MTLNOVEL Chapter 96: Terrorist?
The next day, they set out for the Capital.
Tomorrow, the grand summit will begin. Yet for the duo, such affairs held little meaning. They had come for something far brighter—the festival.
The thought of delicacies, laughter, vibrant lanterns, and music filling the streets excited them more than any council of kings could.
Luna was still glowing from the warmth of last night's stay. Hades caught himself wondering if she wished to remain by her side longer, but Luna reassured him. Her grandmother had already promised to visit her in the Dragon Realm. She held the rare permit and the means to enter, so there would be no obstacle.
"Did she… mention anything about us?" Hades asked as they walked toward the Capital's towering gate. Their carriage had been forced to stop several hundred meters away; no visitor was allowed closer for safety.
The wide road ahead was filled with travelers—merchants herding carts, nobles stepping down from carriages, and curious wanderers craning their necks at the sight of the city walls.
Patrols of soldiers marched with strict discipline, their polished armor glinting under the sun. The last time Hades had visited, the guard had been nowhere near this strict. Clearly, the Royal Majesty was taking no chances with the safety of so many foreigners gathering here.
After a pause, Luna finally spoke. Her tone was soft, almost hesitant.
"She only told me a few things… about my pregnancy."
Hades halted mid-step, eyes widening. He turned to her sharply.
"Are you—"
"No, no!" Luna flustered, waving her hands, her cheeks burning. "That's not it."
She lowered her gaze before admitting, "To give birth to a young one, I have to release the restraint on myself." Her nervous eyes flickered up to meet his, and she saw the flicker of realization in them.
Unlike other races, a Phoenix did not bear children in the usual way. They shed a fragment of themselves—flame and ashes woven together—to form the embryo. From there, the child grew within a cocoon of fire, nurtured by its mother's essence until the day it hatched. In her human form, such a miracle was impossible.
Hades's face hardened. His grip found her hand as he murmured with quiet finality, "If it endangers your identity and puts your safety at risk, then we aren't having any baby." He stared ahead, unwilling to let the matter linger.
It was a promise he had made to Fiona not so long ago—that no matter the circumstance, he would never allow Luna's bloodline to expose her to danger. The world saw phoenixes and druids as treasures to exploit or monsters to fear. Fiona knew it, and so did he.
Luna fell silent. Deep down, her heart still ached with the dream of building a family with him, of giving him children and watching them grow together. That dream hadn't vanished—it merely slumbered, waiting for the day she could speak of it again.
The queue to the Capital's entrance stretched far, snaking like a living river.
Shouts of vendors rose over the murmur of the crowd, offering roasted chestnuts, colorful trinkets, and spiced drinks to weary travelers.
Children darted around the queue, chasing each other. The air itself buzzed with expectation, the whole city preparing for the summit and the festival alike.
Hades's mood slowly softened. He gave Luna's hand a reassuring squeeze before saying, "You can sit there if you'd like. I'll manage the line myself."
Nearby, smooth stones had been placed along the roadside for visitors to rest upon.
But Luna only smiled gently. "I'm fine here, Hades." Her step was light, her spirit unwearied after most of the journey in the carriage.
Just then, "Ah." A small gasp slipped from Luna's lips, making Hades glance over his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" he asked, brows raised.
She had felt his hand brush against her rear, but it had to be an accident—the man was too caught up in his conversation with the person behind him to notice.
Shaking her head lightly, she murmured, "No, it's nothing."
Hades tilted his head, studying her for a moment before nodding.
Luna turned her eyes toward the distant castle spires piercing the sky. She had been to the Capital a few times before, but her visits were almost always to the cathedral.
The church had approached her more than once, offering her the position of Head Priestess. Had she accepted, she would have been hailed as a Saintess. A blessing might have been bestowed upon her, aiding her path toward enlightenment.
Yet she had never even considered it.
Taking that oath would mean surrendering her freedom. Every step, every word, every action would be bound by the church's rules and watchful eyes.
And beyond that—one reason above all others kept her away. To serve as a Saintess, she would have to remain a virgin. That, she could not accept. She had someone she loved, a man she wanted to build a life and a family with.
"...!" Just then, she felt a hand on her rear again.
Her hand shifted and before the man could react, she held his wrist in an unshakable grip.
"Agh! What the hell!" The man cried, gathering others' attention.
Hades also turned and found Luna twisting a man's arm.
Luna had a smile on her face but her eyes remained emotionless.
"Luna?" Hades asked in a heavy voice.
"He touched me inappropriately." She told him without moving her eyes from the man who was trying to move away.
"You dumb woman! It was an acciden-*SLASH*"
The man turned stunned. The people around them gasped.
Blood sprayed as the man found his whole arm being severed.
"AHHHHHH!!" He cried and fell to his knees.
Hades coldly looked at the man, but behind those cold eyes, fury was raging.
However, just when he took another step forward, he found several men surrounding him.
"Stop right there!" The soldiers warned, their spears drawn.
Hades's presence made them tremble as the others made their distance.
Just then, "You!" A booming voice roared as a hulking man landed before them.
Hades's eyes widened.
It was the Commander of the Royal Order, and Graham's father.
"Uncle Roger..." He called out, not understanding why a man of such high position was here to defuse a small matter
But just then, "After conspiring against the royal family, you think you can just come here like a guest?!" The man roared as he advanced towards Hades.
Hades frowned at that...what was his talking about? Was it about Cedric?
But then, "You are taken captive under the charge of terrorism against your motherland!"
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.