Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

518  Rubella Plains - Liberating the Basin

Not long after meeting General Lazar, the princess and Asura were guided to a small mansion on the outskirts of the closest village to the mineral cave.

The tall wooden mansion had an old-fashioned aesthetic, built before the advent of magical tools and technology, with water drawn from a well and heating from coal and fire. "This is quite outstanding." Asura admired the extensive field of vegetables and in the opposite field was filled with knights' training with each other.

"Oh? Can you appreciate our training field?"

General Lazar was different to how his first impression. He was straightforward and easy to talk to. Maybe because of Xavida's presence, but to Asura he reminded him of the old school knights that worked with his father.

"Yeah, not only are you providing a large, and well-equipped training field, there's also a field with enough to feed them without outside care." "Hmm~ that's quite observant." "Well, I noticed that the village has their own shared field and another larger field which is probably for the rest of the kingdom, right?"

Asura closed his eyes, remembering the village they just passed. He could see their personal shared field, which was used for the village and then a massive field that multiple villages tended to together for the entire kingdom. 'It's a strange method, but because of the basin's special situation it works.'

"You're right, half of the crops are given in taxes, while the rest is sold and the money spread for the entire basin."

Xavida remained quiet for once, but Asura noticed her eyes watching the villages and basin, while her ears twitched when he spoke to Lazar about the important things.

Even though she used to act immature and seemed to lack foresight.

But Asura knew this was just her way of protecting herself from her uncle's plot. When she became a mother, Xavida started to show her claws, expand her knowledge and also took lessons from the former Queen of Silvara with Vela.

"I see, though it might not work elsewhere. The basin is perfect for this." General Lazar sighed after Asura's words, rubbing his beard, and gazing towards the distance city of Rubella. "I don't know if it will last, because of the foolish orders from above." His voice was lower than usual, as if saying a secret. "What's been happening, General Lazar?" Xavida spoke for the first time, her eyes crystal clear and almost sparkling as she gazed at the man who was once tasked with leading the entire basin. "Hah… Princess, I'm sorry if I say anything rude or sacrilegious."

"You are forgiven, General."

Asura's spine tingled when he heard Xavida's cold, yet confident voice as she sat straight, staring at the middle-aged male who once served her father. "Those bastards in the capital, your foolish uncle Anduil has sent strange people in hooded robes ever since last year's yield was delivered to them." General Lazar sucked on the end of his cigar and tapped the table with a sour face.

"When I asked for the reason, those bastards gave me a signed imperial decree that I would no longer be responsible for the basin, and now they've taken control of Rubella." "I see." "What happened after that, I don't think the people in the basin became like that for no reason." Asura noticed the frustration on the General's face.

His furrowed brows and wrinkled forehead, along with the small scars and wounds covering his body, showed a glimpse of his past. "King Silvara."

"Call me Asura, while in this empire I am nothing but the spouse of Princess Xavida."

"Understood, Prince Asura. You're correct, that wasn't the end." General Lazar stood from his chair and lifted a small box from under the table. The box was silver and black, and shared a resemblance to the holy items that Asura had seen in the past.

The General tapped the silver tinted lid with small gemstones.

"This is the cause, and we suffered great casualties to even find this small amount of evidence."

He then opened the lid to reveal a red silk lining, with cushioning, but what was placed inside caused both Xavida and Asura to gasp. 'A dried heart?'

"What is this?" Xavida asked with a confused look, her eyes able to see the darkness radiating from the disgusting organ.

"My Princess, we do not know what or whose heart it is, but the darkness and evil contained is something we cannot comprehend. All we know is that they grind these organs up, and when the villagers attend the monthly gathering…" His voice stopped, even the seasoned warrior turning slightly pale, before he turned to the princess and Asura alternately gazing at them with sharp eyes. "Then unbeknownst to the members, they consume them."

'That's…'

Asura's face twitched for the first time, and Xavida's tail suddenly wrapped around his arm, rubbing against his hand.

"How? What is this gathering?"

Xavida tried to calm down as much as she could, despite the overwhelming hatred in her voice.

"P-Princess, it comes from the monthly dedication to the Dragons who blessed us with their protection and deep affection."

BANG!

Xavida's hand slammed the table, shattering it into pieces of dust. Her eyes transformed into a dragon's shape, while the horns on her forehead started to become more prominent. 'Damn, he just said that those fuckers defiled our sacred ritual and used it to consume these filthy hearts.'

"How dare they!"

It was the second time that Asura saw such a terrifying expression on Xavida's face, and even more, how her inner anger showed in her shaking fists and screeching teeth.

It also made sense why there were so many suspicious stares from the people in the town.

Her body shimmered with the aura of a dragon.

His sharp instincts alerted him that an overpowering force was building within the Princess' slender body.

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Behind her, the dragon's image appeared, like the day he met her after being insulted by the Silvaran Knight.

But now she had transformed faster than ever before.

"Prince, you have to stop your wife," Lazar warned with a slight bow.

His sharp instincts alerted him that an overpowering force was building within the Princess' slender body. @@novelbin@@

'True… the field is about to burn down.'

The sky started to crackle with lightning.

Dark clouds covered the beautiful blue sky and sunlight, the land cracked open as if someone were stomping over the ground. Asura stepped forward and touched Xavida's head. His fingers massaging the space between her horns.

"My lovely princess, I will help you."

"Eh?"

Asura lifted Xavida into his arms.

Her light body almost shocked him when she could cause the land and skies to change with a simple mood change.

However, he knew this basin was deeply linked to dragons and strengthened her.

"A-Asura?"

Xavida felt the warmth of her husband's body as it absorbed the violent dragon's spirit that almost devoured her.

She turned silent, and her eyes began to return to their usual crystal-clear emerald appearance. Her rage disappeared, causing her to become weak in Asura's arms.

Xavida curled into his embrace, inhaling the strange scent from Asura's neck, similar but different to her father, a comforting scent that drew her to him in the first place.

"I won't tell you not to get angry, and I won't stop you from getting your revenge." Asura poked her small nose, enjoying the look on her plump cheeks that gazed back at him.

"I will help you when the time is right."

General Lazar watched the two, his eyes widening because he saw the image of the pervious king and his wife.

He couldn't help but clench his fists, as he looked at the calm male with long black hair and deep red eyes, while thinking to himself. 'This man, he carries the aura of our emperor, can he guide the princess and save our kingdom?'

This was the moment that Lazar took the risk. At first, the chest with the heart was a test. He wanted to see how much the princess cared for the kingdom and her people.

Because the rumours said, she betrayed them and escaped to the south.

Now he realised how wrong his speculations were, and that there was a reason they were here.

'Please allow this old soldier to serve you.' Lazar thought solemnly as he knelt before them.

"I, General Adrian Lazar, son of Lucas Lazar, swear to serve Princes Xavida Bahamot with my heart on soul, I devote this oath to the father dragon and his current heiress."

A bright glow emanated from his finger, forming a golden ring.

The mark of a dragon appeared, swirling around General Lazar as it absorbed into both Asura and Xavida, from this moment on, General Lazar could never betray them. They had his unyielding loyalty, whether through words or action.