Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me

Chapter 889: The Lionheart Delegation IV

Daniel stood outside the prison, beside one of the massive black columns.

He hadn’t entered Andreas and Lioran’s meeting.

Not out of respect for their brotherly relationship, and not because he considered their conversation private.

He just didn’t need to. The outcome was already clear.

Lioran had nothing left to offer. He had lost his status, the founder had abandoned him, his family was not willing to go to war to save him, and even the name that until yesterday had been his greatest shield had now become less a protection and more a reason to bury his disgrace faster.

What mattered to Daniel was Andreas’s reaction. But even that, he could guess.

He had known Andreas for a long time. In fact, that boy was one of the first people he had met and become acquainted with in the Celestial Domain.

He could clearly envision his thought process and predict any reaction or decision he might make beforehand.

It would probably have been interesting to see Lioran’s face when all his hope disappeared... What a shame.

A few minutes later, the sound of heavy locks turning was heard from the end of the hallway.

The dungeon door opened with a short groan, and Andreas emerged from between two guards.

His face was calm, but the lightness and confidence he had before entering had slightly faded. Not because he felt sympathy for Lioran, and not because his decision about him had changed.

The heaviness in his gaze came from seeing the fate of someone who had stood at the center of the family his entire life.

A man for whom hundreds had competed to gain his favor, someone who had considered the future of the family and the tower his rightful claim.

And now, behind a few black bars, among chains and walls, he had become so broken that he couldn’t even complete a sentence without shifting from threats to pleading.

Daniel moved away from the column.

Andreas reached him and, without stopping, continued his path toward the stone elevators.

”How was the meeting?”

”Not interesting.” Andreas didn’t even look back.

They walked a few steps in silence, and then he continued in a cold tone:

”He’s completely lost his mind.” His gaze fixed on the black walls of the hallway for a moment.

”One moment he’s threatening to kill everyone when he gets out, the next moment he’s begging me to ask Father to save him, then he’s claiming the founder is just testing him and will come to free him soon.”

”Anyone who suddenly falls from grace might end up like that.” The corner of Daniel’s lip rose slightly.

”It doesn’t matter.” Andreas shrugged.

His tone was so indifferent that it seemed he was talking not about his brother, but about an unknown prisoner who had only wasted a few minutes of his time.

But right in the next moment, his demeanor changed. His steps quickened slightly.

His gaze, which until then had been cold and uninterested, became more serious, and his hand unconsciously rested on his sword’s hilt. Not out of anger, but like someone preparing to hear unpleasant news.

”What did you want to tell me about Ilaris?”

Daniel glanced at him. Andreas’s attempt to hide his concern wasn’t very successful.

If any other name had been mentioned, he probably would have kept that cold calmness.

But Ilaris was different.

She was a girl Andreas had loved for years. He loved her so much that he had even been willing to confess his feelings.

Though confessing his feelings hadn’t changed anything, and that girl had remained on her decision and returned to the elven empire.

Still, they both truly loved each other, and perhaps in the near future, they could be together again.

Daniel didn’t answer for a few seconds.

”Daniel.” Andreas shot him a sharp look.

Daniel laughed.

”That girl hasn’t been idle during this time.”

Andreas said nothing, but his ears sharpened to hear more.

”She has successfully entered the main succession competition of the elven empire.”

”She’s no longer just some distant elf. Her name has officially been registered among the succession candidates.”

A smile appeared on Andreas’s face. Not one of those political, controlled smiles, but the smile of someone genuinely happy for another person’s success.

”I knew she would succeed.” He raised his head slightly.

”She was always more worthy than most of those princes.”

”She was smarter, fought better, and unlike many, she didn’t claim anything just because of her blood.”

Daniel let him enjoy that happiness for a few seconds, and then collected his own smile.

”You don’t even know or have seen the other princes of the elven empire.”

”...”

”Ahem... well, you were explaining. Please continue.” Andreas said with slight embarrassment.

”Anyway, don’t celebrate yet.”

Andreas’s steps suddenly slowed down, and a bad feeling came over him. A feeling he didn’t like at all. Daniel continued:

”The path she’s traveled hasn’t been easy.”

