Dragon King's Harem Chapter 405. What Do You Expect From Him?

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 405. What Do You Expect From Him?

Eir hesitated for a fraction of a second, his sharp gaze meeting mine. Then he inclined his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.” With that, he turned and strode toward the gathered officials and citizens.

I took a moment to collect myself, glancing back at Evelina and Jyne. Their faces were calm, but I could see the same unease I felt reflected in their eyes.

“You think it’ll be enough?” Evelina asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It has to be,” I replied, my tone firmer than I felt. “We can’t let panic spread.”

Eir stopped just shy of the crowd, his hands raised to command attention. “Listen carefully!” His deep voice cut through the chatter like a blade. “The people in that carriage are not soldiers. They are citizens who were attacked. This is not a plague or sickness, and it has nothing to do with war. You have my word.”

A ripple of relief seemed to pass through the crowd, though worry still lingered in their expressions. One older man, standing near the front, raised his hand hesitantly. “Attacked? By who? Are we in danger?”

Eir’s gaze was steady, his tone calm but authoritative. “The danger has been dealt with. There’s no threat to the city. The king personally ensured their safety.”

The crowd, though visibly calmer, wasn’t completely convinced. A young woman stepped forward, her hands clasped tightly. “But who attacked them? And why didn’t we hear anything about this before now?”

Eir didn’t miss a beat. “The attackers are no longer a concern, and I can’t go into the details. What you need to know is that these citizens were caught in something they didn’t deserve. The king brought them back to safety. That’s what matters.”

Another voice piped up, this time from an older man near the back. “If they’re citizens, why weren’t we warned? Why all the secrecy?”

Eir’s jaw tightened, but his tone stayed firm. “Because there’s no benefit to creating fear. The king acted swiftly to protect these people, and now they’re being treated. Speculation and panic don’t help anyone. Trust in His Majesty.”

The murmurs started to die down, though a few skeptical glances lingered. Eir held his ground. “If you’ve got more questions, you can direct them through official channels. For now, let the healers do their job. These people need care, not more rumors.”

While Eir handled the crowd, I turned on my heel and made for the palace, Jyne and Evelina trailing close behind me. The chancellor joined my side almost instantly.

“You haven’t given your real reason, Your Majesty,” he said without preamble.

I arched an eyebrow at him as we walked. “About what exactly? My uninformed arrival, or the extra carriages?”

“Both,” he replied, his sharp eyes flicking toward me. “Your uninformed return, and those carriages… Well, it’s not just our people inside, is it?”

I stifled a sigh, keeping my stride steady. “My uninformed arrival was because the meeting wrapped up faster than expected. The Lizard King’s convoy arrived ahead of schedule. Guess he was very eager to meet me.” My tone turned dry as I added, “Can’t blame him. I am a delight.”

Jyne snorted softly behind me, but the chancellor remained unimpressed. “And the carriages?” he pressed. “What happened out there?”

I glanced at him sideways, my voice dropping just enough to remind him to tread carefully. “Don’t worry—it wasn’t me who hurt them.”

His brow furrowed, confusion evident. “Then what?”

I stopped in the middle of the hallway, turning to face him fully. “Let’s just say I saved them from hell.”

The chancellor frowned, his neatly trimmed brows furrowing as he tried to process my words. “Hell?” he echoed, his voice low and questioning.

“Hell,” I repeated, letting the weight of the word linger in the air. “The Lizard King’s factory turned them into slaves—or prisoners, depending on how you want to spin it.”

The confusion in his eyes deepened. “Factory? What factory?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s a long story,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “Simply put, that annoying king decided to push his luck while I was hibernating. I just made him remember his place.”

The chancellor’s mouth opened, then closed. He was piecing it together, but he wasn’t there yet. “So this factory was…?”

“A mechanical wings factory,” I said bluntly, watching as his expression darkened. “Again. The same crap he pulled last time, trying to imitate our wings.”

His lips pressed into a thin line, his teeth visibly grinding behind them. “I thought he promised not to do that again.”

Al, who had been walking a few steps behind, chimed in with a laugh that carried far too much amusement for the situation. “Well, it’s Viperax. What do you expect from him? A handshake and a hug?”

The chancellor shot him a sharp glare before turning back to me. “Does this mean there’s going to be another battle?”

“Not for now,” I replied, shaking my head. “But tighten our borders. Restrict the Lizard Tribe from entering our territory without clearance. I made him agree to a treaty, but you know how slippery he is. It’s only a matter of time before he tests it.”

The chancellor nodded, his jaw set with determination. “Understood.”

“Also,” I continued, resuming my pace down the hallway with Evelina and Jyne in tow, “make sure the patients are treated at the Healing Towers and tighten the security. They might be more than victims—they could be leverage. Something we can use to strengthen our ties with other tribes or even pressure Viperax if needed. We got witnesses. A lot of them…”

“Leverage?” Jyne interjected softly, glancing up at me. “You’re thinking of turning this into a political play?”

I shrugged, not breaking stride. “Everything’s a political play. You know that. Right now, those people represent more than themselves. They’re proof of Viperax’s betrayal. If handled correctly, they’re also proof of our mercy.”

The chancellor, falling into step beside me again, bowed his head slightly. “I understand. I’ll ensure the Healing Towers are ready for them and that the guards are on high alert.”

“Good,” I said, pausing to glance at him. “I don’t need Viperax thinking he can wiggle out of this.”