Dragon King's Harem Chapter 422. Ice Drake I

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 422. Ice Drake I

The air was tense when I arrived. Eir and General Guillotine were already there, standing near the edge of the city wall. Around them, the Dragon soldiers had formed ranks, weapons ready, their sharp eyes fixed on the massive Ice Drake that loomed in the distance. The Crystal Towers hummed faintly, its magical energy coiling like a serpent, ready to strike on command. Everything was in place for an attack.

But something didn’t feel right.

The Drake wasn’t attacking. It wasn’t charging, spitting ice, or wreaking havoc the way I’d expect a wild, unintelligent beast to do. Instead, it was pacing restlessly, its massive claws digging into the earth with each heavy step. Every now and then, it would let out a roar—loud and guttural, but… different. Not threatening. It was as if it was calling out. For what, I didn’t know, but the sound carried an unmistakable weight, like a cry for help. Or maybe… a lament.

I held my position, landing softly near Eir and General Guillotine. My wings folded neatly behind me as I glanced between them, their expressions mirroring my confusion. Neither of them spoke right away, except for giving me a greeting, but their body language said enough—they were just as unsure as I was.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice low but steady as I approached them.

Eir turned first, his eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s the question, isn’t it?” he muttered, his arms crossed over his chest. “The Drake hasn’t made a move to attack. It’s just… pacing and roaring like it’s lost.”

“Or mourning,” General Guillotine added. He frowned. “We hesitated to attack because it didn't seem hostile. But we can’t just stand here forever, Your Majesty. It’s too close to the gate.”

I nodded, my eyes shifting back to the Drake. It was massive, even more so up close, its icy scales catching the fading sunlight and reflecting a pale, otherworldly glow. The power radiating off it was undeniable, but there was something else there, too—something that didn’t feel like aggression.

“It’s calling for something,” I said, more to myself than anyone else. “But what?”

Eir shrugged, his expression sharp but thoughtful. “Whatever it is, it hasn’t shown up yet. That’s why we’re in this stalemate.”

“Do you think it’s baiting us?” General Guillotine asked, his tone heavy with skepticism. “Luring us into a trap?”

“I don’t think so,” Eir said, shaking his head. “If it wanted a fight, it could’ve started one already. It has the size and power to take on the Crystal Tower’s first strike.”

Eir was right. The Drake wasn’t acting like a predator—it was acting like something that was… lost. Hurt. I kept my eyes on it, watching its movements carefully. Then, as if sensing my presence, it turned its massive head toward me. Its icy eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, I thought it might charge.

But it didn’t.

Instead, it growled—low and deep, the sound vibrating through the air. I tensed, ready to react, but then I noticed something odd. Its eyes weren’t focused on me. They were focused on… the invitation in my hand.

“What the hell…” I muttered, lifting the ornate piece of paper slightly. The Drake’s gaze followed, its growl growing louder, more guttural. It wasn’t a threatening sound, though. It was… sad. Desperate, even.

Eir’s brows furrowed as he stepped closer to me. “It’s looking at the invitation,” he said, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“I noticed,” I replied, keeping my tone steady even as my mind raced. “Why, though? What could it possibly want with this?”

“Maybe it recognizes the mana,” General Guillotine suggested, his sharp gaze fixed on the Drake. “It could be tied to whoever sent the invitation.”

I nodded slowly, raising the invitation higher. The Drake roared again. It wasn’t just a roar, though. There was emotion in it—raw, aching sorrow.

“It’s grieving,” Eir said softly, his usual sharpness giving way to something more solemn. “I don’t know how or why, but that thing is mourning.”

I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening on the invitation. If the Drake had some connection to the Snow Elf Queen or her wedding, that could complicate things. A beast like this wasn’t something I just stumbled across. It had history, purpose. And whatever had brought it here wasn’t a coincidence.

“What do we do, Your Majesty?” General Guillotine asked, his voice breaking through my thoughts.

I hesitated, my mind racing. Attacking now felt wrong, but leaving it unchecked wasn’t an option either. There was too much at stake—my territory, the balance of power, and now, this strange connection to the Snow Elf Queen’s invitation.

“Hold the line,” I said finally, my voice firm. “No one attacks unless it makes the first move. For now, we observe.”

Eir gave me a sharp nod. General Guillotine, though hesitant, didn’t argue.

The Drake let out another mournful roar, its icy eyes never leaving the invitation in my hand. I could feel its sorrow, its desperation. Whatever had brought it here, whatever had driven it to this state, one thing was clear—it wasn’t here by chance.

And I wasn’t about to ignore it.

“Alright,” I muttered under my breath, my gaze hardening as I turned my attention fully to the Drake. “Let’s see what you’re trying to tell me.”

I flicked my wings, the air rushing past me as I slowly approached. The invitation was still clutched in my hand, its faint chill biting into my palm, but I ignored it. The Drake didn’t make a move to attack. Its massive form stayed rooted in place, muscles tense but not threatening. Its icy blue eyes tracked my every movement.

I landed softly in front of it, keeping my posture calm but alert. The ground trembled slightly beneath its sheer size. My instincts screamed at me to stay on guard, but there was something in its demeanor that kept me from striking first. It wasn’t just a monster. It was… more.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice steady.