”To reach her current position, she’s passed several deadly trials, fought against rival factions, and at least a few attempts have been made to eliminate her before reaching the main stage.”

Andreas’s jaw tightened. Daniel looked ahead.

”Part of the royal family still sees her presence as an insult to the empire’s main bloodline.”

”And several princes are willing to sacrifice anyone to remove her name from the candidate list.”

Andreas said nothing more. The brief happiness that had appeared on his face moments ago had completely vanished. He knew his love’s path hadn’t been easy, but he hadn’t known she had suffered so much during this time.

He sighed and just waited for the main part of the news.

”Besides, a problem has come up for her.” Daniel said after a few steps.

”What happened?” Andreas asked immediately.

”The Elf Emperor wants to force her to marry one of his sons.”

Andreas’s steps stopped right there. A wave of mana involuntarily erupted from his body.

The runes on the black walls of the hallway lit up one after another, and the faint sound of restraint rings activating echoed through the space.

Several guards in the distance immediately turned toward them, their hands on their weapons.

Andreas’s hand tightened firmly around his sword’s hilt. A bloodthirsty, monstrous killing intent emanated from his body, as if he wanted to destroy everything.

”Which son?”

Daniel said nothing. Andreas turned a step toward him.

”Does that bastard think Ilaris is his personal property?” The anger in his voice was so clear that even the surrounding air grew heavier.

Daniel placed his hand on Andreas’s shoulder. The simple pressure of his hand was enough to make Andreas’s mana flow subside slightly.

”Control yourself. This isn’t going to happen.”

Andreas looked at him.

”If the Emperor himself has decided, how are you going to stop it?”

”This isn’t just an ordinary courtship. If a political decree has been issued, half the court will support it, and the other half will use it to eliminate Ilaris.”

”Because I’m going there.” Daniel said indifferently.

Andreas was completely silent for a few seconds. Anger was still on his face, but now mixed with new confidence.

He knew Daniel.

He knew that when he spoke with such calmness about entering the heart of an empire and interfering with the Emperor’s personal decision, it meant he had already made that decision.

And anyone who intended to stand in his way probably still didn’t know what crisis was coming.

”Then I’m coming too.” Andreas said.

”Of course.” Daniel accepted lazily.

”I didn’t expect you to agree so quickly.”

”That’s why I told you. Because I want you to come with me.”

Andreas walked a few steps behind him and then caught up.

”When do we leave?”

”We have to wait for Ilaris’s contact. Until she announces the right time, going early will only make her situation worse.” Daniel answered quietly.

”So we do nothing for now?” Andreas frowned.

”Ilaris is in the middle of a succession competition. If we enter without her invitation or request, her opponents could claim she’s resorted to outside support to seize the throne.”

”Then even those who are currently neutral would stand against her.”

Despite his dissatisfaction, Andreas nodded.

”I understand.” And a few moments later, he asked:

”Will you stay here until then?”

Daniel shook his head.

”No. I’m returning with you to the Lionheart territory. There are some people I want to see.”

”I think my sister misses you.” The corner of Andreas’s lip rose.

Daniel glanced at him briefly.

”She’s not the only one.”

”So my aunt too?” Andreas thought for a moment.

”Her too. But there’s someone else as well.”

Andreas looked at Daniel’s profile for a few moments.

Then his expression changed, as if he had suddenly remembered someone else.

”You mean that girl?”

”Has anything happened to her?” Daniel confirmed directly this time.

”No.”

Andreas kept his tone serious.

”After you left, I kept an eye on her.”

”Several people tried to get close to her. Some to use her connection to you, and some just to find out why she was so important to you.”

”But nothing serious happened. Anyone who got too close realized they were under my watch.”

A few moments of silence passed between them, until Daniel said quietly:

”Good.”

”That’s why many people think she’s one of my direct people.” Andreas smiled faintly.

Daniel didn’t respond. This ambiguity was beneficial to him. The fewer people who knew about that girl’s real relationship with him, the more her safety would be preserved.

He didn’t want to see the smile on that girl’s face disappear...