In the enormous palace, there were only three people, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.
Queen Otohime had better composure than Neptune. She steadied herself and asked solemnly, "What do you want by telling us all this?"
Zhong Hao waved a hand. "I mean no harm. I merely want Your Majesty to temporarily abandon the idea of moving to the surface. Wait another dozen years or so. By then, the situation will be much better."
Queen Otohime shook her head and bit her lip unwillingly. "But I finally obtained the Celestial Dragons' signatures. Although... although they may have signed them casually and might not truly acknowledge them, and may even tear them up after some time, how will we know whether it can succeed if we do not try?"
Clearly, Zhong Hao's earlier words had shaken her initial faith in the Celestial Dragons' credibility. Yet the dreams and beliefs she had clung to for so long made her unwilling to give up just like that.
"Try?" Zhong Hao's gaze turned cold and sharp. "Try with what? Your people? Must you wait until those people who trusted you and followed you to live on the surface have all been captured before you give up? Do you really have that much faith in the World Government and the Celestial Dragons?"
Faced with Zhong Hao's aggressive questioning, Neptune, distressed for his wife, abruptly rose to his feet. His stern expression carried a hint of pleading as he said, "Please do not be so harsh. Otohime merely... merely has the good of our people at heart. She has never intended to harm them for selfish reasons."
Queen Otohime's eyes reddened, but she stubbornly held her head high, refusing to let the tears fall. She tugged at one of Neptune's thick, white-radish-like fingers and said,