Chapter 451

Chapter 451: The Duke of the Red Dragon

In the Verdant Empire, within the Imperial Capital.

The golden palace was like a garden, with lush green plants and flowers everywhere. Walking along the ornate corridor, one could see guards dressed in red or green uniforms standing tall and elegant, each displaying a fine upbringing. These guards were indeed from the upper echelons of the empire’s nobility. Guarding the palace was considered an extremely prestigious position among the nobles.

Not only did they need to have a Sequence 4 ability, but they also had to pass rigorous examinations on culture, poetry, history, etiquette, and lineage. Wearing the gold-leafed rose emblem was proof that they were among the best of their peers.

These guards often accompanied the royal family, serving not just as protectors for the emperor, princes, and princesses, but also as their lieutenants, assistants, poets, record keepers, and masters of ceremonies. Power radiated outward from the emperor through these noble and talented individuals.

They were the barriers and swords of the empire, assisting the supreme monarch in ruling this vast nation.

Through the long corridor, a messenger hurriedly walked, followed by two red-clothed guards who escorted and monitored him.

Finally, they arrived at a quiet palace, where two guards clad in full-body gold armor stood guard at the entrance. Their imposing presence made people stop in their tracks.

One of the red-clothed guards stepped forward and reported the request to see someone. The guard raised his hand, signaling the messenger to wait.

It was unclear what methods they used to notify the palace staff, but after some time, the palace gate slowly opened a crack, allowing the messenger to enter while the two red-clothed guards remained outside.

The messenger, dressed in a white robe with gold edges, cautiously walked across the palace floor, not daring to look up. Guided by a maid, he arrived at a sunlit courtyard.

There seemed to be a figure sitting on a bench in the courtyard, back turned to him, as if resting with closed eyes.

Seeing this supreme figure, the messenger let out a sigh of relief and carefully retrieved a letter from his sleeve, handing it to a nearby attendant to present it.

After opening the envelope and reading the letter, the gold-edged red-clothed attendant carefully leaned down to whisper the contents of the message into the figure’s ear.

“Understood.”

The shadowy figure under the sunlight responded simply, then slightly raised his hand. Everyone bowed and retreated, while the messenger left the palace under the guidance of an attendant.

Click—

As the door gently closed, the messenger breathed in the cool, fragrant air of the palace, relaxing. Then, he quietly asked the gold-edged red-clothed attendant beside him.

“The emperor’s meaning is that we should not interfere and let things proceed as they will.”

After saying this, the attendant returned to the palace without further explanation.

Watching the messenger disappear behind the palace doors, he opened his mouth to speak but ultimately closed it and left quickly.

Leaving the magnificent palace, the messenger returned to a high-rise building in the city. After staying there for a moment, he exited and rode his horse directly along the road reserved for nobles, galloping out of the city.

Here, a towering red dragon had been waiting for a long time.

As the messenger dismounted, the crimson giant dragon lowered its body, revealing the saddle on its neck. The afternoon sun reflected off its scales, casting a lustrous red gem-like hue.

Mounting the dragon’s back, it roared once, flapping its wings, creating a gust of wind, before soaring into the sky toward the southern provinces of the empire.

Rushing through the clouds, the giant dragon displayed agility and nimbleness unbecoming of its size, crossing several provinces in half a day to reach the southern Crimson Heart Province, home of the Baska family and the capital of the southern provinces.

By the time the red dragon landed, it was already deep into the night, yet the duke’s residence still glowed brightly. This was not due to any special event tonight but rather a common occurrence; the duke, with his boundless wealth, cared little about such minor expenses.

After passing through layers of guards at checkpoints, the messenger finally reached a study room. After a brief report from the butler, the messenger entered and saw a man standing by the window.

His short black hair was neatly combed, interspersed with strands of red, adding a unique aura. This man in his early fifties, the current Red Dragon Duke and ninth-generation head of the Baska family, Leodo, stood there.

A dragon-scaled sword hung at his waist, tightly attached. When the messenger entered, the man turned around and looked at him.

“Duke, I have reported the news from the Snow Flower Seven Nations to the emperor, but.”

“But His Majesty in the capital is not interested, right?” The man seemed to have anticipated this and spoke ahead of time.

“Yes, sir,” the messenger said, lowering his head in shame.

“It’s nothing. I had expected this,” the man said, sitting confidently behind the desk. He picked up the latest reports on the table.

The lengthy letters detailed the actions of the Frost Rose in the border of Clancia, the interference of the Southern Islands, and the civil unrest in Black Rock and the Holy Land.

“Why does His Majesty show no interest in unifying the continent, even refusing to mobilize a single soldier?” The messenger asked, puzzled.

“Bode, you’re not in the emperor’s position, so you may not understand his feelings and thoughts.”

“In fact, I am only beginning to comprehend his mindset now.”

“To them, no matter how vast the land and wealth, they have lost their significance. Maintaining balance within the country is already challenging enough. If we rush into war now, the stability we’ve maintained could be shattered. The emperor is getting older, with the eldest prince being over sixty years old and the youngest son only ten. They are tired of these power struggles.”

“Now, the most important thing is to ensure the throne is securely passed on to the next generation. As for the Snow Flower Seven Nations, let the next generation deal with it.”

“To achieve this, they specifically summoned the head of the Landsworth family. With the mediation of the Elven Queen, the duke, who loves his daughter, finally agreed to the marriage with the Crown Prince.”

“At the same time, they contacted the Duke of the Griffin, the Salus family, to arrange another marriage for another Crown Prince. Thus, the twin princes marrying the daughters of two dukes can stabilize the period of power vacuum.”

“One cannot deny that the benefit of having dual kings lies in their ability to marry wives from two families simultaneously, maintaining independence and better balance. Among the two emperors, as long as one is wise, the country can remain stable.”

“They remind, reflect, and restrain each other, ensuring the vast empire remains under absolute imperial power, with everyone being part of the same family.”

After hearing these words, the messenger gradually calmed down but couldn’t help asking again.

“When will our Baska family be able to launch a western campaign against the Seven Nations and wash away our disgrace?”

“Nephew Bode, you must be tired today. Go rest,” the Red Dragon Duke waved his hand.

Watching the young messenger leave, the Red Dragon Duke sighed slowly.

“Young people are still too hot-headed. These younger generations.”

A pair of plump arms wrapped around him from behind, and a mature female voice whispered in his ear.

“You ‘Red Dragons’ are all like this. I still remember when you challenged my brother in your youth. If I hadn’t stopped you, you would have been impaled by my brothers on their spears.”

“That’s enough, madam. No more talk, time to rest.”

Thank you, Error516, Seven Sins Extinction, Starry Fantasy, Weikaninya, Tomorrow Dominator, and the 14 readers who supported this chapter.