Dragon King's Harem Chapter 57. The King is Here
As we entered the West Earth gate, we were greeted by light from the large torches that lined neatly in the courtyard. We walked through it until we arrived near the Palace entrance. Our hands pulled the reins to stop our Yegauns before we got off there. Swiftly, several guards approached us. Some of them quickly brought our Yegauns back to their stables. While some of them greeted Eir since he was the only person who had opened his hood.
"Welcome back, Sir Eiron," they said politely. To which he replied with a nod.
Then the guards turned their gaze to me and looked at me in doubt and curiosity since although I looked familiar, I still covered my head with my hood which made my face unclear, I also hadn't cancelled Al's Tonic of Camouflage yet. Meanwhile Evelina was still wearing her hood too, so they didn't greet her.
On the other side, Jyne's heart was beating fast. Her panic and tension were evident on her face. But since Argod already knew her identity, she could not avoid it anymore. Who knew that the convoy she had met in that small town was from the Palace. And since they said this Palace was their home, it meant that Argod and the others were probably inner officials or elite soldiers who usually lived in the Palace.
'What should I do? I told Sir Ar all my plans. They will return me to my kingdom, 'she thought in panic.
Seeing Jyne's panicked face, I pressed my lips to hold back my laughter.
"Shall we go inside, Your Highness?" I said as I could get my voice out.
Jyne turned to me in annoyance.
"Why didn't you say that you work at the Palace?" she said with a frown.
Now, it was Evelina and Eir who pressed their lips after hearing Jyne's words. While I was trying to keep my composure and hold back my laughter as hard as I could.
"You didn't ask me before." Then I gave a gesture to enter.
Jyne sighed in exasperation.
"Fine." She couldn't tell him her complaint since it was her fault. If she didn't try to steal Argod's money maybe she wouldn't end up like this. Moreover ... Jyne glanced at Argod. On the positive side, since Argod lived in this Palace, at least she could see Argod every day. In addition, an elite soldier or inner official was better than that of a commoner. Moreover, some of them were allowed to have more than one wife. So her feelings weren't a dead end like before.
As we entered the palace, several servants bowed to greet us. Just like every Palace's habit, Eir, Jyne and Evelina opened their cloaks and gave them to the servants, except mine. I couldn't remove my cloak and show my face in front of the servants since I still had to make another trip tomorrow. Upon seeing the nine fox tails behind Jyne, the servants' eyes widened in surprise and quickly lowered their heads politely since they immediately recognized her.
One of the servants approached Eir.
"Sir Eiron, shall I report this to His Majesty?" What they knew was that I was resting in my room right now.
"It's fine, His Majesty already knows about this," replied Eir.
"I understand," said the servant, though the confusion was clear on his face.
Meanwhile, Jyne gasped in shock. Since based on Eir's words, it meant that the Dragon King was awake.
'I'm dead! This is the same as turning myself over to The Dragon King,' she screamed internally in panic. She didn't think that the king had awakened since she didn't hear this news before. It was big news, so it should be spread quickly yet what she did know was that the Dragon King was still asleep. She could not imagine that in just one day her long journey would end in vain. Even her first love had to withered without her being able to say it since she was sure Argod would tell everything to the king.
We moved our feet through the corridor. But as we walked, suddenly Jyne came over to me.
"Sir, I know I don't deserve to ask you this. But can you keep our previous conversation a secret?" she said in a low voice. This was her desperate attempt to minimize her punishment.
"Which one?" I asked in a casual tone since I could guess her intention. After all, everything she said to me before would make 'the dragon king' angry.
Jyne glanced at Evelina, Eir and the guards before returning her gaze to me.
"About my main reason for joining the harem. Also about my plan to search for my 'true love' in Dragon Cross City," she said again in a low voice.
I knew she asked me that since I was the only one who knew her plan. Meanwhile Eir and Evelina only knew she was the Princess of the Fox Tribe who wanted to meet me.
Jyne lowered her head and was silent for a few moments.
"If that happens ... I can't do anything either," she said in a gloomy tone.
"I understand."
As we arrived in front of a large huge door with a Draconis Crest in gold, two guards bowed at us and opened the door.
"You don't need to follow us," said Eir to the guards who followed us and they followed his orders.
We entered the hall that was dominated by red and black colour. Several large pillars line up on each side with a floating huge crystal in front of it. Those were high-level crystals that were used to protect and attack the enemies automatically. The floors were made of dark brown marble, a long red carpet lined from the door to the throne stage and another huge Draconis crest in gold behind the throne. It was Draconis' main hall. According to Igixar's tradition and formality, all important guests from other tribes had to meet the king in that hall before they moved to another room.
Jyne swept her gaze across the Hall that was bigger and more luxurious than her Palace's Hall before turning her gaze back to the empty throne. Then she approached me again.
"I-I think we should come back again tomorrow," said Jyne in the same low voice. Her hesitation was clear from her voice. Her feet moved following us.
"Why?" I said in a casual tone.
"I'm sure the king is resting in his room, I don't want to disturb him," she replied.
I chuckled.
"What are you talking about? The king is here. Of course, you should meet him."
"H-He's here?" said Jyne in a stammering voice. Her gaze swept around the room once again in panic.
As we were not far from the throne stage, Eir and Evelina stopped and bowed. Since they suddenly stopped, Jyne also stopped her steps in confusion.
Meanwhile, I kept moving my feet up to the throne as I used my skill.
'Dispel.'
[All negative status has been removed]
As my eyes returned to normal and my horns appeared above my head, my hands opened my hood. Then I took off my cloak, letting it fall to the floor nonchalantly. When I got to the top, I turned around and sat on the throne. My legs were folded leisurely and my elbow was on the chair handle, my head was resting on the back of my hand. I smirked at Jyne who was looking at me in shock with pale face.
"Princess Jyne of the Fox tribe, welcome to Crimson Flame Palace."