Chapter 335
When they set out, Odian used his teleportation ability to carry the group part of the way. Afterward, everyone continued the journey on foot while he rested and replenished his shamanic power before performing another teleportation.
Meanwhile, far away in Spirit Stone City, Drago sat alone in what had once been Nina’s room.
The small chamber was painfully simple. As he looked around, a heavy weight settled in his chest.
So this was how Nina had lived…
She had been the second most noble female in the city, surpassed only by Leah. She had been a princess of Spirit Stone City, yet the beast pelts she used were coarse and worn. There were no beautiful ornaments, no treasures, no signs of the luxury that should have surrounded someone of her status.
After her appearance had changed and the poison had disfigured her, he had listened to the rumors spreading through the city. He had begun to believe she carried misfortune.
Little by little, he stopped approaching her.
Leah disliked Nina.
Lina disliked Nina.
Both of them constantly spoke ill of her in front of him. Influenced by their words and by the gossip that filled the city, he gradually grew distant as well.
Eventually, he stopped caring altogether.
Yet Nina was his daughter. There had been a time when he truly loved her. Instead, he had allowed rumors and speculation to poison his heart.
Deep down, he knew selfishness had played a role too. He simply refused to admit it.
A memory surfaced… Every so often, Nina would bring him gifts. Only now did he realize how difficult those gifts must have been for her to obtain.
His gaze swept across the room before stopping at the corner of the bed.
There, partially hidden, lay a small crystal. The sight struck him like lightning.
Years ago, Nina had offered him that very crystal. At the time, he had rejected it with thinly concealed disdain.
Slowly, he crossed the room and picked it up. His fingers traced its smooth surface.
For the girl Nina had once been, even a tiny crystal like this had been precious beyond measure.
Yet he had cast it aside without a second thought.
Now that same neglected child had become the ruler of an entire city.
When news first reached him that the new lord of Barbarian City was a female, he had immediately suspected it might be Nina. He had sent people to investigate, and before long, the truth had been confirmed.
It really was her.
Such an extraordinary daughter. And he had pushed her away with his own hands.
Regret flooded his heart. If Nina had remained in Spirit Stone City, how powerful would their city have become?
Unfortunately, regret changed nothing. Nina no longer acknowledged him as her father.
As he sat lost in thought, a male entered the room.
“City Lord, I have finished investigating everything you requested regarding Princess Nina.”
Drago straightened slightly.
“Tell me.”
He had ordered a thorough investigation into all the accusations and rumors that had followed Nina throughout her life.
The male hesitated before speaking.
“Everything we uncovered indicates that the rumors about Princess Nina were false.”
He lowered his head.
“She never abused males. She never committed the things people accused her of.”
One by one, he recounted the results of his investigation. Even his own voice carried traces of guilt and sympathy.
Like many others, he had once believed Princess Nina was a cruel and unpleasant female.
Because of that belief, he had often treated her coldly.
Only now did he realize those stories had been fabricated. An innocent girl had been slandered by another malicious female.
A shadow passed through Drago’s eyes.
So they truly had wronged her…
His expression hardened.
“Lina spread those rumors, didn’t she?”
“Yes. Some originated with her. Later they were repeated and exaggerated until they became far worse than the original lies.”
The male paused uncertainly. “There were others involved as well.”
His gaze flickered toward Drago, unsure whether he should continue.
Drago’s eyes narrowed. “Who else?”
The male swallowed. “Queen Leah and Lord Laron.”
Silence filled the room.
Drago’s expression darkened noticeably.
“I see.”
He had suspected as much.
Many of the rumors had existed long before Lina was old enough to orchestrate something on that scale.
Someone else had been behind them.
Laron made sense.
Leah did not.
No matter how much she disliked Nina, Nina was still her daughter. How could a mother participate in destroying her own child?
Pressing a hand against his temple, Drago exhaled heavily.
“Spread the truth.”
The male looked up.
“Spread it everywhere. I want every beastfolk in Spirit Stone City to know what really happened.”
His voice grew firmer.
“Not only here. Let the neighboring cities hear it too.”
After a brief pause, he continued.
“And tell them something else.” His eyes softened for the first time. “Tell them Princess Nina is not ugly. She never was. The poison was responsible for her appearance. She has already recovered.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“Tell them she is beautiful. More beautiful than anyone could imagine. Tell them she is the most precious princess Spirit Stone City has ever had.”
The male bowed deeply.
“Yes, City Lord.”
“Go immediately.”
Without another word, the male departed to carry out the order.
Left alone once more, Drago lowered his gaze to the crystal in his hand.
“Nina…”
A weary sigh escaped him.
“Consider this a small apology from your father.”
He remained in the room for a long time before finally returning to his private chambers.
The moment he entered, he found Leah waiting for him.
Her face was stormy with anger.
“Drago, where is Lina?”
She stepped forward sharply.
“The two of you left together. Why didn’t she come back with you?”
A few days earlier, Leah had been away traveling with Laron. Only afterward had she learned that Lina had accompanied Drago to Barbarian City.
The journey had been dangerous.
Laron lacked the strength to escort her safely, and Leah had no desire to endure hardship herself, so she had remained behind and waited for Lina’s return.
Now, however, there was still no sign of her daughter.