Chapter 347
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 347
Chapter Title: Rather, It's for the Best
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Suddenly, his real name was called out.
Proof that his identity had already been exposed.
But Rimon wasn't surprised.
It wasn't just because he'd anticipated it ever since revealing the Red Dragon Clan's secret of nuclear fusion.
That out-of-the-blue remark, like a threat or a seduction, telling him that if he wanted to fulfill his hidden "desire," he should make her his own.
And Hasneti's eyes, which—unlike her usual cool demeanor—blazed with raw passion.
Even he, who had lived for long ages...
No, precisely because he'd lived so long, it sealed his lips.
He'd seen eyes like that before.
"...Why."
That was why.
The words slipped from Rimon's mouth unthinkingly.
"Why make this proposal to me?"
If she knew his true identity, it wouldn't be strange for her to make such an offer just to get her hands on Dragon Cyonics.
But those eyes were hot.
Pure, and all the more fierce for it.
He knew he didn't need to ask, but Rimon asked anyway.
"The reason is..."
Under Rimon's deep, serene gaze, Hasneti hesitated for a moment, her pupils trembling faintly.
She swallowed dryly.
Then, with her face flushed from her nape to her earlobes, after twitching her lips several times, she spoke in a hoarse voice.
"...You don't need to know."
In truth, she wanted to confess.
Her longing for Rimon.
But even now... no, especially in this situation, she couldn't voice her innermost thoughts.
Her actions up to this point had already pushed her to her limit.
So instead, Hasneti fell back on a familiar habit.
As the tyrant she was, she gripped Rimon's wrist and growled.
"Will you be mine or not? Answer me."
"What if I refuse?"
Her heart lurched.
Falling into her stomach.
Was he angry at her forceful behavior?
The thought that she might have earned his hatred by rushing too much turned her mind blank.
"It doesn't matter."
But she couldn't give up.
Not even if he hated her.
Like a wildfire that no one could stop once it ignited.
From the moment she'd decided to make Rimon hers, this passion and fervor surging within her couldn't be contained even by herself.
"If you refuse me, I'll take you by force."
"..."
As if to prove her words.
Hasneti lowered her head.
A raindrop slid from the tip of her nose, plopping onto Rimon's lips.
Her hot breath seeped through the cool scent of rain, scorching his skin like a burn.
Rimon watched her crimson eyes draw steadily closer with calm eyes, then furrowed his brows.
"Stop."
His voice sliced through the air.
An unfamiliar voice rang out in a place that should have held only him and her, freezing Hasneti in place.
Her passion from moments ago cooled into icy detachment as she turned to look behind her.
"...What business do you have here?"
Immaculate uniform.
Sea-blue hair.
And a sword at her waist.
A beauty had appeared on the opposite side of the helipad without warning.
Hasneti softly called the name of someone who should never have been here.
"Rose."
For another princess to invade her domain without permission was cause for fury from any Seven Dragon Society princess.
Especially at a moment like this. Hasneti's voice sank colder than usual.
It was a wonder she hadn't attacked Rose on sight.
But Rose offered no apology or thanks to Hasneti.
She simply spoke calmly.
"I'm here about the boy behind you."
"Business with my consort-to-be?"
"Yes."
She nodded slowly.
Then Rose shifted her gaze slightly.
Staring straight at Rimon, who looked utterly baffled, she continued softly.
"As you know, Hasneti, taking a consort in these times is a problematic move for us."
The seven princesses of the Seven Dragon Society were currently competing to prove themselves worthy as Rimon's bride.
Taking a consort in the midst of that would complicate not just Hasneti's position, but the others' as well.
Rose pointed it out quietly.
"So release that boy immediately and send him back."
"..."
"This is my advice as a neutral party."
Utterly calm.
Gentle yet earnest.
As if it were purely for the good of the Seven Dragon Society—or even Hasneti herself.
Silent after hearing the words of the Seven Dragon Society's most righteous princess.
"Ridiculous."
