NOVGO.NET Chapter 1670: Instincts of Age
Chapter 1670: Instincts of Age
“Princess…”
Princess Davina turned and saw Marquess Darius flying beside her.
Since the White Mask was about to break free, the mission must continue, so the nobles were returning to their designated position. Princess Davina put on a polite smile, “Marquess, how are you holding up? I believe we’re still going to rely on your strength the most.”
“I can manage,” Marquess Darius waved his hand. “I’m not the one who got careless and got struck.”
A chuckle escaped Princess Davina’s lips.
Marquess Darius was talking about the other marquess who was slapped away earlier.
Even though the burst of power from the White Mask was sudden, it was still carelessness that got the other marquess to suffer a direct blow from a Voidal Monarch. Fortunately, he survived the hit, but that left him badly wounded.
“What about you?” Marquess Darius asked back. “It’s your first time dealing with a Voidal Monarch if I remember correctly. You hadn’t reached the pseudo-divine spirit rank—when the last time a monarch acted up.”
“It’s eye-opening to say the least,” Princess Davina answered truthfully.
Holding back a Voidal Monarch had shown her a level of power she had never truly experienced.
She could tell from a touch that a direct hit would kill her instantly.
One mistake could only be paid with a life, and there aren’t many things that could make her feel like this. It brought her back to when she was still very young—and was only learning the ropes of this deadly world.
“It made me truly realize the height of power my father reached,” She added whisperingly.
But that thought made her expression turn solemn as she remembered how Duke Lorcan was now.
Compared to the past, he was incomparable.
Not because he was weaker now; in truth, he was stronger now, but because he lost his fire.
“Of course, Duke Lorcan is the official second-strongest individual in the empire. If he came to deal with this himself, there would not be a single problem,” Marquess Darius answered. “Had you seen it with your own eyes how he single-handedly pushed back the Intorac Dynasty’s forces during the war, you’ll know how strong he really is if he really tried.”
“For someone who wanted to take him down, you sure have good things to talk about him.” Princess Davina said, her voice turning sharper.
Hearing this, Marquess Darius cast a side glance and smiled inwardly.
No malice could be felt coming from him.
“I do want him to step down as the duke—but it wasn’t for a vendetta. It was never personal.” He said, gazing forward with an air of composure. “I’m doing it for the betterment of the empire. Duke Lorcan is strong, a lot stronger than me—but he lost his courage. I’m sure you felt it most since you’ve always been around him. He’s no longer suited to have a leading position.”
Princess Davina’s face turned grim as she clenched her fists tightly.
She was furious.
It’s not that she found Marquess Darius’ words to be offensive, but because she knew it was the truth.
Even though it was hard to admit, like a lump in her throat that refused to come out, she had to accept reality—that Duke Lorcan, her own father, isn’t suited for a leading position anymore. At least, not if he stayed weak like this.
“But I’m not here to talk about that,” Marquess Darius’ voice rang again. “I wanted to ask something.”
“Ask something?”
“Yes. I’ve been meaning to ask, where did you meet Sir Rex—where did you meet your fiancé?”
Realizing that Marquess Darius had taken an interest in Rex, Princess Davina’s face darkened.
She was clearly suspecting that Althea must’ve said something to Marquess Darius.
Or perhaps, she had taken a liking to Rex.
“I don’t think you wanted to cross that line,” Princess Davina whispered icily.
Going as far as that would mean Marquess Darius was ready to offend the House of Castillon, and this could be taken as a declaration of war. Princess Davina is not going to take it lightly. “In case you’ve forgotten, my father is still the duke.”
Hearing this, Marquess Darius blinked in confusion.
But then he realized the misunderstanding.
“It’s not that—you misunderstood me,” He shook his head. “I’m asking that because I don’t think your fiancé is a regular person. I’ve come to talk to him earlier to get to know the empire’s new knight and congratulate him. And throughout the conversation, he never once wavered.”
“Waver…? Are you pressuring him?”
“No, but every knight I spoke to always had this air of inferiority. After all, I’m a Marquess. I outrank them a lot, and it’s understandable for them to be nervous, but he… Sir Rex doesn’t seem to be bothered. It’s like he was used to looking up.”
“My fiancé does not fear death, that’s what I know, so that might be the reason why he’s calm.”
Marquess Darius shook his head; it seemed Princess Davina still didn’t get it.
She still didn’t get what he was trying to say.
“No, that’s not what I’m trying to say.”
“Then what are you trying to say? I don’t understand.”
Realizing he was slightly out of breath, panic creeping into his voice, Marquess Darius paused to steady himself. When he finally spoke again, his tone was quieter, heavier. “Do you know the suffocating feeling of dread when standing before something that could snuff you out if it wanted to—like finding yourself face-to-face with a dragon?”
Hesitantly, Princess Davina nodded, though she didn’t know where this conversation was going.
“I feel it from Sir Rex,” Marquess Darius continued. “He’s not only calm—while talking to me, but he was also looking at me as if he could kill me if he wanted to. Like I was nothing much. I’m certain of this. He’s not normal. He’s a predator, someone destined to dominate.”
“Are… Are we talking about the same person?” Princess Davina raised a brow.
Sure, Rex was incredibly fearless and feral at times, but he was still a Master Immortal Spirit.
In front of someone like Marquess Darius, there’s no way he’d act like that.
