“My queen, let us forget about this Themisphere people. We will protect this kingdom ourselves,” Dytess uttered. “For all we know, the Themisphere is simply the same as Liguritudum. They just want to conquer us!”

“Lady Dytess, I don’t believe King Storm Wind is one such person,” Zoikod said to Dytess. He then turned to Jack, “That being said. King Storm Wind, if you know us, draconians. You should know that you are asking a lot. Asking us to leave our country while it is occupied by the enemy is the same as throwing away our pride. This is something that we simply can’t do.”

“You can shove your pride up your–Mmhh!” Jeanny pressed her hand onto John’s mouth to stop him from completing his words.

Jack didn’t respond to either Dytess or Zoikod. His eyes remained on Aldryth who was still silent.

“Queen Aldryth…,” Arthur who was beside Aldryth tried to say something to help Jack’s case, but Aldryth lifted her hand to stop him.

Aldryth then turned to face Dytess, Zoikod, and the other native draconian officers.

“My fellow draconians!” Aldryth announced. Her voice was clear and strong. “You all know me. You all chose to follow me instead of the invader who had been acknowledged by the world system for a reason. I want to believe that reason is that you believe in me. I am a pure native draconian! One that descended from the long line of the great Eorsvleg, the founder of our mighty Hydrurond country! So, heed my words when I say I carry his pride in me! That I carry the pride of every single draconian living in Hydrurond!!”

Aldryth stopped for a beat, her eyes surveyed each of her followers with a determined stare. She continued, “Each of you placed your trust in me, believing I can beat the invaders back and reconquer this kingdom. I will not betray your trust. I will defeat the Liguritudum and Aurebor forces and chase them away from our beloved kingdom! I will take back my birthright and avenge my mother, Queen Frorryntiar! But I won’t be able to do this alone. I will need each and every one of you to give me your complete trust. Believe in my decision as you have done when you decided to follow me, even if it is against your wish. Because that is what we will need to defeat our enemies. I insist that you let go of your pride…!!!”

Aldryth’s last words caused many of the draconian officers’ eyes to turn wide. They couldn’t believe what they had heard. Aldryth let them be for a few moments. The draconian officers looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

“Listen!!” Aldryth hollered, which snapped the officers’ attention back to her. “All of you, when the Themisphere King sent us the offer to help us with the invasion, none of you believe his good intention. But throughout this war, all he had shown is nothing but support and sincere help. He even risked his freedom when he came before my mother. He sacrificed his troops and risked his life in the battle to help us escape the enemies. Without him, do you think you can still stand here today? I will not let any of you shame our dignity by second-guessing our ally. Not even if you are a lord dominator!”

Aldryth’s stare was on Dytess when she said her last words. Dytess’ head was down. She regretted her earlier outburst.

“My mother was a prideful queen. I love her dearly. She had nothing but Hydrurond’s interest in her mind. But even so, pride blinded her. Things would have gone very differently if she had accepted Themisphere’s offer of help right from the start.

“Our pride is something integral to us. It is what defines us. It is what makes us strong. Yet, perhaps we have been too indulgent in it. We have let it grow too much that it prevents us from doing what we need to do to preserve our kingdom. If we continue to cling to this excessive pride, we will repeat my mother’s mistake. We will lose our ally. We will lose our kingdom. We will lose our lives. We will lose everything!

“If you believe in me. Then hear me! It is time for us to take a step back. It is time for us to curtail our pride for a moment and think about what we need to do to ensure Hydrurond returns to its former glory! I believe in King Storm Wind of Themisphere. He is a true friend of both me and Hydrurond. If you believe in me, then believe in him!

“I will take him up on his offer. I won’t command any of you to follow my decision. But if you still believe in me, I ask you to follow me. We will head to Themisphere. We will bide our time there and rebuild. And when the time is right, we will return and claim Hydrurond back! Now, who will follow me…?!”

The officer again looked at one another. They were silent for a long while. Jack and the others also didn’t utter any words. After what seemed like an uncomfortably long stillness, one draconian finally broke the silence.

“My queen, I will follow you,” Zoikod declared.

One by one, the other officers voiced the same declaration, until only one left. The lord dominator, Dytess. Everyone was looking at her.

Dytess’ eyes stayed on Aldryth for a long while. She then looked in Jack’s direction. Jack didn’t shy away from her gaze. Jack looked back with resolute eyes.𝓷𝒐𝒱𝑬𝓁𝑛𝗲xt.𝑪𝑂𝔪

Dytess then turned back to Aldryth. She said, “You have my spear, my queen. My troops and I will follow you to Themisphere if that is your wish.”

Aldryth nodded. Her face was steely, but he was secretly relieved within. She announced, “In that case, announce this decision to everyone in this city. Have everyone make preparation. Those who are willing to come, we will bring them with us. Those who don’t, are free to stay. We leave at first light tomorrow!”

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