Dragon King's Harem Chapter 404. Rumors in The Capital

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 404. Rumors in The Capital

“We should be at the city by early afternoon,” I confirmed, glancing out of the carriage window at the approaching skyline. “At this pace, we might even have time to rest properly before I check on the documents again.”

Evelina raised an eyebrow. “Documents? You mean you’re diving back into work the moment we arrive?”

Jyne, leaning against my shoulder, tilted her head to look up at me. “Your Majesty, you’ve been working non-stop. Shouldn’t you take a break first?”

I let out a small chuckle, trying to wave off their concerns. “There’s always work to do. I can’t just ignore it.”

“That’s the problem!” Evelina exclaimed, crossing her arms. “You never give yourself time to breathe. Do you know how tired you look right now? You need rest.”

I smiled faintly, appreciating her concern but not ready to admit she might be right. “I’ll rest once the most urgent matters are handled.”

Jyne frowned and nudged me lightly. “No. You’ll rest before you handle anything. You’re no good to anyone if you collapse.”

“Exactly!” Evelina added, leaning forward to emphasize her point. “What’s the worst that could happen if you took a few hours for yourself? The documents won’t disappear overnight.”

I sighed, leaning back in my seat. “I know you’re both right, but—”

“No buts,” Evelina interrupted, her tone firm. “You’re the king. That means taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your kingdom.”

“Yeah,” Jyne chimed in, her voice softer but no less determined. “And we’ll make sure you actually do it this time.”

I glanced between the two of them, their faces filled with genuine concern. It was hard to argue when they were both so insistent. “Fine,” I relented, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I’ll take a break...”

Jyne giggled. “Deal. I could use it to give you a little pampering.”

Evelina smirked. “As long as you promise not to sneak off to work the moment we’re not looking.”

“I promise,” I said, though the mischievous glint in Evelina’s eyes suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced.

Once the convoy touched down near Dragon Cross City’s sky tower, the air was thick with anticipation. The rhythmic beating of dragon wings slowed to a halt, and the Wyverns roared softly, their breaths visible in the afternoon air. Soldiers, citizens, and officials gathered near the landing zone, their faces painted with a mix of relief, curiosity, and worry.

The people’s eyes flicked between me, my companions, and the oversized carriage carrying the wounded. It wasn’t hard to read the concern on their faces. Some whispered among themselves. I could read what they were talking about from their expressions.

“Are those… injured soldiers?”

“What happened out there?”

“Why didn’t we hear anything about a battle?”

We got out of the carriage. I straightened my posture, giving a brief glance at Evelina and Jyne, who flanked me. They gave me small, reassuring nods before falling in step behind me. Al and Eir stayed near the carriage with the patients, ensuring the healers knew how to handle the more critical cases.

An official, dressed in the royal city’s black and gold colors, hurried forward, his boots clacking against the stone landing pad. His face was tight with worry, though he managed a bow when he reached me.

“Your Majesty,” he began, his voice steady but tinged with urgency, “we weren’t informed of your arrival, let alone…” His eyes darted toward the large carriage, lingering for a moment. “…whatever this is.”

“It was an unexpected mission,” I replied, keeping my tone calm but firm. “The patients need immediate attention. Ensure they’re taken directly to the Healing Towers. The staff there should already be prepared to receive them.”

The official blinked, then quickly nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll see to it personally.”

He signaled to a group of city guards and medics standing by. They moved swiftly, unloading the patients with practiced care. Despite their professionalism, a few stole glances at me, likely wondering what had transpired to bring the king himself back with an entourage of wounded.

As the first stretcher was carried past me, Evelina stepped closer, her voice low. “You didn’t tell anyone about the mission, did you?”

I shook my head, my eyes following the patients. “No. I didn’t want unnecessary panic and hatred for the lizard tribe.”

Jyne leaned in from my other side, her voice soft yet teasing. “You? Second-guessing a decision? That’s rare.”

I gave her a faint smile, but my thoughts remained elsewhere. The people’s murmurs were growing louder, and a small crowd was starting to form just outside the cordoned-off area. I could see their expressions—fear, confusion, and a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, things weren’t as dire as they seemed.

Before I could address them, Al jogged over, his usual grin replaced with a more serious expression. “The healers are asking about the patients’ conditions. Should I handle the explanations?”

I nodded. “Yes, go. Make sure they know about the sleeping tonics and what symptoms to watch for. And Al…” I hesitated, my voice dropping. “Let them know these people are stable. I don’t want rumors spreading about a new plague or something worse.”

Al gave me a mock salute, his grin returning briefly. “You got it.”

Once he turned to leave, Eir approached, his arms crossed and his brow furrowed. “This is going to raise questions, you know. People will start demanding answers.”

“I know,” I replied, running a hand through my hair. “But right now, the patients come first. We’ll deal with the questions later.”

Eir’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he gestured toward the crowd. “Might want to say something before things get out of hand.”

I let out a soft sigh, already feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “No, you handle it for me,” I said firmly, keeping my tone low. “Just tell them the wounded aren’t soldiers, and it’s not a plague. Let them know it wasn’t war either. These people are citizens who were attacked.”