rider of the Shadowflame Dragon!” Princess Anxia spoke hastily, “Father, you could cooperate with Quentin III and support Kunstan, so why not choose to cultivate Russell?”

It seemed Princess Anxia had a brilliant idea, as her eyes began to glow, “You could nurture Russell, and you could marry him to Kunlaya… After all, wouldn’t you still have the final say in this country?”

Upon hearing this.

King Ares furrowed his brows, “Dragons choose their Knights, it’s not as simple as you think… never mind, I will find time to meet with this Russell in private, hmm, he’s the handsome young fellow with the lightning mark on his head, right?”

“Yes, Father.” Princess Anxia nodded.

A smile appeared on the corner of King Ares’s mouth, “A Flying Dragon Knight, a Dragon Domain Lord, who has also grasped the power of the elements… truly a rare talent!”

…

Russell was unaware that he had caught the attention of the Dragon Knight.

He was sitting bored among the Flying Dragon Knights, listening to their fervent discussions about the might of the Dragon Knights.

His father, Baron Roman, was also enthusiastically participating in the discussions.

Among men, among knights, being a Dragon Knight was probably the ultimate dream, one that many did not even dare to imagine.

If Russell was the idol of the young knights of the Grand Duchy, then King Ares was the faith of all knights, regardless of age.

“Look, look, Polly,” Russell said with a hint of jealousy as he listened to the Flying Dragon Knights praises of King Ares, “Everyone knows that King Ares wants to annex the Grand Duchy, but they still can’t wait to follow him.”

Unicorn Polly, in the form of the Mark of the Thunder Lord, gently responded, “Such is the prestige of a Dragon Knight.”

Russell muttered in his mind, “As if nobody is anything but a Dragon Knight!”

“Hehe,” Polly chuckled, “After the eruption of Little Dream Dragon Volcano, you will possess such commanding prestige as well.”

“Yes… a long road lies ahead!” Russell nodded.

He was so far behind King Ares at the moment that, even though he was under the protection of the power of the Shadowflame Dragon, he still kept Polly in the form of the Mark of the Thunder Lord with him at all times, vigilant of any move King Ares might make.

If the aura of the Little Dream Dragon leaked, and King Ares, without regard for his pride, decided to bully the small.

He would let Polly take him into Gloomy Dreamland at any moment, escaping the Dragon Knight’s assault.

Polly’s Wraithwalk and Ethereal Dream Escape Skill were more like innate abilities rather than fixed magic. So, Russell could activate the Wind Walking Skill through a contract, but he could not perform Wraithwalk on his own.

He must be accompanied by Polly.

A short while later, a banquet to welcome and cleanse guests was held in the Red Fort Hall, King Ares’s face bore a trace of a smile.

The previously furrowed and bewildered Princess Anxia also once again became radiant.

She couldn’t help but look towards Russell at the banquet, the young man being even more outstanding than she had imagined, to the extent that even King Ares paid him serious attention and was even willing to change the kingdom’s established strategy for him.

The nobles took turns toasting King Ares.

Soon it was Russell’s turn, Russell stood up with his glass, “Your Majesty, I offer my highest respects.”

King Ares lifted his glass, smiling in response to Russell’s toast, “Seeing Russell, one feels that we are growing old indeed!”

Earl Merlin played up to the moment, “We mortals decay after a century, Your Majesty is in the prime of his life, and to you, a hundred years is but a brief episode… Alongside my grandson Russell, I wish Your Majesty an age as everlasting as that of dragons!”