Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 566 - 566 564 Mel Rides a Dragon

Chapter 566: Chapter 564 Mel Rides a Dragon Chapter 566: Chapter 564 Mel Rides a Dragon After issuing the first Golden Imperial Edict, Russell visited the Inner Fort of Red Castle that same afternoon, to personally converse with Princess Anxia.

He made his intentions clear, until Princess Kunlaya came of age and married, Red Castle’s Inner Fort would remain under the control and residence of Princess Anxia.

“The court servants will remain as usual; Old Madam, you just make yourself comfortable living in Red Castle. For me, living in Cigar Manor is more relaxing.”

Princess Anxia accepted the arrangement.

However, she said, “Living in Red Castle actually isn’t all that great. Kunlaya and I appreciate your kindness, but I have already entrusted Marquis Arno with renting a small castle next to Evernight Castle, where I will spend most of my time.”

“A small castle near Furious Wind City?”

“Yes, this castle is called Red Oriole Castle, and I’ve already sent someone to clean it,” Princess Anxia said gently, “The walls of Red Castle are too high; living inside them feels like being caged. On the contrary, I greatly envy the life of Marquis Arno.”

Smiling, she said, “Having shed the heavy burden of my status, I wish to truly live for myself in the second half of my life.”

“That’s good,” Russell nodded, “Indeed, one should live for oneself.”

“Do you think so too?”

“Yes, life is but a hundred years long; there’s no need to be overly concerned with so much. Living freely for oneself is what one ought to do,” Russell said with a smile.

Princess Anxia sighed, “You will certainly be an enlightened sovereign. If it were someone else, they might not feel the same. Especially in a noble household, it seems one is born with responsibilities that cannot be shrugged off even in the slightest.”

“Well, the greater the power, the greater the responsibility,” Russell elaborated his understanding, “Being born into a noble family doesn’t inherently mean having responsibilities, but if you enjoy the privileges that come with it, then naturally, you must also shoulder the responsibilities.”

Greater abilities don’t necessarily mean greater responsibilities.

Rather, greater power leads to greater responsibilities.

To enjoy everything power offers, one must bear the responsibilities that come with power. Born into a noble house and enjoying its luxuries inherently means working for the survival of the family. To enjoy the honeysuckle path of nobility, while only wanting to live for oneself, would surely lead to the collapse of that noble house.

“One doesn’t really have a choice in family,” Princess Anxia shook her head.

“Of course not, but such is life,” Russell ruthlessly punctured Princess Anxia’s escapist mindset, “some wish they hadn’t been born into nobility, while others would give anything to be noble… Just like being born on Dragon Sleep Continent. If no one assumed responsibility, we would’ve likely been conquered by the Snow Demon by now.”

He paused.

Russell said, “From the individual to the nation, as long as one needs to benefit from society, one cannot escape the constraints of societal rules. Even I, even King Ares, are no exception.”

Princess Anxia didn’t respond further.

It wasn’t until Russell was about to say goodbye and leave that she finally spoke softly, “My father… he once said similar things to me… Perhaps, you were born of the same cloth… I hope under your rule, this nation will thrive.”

…

The Cabinet had not yet been formed, and the Council of Elders was still operating temporarily.

Having been appointed Marquis, Marquis Merlin requested a few days off to attend his grandson Mel’s wedding at Tributary River Mouth.

Naturally, Russell was to attend as well.

“I originally wanted Your Highness to be my best man, but now it can’t be. There’s no reason for a Grand Duke to play the role,” after returning to Bluebird Castle, Mel spoke to the visiting Russell with a tone now filled with respect.

The change in status had put a gradual distance between the two of them, once as close as brothers.

“Oh, this sorrowful barrier!”

The sorrowful barrier didn’t just arise between him and his cousin Mel; a similar barrier had also formed between him and his elder brother Roland and Uncle Roson.

Their kinship had been immensely suppressed beneath the chasm of status.

“Your Highness,” Uncle Roson greeted with respect.

“I’ve spoken to my father about it,” Russell tried to interact with Uncle Roson as warmly as before, but the uncle’s unease made him realize that things could never return to how they were, “to be reappointed as a Lord of the Grand Duchy.”

“What do I need to do?”

“I will replace the governors of the eight Torrent Provinces one by one, and I hope you, Uncle Rosen, will take the position of governor of Torrent Province,” Russell said.

The Shadowflame Grand Duchy, outside the Council of Elders, also had a governor framework.

