As a villain, I really don't want to be pursued by the heroine.

----------

Since the siege by the dragon clan, the capital has finally experienced a rare peace.

The people's optimistic mood infected the streets, and the knights rekindled their fighting spirit. Victory seemed no longer out of reach.

However, Charlotte, the princess who rekindled hope and was regarded as the queen of hope, could not really be optimistic.

Although Natsu didn't say it explicitly, his appearance of recuperating in bed and his attitude that implied that he needed to reach a high level as soon as possible proved a cruel reality.

He has reached his limit.

King Lionheart's injuries were more serious than anyone expected.

The dragon race already had a huge advantage over the human race, and now, relying on the walls and barriers of the royal capital, the newly arrived reinforcements could only barely maintain a stalemate.

But if high-level combat power is taken into account, a stalemate is a luxury.

There were three high-ranking dragons among them, and Natsu was unable to fight them at their full strength.

If no high-level person comes forward before the next seven heavenly dragons make a move, everything will be over.

Realizing the severity of the current situation, Charlotte stayed in her room, concentrating her mind and trying her best to advance to a higher level.

However, the gap between the middle and high levels is greater than the gap between any previous bloodline levels.

Charlotte could feel that the potion was completely digested, her blood was in excellent condition, and the original flame was flowing at her fingertips, as natural as breathing.

The extraordinary creatures born from flames are no more than this.

But even for Charlotte, who had been regarded as a darling of heaven since childhood, it was impossible for her to transform from an extraordinary person into a legend overnight.

No matter how Charlotte recalled her willpower that had brought her to this point, or how her extraordinary bloodline circulated, there was no sign of change in the level of her bloodline.

After trying from early morning to dusk, the exhausted Charlotte finally gave up, kicked off her boots, kicked her feet, and collapsed on the bed listlessly.

Like a salty cat that has lost its dream.

"Sure enough, it's not that simple..."

As if unwilling to accept the reality that time had passed in vain, Charlotte shielded her eyes with one arm and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

What exactly is heart fire?

The problem that once troubled countless members of the Lionheart Royal Family who inherited the blood of the Red Flame now also troubles Charlotte.

The father found the answer in a fierce battle with the red-blooded fire dragon.

Ten years after his brother entered Sequence 5, Odu has not been able to find the answer.

What should I do? I can't just follow Iron Blood and get beaten up like that, right?

Charlotte, who had never worried about the promotion of her bloodline level, finally tasted the bitterness at this moment.

If only I could rely on Roy's [Bloodline Resonance] to temporarily reach Sequence 4 and experience the feeling of a breakthrough...

The accelerated heartbeat, the fiery pulse, the moment of resonance with it is a touch hotter and warmer than the flame.

In fact, when she broke through to Sequence 6 before, she really relied on recalling that feeling to successfully break through.

But Roy is not around now.

Charlotte lowered her arms, looked at the empty side, and sighed again.

The setting sun cast a bleak tint on the room.

Even without the help of [Blood Resonance], as long as the other party can give her encouragement and support at this moment, she will be able to cheer up again.

Thinking of this, Charlotte puffed up her lips, pressed herself against the bed, and angrily pawed at the person beside her: "Idiot, why don't you come back?"

Then, the expression beneath the messy red hair was tinged with the loneliness of dusk.

"Where were you when I needed you..."

"It seems you miss him a lot."

"!"

The red cat, whose tail was stepped on, jumped up instantly and looked back at her mother who was smiling at her at the door. Charlotte felt as if her cheeks were burning as if they were being roasted by fire.

Chapter 67: Charlotte's Answer

With her hair combed neatly, her messy skirt straightened, and her black silk feet put back into her boots, Charlotte did her best to put on the most proper demeanor to receive her mother, like an impeccable lady.

Perhaps she herself hadn't noticed, but her mother had been one of the few people she was willing to let go of her disguise and act coquettishly. But now that the kingdom was in danger, she didn't want to appear unreliable in front of her mother anymore.

The one who leads the kingdom forward cannot be a cat curled up in its mother's arms, but a lion rising from the ashes. And the only one who can make her become a lazy kitten again is that boy.

Even so, Charlotte's face still had a redness that was even brighter than the sunset.

"I was just wondering when that incompetent knight would arrive, but, I'm not missing him anymore, okay?!"

Leisa held her face in her hands and pretended to be surprised: "Oh, I thought you were talking about someone, it turns out you were thinking about Roy."

"Mother?!"

"Haha, just kidding." Lessa rubbed Charlotte's head lovingly. "You perk up when we talk about Roy."

It's mental breakdown, right?!

Charlotte was speechless.

Holding her cheek and looking away, Charlotte took several deep breaths and finally controlled the temperature of her cheeks.

After finally regaining her composure, Charlotte sighed, "Sorry."

"As a princess, you shouldn't be letting your imagination run wild at a time like this."

The dancer does not know the sorrow of losing his country, and the common man does not have to be responsible for the kingdom.

