I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 827

Chapter 40: Delivered to Our Doorstep

The prince’s solemn thanks left Roy a bit dazed.

Thinking back, it really seemed like he had helped Charlotte with all sorts of things.

But…

It wasn’t pride over unearned merits, nor indifference to the risks; Roy simply replied, “Charlotte has done the same for me.”

Whether it was her brave protection when they were hunted by the Cult of the Evil Dragon or assisting Alice in dangerous situations, whenever he was in peril, Charlotte was always the first to step up and stand by his side.

What it all meant—duty as a knight, emotional dedication—Roy couldn’t quite articulate.

But he was clear on one thing.

“Everything I do, Charlotte would do for me as well. So, we really don’t need to thank each other.”

Naz blinked in surprise, catching a glimpse of the youth’s calmness, peace, and a hint of elusive happiness—a new understanding gained.

It wasn’t about seeking rewards for risks taken; it was about mutual support and help.

A loyal knight might need gratitude and rewards, but perhaps they had already gone beyond those ceremonial gestures.

That was a bond of trust far more precious between rulers and their subjects.

Naz smirked, “Honestly, having a guy like you around makes me a bit envious of my sister.”

Roy’s smile froze, and he silently took a step back.

“Hahaha, I was just joking! I could never steal away the prince’s girl!”

So as long as he wasn’t the prince’s man, everything’s good, right?!

For the first time, Roy was relieved he had gotten close to Charlotte; otherwise, wouldn’t he be under this Southern prince’s watch?

“Your Highness, let’s put my relationship with Charlotte aside for now. The fortress is pretty much done, and we should consider our next moves, right?” Hesitant due to the other’s orientation, Roy quickly changed the topic.

Luckily, Naz prioritized his royal responsibilities over his personal interests, quickly adopting a serious expression.

Just as Roy had said, the fortress was safe now, but the kingdom was still mired in war; it was far from a time to relax.

“Regardless, we need to support the North first.”

Without further ado, Roy trusted that this prince would reach this conclusion based on solid intel.

“These dragons are cunning, setting hunters across the major airspace to chase down our carrier pigeons, leaving us severely behind on information, but nothing’s foolproof.”

“When the war started, my father quickly summoned our clans to the capital. Even though the dragons attacked from all directions, based on reports from refugees and fleeing soldiers, they too seem to be gathering forces in the North.”

Roy recalled some details and added, “Frostclaw is dead, but its subordinates didn’t completely collapse; it seems more like a well-organized retreat.”

Naz squinted his eyes, a glimmer sparking: “So, right now, the dragons are likely still fighting my father, with no clear victor.”

With no military experience at all, Roy could only be a half-baked strategist, so he kept his mouth shut.

After listening to the prince’s analysis, Roy nodded slightly, as if contemplating: “So we’re heading next to support the North’s main force and settle the dragon conflict?”

Karl had once taught him that a dragon army relies entirely on its dragon leader; as long as they concentrated their forces to defeat the head dragon, the remaining ones would naturally lose their leader and their fighting spirit—truly a case of a headless chicken.

“That’s the case…”

Naz scratched his head, his fierce demeanor suddenly dissolving: “But I’m at a loss as to how we should go about it.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? We just need to go North… ah.”

Roy quickly caught on.

With his basic military knowledge, he had already seen the situation crystal clear.

They said they’d head North, but how many troops to send, how long it would take, and even which route to take—all were pressing questions.

The Lionheart Kingdom was rich with forests, which would be the perfect hunting grounds for dragons lying in wait; suffering too many losses or wasting time on the way would severely impact their ability to support their armies.

“Just those scattered refugee forces? A lot of intel out there hasn’t been updated since last month. We’re still lacking critical information.”

“Wouldn’t it be great if we could snag a dragon’s tongue?”

Listening to the Lionheart prince’s complaints, Roy could only chuckle helplessly.

Things weren’t that simple!

The trouble with fighting against another race lay right there.

Forget about whether the arrogant dragons would yield; even lower-tier dragons couldn’t communicate with them. Even if they caught one, what good would it do if they couldn’t understand anything?

As for capturing a pure-blood dragon…

Forcing one alive would be multiplied in difficulty compared to just killing it—other tier 5 extraordinary beings might be manageable, but once dragons got serious, it was to the death. Even Roy had no confidence in that; otherwise, he would have taken a swing at Frostclaw earlier.

The atmosphere sank into gloom.

But just then, a column of fire pierced the sky, accompanied by the shouts of refugees and soldiers’ alarms.

Immediately, dragon-like shapes, fearsome and speedy, began wreaking havoc within the fortress, terrifying dragon roars echoing everywhere, plunging the once-quiet fortress into chaos in an instant.

Naz’s face fell. “Why are there dragons inside?!”

The griffon knights circling above shouldn’t have let any dragon slip through their watch—at their level, they shouldn’t have failed to spot any approaching dragons.

But with his night vision, Roy noticed something more.

“Wait, Your Highness, that doesn’t seem like dragons… they seem more like… Cultists?”

Now that was a familiar sight to him.

The dragons from the Cult of the Evil Dragon were even skinnier and more distorted than purebred dragons; the distinction was stark.

“Cultists? You mean from the Cult of the Evil Dragon?”

“Those guys fancy themselves as dragon’s servants, so it’s not weird for them to team up with dragons…”

Roy trailed off mid-sentence.

Knowing the dragon intel but easier to capture than the dragons themselves, and with no language barrier for communication.

Was this not right in front of them?!

Like a pillow for a weary sleeper, the timing of these cultists was just perfect!

Roy and Naz exchanged glances, both showing identical surprise.

However, a powerful presence suddenly erupted from the lord’s hall, breaking the brief moment of joy.

Looking at those who had already infiltrated deep into the fortress, evidently up to no good, Naz frowned, “Tch, I don’t know how they managed to sneak in, but it’s clear they mean trouble.”

The inner fortress was supposed to be the safest distance from the city walls.

And Charlotte happened to be returning to rest tonight.

Not waiting for Naz’s orders, Roy volunteered, “Your Highness, I’ll leave this side to you. I’ll go handle the ones who got in, and see if I can catch a few alive.”

“Is that all?” Naz suddenly smirked.

Before Roy could respond, Naz gave him a hard push forward.

“Go! I’m sure Charlotte would prefer a handsome knight over that stinky old guy’s presence.”

“Thanks.”

Roy leaped forward, racing into the depths of the fortress.