Mr. Dragon Knight, the dragon girls are chasing you!

"He's not dead." Raymond's voice was low and hoarse, calming the tense atmosphere in the hall, as if he saw through the military's word games.

"The military has a fixed procedure for issuing documents. If the body is confirmed at the scene and death is verified, it will be directly marked as 'killed in action.' If it is written as 'life or death unknown,' it means that no one is monitoring his movements, and that he is alive."

The Duchess's shoulders trembled slightly, her eyes reddening as she turned to look out the window at the blooming violets. A lump formed in her throat, and she softly asked the question that had been nagging at her heart:

"But Ye'er has always wandered the border wilderness, never getting involved in the power struggles of the royal city. How could he rashly venture into the dangerous Eternal Night Rift and get caught up in the dragon-slaying battlefield?"

Raymond remained silent, unable to answer.

The military report was clear and straightforward: In the final battle to slay the dragon in the Eternal Night Rift, Luo Ye took the initiative to appear beside the Black Dragon King, Eluvia. At the last moment of the battle, he deliberately blocked the pursuing allied forces to cover the Black Dragon's retreat and escape. It is suspected that he was later voluntarily taken back to the dragon's lair by the Black Dragon King.

The words "suspected" and "abducted"—two vague and ambiguous terms—directly pinned Luo Ye's crime on him: colluding with the dragon clan and committing treason.

While the Imperial human faction and the ancient dragon race are not exactly irreconcilable enemies, their relationship is far from good.

Colluding with the dragons is a top crime enshrined in the Imperial Code, enough to bring down the entire Violet Clan, which has been passed down for six hundred years.

In a moment of turmoil, Raymond's anger surged, and he slammed his right hand down on the mahogany table.

The heavy table trembled violently, causing the celadon teacups on it to bounce and clink. Scalding hot tea spilled onto the table, spreading large patches of light brown water stains on the dark wood grain that lingered for a long time.

"What on earth did he do to attract the attention of the dragon?!"

The white-haired butler beside him, head bowed and waiting, lowered his body, spoke cautiously, choosing each word carefully, not daring to speak rashly, and softly added to the rumors circulating outside:

"Master, scouts at the front have reported rumors circulating that eyewitnesses at the Dragon Slaying Battlefield are saying that Young Master Luo Ye was not captured passively, but rather took the initiative to get close to the Black Dragon. It is highly likely that he has been secretly colluding with the Dragon Clan for a long time."

"Bullshit!" Raymond roared suddenly, his deep voice echoing against the stone walls of the hall, creating a powerful and intimidating aura.

"He was only eight years old when he left home, inexperienced in the ways of the world, ignorant of the power struggles in the imperial court, and unaware of the grudges between the dragon and human races. How could he possibly have harbored any intention to collude and plot! This is purely a malicious frame-up by a defeated general from the military!"

After his outburst of rage, only the faint crackling of the magic lamps remained in the hall, and Raymond once again fell into an even deeper, deathly silence.

He verbally defended his son, but deep down he was perfectly clear-headed.

Once the human royal family confirms the rumors that Luo Ye colluded with the dragons, the king can seize the opportunity to openly and legitimately strip Violet of her hereditary title and remove this thorn in his side.

The Duchess gripped the secret report tightly between her fingers, her voice weak and trembling, repeating the only thought in her heart: "Raymond, all I need to know is, is my son still alive?"

Raymond looked up at the wisteria vines swaying in the wind outside the window, his eyes filled with a sense of bewilderment and helplessness.

He couldn't give an answer, and no one could.

After a brief silence, he straightened his back and stood up, displaying his ducal majesty. He gave the order in a deep voice: "Mobilize all the manor's secret agents, connections, and merchant intelligence networks, and coordinate with the noble forces in the city who are on good terms with us. No matter the cost, thoroughly investigate the entire story of the Dragon Slaying Battle in the Eternal Night Rift, and uncover all the truth from the scene."

"Your subordinate obeys." The white-haired butler bowed and quickly left the main hall to coordinate the manpower.

The vast main hall fell completely silent.

Raymond stood alone by the window, his back heavy and weary, all his cunning laid bare.

The Duchess sat in her chair, the secret report in her hand crumpled into a ball, but she still clutched it tightly, as if it were the last link between her and her son.

On the same morning, in the east side hall of the palace.

The warm morning sunlight streamed through the arched floor-to-ceiling glass windows, casting a clear glow into the room. The soft, expensive white cashmere carpet provided warmth and tranquility to the entire royal side hall, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

A long flower stand on the windowsill is filled with pure white royal roses, their petals full and glossy, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance that permeates the entire palace.

Princess Elena of the Empire leaned languidly against a velvet couch with gold trim. Her figure was slender and graceful, and at only seventeen or eighteen years old, she was in the prime of her youth.

Her voluminous, shimmering gold curls cascaded down her shoulders, sunlight reflecting off the strands with a delicate, pearly sheen. Her skin was flawless and fair, her features possessing the refined bone structure of royalty, and her eyes exuded an innate nobility.

Beneath his innate royal nobility lay a hint of aloofness and indifference that seemed out of place for his age.

This indifference is not directed at anyone, but rather stems from the weariness that arises from being in a high position for many years and being unable to control one's own destiny.

She had no interest in royal banquets, aristocratic social gatherings, political marriages, or worldly love. Most of the time, she passively followed her role, her heart forever detached from worldly affairs, aloof and indifferent.

She held the bone china teacup with her fingertips, took a sip of warm black tea, put down the cup, picked up the royal pastry adorned with fresh strawberry cream, and ate it slowly and gracefully, her manners impeccable.

Just then, a maid hurried into the side hall and whispered a few words in her ear.

Elena's fingertips, which were pinching the pastry, suddenly stopped, her movements froze in mid-air, and her pupils contracted slightly.

"...Dead?"

Her voice was soft, with a hint of uncertainty, as if she were confirming that she hadn't misheard.

"Your Highness, that's what the secret report said," the maid said respectfully, her head bowed.

"Young Master Luo Ye was abducted by the Black Dragon in the Eternal Night Rift, and his fate is unknown. According to the scout who delivered the message, a large amount of blood and signs of battle were found at the scene, so I'm afraid... his chances of survival are slim."

Elena lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and a surge of joy welled up in her heart that she could not suppress.

She slowly placed the pastry down, raised her hand and put it back on the table, a light, involuntary smile curving her lips upwards.

Realizing her lapse in composure, she quickly bit her lip to suppress a smile, but the lighthearted gleam in her eyes had already been noticed by her maid.

The maidservant wisely lowered her head and stared intently at the shoes, pretending not to see anything and not daring to guess what the princess was thinking.

Elena coughed lightly, adjusted her breathing and tone, deliberately conveying a sense of compassion and sorrow, her voice dignified and appropriate, befitting a royal princess:

"Life is unpredictable, it's truly a pity. Young Master Luo Ye is so promising and in the prime of his life, yet he has encountered such a dangerous situation, it's truly lamentable."

She picked up her teacup again and took a sip, using the act of drinking to conceal the undisguised joy in her eyes, and sighed softly to herself: This is wonderful.

The engagement that had bound them for so many years could finally be nullified.

From the day Elena was born, the King made a verbal marriage agreement with the Duke of Violet, binding the interests of the royal family and the Violet nobility together and stabilizing the balance of power in the court.

She was born with the label: the fiancée of Luo Ye, the second son of the Violet family.