But as someone who carries royal blood and has carried this responsibility since childhood, I shouldn't slack off in the slightest. Charlotte reflected deeply in her heart and forced thoughts of Roy to the back of her mind.

But Resha's eyes grew dim.

"Shouldn't you think that? Why would you think that?"

"With the Dragon Clan at war, countless couples and lovers will never see each other again. How can I continue to dwell on my personal affairs at this time?! And my stinky dad is injured too. He needs my strength right now, but I can't even break through Sequence 4...!"

Charlotte's tone became more and more excited, and she was a little out of control, but at the end, looking at her mother's worried eyes, she choked suddenly.

She turned her head and looked at the sunset in the distance.

"...Anyway, now is not the time to be distracted."

"I must hurry up and advance to Sequence 4."

This is already a euphemism for expulsion.

Lessa pretended not to understand, held Charlotte's shoulders, and smiled softly.

"Charlotte, we are all mortal."

"Even if you're a royal family member."

“The human heart is not always strong; there are always times when it is fragile, and it is natural for us to miss the people we care about.”

Charlotte didn't deny the idea.

In fact, with every word Lessa said, she couldn't help but feel more concerned.

Can Roy get there in time?

Is he injured?

Is he okay now?

Thoughts like these kept lingering in her mind. Charlotte forced herself not to think too much and sighed helplessly: "But now is not the time."

Charlotte was having a hard time not being anxious: "Mom, I've already told you, now we have to focus on getting promoted..."

"Then do you know how Natsu got promoted back then?"

Charlotte was stunned by the question.

How do you get promoted? How do you ignite your inner fire?

The determination to defend the country, the courage to face the dragon, and the courage to never surrender as a king.

This should have been a self-evident answer, but looking at her mother's calm eyes, Charlotte vaguely felt that it was not that simple.

Her astonishment did not surprise Leisa too much.

"Ah, as expected, that guy couldn't say it. You and your daughter are exactly the same in this respect."

Lessa cast a calm gaze, a hint of nostalgia rising in her smile. "Your father, the Lionhearted King, was able to break through to Sequence 4 and achieve legend status on the brink of life and death. It wasn't due to determination, courage, or boldness."

Speaking of this, Leisa couldn't help laughing, but also said in a friendly way: "No, he has never been a brave person, he is even a little timid."

Lessa cupped Charlotte's cheek and gazed at her. "Everything about being a royal family fueled his efforts, but in the end, he was able to break through to Sequence 4 in that life-or-death battle with the Crimson-Blooded Fire Dragon simply for you, nothing more."

"You are the one who ignites the fire of his enlightenment."

Never noticed, but it is the simplest answer.

Charlotte felt a warmth in her chest, and a glimmer of light flashed through her chaotic thoughts in an instant.

If the fire in a father's heart is his love for himself.

Then, my own heart fire——

A thunderous and extraordinary aura exploded in the distance.

The surging shockwaves were like the ringing of a huge bell in the pillow, pricking the nerves of every extraordinary person in the royal capital.

At the end of the sky, there was a layer of dark clouds, like a swarm of locusts passing through, devouring everything in its path.

But Charlotte knew that they were not locusts.

But a dragon.

Thousands and thousands of dragons, covering the sky and the sun.

Without having time to think about why the dragons suddenly attacked, Charlotte immediately rushed out.

"Charlotte! Your heart fire..."

"Don't worry, Mom."

Before leaving, Charlotte looked back and smiled.

She no longer had the resolve and majesty of a princess, but instead a lingering sense of relief with a hint of blush.

"I think I have the answer."

at the same time.

Those who were also shocked by the huge extraordinary aura were not only the extraordinary people in the royal capital, but also the reinforcements led by Roy.

Before the outline of the royal capital came into view, a group of dragons were already circling in the sky.

Not to mention the extraordinary aura that made people feel cold all over, the terrifying number of dragons alone made every soldier's face gloomy.

How many dragons would it take to cover the sky?

Ten thousand? One hundred thousand?

It was already an absolute tough battle for the human army to fight against the dragons of the same number, and the dragons on the opposite side clearly had the advantage in numbers. What could their reinforcements of only a few thousand people do?

He's simply going to die. He came at the wrong time!

However, the moment the fear spread, a call cut it off.

"Everyone, rejoice!"

"We've arrived just in time!"

The black-haired knight who had faced the frost dragon head-on, sat on a golden-winged griffin and gave them a calm smile.

"As you can see, the dragons are attacking the city, and our compatriots in the capital must be in a tough fight! It's time to make them owe us a favor and make us famous in front of the entire capital!"

"Everyone, follow me to slay the dragon!"

Every general who grew up in the war against dragons will always talk about the reputation of slaying dragons.

But only the black-haired knight made these words so believable.

The princess's sworn knight, the Western Continent's greatest prodigy, a knight who had truly slain a frost dragon. If the legend of the Lionheart King seemed unattainable, the young man before him was a living legend, a hope that proved the dragons were not invincible.