Dragon King's Harem Chapter 354. Revive The Dead IV

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 354. Revive The Dead IV

I took a deep breath, steadying myself before addressing the room. “Get up,” I commanded, my voice steady but laced with the gravity of the moment. They obeyed, rising slowly, their eyes still fixed on me, reflecting a mix of awe and residual shock.

“I know I just revived the dead,” I continued, my voice resonating clearly in the hushed atmosphere of the tent. “But understand, this isn't a power to summon back any life long past from the shadows of death. This man—this dragon—still clung to a thread of life. His demise was not yet sealed; his time was still fresh. There was a chance, and we took it,” I explained, trying to set boundaries on their expectations. I wanted to prevent any misconceptions about the limits of my power. Reviving the dead wasn't a doorway I intended to open frequently or recklessly.

“It's not just about how you managed to save him when we, the healers, could not,” Evelina interjected, stepping forward. Her presence commanded a gentle kind of authority, her eyes soft yet intense as they met mine. There was a warmth in her voice that softened the sterile air of the medical tent. “It’s unprecedented, yes. But what really moves me, Your Majesty, is the extent of your concern for him. For a commoner, no less.”

Her words stirred a ripple through the crowd. A silence followed, filled with contemplative glances and whispered realizations. Evelina’s observation had highlighted something beyond the miracle of magic; it spotlighted a king’s empathy for his subjects.

'Ah, of course,' I thought. I didn't think much about it since this dragon made me remember my past. That was why I felt the urge to help him. It was like I was trying to fix my own previous fate.

I acknowledged, nodding slightly towards Evelina, letting my gaze sweep over the crowd, making sure to connect with as many eyes as I could. “Every life under my reign has value, from the highest noble to the simplest villager. This dragon’s life matters, as does each of yours. Also, I have to confess, my emotions took over me," I found myself admitting aloud, my voice firm yet tinged with introspection. It was a rare confession from a ruler reputed more for steely resolve than bursts of sentiment. "I don't like someone wasting my effort," I added, trying to inject a lighter tone, yet aware that it was only half the truth. The deeper impulse, driven by a past that still haunted the corners of my memory, remained unspoken.

“But it shows that you care for your people, Your Majesty. You really care about us," Al chimed in, his voice carrying across the quiet space. His smile was small but genuine, an expression of approval that seemed to draw the room's attention even more squarely upon me.

I shot Al a sharp stare, not fully prepared for such a direct acknowledgment of my emotional display. It was one thing to act on impulse, quite another to have those impulses highlighted in front of those I ruled and those I worked with. Yet, there was no retracting the moment, nor Al's words.

Al, however, seemed oblivious to the intensity of my gaze, or perhaps he chose to ignore it. Instead, his smile only widened, his eyes twinkling with a mix of mischief and admiration. It was a look that said he knew exactly what he was doing—breaking the tension, reminding those gathered that beneath the crown, the king also had a heart.

Taking a deep breath to gather my composure, I firmly addressed the gathered healers and soldiers, their attention pinned on me after the day’s unbelievable events. "Since the situation is under control, I hope you can handle the rest.” A gentle command came out of my mouth. Without waiting for their response, signaling that I trusted them to handle the aftermath, I turned and made my way toward the tent's exit.

Jyne trailed behind me, her steps uncertain, her gaze fixed on her hands as if they were foreign objects. “I just revived the dead…” she murmured repeatedly, her voice tinged with a mixture of disbelief and wonder. It was clear the reality of what she had accomplished hadn’t fully settled in. She shuffled alongside me, lost in her thoughts, barely aware of the path she trod.

Once we stepped out of the tent, the crisp air hit us, a sharp contrast to the heavy, medicinal atmosphere we’d left behind. In front of the tent, several soldiers lingered, their postures betraying their curiosity about the event that had unfolded inside. Their whispers halted abruptly as I appeared in the doorway, their eyes wide with unspoken questions.

Eir stood among them, his eyes meeting mine with an unspoken understanding. As the soldiers noticed my gaze, they quickly scattered, returning to their posts with an urgency, leaving only Eir, Jyne, and myself outside the tent.

“Your Majesty, what happened?” Eir's voice was tinged with curiosity rather than concern as he fell into stride beside me. The camp around us buzzed with the low murmur of soldiers, all curious about the commotion but disciplined enough to continue their duties.

"You can ask Al for the details later," I replied briskly, not slowing my pace as we made our way toward my tent.

“Instead of that, I want you to do something for me,” I continued, my voice cutting through the twilight that began to settle over the camp. Eir nodded, his expression shifting to match the seriousness of my tone.

“What is that, Your Majesty?” he asked, his posture straightening as if bracing for a command that could alter the course of our immediate future.

"Bring me Viperax’s route maps along with the creatures around there," I commanded without a hint of doubt. The strategy forming in my mind was clear and unforgiving, a path set by necessity rather than desire.

Eir’s brows furrowed slightly, his face betraying a momentary flicker of concern. "What are your plans, Your Majesty?" he probed further, his voice low, aware that the ears of walls could sometimes whisper secrets to the wrong shadows.

“It seems like what I did with his capital wasn't enough. So I want to give him additional lessons," I stated, my tone tinged with a mix of resolve and bitterness. The image of the dragons, wounded and broken, flashed before my eyes.