Dark Dragon: The Summoned Hero Is A Villain

Chapter 300: The Crown’s Offer

Noah blinked in surprise, staring at Edric.

For a moment, he thought he’d misheard him, but his mind offered no other option for what he’d said. The High Magus truly wanted him to become engaged to Ines.

Edric, standing before him, seemed perfectly calm, as if he’d just asked Noah to pass the salt at dinner.

"I don’t expect you to marry her," Edric said finally, his tone casual and reassuring. "Not now, not even soon."

"What would hold back the pack of wolves right now is simply a betrothal. A promise. It would satisfy their demands and give the Queen what she needs most right now, which is time."

"Time?" Noah repeated quietly.

Edric nodded. "The council has been relentless. They see her youth as weakness. To them, the throne must be reinforced, whether politically, symbolically, or through a union that reassures the nobles that Camelot still stands united."

"But a betrothal would change that. It would silence them for at least a year, perhaps two. During that time, she can rule freely and unchallenged, without being forced into a marriage of convenience."

Noah folded his arms, studying him carefully. "And you want me to play the role of her shield."

Edric smiled at him. "You’re perceptive. Exactly that."

"If you reveal that you’re the hero Camelot needs, then you’ll have the people’s admiration. You’re not tied to any noble house, and not politically threatening, and yet, you will have strength of your own."

"If we do it this way, then your name alone would carry enough weight to keep the wolves at bay."

Silence filled the air as both men stared at each other.

"I’ll think about it," Noah said at last, his tone neutral.

"Good." Edric smiled approvingly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "That’s all I ask."

But inside, Noah’s thoughts were far colder.

He understood perfectly now.

Edric had brought him here on purpose, to show him the demon and remind him of the danger lurking beyond Camelot’s walls.

This way, faced with what he has to fight, Edric wants to stir that anxiety within Noah. The promise of access to the royal armory was bait. The betrothal was the hook. If fear didn’t bind him to Camelot, obligation would.

Still, Noah didn’t let any of that show. He simply nodded when Edric clapped him on the back, his expression composed.

"Come," Edric said, turning towards the doors. "We shouldn’t keep the Queen waiting too long. The feast isn’t over yet."

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By the time Noah’s carriage returned to the academy, the moon was already high in the night sky.

The driver stopped before the main gates, and Noah stepped down.

The academy was quiet at this hour. Most students were asleep, and the faint glow of mana lamps flickered in the windows of the faculty wing.

Noah didn’t head to the dorms. Instead, he crossed the courtyards, boots crunching softly against the gravel, and climbed the steps towards Professor Cecilia’s office.

Light spilled faintly from beneath her door. She was still awake.

He knocked once.

"Come in," came her voice.

Noah pushed the door open. Cecilia looked up from a desk cluttered with scrolls and half-filled cups of tea.

Her hair was loose and her robe slightly wrinkled, but her eyes brightened when she saw him.

"Noah," she said warmly, standing. "You’re back. How was the feast?"

"It was fine," he said, stepping forward. "A bit loud for my taste."

Cecilia smiled knowingly. "I see."

Noah reached into his spatial ring and withdrew the black leather-bound book. The gold emblem on the cover gleamed faintly in the lamplight.

"I got what you asked for," he said, placing it on her desk.

Cecilia’s breath caught. "You actually found it."

She picked it up reverently, running a hand over the worn surface. "The Chronicle of the Deep. Thank you, Noah. You don’t know what this means to me."

Noah leaned against the edge of her desk. "You could tell me," he said lightly. "What’s so special about this book that you had me steal it from the royal library?"

Her smile softened. "It’s... complicated. Partly because it contains records on something I’ve been researching, and partly because it once belonged to my mother. She gave it to the Crown before her death. I suppose... I just wanted it back."

Noah nodded slowly. That explained the sentiment, though it didn’t answer the question fully. But he didn’t press the matter.

Cecilia looked up at him, still smiling. "Thank you, Noah. Truly."

He hesitated, then said quietly, "There’s something else."

She tilted her head. "Oh?"

He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I received an... offer tonight. From High Magus Edric."

Her brows rose. "An offer?"

Noah met her eyes. "He wants me to become engaged to Queen Ines."

Cecilia froze. "Engaged?" she repeated, incredulous. "He— what?"

He nodded. "Apparently, the council is pushing her to marry. They think a betrothal to me would give her breathing room. A shield until she’s ready to rule without interference."

Cecilia blinked, trying to find her words. "That’s... unexpected."

"Yeah," Noah said dryly.

"What are you going to do?" she asked finally.

Noah leaned back, gazing at the shelves behind her. "Nothing. I’m not ready to reveal myself to the world yet. Accepting would mean drawing every eye in Camelot towards me. And I don’t need that. Not yet."

Cecilia nodded slowly. "That’s your choice to make," she said softly. "And I think it’s the right one."

He gave her a smile. "I knew you’d say that."

They shared a quiet moment of understanding before Noah pushed off from the desk. "I should go," he said. "It’s been a long day."

Cecilia smiled again. "Get some rest. You’ve earned it."

Noah nodded, turned, and left the office. The door shut softly behind him, leaving Cecilia alone in the office.

For a long time, she stood still, staring at the book resting before her. Then, slowly, she sat down and opened it.

The pages were old, their edges yellowed and brittle, but the ink remained bright. Her fingers traced the lines as she flipped through it, searching for something specific.

Finally, she stopped. Her eyes widened slightly.

There, written at the top of the page in elegant script, was the passage she’d been looking for.

The Sleeper Beneath.