[Entrance of the Ruined Anaconda Path]
The silence following Mirabella’s interrogation was thick with the scent of ozone and burnt earth. Delphine’s mind raced through the chanical implications of her next words:
’Mirabella is very powerful, with her help, nothing will go wrong, but if I reveal my true goal? Will she still help ? No matter how you look at it, I am still being selfish.’ She thought, the weight of her secret feeling heavier than any spirit energy exhaustion. But seeing Mirabella’s serious, unblinking expression—a gaze that seed to peel back the layers of her royal mask—she finally exhaled the tension:
"I ca here to save Xavier!!" She yelled, her voice echoing off the scorched canyon walls.
"Xavier?!"
Mirabella and Hayatobi were stunned, both staring at her with a slight frown of pure confusion. The na carried an imnse weight within the empire’s high-level politics.
"You an, Xavier Ironfist? The Imperial Advisor’s son?" Hayatobi asked in surprise, staring at Delphine with a new level of scrutiny. The Ironfist family was a pillar of the Empire’s political architecture, a bloodline synonymous with iron-clad loyalty and devastating physical power.
"Yes." Delphine answered in a low voice, her gaze dropping to her boots.
"Oh... So you were actually going to save your lover, why didn’t you say that from the start?" Mirabella asked with a slight frown, her tone more clinical than judgntal.
"You? How did you know? Even the King doesn’t know about our relationship." Delphine asked in horror, staring at Mirabella as if she were a ghost.
’Of course I know! In my past life, he yelled it in the whole dragon empire, everyone got wing of the news, and the outrageous proposal.’ Mirabella thought, holding her jaw as she processed this new tiline shift.
’But why is she here trying to save him? Xavier wasn’t killed or anything.’
"Princess, Xavier left Ragon city one week ago due to so unexpected situation. He would be close to the Dragon Empire by now... Besides, he’s the Advisor’s son, five Lv400 fighters are guarding him." Hayatobi said, calmly revealing the high-tier intelligence data. To Hayatobi, a Lv500 God General, the movent of the Advisor’s heir was basic logistical information.
"Huh? Really?" Delphine was completely dumbfounded, staring at Hayatobi. There was no way a Master Teacher of his standing would lie about troop movents or security details. The realization hit her like a physical wave: Xavier was safe and sound, likely comfortably traveling in a warded carriage while she was nearly dying in a gorge.
"So Princess, will you still continue this mission?" Mirabella asked, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing as she waited for the Princess to choose between her personal heart and her public duty.
’This... Xavier left one week ago, he must be going back to reveal our relationship to my father... I should be there with him, Yes, that’s the most logical thing to do at the mont.’ She tried to move, her instincts screaming at her to turn back and race toward the capital. But as she stood there, her body didn’t even budge. Her heart was screaming at her to run back to the empire, but her mind and body held her in place, tethered by the sight of the smoking ruins and the thought of the defenseless people further down the path.
Delphine exhaled a long, shaky breath. Looking up at Mirabella, she raised her hand and placed it firmly on her chest, right over her beating heart:
"I am so happy and relieved he’s safe. But I can’t let the people in Ragon city face this alone. I made a promise to help them, and I won’t break it... Miss Mirabella, Lord Hayatobi, we can start going. I know we can achieve this and successful save Ragon city." She said with a newfound, tempered conviction.
Mirabella gave a rare, genuine smile—a flash of approval that softened her sharp features—and nodded: "Ok Princess, that ans our deal still stands." Mirabella looked around at the empty wasteland, noting the lack of a single horse or carriage after the Guild’s retreat.
"Wait, how would we get to Ragon city? Of course, I have a flying skill, but she doesn’t." She said, gesturing to the still-recovering Delphine.
"You don’t need that... I can take you two with . In one hour, we will arrive at Ragon city."
Hayatobi stepped forward, standing before the two ladies like a pillar of reality itself. He placed his powerful palms on both their shoulders, channeling a small amount of spirit energy to stabilize them.
"Get ready both of you." He said, turning to Delphine, who gave a sharp, determined nod.
"Ok, here we go."
The very fabric of space shattered around them like glass. In a blinding flash of blue-white light, the three figures vanished from sight, leaving the Anaconda Path truly empty.
____
[In a small town close to the Dragon Empire.]
While the Anaconda Path was a graveyard of smoke and stone, this border town was a picture of serene, everyday life. The scent of fresh bread and blooming jasmine filled the air.
"Young master, what are we doing here?" An old man in a high-quality black robe entered a local jewelry store, following Xavier. He moved his gaze around the modest shop in utter confusion; the Ironfist family had access to the Imperial stores, yet here was the heir shopping in a frontier town.
"What else? I am here to buy a ring." Xavier said with a bright smile, his words stunning the old man into a dead halt.
"Buy a ring? For who?"
"Who else?" Xavier sighed, looking at the old man over his shoulder with a playful glint in his blue eyes: "I want to get a ring for my future wife."
The old man nearly fell to the ground. In all the years of serving the Ironfist family, he had watched the Young Master ticulously create distance from every single creature of the opposite sex. Even during his post in Ragon City, he would rather stay inside to cultivate his spirit energy than attend the most prestigious parties. Rumors had circulated among the staff that he simply wasn’t interested in won at all. And now... here he was, personally selecting a ring.
’Maybe he is just joking?’ The old man shook his head, his tone becoming serious: "You can’t joke with such things, Young master. You’re a very important person; your marriage shouldn’t be taken lightly. It requires treaties, bloodline assessnts, and the Emperor’s blessing."
"Spare of those things... I don’t need such things, I only need her by myself." Xavier stopped in front of a glass display case. His gaze locked onto a delicate diamond ring, intricately crafted with a silver lotus blooming on the band—a symbol of purity and resilience. A warm, soft smile ford on his face:
"She is as beautiful as this ring."
The old man tilted his head, staring at the young master in utter confusion. ’Who is this girl?’ He thought, trying to recall any noble daughter or high-ranking warrior Xavier had even spoken to in the last year. He had no idea that while the young master was shopping for flowers and gems, his "future wife" was currently hurtling through the dinsions to finish the job she started.
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