Previously, the Volcanic Oasis was divided into eight provinces, and each province would elect a Duchy’s Lord to serve as the governor, responsible for leading the province’s Knight Regiment during war.

Upon hearing this, Uncle Rosen was immediately invigorated, “To serve as governor, I… previously had no experience leading a Knight Regiment.”

“Lack of experience can be learned from, and besides, I’m prepared to reform the governance system. From now on, governors will be responsible not only for the military but also for the administrative affairs of the province,” Russell said warmly, “I plan to accelerate the development of the Volcanic Oasis.”

The seeds of industry in the Blackflame Plains had already sprouted, and steam trains were about to go into operation.

But the truly suitable place for laying railways was still the Volcanic Oasis. Once the railway network covered the entire Volcanic Oasis, then it would enter a true high-speed development period.

In addition, Russell also intended to encourage population growth, striving for the population of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy to double within two generations.

At present, the Grand Duchy had nearly four million people.

Strongly encouraging population growth, forty years later, a population of twelve million should not be a problem. By then, Russell would only be sixty years old, which for a Dragon Knight, is just a small step in life—his long-term goal was to live at least two hundred years.

The biggest shortcoming of the Dragon Sleep Continent compared to the Frost Star World was the lack of population.

The Frost Star World somehow managed to create countless Snow Demons and Snow Ghosts, relentlessly raiding the entire Dragon Sleep Continent.

If the population of the Dragon Sleep Continent surged, knights would also increase dramatically. As long as resources kept up, there would be a steady flow of lords of the Dragon Domain, Flying Dragon Knights, and even Dragon Knights being born, then pushing back the Snowfield and reclaiming warm lands.

“Uncle, I need your help,” Russell finally said.

Uncle Rosen immediately clenched his fist, “Your Highness has great ambitions, and even though Rosen’s strength is modest, I am also willing to contribute my effort… I will surely shoulder the responsibility of governor for Torrent Province for Your Highness, and govern it well!”

“With this, I can rest assured!” Russell said with a smile.

He then instructed, “There’s still some time before the replacement of the provincial governors. During this period, Uncle, visit the Blackflame Plains more frequently, exchange experiences with Charles, and often visit the Blackfire Tower of Scholars to understand what industrialization is.”

Uncle Rosen replied formally, “Yes, Your Highness.”

Seeing this, Russell said, “You don’t need to be so formal in private, Uncle. We’re family after all, you can just call me by my name.”

“That won’t do. Now that you have ascended to Grand Duke, you are my liege. How could a subject dare to address their liege by name,” Uncle Rosen shook his head, not daring to be presumptuous in his nephew’s presence, and this stemmed not only from status.

But also from strength.

Even though Russell was containing his aura, the power constantly radiating from the Phantom Dragon Knight still heavily weighed on him.

The weak naturally admire the strong.

In mid-July, Mel Yujiuhua held a grand wedding with Annie Helichrysum at Bluebird Castle.

It was also on this day.

Marquis Merlin dissolved his contract with the Manganese Steel Dragon Mercedes, and then Mel took over in a timely fashion, becoming the new Manganese Steel Dragon Knight.

“Grandfather, is your body able to withstand breaking the contract?” Russell supported Marquis Merlin on the lawn of Bluebird Castle.

Marquis Merlin broke away from Russell’s support, biting a Frost Snow Cigar, his pale hair meticulously tied at the back of his head.

With his characteristically domineering demeanor, he solemnly responded to Russell, “Although I’ve fallen from the realm of a Flying Dragon Knight, Your Highness must not forget that I am still a Fourth-layer senior Phantom Beast Knight! And without Mercedes’s interference, I even plan to attempt to advance to the Fifth-layer!”

Russell said with a smile, “Then I will congratulate you in advance, Grandfather, on becoming the Shadowflame Grand Duchy’s first Fifth-layer senior Phantom Beast Knight.”

Narrowing his eyes, Marquis Merlin shook his head, “With you as a Ring-Dragon Knight creating a new pinnacle for the Way of the Knight beside me, I dare not hope to be the first. In just a few years, you have caught up to me and become a Fourth-layer senior Phantom Beast Knight. Perhaps in a few days, you will contract your fifth Phantom Beast!”

Russell only smiled and remained silent.

His cultivation pace with the pseudo-nightmare beast dragon Senbula was consistently swift, and it must be said that a mature Phantom Beast who knew how to practice diligently indeed progressed quickly.