Translator: AnubisTL
The iron dragon's whisper echoed in her ears.
The human princess remained silent for a few seconds before shaking her head. "Lothurn is the crown of the federation, the heart of all nations. Even under the shadow of those giant beast-like empires, this land still shines with an undying radiance."
She gazed at the silhouette of the royal city outside the window, the towering magic towers and bustling streets reflecting a resolute light in her eyes.
"The Holy King forged the kingdom's glory," she said, "but his departure will not cause the High Tower to crumble. Lothurn's foundations run deeper than you imagine."
Eileen still held hope for the Kingdom of Lothurn.
In her eyes, though the Holy King had fallen, the kingdom's foundations remained intact. Once they weathered the initial pain of his loss, Lothurn could still dominate the federation's nations with its centuries-accumulated wealth and resources.
She said to the iron dragon, "I understand your concerns."
"But look, the war hasn't even begun yet, and the Royal Family has already sensed the danger, taking the lead in cutting expenses and diverting resources to the military."
"As long as we don't sit idly by and actively address the potential threats..."
"I believe that with the kingdom's inherent strength, we can weather this turning point and forge an even more glorious path forward."
"Lothurn once took pride in the Holy King, but in the future, the Holy King's spirit in heaven will take pride in Lothurn."
The iron dragon patted his round belly and murmured, "Cutting expenses... Does that mean my supplies will remain unchanged except for the Moonlight Dew?"
His daily meals alone cost more than an ordinary person's savings for decades, even a lifetime.
Cutting expenses?
It was probably just empty talk.
"Eileen, as a member of the Royal Family, you know better than anyone how extravagant they are. My very existence is proof of that. This isn't something that can be changed overnight."
The iron dragon cared deeply for the human princess before him.
He said, his voice tinged with concern, "Don't wait for disaster to strike before regretting it. Let's leave together, Eileen. I'll protect you. Don't forget my true nature—I am a noble and powerful dragon, the leader of the submetallic dragons! Even in the wilderness teeming with ferocious beasts and demonic creatures, I am a top-tier predator."
Hearing this, Eileen stared blankly at the iron dragon.
Iron Dragon Gordon had lived a life of pampered luxury for years, and his once-ferocious dragon nature had long been dulled by comfort and peace.
But as he spoke those words...
His eyes narrowed into cold, vertical slits, his thorn spikes bristled, and his entire being radiated the oppressive aura of a dragon.
A dragon was still a dragon.
No amount of comfort could turn him into a domesticated pet like a cat or dog. When the time came, his claws and fangs would still bare their deadly sharpness.
Eileen felt no fear in the face of the iron dragon's might.
Years of companionship and growth had forged a bond in her heart, treating the iron dragon as family rather than a mere pet or playmate.
Watching the usually lazy and gluttonous iron dragon now display such a formidable presence, she suddenly smiled and said, "Gordon, you look more like a true dragon now."
Gordon retorted indignantly, "What do you mean 'look like a true dragon'? I am a dragon!"
"Yes, you are a dragon," Eileen replied, her smile gradually fading as she met the iron dragon's gaze. "Born with wings to soar through the skies, yet confined to the palace because of me. Gordon, do you yearn for freedom? If you wish, I can release you from the palace, allowing you to return to the wilderness or go wherever your heart desires."
"Only if you come with me," the iron dragon insisted. "Life in the wilderness may not be as luxurious as the palace, but it has its own unique charm. You might even enjoy it."
Eileen sighed softly and shook her head. "It's not a matter of liking or disliking."
Her expression grew complex as she continued, "I was born a princess, showered with the favor of my father and siblings. I have access to the entire kingdom's resources, live a life of privilege, and obtain anything I desire with ease."
"Now, the kingdom stands at a turning point, a critical moment in its history."
"I can't only remember I'm a princess when enjoying privileges, and abandon my homeland when storms gather."
"Royal blood flows through my veins, Gordon. When the last torch of the royal court flickers out, you'll see me standing atop the highest tower of the royal city, either wearing the crown of victory or becoming the brightest torch myself."
"The people of the royal city will never witness their princess fleeing the battlefield."
The human princess paused, then spoke each word with deliberate emphasis: "Whatever the future holds for the Kingdom of Lothurn, I deeply love the land beneath my feet. I will live and die with it."
The iron dragon fell silent.
He wanted to say, "What good will staying do? A princess without real power, a mere mascot, can't change anything by remaining. You'll risk death, or worse—things far more terrifying than death."
But seeing the human princess's unwavering gaze and resolute expression, the iron dragon held his tongue.
"Gordon, you should leave," Eileen said softly. "I'll give you a generous sum of wealth and send you wherever you wish to go."
The iron dragon shook his head. "I'll stay here until the end."
Then he added, "But that wealth you promised still stands, right?"
Eileen smiled and nodded, then quietly nestled against the iron dragon, feeling the cool touch of his dragon scales, which brought her an extraordinary sense of peace.
