Chapter 312: Meeting Uncle Andarus

The army parted based on the chief commanders it belonged to, and the adventurers themselves banded together.

A big portion of the knights and soldiers joined Rion and Melvin as they marched together.

Rion and Melvin rode horses while the others followed on foot. The rhythmic sound of their boots and metal clings resounded throughout the place.

As the bright sun reached evening, the gates of the capital came into Rion's view, and seeing Melvin, the guards bowed as deeply as they could. They were unaware of who the other person with Melvin was, though.

The army entered the capital, and with all confidence, they marched forward.

Citizens watched them with terrified faces, but seeing the handsome man guiding them, they couldn't help but feel calm.

As they reached the capital's center, Rion raised his left fist and shouted, "Halt!"

The army halted instantly.

Rion turned his horse toward them and said in a grateful tone, "I know all of you wish to follow us to the royal palace. To tell the crown that we have won. That we have ended the ruthless cycle of killing, but that would lead to problems we do not want. Thus, I want you to return to your quarters and prepare to usher Leonara into its golden age."

The soldiers slammed their right fist into the chestplate and shouted in unison, "As you command!"

Their voice echoed throughout the area like a lion's roar, and all of the army and the commanders turned toward the barracks.

Rion and Melvin watched them leave, and once they disappeared from their vision, they continued toward the royal palace.

They soon reached the palace and stepped down from their horses at the gates.

After handing the reins to the guards, Rion and Melvin stepped inside the palace, and Melvin guided him to the king's chamber.

"What do you think about the palace, my lord?"

"Hmm... " It's usable," Rion answered curiously while his eyes shone at the luxury and regality of the palace. He mumbled inwardly, 'What a grand place... I wonder where I would find the information about the giants.'

"Is that so? Haha!" Melvin chuckled.

After entering the inner palace, they climbed the staircase and soon reached the king's chamber.

Melvin knocked at the door, and it opened after a minute.

Sharp smell of medicinal plants brushed both of their noses, and their gaze fell on an old maid who stood at the door staring at Rion with wide eyes.

Kiyara's lips trembled. Her eyes watered, and seeing that Rion looked at Melvin in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

Melvin looked at Rion with a complicated expression and answered, "Head maid Kiyara used to be the personal maid of Princess Loraine."

'Oh...' The understanding finally dawned on him, and Rion looked at her with a faint smile.

"Thank you for looking out for my mother during her young days."

Hearing those words, Kiyara nearly started bawling her eyes, but before it could happen, Andarus's feeble voice spread throughout the room.

"How long... are you going to stand there?"

"A-Apologies, Y-Your Majesty!" Kiyara bowed her head and looked at the two with a smile.

"Please enter."

Rion and Melvin stepped inside the room, and their gaze fell on Andarus, who was sitting up in his bed with a faint smile across his face.

Seeing the king's condition, Rion felt his heart twist.

While they were making their way to the capital, Melvin had told Rion about what Clifford had done to the princes and how King Andarus had fallen to his current state.

To no surprise, Rion was angry, but the anger was pointless as he had already dealt with Clifford and his shadows.

Eldon examined Rion for a few moments and asked, "How old are you?"

Rion and Melvin blinked in surprise.

They had expected Andarus to ask about his roots to find if he was really who he said he was, but it appeared Andarus had a different plan.

"Eighteen," Rion answered.

Hearing that, everyone in the chamber looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, and Melvin mumbled, "My lord... why are you lying to His Majesty?"

Rion furrowed his brows. "Lie? I have said no lie, chief commander. If you don't believe me, you can summon my companions, one of whom also happens to be my childhood friend."

"Seeing your robust body and sharp features, it's hard to say that you are eighteen. However, I have no reason not to believe my nephew."

"Nephew...?" Melvin mumbled in disbelief. He had expected Rion to go through a lot of trouble to prove himself, but King Andarus had simply accepted it.

To him, nothing was making sense today.

"I hope you do, uncle," Rion responded with a bright smile.

"Uncle?" Andarus blinked a few times and laughed. "Haha! Cough-cough."

As he coughed, Kiyara immediately stepped beside Andarus with a glass full of water that had an herbal extract mixed into it.

"Thanks..." Andarus mumbled and took the glass.

While he drank from it, Rion examined Andarus's body with his Zone.

'This...' A complicated look appeared on Rion's face.

Andarus's body was mostly fine, but his life flame was too weak.

In front of him, Melvin's life flame was like a sun.

And Rion's life flame dwarfed over both of theirs.

In other words, there was simply nothing Alex could do to save Andarus. His life was near its final few days.

A bitter look appeared on his face, and he stepped closer to Andarus.

Andarus looked at him with a faint smile, and Rion sat beside him, his expression intense.

"What's wrong?" Andarus asked while patting Rion's back.

Rion looked into his eyes and asked sombrely, "How long do you think you have?"

Hearing his words, both Melvin and Kiyara froze in their spot, and their lips parted to shout, but before they could, Rion raised his right hand and sealed their lips with aether.

Andarus looked at him with a dark expression and mumbled, "I couldn't hide it from you, huh... You must be as strong as Eldon told me."

A smile appeared on his face, and he stated with a distant expression.

"I have a month to meet my lovely wife."