Hasneti didn't smile—contrary to her words—and her already cold face grew even chillier.
With eerie blood-red eyes, she glared at Rose through the curtain of pouring rain.
"If you can't stand me monopolizing him, drop the flimsy pretext and say it straight, Rose."
"It's not a flimsy pretext."
"No, it is."
Dismissing her rebuttal outright.
Hasneti cut in sharply.
"Just like how you were called the 'Eastern Outlaw.'"
At those words.
Rose fell silent.
After a brief pause, she let out a soft sigh.
"...You knew who I was."
"Of course."
If Rimon was called the "Genius Strategist of World-Shaking Beauty," then the "Eastern Outlaw" was clearly no ordinary woman.
Who she was.
You could tell just from her actions after taking control of the military.
"You're the only fool who'd wage a war without a single casualty."
Without killing enemies.
Without plundering even in victory.
Bestowing welfare even after conquest.
No such soft-hearted fool existed in Africa—or the whole world—except Rose.
Rose didn't flinch at Hasneti's words, dry as a sneer yet sharp as a blade.
She merely replied calmly, as if she'd expected it.
"If you've seen through my disguise, then you know his identity too."
"..."
"Rather, it's for the best."
Hasneti didn't bother answering.
And Rose, as if not expecting one, continued softly.
"If you don't want it publicized that you tried to take the Sword Duke as your consort, release him at once."
It was less advice than a warning.
An ultimatum that brooked no refusal.
Li Chingwei had been branded a traitor just for hiding things about Rimon.
If it came out that Hasneti had ignored the Seven Dragon Society's consensus to snatch him, Charlotte and Yekaterina would be the first to erupt.
So stop here if you don't want to make enemies of the entire clan.
Rose said earnestly.
It was the gentlest compromise the merciful and just princess could offer.
One problem.
Her opponent was Hasneti.
"Publicize it if you dare."
"...You know what that would mean?"
"Better than you, Rose."
Like mocking a fool who couldn't tell a spark you could snuff out from an unquenchable sun.
Hasneti eyed Rose coolly and continued.
"Tell the other princesses. Whether they wage war or send assassins, I'll welcome them."
As the Red Dragon Princess who never shied from battle and, once ignited, couldn't be stopped by anyone.
And as Africa's tyrant who, rather than compromise with "enemies," fought, won, subjugated, and conquered no matter who they were.
Hasneti replied coldly.
If they wanted Rimon, they'd have to break her first.
She added one more line, her dry voice laced with sharp mockery.
"That is, if you have the guts."
"..."
It wasn't just that Rose had made Rimon her favored concubine first, so publicizing it would backfire on her too.
If Rose had done it, there'd be a good reason.
The other princesses would ask for circumstances before raging and accept it upon hearing why.
She was the Seven Dragon Society's conscience.
The issue was that revealing this would inevitably spark civil war in the society.
Could she really bear that and spread the word?
Rose, who avoided killing even on battlefields and chose neutrality, giving up claiming Rimon for the society's stability?
Impossible.
At best, she'd just mediate peacefully between her and the other princesses.
Knowing that, Hasneti turned away.
"Now that you know, get lost."
As if Rose wasn't even worth her attention.
Without so much as a glance, she issued the dismissal. Rose stood silent for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"If that's your will, I'll withdraw for today."
Hasneti didn't respond.
She'd lost interest in Rose's predictable words and was about to walk away with a bored expression.
"But first, I'll take what I came for."
"...?"
But before she could step forward.
She froze.
Not because she didn't grasp Rose's meaning.
Her battle-honed senses, forged across countless fields, suddenly screamed a warning.
Following that instinct, Hasneti reflexively dodged.
Slash!
A long sword mark scarred the spot she'd vacated.
It cleaved the reinforced concrete rooftop like paper, piercing through to the floor below—a terrifying strike that could endanger even a princess if undefended.
But what shocked Hasneti wasn't the power.
It was who launched it.
