Chapter 32: A Promise Sealed, A City Besieged

‘My own choice…’

Noah gently stroked her chest, letting out what seemed to be a soft sigh, and spoke in a playful, tender tone:

“I believe I already answered that question last night, didn’t I? Why, My Demon Lord~, are you so worried that your beloved might run off with someone else?”

As she spoke, Noah leaned in, subtly pressing Letitia against the wall, her ample curves nearly brushing against Letitia’s maidenly form.

“No, that’s not it, I…”

Letitia stammered, this lich maiden, nearly three millennia old and cunning in her ways, seemed to lose her power of speech before the human she cherished most, her gaze darting away incessantly.

Noah’s approaching body was warm and soft, rendering Letitia utterly incapable of forming a coherent sentence; her mind remained a blank slate, and soon her eyes began to spiral like incense smoke.

She couldn’t fathom why she had suddenly uttered such a melancholic sentiment, like a teenage girl in the throes of adolescence, when she usually wasn’t like this. Now, there was no way to back out…

Embarrassed, Letitia wished she could disappear into the nearest crevice, not daring to glance at Noah, who was so close.

Yet, avoiding eye contact was not an option. Noah’s delicate hand cupped Letitia’s refined chin, fixing her constantly shifting gaze.

In that moment of stunned stillness, Noah leaned in and captured Letitia’s vibrant rosebud lips.

“Mmph!”

Letitia’s eyes widened, Noah’s soft mounds pressing against her own full bosom, their warm texture causing her breaths to come out in a frantic flutter.

She tried to breathe through her mouth, but Noah’s more fervent kiss consumed her lips, leaving her to emit only weak, muffled sounds, like a small creature wantonly tormented.

“Ha… ha…”

As their lips parted, Letitia gasped for air, her head bowed, a lingering haze in her moist, dark crimson eyes.

Nothing could have better conveyed Noah’s profound presence than that kiss, and Letitia felt a genuine pang of shame for her earlier doubts.

With just one vivid imprint, all the unease and suspicion in Letitia’s heart vanished, a clear affirmation of Noah’s unwavering pledge.

However, the fiery kiss had sent a flush of heat through Letitia, and the dryness in her throat nearly gave way to a fresh surge of emotion. She quickly covered her nose, cautiously observing the smiling Noah before her.

“My Demon Lord, it’s quite improper to so easily doubt your wife’s resolve~. As I said yesterday, I will stay by My Demon Lord’s side. Regardless of the origin of this feeling, my love for My Demon Lord holds not a single trace of falsehood.”

Noah smiled gently, as if boasting of something she was deeply proud of, caressing her partially exposed chest as she proudly declared her ardent love for Letitia.

“Then, why are you…?”

Despite understanding that Noah had no intention of leaving her, Letitia still scrutinized the dragon princess before her: the dragon horns like polished jade, the dragon wings neatly folded against her bare back, and the tail that continued to wag excitedly. She couldn’t help but feel curious.

“Ah, that.”

Noah’s tail wagged even more vigorously. She had already given her answer the moment she emerged from her cocoon:

“While I am not them, they are me.”

“Whether it’s the duty of a Saintess or the bonds of family, these are all intrinsic parts of me. I will not abandon them, nor will I ever evade them.”

“One day, I will account for all the people and matters that I hold dear,” Noah said softly.

“At that time, would you be willing to accompany me?”

She gently swayed her tail, her pale blue eyes holding a starlit hope, as she quietly smiled, awaiting the maiden’s reply.

It was neither a demand nor a promise, but merely an invitation for her beloved to journey with her.

“Of course.”

Letitia’s face still bore a faint blush, yet her answer was unwavering.

As she touched her restless heart, a serene smile bloomed on her face.

Unbeknownst to her, she had come to regard the maiden before her as the most precious treasure of her heart, making her own soul a vessel to hold this intoxicating presence.

Upon hearing Letitia’s reply, Noah’s face broke into a radiant smile, like flowers in full bloom. That ethereal and dazzling smile, brimming with heartfelt joy, left Letitia utterly spellbound for a moment.

***

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, a direct mental communication request caused Letitia’s expression to turn serious, halting Noah, who had been about to embrace her.

“Your Majesty, Lord Silvya is leading a force of two thousand troops through Irythil’s main thoroughfare, heading towards the capital city. Please issue your command.”

The report from Tower Knight Beatrice reached her ears, and Letitia’s countenance darkened as she instantly grasped the gravity of the situation.

***

Irythil at night was as bustling and orderly as ever. Many demons took to the streets for nocturnal revelry, returning home feeling relaxed only when the curfew hour arrived.

However, for the demons of the Royal City, this night was destined to be one of restless slumber.

Silvya’s army advanced like a steadily moving mountain, or a bull in its prime. They marched with firm steps across the royal lands, each stride causing the surrounding buildings to tremble violently.

No one dared to obstruct them, and indeed, nothing seemed capable of stopping them.

Even the patrolling guards only dared to call for reinforcements, but before they could even gather their forces, this iron-willed and formidable force had already reached the base of the capital city.

The events unfolded with such suddenness that no one could comprehend the situation.

Silvya walked at the forefront, her hands clasped behind her back, her head held high in proud, defiant disdain as she gazed upon the towering Demon Lord’s castle, as if it were already within her grasp.

“Halt.”

A magic bullet, wreathed in a miniature storm, exploded beside Silvya. Scattered fragments struck several of the leading demons, yet not one cried out in pain, nor did their movements falter even for a moment.

Silvya stopped. Despite her ordinary female physique, she stood like an impassable fortress, blocking the army’s advance. She raised her head higher, gazing indifferently towards the highest point of the Demon Lord’s castle.

There, Tower Knight Beatrice had set up an anti-materiel sniper rifle.

The four magitech cannons on the inner city wall also began to pivot, all aiming at Silvya at the very front of the army, as if her elimination would render the forces behind her utterly harmless.

“To brazenly assemble an army within Irythil and harbor ambitions of assaulting the Royal City, Silvya, you have committed a grave offense.”

The Tower Knight’s voice was utterly chilling, the bone-chilling killing intent emanating from above causing even seasoned veterans of countless battles to break out in a cold sweat.