Dragon King's Harem Chapter 379. Burned Camp
"What about the soldiers?" I asked, shifting my focus to the men scattered around the camp. "Are they prepared for the possibility of questioning or spying? If Viperax's spies do show up, they'll need to stay in character."
Eir gave a curt nod. "They've been briefed, Your Majesty. They know the story we've constructed and their roles in it. If anyone asks, they'll recount the attack as we've planned—how the monsters ambushed us, how we fought them off, and how we barely managed to survive. They're ready."
I swept my gaze to the soldiers more closely.
Their faces were drawn. Their movements were slow as if they were truly exhausted from a night of fighting. It was convincing—painfully so.
"Good," I said. My gaze shifted to the leather pouch hanging from Eir's belt. It looked dirty and worn, which was strange—I knew Eir well enough to know he was meticulous about his gear. It was unusual for him to carry a pouch like that. Something about it caught my attention.
I pointed at the pouch. "What's that?" I asked, my tone casual but curious.
Eir glanced down, momentarily caught off guard by the question. "This?" He touched the pouch lightly, as if he had almost forgotten it was there. "It's charcoal powder, Your Majesty. We've been using it to make our appearance more convincing—smudging it on our faces and armor, making it look like we've been through a real fight."
I considered this for a moment, then held out my hand. "Give me some," I said, my voice steady, leaving no room for debate.
Eir hesitated, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Your Majesty… you don't have to—"
"I said, give me some," I repeated, more firmly this time. I didn't have time to argue, and I needed to look the part just as much as anyone else. If we were going to sell this deception, every detail had to be perfect.
Reluctantly, Eir untied the pouch from his belt and handed it over to me. I could see the concern in his eyes, but he didn't argue further. I opened the pouch and poured a small amount of the charcoal powder into my palm. The fine, black dust felt gritty against my skin. Without a word, I smeared it across my face, giving my skin a dirty, worn look. I did it with no expression.
Eir's eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised by my actions. "Y-Your Majesty," he stammered, still caught off guard by the sight of his king deliberately dirtying himself like a common soldier.
I wiped the remaining powder on my hands across my armor, smudging the polished metal with dark streaks. "If Viperax's spies come, they'll look at everything," I said calmly, my eyes never leaving Eir's. "If I look untouched, like I wasn't part of the battle, they'll know something's off. They'll start asking questions we don't want to answer or stay here longer than we thought."
Eir swallowed. He looked like he was trying to hide his awkward smile due to my spontaneous make up. "Of course, Your Majesty. You're right. We're all prepared, Your Majesty. Every man here knows what's at stake. We'll make sure our story holds up."
I looked around the camp once more, taking in the scene. The soldiers, the charred ground, the corpses—it was a convincing display, but it had to be flawless. One mistake, one inconsistency, and everything could fall apart.
"Good," I said, my tone firm. "But remember, we're not just putting on a show for Viperax. We're putting on a show for anyone who might be watching. This isn't just about tonight. It's about sending a message—that we're strong, that we can defend ourselves, unlike them. And that we're not to be underestimated."
Eir nodded, his expression determined. "Understood, Your Majesty."
I handed the pouch back to him, my gaze steady. "Make sure everyone is ready. I don't want any surprises."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Eir said, his voice steady and resolute. He took the pouch and turned, moving to relay my orders to the other soldiers.
The night dragged on. Half an hour had passed since I'd last spoken with Eir, and the camp had settled into a stillness. I decided to make my way to the healing tent to check on things there, more out of habit than necessity.
Inside the tent, most of the patients and healers were resting. The air was filled with the soft sounds of sleep—deep, even breaths and the occasional murmur of someone dreaming. Only a few were still awake. Jyne, Evelina, two healers, and Al, who was now dressed in simple healer's robes over his clothes.
I didn't ask many questions—I knew better than to draw unnecessary attention. Instead, I quietly moved through the tent, checking on a few of the patients, glancing at the supplies, making sure everything appeared normal.
I passed Al, our eyes met for a brief moment. I moved my finger in a circling motion, a silent command for them to stay alert and be aware of their surroundings. He and the others responded with equally subtle nods, understanding the unspoken message.
Satisfied that things were in order, I slipped back outside. The cool night air hit my face. I took a deep breath and began to walk around the camp. I wasn't restless, not exactly, but I wanted to make sure everything was as it should be.
I kept my pace steady, my steps purposeful but not hurried. I knew that after a battle, most leaders couldn't sleep. Mostly it was because their adrenaline still rushing through their veins and their minds racing with thoughts of what had happened and what could come next. I needed to project that same sense of vigilance, of readiness. If Viperax's spy was watching, they needed to see a leader who was cautious, alert, and prepared for anything.
>Read the original on web novel*.com/book/the-dragon-king's-harem-system_18670536106687905
>Read more than 106 chapter ahead of DKH + 2 weekly update
My Pat*reo*n-page: pat*reon.*com/nanakawaichan
(erase the *)
My ko-fi page: ko-fi.*com/nanakawaichan
My Discord: discord.gg/mSRHyMVhnG