Back then, when he faced off against the Voidal Monarch directly, it wasn’t out of bravery, but out of necessity, since Rex would rather die than fail to achieve what he wanted. Naturally, Princess Davina was rather puzzled by this.
“I’ve lived longer than you, a lot longer,” Marquess Darius said—his gaze profound. “Trust me on this. His gaze gave me the same chill as when I stared Mirza down, you know, the usurper who ransacked our world. And if Sir Rex is anything near Mirza’s potential—then being a powerhouse is only a matter of time.”
Princess Davina’s pupils trembled.
For Marquess Darius to compare Rex to Mirza sounded like going overboard.
Despite Rex’s current feats and strength, he was still nowhere near Mirza’s level of power or potential.
“I have heard that you held the Nameless Dragon Arena to stall the pressure of marriage from the duke,” He continued, looking straight at Princess Davina’s eyes. “Nobody other than the Crown Prince could match your potential, so it’s a perfect excuse. But if one ever does come, would you really say no?”
Princess Davina swallowed.
Her mind wanted her to believe that she’d say no, but her instincts gave the opposite signals.
’If Rex came before father pressured me, would I still say yes to him?’
In hindsight, she already knew the answer—she’ll most certainly still say yes to Rex.
“Why…Why are you telling me this?” Princess Davina asked.
Regardless of who Rex was and what her feelings were, it was none of Marquess Darius’ business.
She couldn’t tell why she was saying this to her.
“Like I said, I’ve lived longer than you, and my instincts are more honed than yours.”
“Honed to what exactly?”
“Honed to danger.”
“Danger…?”
“Hmm,” Marquess Darius nodded firmly. “Above all, I can sense desperation coming from Sir Rex. He was desperate for something, and desperate people tend to do the unthinkable. I’m sure he decided to become your fiancé for a reason. I’m telling you this because I want you to make sure he stays on our side.”
“You like men like him, right? So, there’s no problem if you make him happy.” He added.
“Am I supposed to trust your instincts blindly?” Princess Davina shook her head—and focused ahead. “You’re overestimating him—and you talked as if you knew me well. Besides, how do you even know if he’s unhappy with how things are?”
Marquess Darius gazed at Princess Davina longer than normal.
Eventually, he let out a sigh.
“I’m not your enemy, Princess Davina. I’m still a part of this empire—like you are,” He channeled his life energy, intending to pick up his pace. “What I want is to keep our world from being ravaged brutally by another Mirza. And also… if you cannot see the unhappiness beneath his bravado, then perhaps I’ve been speaking to the wrong person.”
Swoosh!
Marquess Darius blasted forward, leaving behind a watery trail of deep blue.
Since the White Mask was already in sight, it’s time for him to focus again, as the task wasn’t finished.
On the other hand, Princess Davina stared at where he had gone in contemplation.
’Rex…’ Her eyes narrowed, recalling what happened in Xintarin Bubble. ’Even though he helped me take down the Special Voidal Knight, he blacked out. It was weird, but now that I think about it, when I arrived and tried to stop the serpent, I think I saw it. There was a tear on his cheek.’
Recalling that moment, Princess Davina bit her lower lip.
During the Nameless Dragon Arena, she never saw a single tear from Rex’s face, no matter how painful it became for him to continue. So, it was unnatural to see him cry when he barely knew the people of the Xintarin Bubble.
Back then, she dismissed it as an illusion in her vision.
But now, it became apparent that he was already on edge, nearing the breaking point.
It became clear that he was desperate.
’Saving his friend from the Sky People is one thing, but since father is dealing with it as of this moment, shouldn’t he be relieved now?’ She thought, stopping abruptly to look over—her shoulder. ’What is he desperate for? It should be fine now since everything is going his way, no?’
Princess Davina massaged her throbbing forehead.
She was completely fine earlier, but now she was worried.
’Why did he have to bring up Mirza?’ She thought inside. ’Now I’m worried that he’ll snap.’
Princess Davina was confused and unsure, but then, she recalled what Marquess Darius said.
One of the last things he said before leaving stuck in her mind.
’Does age really make someone’s instincts sharper? How did he know Rex was unhappy? What made him so certain? No, I’m sure Rex is fine.’ She clicked her tongue in displeasure, annoyed that she was worried now. ’But… what if he doesn’t? Does April know that he’s unhappy and desperate?’
It was then that Princess Davina’s eyes widened for a second.
“What am I dozing for?” She shook her head and focused on the White Mask again. “I need to do well. Once I do, father won’t have any choice but to recognize me. I am the true successor of the noble name Castillon, and I’m going to prove it today.”
Putting what Marquess Darius said at the back of her mind, she blasted forward in an instant.
Meanwhile, about a mile behind them, the horde began to move again.
All of them had already woken up and become noisy again.
“Ethan, go to your position and be ready,” Rex whispered. “He’s going to make a move soon.”
“Yes, Sir…” Ethan nodded and trotted ahead.
Once he went away, Rex turned to April and looked at her with mixed feelings.
On one side, he doesn’t want to drag her more into his world, but on the other, he couldn’t do that right now. Not when Haxel knew that he was close with April, and would certainly exploit that fact, “April, stick close to me and do—”
Before Rex could even finish his sentence, his pupils dilated, “Where am I…?”