Chapter 149: The Conflicted Heart Of Luke Dragon Wife
’I still tried.’
That was precisely why, when Rhaenyra had asked him to remove the restraints placed upon her after returning from the Holy Light Temple.
He had simply answered, "Later."
"Huff..." Astron exhaled slowly to steady himself.
Unfortunately. His peace lasted only a single second.
"Why are you sighing so much today, you old geezer?"
"I think it’s about time you handed your throne over to me."
Astron’s eyelids twitched.
Meanwhile.
Rhaenyra looked completely serious.
She showed no intention of stopping now that she had begun.
Still. Astron understood the reason behind her unusual behavior.
For several days after returning from the Holy Light Temple, she had behaved normally.
Then. Without warning.
Her emotions had begun fluctuating wildly.
She became irritated far more easily than before.
Thinking of those memories, Astron looked at Rhaenyra with his glowing, galaxy-like eyes.
The next moment. Invisible chains wrapped tightly around Rhaenyra’s heart became visible before his gaze.
Countless divine runes glowed faintly across every link.
’The chains forged by the Goddess of Light.’ Astron’s brows furrowed.
’But... why?’
’What reason would a goddess have for doing this?’
’Could some greater scheme be unfolding?’
One possibility after another surfaced in his mind.
Yet after a brief moment... He dismissed every one of them.
’The scheme of gods are beyond the understanding of mortals.’
Whether they acted for salvation. Or destruction.
Only they knew the truth.
Astron withdrew his gaze before calmly looking back at Rhaenyra.
"Regarding your previous request."
"I have agreed."
"Really?" Rhaenyra’s eyes immediately lit up.
For the first time in a long while, genuine happiness appeared on her face.
If the chains were broken.
She would finally regain her freedom.
No longer would she have to live like a caged beast.
However. The next sentence from Astron instantly shattered her excitement.
"Unfortunately, I cannot break those chains myself."
"As they contain Divinity."
His voice remained calm, almost indifferent, confusing Rhaenyra.
’You just said you accepted my request.’ But next moment her thoughts abruptly stopped.
’Divinity?’
Her eyes widened slightly before she looked toward her father.
He was smiling.
’Old geezer.’ She silently cursed him once again.
"As you already know, Divinity is a power that only gods..."
"...and demigods can wield."
"So, I will ask your grandfather to remove those chains instead."
"And you don’t need to worry about any backlash."
"However." The moment Astron mentioned her grandfather, Rhaenyra’s smile returned.
The Dragon Emperor personally taking action.
There was nothing to worry about.
But the instant Astron paused.
Her eyes narrowed. ’This old geezer definitely has an ulterior motive.’
Astron naturally noticed the suspicious look she was giving him.
It was almost as if she were staring at a swindler trying to lure an innocent child with candy.
’This little rascal.’ He inwardly sighed.
In the past, he could easily tolerate her antics.
But ever since those divine chains had begun affecting her emotions.
Every conversation with her became twice as exhausting.
Suppressing the twitch on his face, he calmly continued.
"In exchange."
"You must protect one territory for an entire year."
"And before that year ends."
"You will eliminate every monster nest within its borders."
On this Rhaenyra merely smiled. Because she never once considered the possibility that her father would assign her an impossible task.
As far as she was concerned. It was nothing more than another routine mission.
Standing quietly nearby, Emberlyn listened to everything with her usual calm expression.
However. When the conversation shifted toward the Hero.
A trace of curiosity finally appeared in her eyes.
Originally. She had been the one chosen to marry him.
Although she had never cared whether the Hero was talented or not.
After all. She was already stronger than nearly everyone of her generation.
Even many older dragons couldn’t compare to her.
"Rhaenyra." Astron suddenly smiled. "Have you heard the recent news about your husband?"
At those words. Rhaenyra’s smile gradually faded.
An image unconsciously surfaced in her mind.
A cute young man. Black hair. Deep blue eyes.
If Luke ever discovered that Rhaenyra considered his Manly appearance...
Cute.
He would probably suffer more emotional damage than from any battlefield.
Thump.
Her heartbeat skipped. At the same time.
The invisible chains wrapped around her heart tightened once again.
She frowned.
She hated that sensation. She hated feeling forced. And more than anything.
She hated becoming attached to someone weaker than herself.
Yet strangely. Her father’s words had sparked a small trace of curiosity.
Even she didn’t understand why.
"What news?" Her voice remained as indifferent as ever.
Astron smiled before calmly revealing everything.
"Luke had never been talentless."
"He had already reached the Early Bronze Knight realm without receiving support from any empire."
"Not only that."
"He had even slain a Mid-Golden Knight despite the enormous difference in strength."
"Huh?" For the first time, a genuine surprise appeared on Rhaenyra’s face.
’Then...’
’Why did the Saintess lie?’
And this question confused her mind.
Before she could think further.
Astron’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
"So do you still wish to have those chains removed?"
He paused briefly before adding,
"Because Luke is no longer talentless."
"If those chains are broken now."
"He will lose nearly twenty percent of his talent."
"His cultivation will decline."
"And even his foundation will suffer irreversible damage."
Silence.
Rhaenyra froze. Her expression gradually became conflicted.
She looked at her father. Then lowered her gaze.
After several long moments. Without answering a single question.
She silently turned around and walked away. She never looked back.
Emberlyn watched everything quietly.
Even her usually calm face revealed a hint of surprise.
A moment later. Her expression returned to normal.
She respectfully bowed toward Astron before following after her elder sister.
The enormous palace doors slowly closed behind them.
"Sigh..."
Another weary sigh escaped Astron’s lips.
He had genuinely believed that after hearing of Luke’s achievements...
Rhaenyra would immediately decide to remove the chains.
Yet. She had left without giving him an answer.
He didn’t know whether that silence should be considered good news...
Or bad.
Perhaps.
It meant she had begun developing feelings for her husband.
Or perhaps.
Her silence itself was already the answer.
Only she knew.
"I can only hope." Astron murmured quietly while gazing toward the endless stars beyond the palace.
"that the Hero..."
"...can tame the flames burning within my daughter’s heart during these one year."
With those final words. The palace fell silent once more.
Astron slowly closed his galaxy-like eyes and returned to his slumber.
A slumber spent searching the boundless cosmos.
For the ancient truths of an forgotten era long erased from history.