I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 868

Chapter 81: The Princess’s Promise

Since the founding of the Lionheart Kingdom, there hasn’t been a military parade as rushed and chaotic as this one.

The air was thick with gunpowder, the streets were in ruins, and even the square beneath the Red Fortress was a mess. The knights’ formations were all over the place; each of them was covered in bandages and blood, and even the nobles had lost their usual shine.

Yet despite this, when they gazed upon the striking figure above the Red Fortress, more vivid than a blazing flame, the people—knights and nobles alike—didn’t lose their spark; they stubbornly burned with passion.

The fearful tension was extinguished by the torrid heat of blood—Princess Charlotte, bathed in crimson, symbolized the kingdom’s undying lionheart.

Looking down at her people, Charlotte spoke gravely, “You can all hear the roars of the Dragonkin.”

“With the two of the Seven Great Dragons gathered, this will be a battle more difficult than any in the kingdom’s history,” she continued.

“But so what?” Charlotte smirked, a hint of disdain on her lips.

“With the enemy before us and our homeland behind us, no matter how the Dragonkin attack, our response can only be blood and fire!”

“The people of the kingdom will hold onto hope, the knights will charge forward, the nobles will fulfill their duties, and I, as your princess, will lead you to victory!”

Charlotte’s passionate words ignited the crowd, sparking a wildfire of courage in everyone’s hearts.

The dragon-slaying princess led the charge against the giant dragon, proving that the Dragonkin were not invincible—so how could they possibly falter now?

“The kingdom will prevail! Long live the kingdom!”

It was unclear who shouted first.

One voice led to a hundred; the people raised their hands, and the knights held their swords high.

Underneath the gloomy clouds, the blood-boiling shouts belonging to the Lionheart Kingdom echoed across the skies, making even the roars of the Dragonkin seem insignificant.

Looking at the small yet heroic figure of Charlotte, and the weak but resilient Lionheart people below, Roy felt a swell of pride.

He had originally thought of following Charlotte to make a show before their march, but it now seemed he was worrying too much.

She had truly become the torch leading the kingdom forward.

To follow such a princess was undoubtedly an honor for a knight.

As Roy contemplated this, Charlotte suddenly turned and looked at him.

“When knights march, there will be rewards. Once we win this battle, the greatest contributor deserves the richest reward.”

Oath Knight Roy Ainbrad, who was marching alongside the princess, had played a key role in repelling the Frost Dragon Marigoth, bringing elite reinforcements led by priests and mages.

Without needing to explicitly state it, it was clear that outside of the dragon-slaying princess, the greatest contributor to this war was undoubtedly him.

“My knight, what reward do you wish for?”

Before Roy could respond, Charlotte laughed, “To propose to me, asking me to accompany you for a lifetime? What a bold knight you are.”

“?!”

Roy instantly froze.

To be exposed in front of thousands, some even familiar faces, even Roy’s thick skin couldn’t help but turn beet red.

Such shocking news sparked a wave of excitement across the crowd.

Karl twitched at the corner of his mouth, maintaining an awkward yet polite smile.

Naz raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the unfolding drama.

Lessa gazed at them with a doting expression, filled with care and joy.

And the bandaged Lionheart King Robert nearly spat out blood from shock at her words.

Even if I agree! Getting married is way too soon! At least we should date for ten years first! You little brat, don’t think you can get away with this so soon!

Naz meant to yell at him, but in this atmosphere, he couldn’t muster the words.

The rumor of the Oath Knight and the princess had been common knowledge for over a year, and now finally getting official confirmation was beyond exciting.

“As for my answer… I plan to wait until after the war.”

With her head bowed, appearing to ponder, the girl was actually hiding her shyness.

To say such things in front of the masses was no small challenge for Charlotte.

Settling her racing heart, she proudly raised her head, her gaze landing on the young boy beside her.

“My demands are quite high.”

“Even if the legendary dragon-slaying knight Siegfried pales in comparison, if you wish to become my husband, you must do better than him!”

The first dragon slayer in history, who perished along with the Evil Dragon Fafnir. He had been the brave knight Charlotte admired in her childhood, but now, the figure she yearned for had shifted to that of another young boy.

Her ruby-like gaze deeply engraved her knight’s image in her mind, maintaining her elegance as a princess, yet unable to hide her red cheeks.

She raised her delicate wrist to Roy, solemn yet tender, “Defeat the Black Dragon, and return in triumph. Only then will I give you my answer.”

Roy understood well that for the normally pure-hearted and shy Charlotte, who detested openly expressing her feelings, to make such a bold promise was not just to rally the people, not just to respond to his proposal from the previous night, but also to convey her feelings.

She believed she could win and return home victorious.

This was both an unbreakable command and a promise every man must fulfill.

With that in mind, his answer could only be one.

With his heart ablaze, Roy knelt on one knee, took the girl’s hand, and gently kissed it.

“At your command.”

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It was noon, a time when the sun should shine brightly, yet the sky was half-covered with dark clouds.

The side of Lionheart City still had blue skies and white clouds, while the other half was shrouded in thick darkness.

Surging blackish-purple magic energy consumed the sky, crackling with deep, serpentine thunder.

Countless dragons swarmed in like a dark shadow, appearing as though the sky were collapsing, akin to ancient giants opening their jaws, ready to devour anyone.

Undoubtedly, this was a terrifying battlefield unlike anything experienced throughout the kingdom’s history.

Neither the Second Dragon War nineteen years ago nor the First Dragon War thousands of years prior could compare to this time when the Dragonkin had awakened and poured out en masse.

However, the knights did not retreat.

On the battered walls from continuous battles, they gripped their weapons tightly, holding their ground.

All because the crimson princess stood upon the city walls.

When the ruler led by example, the knights were willing to repay with their lives.

But a ruler is also human.

Even a princess can’t ignore the fear in her heart.

So he couldn’t help but ask concernedly, “Are you afraid?”

Fear is part of being human; royalty shouldn’t need to hold themselves to impossible standards. Robert had thought of many soothing words.

But Charlotte merely smiled back at him.

“I am not afraid.”

Robert didn’t press further; Charlotte had already turned her gaze towards the horizon, towards the black-haired knight bravely facing the advancing army.

If Charlotte was the flame leading the kingdom forward, then Roy was the flame guiding Charlotte’s path.

Her heart’s fire.