NOVEL WEB Chapter 285. The Dragon King’s Return V
Dragon King's Harem Chapter 285. The Dragon King's Return V
Marissa's shock was unmistakable. Her eyes widened, and her hand flew to her mouth as she processed what I had just said. "Wait... you killed the orc king?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief and concern.
I nodded, meeting her gaze. "Yes. I didn’t have a choice," I said. "It’s not something I wanted, but he refused any peace. There was no other way."
Marissa seemed stunned. I knew what she must have thought—bringing Glasha back as my wife might’ve seemed like a peaceful resolution. But the truth was far more complicated.
Evelina spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "In war, difficult choices sometimes have to be made," she explained. "The orc king wouldn’t accept peace, and continuing the conflict would’ve endangered both our people."
Marissa nodded slowly. She now understood that my marriage to Glasha wasn’t born out of love but necessity—an alliance forged to keep peace between our tribes.
"Just take care of her," I said, trying to steer the conversation to something lighter. "I hope you all get along."
Glasha glanced at me, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice soft, unsure. "I’ll do my best."
Jyne jumped in next. "And what about the Minotaurs, Your Majesty?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Are you going to do the same thing with them?"
I paused for a moment before answering, considering the situation with the Minotaurs. "I hope not," I said honestly. "Prince Dravis—well, General Dravis before—was one of the few who opposed the war. There’s a chance we can settle things peacefully."
Marissa leaned in, her voice filled with concern. "So, you just need to make an agreement with him, then?" she asked, her brows furrowed.
I nodded. "That’s the plan," I said, taking a bite of food, savoring the flavors for a moment before continuing. "I’m hoping Dravis will be open to negotiations for peace."
Evelina chimed in, her tone optimistic. "We just need to approach this with diplomacy and a clear mind," she said. "If we find common ground, we can avoid more bloodshed."
But Sela couldn’t hide her worry. "Isn’t it risky to meet with him after a war?" she asked, her brows furrowed in concern.
Jyne nodded in agreement. "What if it’s a trap?" she added, her voice full of anxiety.
I took a deep breath, trying to ease their fears. "I get it, but I’m not going to meet him on his turf," I reassured them. "We’ll meet at the border. And I won’t be going alone—my troops will be with me. If Dravis tries anything, we’ll be ready."
Marissa still looked uneasy, her expression somber. "I just hope it doesn’t come to that," she muttered softly.
I reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "No one wants another war," I said gently. "But some tribes just don’t know when to back off. They don’t respect boundaries, especially when they’re dealing with a stronger tribe."
Jyne nodded in agreement. "Sometimes you have to show strength to make them understand we won’t be pushed around," she said firmly.
Evelina, always the voice of reason, added thoughtfully, "But it’s just as important to find ways to communicate. We need to bridge the gap and find peace, or we’ll be fighting forever."
I leaned back, reflecting on the balance we had to strike. "It’s a delicate situation," I admitted.
Marissa shook her head slowly, her voice heavy with conviction. "Greed is at the root of all of this," she said, her eyes dark with memories, likely thinking of what the Nymph Queen had done to her family.
I leaned forward, listening closely. "You’re right," I said. "Greed and ambition have driven countless leaders to make reckless choices that cost lives and spark wars."
Glasha, who had been quiet throughout the conversation, suddenly spoke up, her tone thoughtful. "But it’s the leaders who cause the trouble," she said. "Most of the people don’t want war. The warriors, they fight because they have to. They defend their tribe’s honor, even when it’s the last thing they want."
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