Chapter 33: She Withstood (August 1)

In the palace banquet hall, Duncan eyed Dorothy, Fratina, and Lucia, then glanced at his few guards, realizing he stood no chance.

He gave up resisting.

“Tell me what you want, but mark my words: the continent’s nations won’t forget what the Church has done to Londe.”

Under the crystal chandelier, Fratina’s clear blue eyes gleamed as she tossed her golden hair and stepped toward Duncan.

“Your Majesty, this isn’t the place for discussion. Shall we move somewhere else?”

Duncan gave Lucia another deep look, then nodded.

“Very well, let’s go to the council chamber.”

Fratina followed. Seeing Lucia linger, Dorothy grabbed her hand.

“Come on, stop eyeing the food. Let’s go.”

Lucia glanced wistfully at the table.

The sauce-roasted pork was her favorite, and she’d barely had a bite before being dragged away.

*

In the council chamber, Duncan sat on one side of the long table, flanked by Londe’s central officials.

Opposite them were Dorothy, leading the Church delegation, with Fratina beside her and Lucia next to Fratina.

“So, what are your terms?”

Duncan, seated, regained a trace of regal authority.

“No rush, not everyone’s here yet.”

Dorothy glanced at the chamber’s entrance.

Soon, Freeman rushed in, taking a seat beside Duncan.

“Now that everyone’s here, I’ll be direct.”

Dorothy finally spoke formally.

“After investigating Dragon’s Roar Valley and its surroundings, I found no evidence of dragon-inflicted harm. Your claims of Lucia being a menace are rumors.”

“The real reason, as Lucia told me, is that you hid the valley’s mineral wealth, aiming to monopolize it and use others to eliminate her, correct?”

Freeman and Duncan were speechless.

After a long pause, Duncan forced out, “Nonsense!”

He slammed the table.

But as Fratina moved to stand, he calmed down.

“Dragon’s Roar Valley lies within Londe’s borders. We want to develop our resources, and this dragon blocks us. Do we have to buy back what’s ours?”

“Hah, quite the sly excuse.”

Unexpectedly, Lucia spoke slowly.

Irritated from missing out on the feast, she needed an outlet, and Duncan had just volunteered.

“You claim the valley as Londe’s territory. Tell me, when has Londe ever sent troops to claim it? Even small skirmishes—you fled at my sight.”

“Just because the valley’s surrounded by Londe, you call it yours?”

“Do you know who ruled Londe when I took over the valley, or how vast your borders were then?”

“I’m here not for Londe’s sake but to give the Saintess face.”

Silence fell.

Duncan, stumped, couldn’t respond.

Londe had never asserted sovereignty over the valley or publicized its minerals—clearly ulterior motives.

Coupled with Lucia’s furious tone, fueled by hunger, Londe’s officials broke into cold sweats.

Dorothy, too, was a bit embarrassed.

She’d thought Lucia mild, but she could command the room when needed.

Fratina’s gaze held complex emotions.

“It’s because you, an evil dragon, blocked us! If you’d left earlier, would we have needed conflict?”

Duncan shot a look at Dorothy.

“Lady Dorothy, the Church claims justice, yet you bring a dragon here. What’s your true intent?”

Dorothy smiled and nodded.

With Lucia setting the stage, her negotiations would be smoother.

“Your Majesty is sharp. We’re not here to seize power or make enemies but to broker peace.”

“Peace?”

“Yes.”

Dorothy took a bag from an aide and presented the draft treaty she’d made with Lucia.

Besides their agreement, it included a slot for Londe, forming a tripartite treaty to regulate them.

As Dorothy handed it to Duncan, he and Freeman reviewed it.

Moments later, Duncan slammed it down.

“Impossible. We can’t accept this.”

The treaty’s core barred Londe from mining the valley.

Why had Londe risked so much to remove Lucia?

For those minerals.

To Duncan, even losing half the population to defeat the dragon was worth it—Londe could rise again in twenty years.

But with the Church’s pressure and Lucia’s willingness to talk, defiance was impractical.

Freeman tugged Duncan’s sleeve, shaking his head.

Duncan, humiliated, glared at Lucia, then turned to Dorothy.

“Saintess, you’re truly siding with this dragon?”

Dorothy smiled.

“Your Majesty, didn’t the Church once side with you?”

She pointed upward.

Duncan understood—she meant the Church’s support in legitimizing his coup.

He’d donated heavily, but the Church had stabilized Londe’s internal affairs.

“The Church fights evil. Lucia seeks peace, guarding her land. If that’s a crime, don’t the nobles of every nation commit worse?”

Dorothy smiled at Duncan.

“Sign this treaty, Your Majesty. It may not benefit you, but it costs you nothing.”

“Plus, with Lucia leaving, you can breathe easier, right?”

With her eloquence, Duncan, though reluctant, signed the treaty.