The Understated Dragon Lord novel Chapter 695

Now was the perfect chance for Smart; if he could get to the base of that tree, he might glimpse a beautiful sight. "I am Belle's knight in shining armor; I'm here to protect her. So before she comes down from the tree, none of you can go there! Don't even think about taking advantage of Belle!" Daniel declared, blocking the way.

Smart fumed internally. This rare opportunity was slipping away, possibly the best chance he would ever get. If only he could move past and look up, he could witness a scene of great beauty. Yet he was thwarted by the country boy. If not for the difference in strength, Smart would have loved to kick Danny away.

"Country boy, do you think I'm like you? How could I take advantage of Belle? It's more likely you, a bumpkin, just ran from under that tree after seeing something inappropriate, didn’t you?"

"I'm a decent man; I haven't seen a thing. I didn't even look up!"

Danny refused to admit anything; he'd always cared about maintaining his image as a proper man in the eyes of the ladies.

By now, Belle had descended from the tree, addressing Smart like a queen. "Smart, did you finish chopping the wood?"

"No!"

"What are you dilly-dallying here for? Hurry up and chop the wood; we need more than just for building the cabin."

"Yes!"

Smart dared not refuse Belle and reluctantly agreed before stomping off back into the woods to continue chopping wood.

Belle sashayed over, her gaze locking onto Danny. "Country boy, what exactly did you see just now?"

"I didn’t see anything!" Danny naturally wouldn't confess.

The clear blue sky suddenly rumbled with thunder. A bolt struck a nearby large tree, splitting its branches in two. The break was charred black.

The thunderbolt startled Belle, but after regaining her composure, she burst into laughter.

"Country boy, you still claim you didn’t lie? Look at that lightning! It came to punish you, a pathological liar!"

"I tell no lies! It’s that tree that’s the liar. Look, the lightning struck the tree, breaking its branches."

"Rot, you're still arguing! Just admit it! I'm going to beat the truth out of you, you shameless jerk!"

Grabbing a broken branch, Belle chased after Danny as if she were a mother disciplining her son, sending him scampering through the woods.