Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start?

407  Chapter403-Negotiations? An Unavoidable Duel

Noticing that Seraphina seemed to sense something unusual, Owen and Leslie exchanged curious glances, their eyes settling on her. Owen followed her gaze but saw nothing, prompting him to ask,

"What is it, Seraphina? Did you find something?"

Seraphina closed her eyes, listening intently to the voice that had just whispered in her ears. Her lips moved as she softly murmured,

"Papa, Mama…"

Though her voice was faint, Owen and Leslie heard it clearly. They looked at Seraphina in astonishment, unsure of why she suddenly said that.

Seraphina soon opened her eyes again, her gaze fixed on Leslie's stomach, her jewel-like eyes brimming with curiosity.

"Master, when will little master come out?"

Owen glanced at Leslie, resting a hand on her abdomen.

"About two more months."

Seraphina clapped her hands excitedly.

"Yay! In just two more months, I'll be a big sister!"

Thanks to her awakened bloodline, Seraphina could perceive things beyond ordinary senses. Her heightened awareness was even sharper than that of most celestial gods. She was convinced the voice had come from Leslie's belly.

Though the notion was extraordinary, Seraphina's carefree nature made her accept it without hesitation.

Watching Seraphina's jubilant reaction, Owen and Leslie shared a smile. They too were eagerly anticipating the arrival of Little Leslie, a child who would bring closure to the lingering memories of the girl they had met in their reincarnation cycle.

Their tranquil moment was interrupted by a sudden arrival.

Charlotte appeared, her ethereal beauty marred by a deep, unresolved concern. Bowing respectfully, she addressed them in an urgent tone.

"Imperial Sovereign, Empress, an envoy from the Burning Legion has just arrived."

Owen and Leslie exchanged serious looks, their instincts telling them this was no trivial matter.

Charlotte rarely intruded on their sanctuary, which meant the situation had to be both critical and urgent.

Under their expectant gazes, Charlotte quickly explained,

"The envoy has come bearing a message from Sargeras himself. He has requested a negotiation with you."

Owen frowned, pondering this.

"Negotiation? Why does he want to negotiate with me? What's the Burning Legion's current state?"

Charlotte swiftly compiled the information in her mind before replying.

"The Burning Legion has ceased its advances after capturing parts of the Pure Land and other regions. They've fortified their hold on those territories."

Leslie's delicate brows furrowed. The Burning Legion represented pure destruction; they never stopped unless their devastation was absolute. For them to halt and seek negotiations was highly unusual.

Moreover, Owen was merely a representative of the Rebellion Alliance—he couldn't speak for the entire Pure Land. For Sargeras to seek Owen specifically made little sense.

"What if I refuse to attend the negotiations?" Owen asked, his tone calm yet sharp as he looked at Charlotte.

Charlotte hesitated, glancing briefly at Leslie before continuing.

"The envoy said that the Demon Realm is surrounded. Both the Demon Emperor and Ymir are trapped there. If you refuse to negotiate, Sargeras will order the complete destruction of the Demon Realm."

Hearing this, Leslie's mind immediately conjured images of the Demon Emperor and Ymir—two of Owen's close confidantes.

Clearly, Sargeras had identified this weakness and was confident that Owen would agree to the negotiations.

Leslie's sharp gaze shifted to Owen.

Owen's expression remained stoic, devoid of joy or sorrow, but his voice carried a chilling edge.

"What's their true objective?"

The icy tone startled Charlotte. She knew Owen well, and it was rare to see him this cold and resolute. The very air seemed to freeze under the weight of his killing intent.

Charlotte quickly added,

"Sargeras has publicly declared a duel with you in two months.

"If you win, he will release the Demon Emperor and Ymir, withdraw the Burning Legion entirely, and end the chaos.

"But if you lose, the Demon Realm will be obliterated. The Demon Emperor and Ymir will be executed, and the Azure Kingdom along with the Pure Land will be reduced to nothingness."

Charlotte's voice was heavy with gravity.

Reports confirmed that the Demon Realm was indeed surrounded, and Sargeras's announcement of the duel was spreading rapidly.

Sargeras had elevated Owen's role to that of a savior, casting him as the key to countless lives across the Pure Land. It was a brilliant move—a moral bind that left Owen with no escape.

Whether Owen wanted to or not, the public pressure alone would force him to act.

Owen handed Seraphina to Charlotte, signaling her to leave.

Understanding the weight of the decision before him, Charlotte departed with Seraphina, leaving Owen and Leslie alone in the sanctuary.

A heavy silence filled the space. Leslie knew Owen had already made up his mind.

This was a calculated trap, and Owen intended to walk straight into it.

"Sargeras really chose his timing," Leslie said, her tone bitter. "Two months from now, your daughter will be born, and you'll be fighting for your life against Sargeras. How do you plan to face her?"

Owen knew the timing couldn't be worse.

For months, he had been waiting for the right opportunity, meeting Sargeras's initial moves with patience. But now, as The Celestial finally acted, Owen intended to turn their plan against them.

Though he couldn't share his strategy with Leslie, he stepped closer, wrapping her in a gentle embrace.

Leslie initially tried to pull away but ultimately relented, letting herself be held.

As she listened to the steady rhythm of Owen's heartbeat, she felt a sense of foreboding solidify within her.

Back when Sargeras had taunted Owen, Leslie hadn't fully understood why he was so confident. Now, she realized he had found Owen's weakness.

"Owen, you know Sargeras is working with The Celestial and Loki.

"They've orchestrated all of this to eliminate you. If you agree to this duel, you'll be playing into their hands."

Her words were firm, but Owen remained calm, nodding. He was well aware of the risks.

Yet he also knew something Sargeras didn't: while they plotted against him, Owen was also plotting against them.

Still, he replied with practiced humility,

"The Demon Emperor and Ymir have helped me greatly. I can't stand by and watch them die.

"And if I win, the Pure Land will stabilize, which benefits us in the long run. Besides, with Sargeras's provocations, how can we expect others to respect us if we don't respond?"

Leslie fell silent for a moment before sighing.

"If that's your decision, then go. Your reasons always seem to outweigh mine and our daughter's."

Her voice trailed off as she turned away, unwilling to look at him.

Owen reached out, his heart heavy with guilt. For him, Leslie had always been his anchor, his only true treasure in a chaotic world.

But for Leslie, she now had two loves—Owen and their unborn daughter. And she couldn't help but feel that Owen was slipping further from her grasp.

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