The iron dragon remained silent, savoring the tranquility of the moment.
Yet his eyes flickered slightly, his dragon face losing its usual lazy, relaxed expression. His spirit tensed as he pondered how to protect himself and Eileen amidst the coming chaos.
As a juvenile dragon, he possessed formidable power.
But within the vast hierarchy of a kingdom, this counted for little.
The Royal Family's palace guards averaged a life grade exceeding 10, with even minor bosses being level 15 or higher. Legendary figures lurked both openly and in the shadows.
Correspondingly, those who coveted the Kingdom of Lothurn's territory, wealth, and resources were not to be underestimated. Even adult dragons would struggle in such a conflict, let alone a dragon like him, still far from adulthood.
Soon after, Eileen left the iron dragon's lair.
Gordon pondered endlessly, ultimately concluding that his only option was to one day, when the flames of war engulfed the Kingdom of Lothurn's capital, somehow spirit the human princess away from the inferno, whether she wished it or not, and then plunge into the Sierre Wilderness.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Iron Dragon Gordon.
As he thought of the Sierre Wilderness, he also remembered the young dragons he had lived with there.
Gordon knew a little about Garos's current situation.
During his tedious days at the royal court, he often read the Federal Daily, paying particular attention to news about dragonkind.
One report about a red iron hybrid dragon slaughtering human nobles and plundering gem mines caught his eye.
Considering the rarity and age of red iron hybrid dragons, he was certain that the evil dragon in the report—the one called "Sky-Rending Wing" and "Ominous Star of Death"—was undoubtedly his brother, Garos.
While Gordon enjoyed a life of privilege at the royal court, the red iron dragon had already risen to become a notorious evil dragon featured in the Federal Daily, with such a formidable reputation.
This once filled Gordon with envy, making him believe that if he hadn't been taken to the human realm, he too could have achieved such renown.
"Garos was always the wisest and strongest among us, even as a hatchling," the iron dragon mused silently.
"He must be a Lord Dragon by now, with his own territory and familiars."
"Perhaps I could pay a price to contact him and seek his help. At the very least, when I flee into the wilderness with Eileen, we'll have someone to meet us."
Although Gordon currently had no way to contact Garos, he wasn't worried.
The Holy King of Lothurn had only recently fallen, and the news hadn't fully spread yet. The Lothurn Federation remained outwardly calm.
The crisis he feared wouldn't erupt immediately, giving him time to plan carefully.
Besides, he had always been lucky.
The current predicament might resolve itself unexpectedly one day.
"Since things have come to this, I might as well eat something."
"Afterward, I need to exercise and digest properly. I can't afford to be lazy like before."
The iron dragon coiled his tail around a bell and shook it, signaling the attendants to bring forth a feast.
Time flowed steadily onward. Before he knew it, another two years had passed.
It was now the year 249 of the New Era (the Bernardo Empires marked the launch of their first interstellar ship as the beginning of this era, symbolizing humanity's entry into the age of interstellar exploration).
This marked the third year since the Holy King of Lothurn's death, a fact now universally known.
The Kingdom of Lothurn had officially announced his passing and held a state funeral. Envoys from various nations presented flowers and eulogies, praising the Holy King's achievements and mourning his loss.
Throughout the federation, every kingdom and duchy mourned the founder of their union.
The Holy King of Lothurn had been the cornerstone of the federation.
He established the federation, swept away its deep-seated maladies, ended the conflicts among the Southern Kingdoms, and ushered in an era of flourishing peace.
The respect for the Holy King of Lothurn was genuine and heartfelt across all nations.
However, respecting the Holy King did not mean they would continue to respect the current Kingdom of Lothurn. They merely suppressed their dissent for the time being.
The Holy King's passing cast a heavy pall over the federation. Though there were no overt conflicts between nations, silent undercurrents of unrest were slowly brewing.
Frontierlands, Dragon Valley.
Shortly after the national mourning bells ceased ringing across the Southern Kingdoms, the white roses offered by foreign envoys still radiated their final fragrance before the Holy King's tomb.
Deep within the caves of Dragon Valley, a mountain rock that had remained undisturbed for a decade began to crack.
With the fall of the old king, the red-iron dragon that had slumbered in the cave for ten years gradually awakened. Its eyes opened, revealing dragon eyes as dark as the deepest night.
(End of the Chapter)
------------------------------------------------------
🧩 What happens next?
Read [DRAGON] on 𝖈𝖎𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖙𝖑.𝖈𝖔𝖒🔥
📖 Free chapters → up to [Ch236] (no sign-up needed!)
🔓 Become a member → unlock up to [Ch345] 🚀
🎁 Read:
[18.6M Words],
[11.5K Chapters],
across [16 Novels] on 🅲🅸🅽🅳🅴🆁🆃🅻.🅲🅾🅼.
------------------------------------------------------