"You...?"
It couldn't be.
Invading another clan's territory to attack a princess?
Not a duel or spar, but a cowardly sneak attack from behind?
Even Li Chingwei wouldn't stoop that low, and if Yekaterina did it, you'd doubt your ears.
Least of all her.
Hasneti believed that.
Until she saw Rose, sword drawn, swinging at her again.
Boom!
"Rose, have you lost your mind?!"
Dodging the space-severing slash once more, Hasneti shouted without thinking.
The situation was that absurd.
It almost seemed rational to think the Rose before her was a fake or brainwashed.
But Hasneti soon abandoned that rational hypothesis.
Whoosh!
The moment Rose flicked her hand, the pouring raindrops swirled around her like a vortex.
Her white fingers snapped, launching water shells like bullets.
Proving she was the real deal.
Not content with Severing Void Sword Style alone, she wielded Sea Dragon Water Jewel Style and Falling Star Finger Style too.
Only Rose among the seven princesses could handle those three styles so freely.
And her eyes, calm to the point of coldness, weren't those of a brainwashed puppet.
That only deepened Hasneti's confusion.
Bang!
Even amid it, she reflexively unleashed Solar Flame Aura Style, vaporizing the incoming water jewels with flames wreathing her hands.
Dodging the slashes mixed in, she growled.
"Whatever you're thinking, this petty trick won't work on me."
"Yes, I know."
Her fierce assault seemed illusory.
Surprisingly calm, Rose agreed.
A sneak attack might work.
But head-on without ultimate techniques? Hasneti was no pushover.
Why keep attacking knowing that?
Rose stated plainly.
"But I can make you dodge."
That instant.
Hasneti stiffened.
Not just from the meaningful words.
She finally realized.
From her appearance until now, Rose hadn't smiled once.
Her eyes were still deep and serene, but instead of a lake's clear gleam, they were murky like an abyss.
And...
Lost in confusion, she'd moved too much.
"You said you'd welcome war or assassination, right?"
"...!"
"So I trust this is fine too."
"You don't mean...!"
Shocked by the ominous premonition, Hasneti unleashed Seven Thunder Bullet Shadow Style at full power.
Not at Rose.
At her original position.
Toward Rimon, watching them with a look of utter incredulity.
The rooftop was vast, but her speed with Seven Thunder Bullet Shadow Style was unmatched—she could cross it in the blink of an eye.
And normally, that would have sufficed.
Crackle!
...If her opponent weren't Rose.
Before she could take a step.
Hasneti widened her eyes at the blue-haired woman who appeared behind Rimon as if rising from the ground.
'No!'
Anything else, she'd tolerate.
But not this.
He was hers.
Her one unique treasure.
The mate she'd craved since over a decade ago.
The world peace plan had forbidden even contact, forcing her to watch from afar.
She couldn't lose him now, after her long wait miraculously bore fruit.
Never!
Boom!
Was it focus?
Or rage's power?
The moment she stepped, thunder-laced flames erupted beneath her feet, turning her into a streak of lightning.
Crossing the rooftop in less than half a second.
But before that instant passed.
She saw it.
Rose behind him, arms outstretched, embracing Rimon protectively like a treasure.
Lifting her head to meet Hasneti's gaze, curving her lips for the first time.
Not her usual gentle smile, but a frozen lake's icy grin.
Finally reaching Rimon, as Hasneti reached to seize him.
Crackle.
Hasneti froze.
The spot where Rimon had been.
Now empty.
And her hand clutching only air.
It hollowed her heart, once swirling with emotions, into emptiness.
Grind.
But the void lasted only a moment.
Like pouring oil on dry tinder and igniting it.
All other feelings vanished from her heart, filled explosively by one alone.
"RAAAAAAGH!!!!!!"
...The enraged dragon's roar echoed thunderously between heaven and earth moments later.
News broke that afternoon: one of Egypt's largest granary regions had inexplicably burned to ashes in a massive blaze.