Chapter 432: The Demon and the Dragon Queen

“Queen Rhiannon,” Eugene said, letting his spear fall before dropping to one knee.

He wasn’t the only one. One by one, every member of Haven kneeled before her.

“We swear our blades to Princess Allison Rhiannon,” Eugene declared. “We wish to protect her, to serve in her army.”

The others echoed him without hesitation.

The queen slowly turned to face them. Her mismatched eyes, one cold and one burning, swept across the group with an interest that wasn’t exactly surprise but hovered near it. Her presence seemed to thicken the air, altering the atmosphere with nothing more than a shift of posture.

“You swore your blades to Allison?” she asked. There was a sliver of amusement in her voice, the kind that flickered for only a breath.

“Yes. Our lives,” Eugene said firmly. “We owe her everything for what she did in the tutorial. If not for her, all of us, nearly two thousand people, wouldn’t be standing here.”

“We want to be part of her army. We’ve pledged loyalty to your family. We even marked our armor with your sigil,” Miriam added, lifting her chin proudly.

The queen studied them one by one. Several pointed to their chests, where hand-painted symbols glimmered weakly under the thin drizzle. The marks looked out of place on those rough, dented armors.

“You know… there’s something amusing about this,” she said slowly. “Wearing the crest of a noble family without permission, and with military intent, is punishable by death.”

A collective breath caught in the group’s throat. Faces drained of color. No one dared move.

“But I’ll overlook it this once. Throw those scrap-metal costumes away. You’re staining the reputation of my smiths and my family by parading around in that garbage.”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and resumed her walk toward the forest, as if the matter was nothing more than an errand checked off her list.

“Your Majesty…” Eugene called, voice unsteady. “And what about what we asked? May we serve Princess Allison?”

Queen Rhiannon didn’t turn back. She stood still for a moment, thoughtful. Luke noticed her hand rise to her chin. Eventually, she glanced over her shoulder, just enough for one of her eyes to meet the group.

“Travel to my kingdom without teleportation. Go on foot, by your own strength, on a journey that may last months. Face whatever the road puts before you; let those who must perish, perish. When you arrive, join the army. Prove yourselves. Rise through the ranks and… perhaps I’ll consider your request.”

“Thank you, my queen,” Eugene said, and the others repeated the words reverently.

She didn’t respond. She simply vanished among the trees, indifferent to the fact that many of them were still kneeling in the mud.

The Haven group remained bowed, absorbing the weight of their own choice. Maybe they hadn’t heard the conversation between Luke and Allison, the storm had drowned out nearly everything. Or maybe they had heard and decided not to care.

Either way, they were ready to devote themselves to Allison Rhiannon.

But Allison… had no desire to remain a Rhiannon.

As everyone struggled to their feet, Luke kept his eyes fixed on the direction where the Queen had vanished. Something burned inside him, restlessness, maybe indignation. Before anyone could react, he broke into a run after her.

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“What are you doing?” Eleanor called out in surprise, but Luke didn’t answer.

He pushed forward between the trees. The forest swallowed him quickly.

Angie’s voice echoed in his mind, firm and worried: ‘My lord, this enemy is far above your level. Please, do not act recklessly.’

Luke ignored the warning. The rhythm of his footsteps, his breathing, and his heartbeat blended with the rustle of leaves. He activated Assassin’s Tracking, and the world sharpened around him. On the damp soil and wet grass, he spotted footprints, clear and defined, as if something far heavier than her frame had pressed them into the earth.