Chapter 1

When I opened my eyes, the dragon clan's envoy procession had already arrived.

A piercing roar echoed from the horizon. Storm clouds churned. Several massive, pitch-black dragons tore through the sky, their armored riders perched upon their backs.

The dragons exhaled a scorching breath, whipping up a blinding gale of dust. Everyone at Silvermoon Manor was on their knees, too terrified to lift their heads.

My heart sank.

Reality hit me: I had been reborn.

In my past life, the Dragon Clan had made the exact same grand entrance to propose to our family's eldest daughter. Back then, they had not yet conquered the realm. Clara dismissed them as uncultured savages. She rejected the proposal publicly, turning her attention to the Elven Prince she so deeply craved.

My family simply shifted the arrangement, marrying me off to the dragons instead.

None of us foresaw that my blood would allow me to bear a pure-blood dragon heir—a miracle not seen in a hundred years. That child triggered the meteoric rise of the Dragon Clan. Kail was crowned King, and I became the Queen ruling above all races.

Clara, neglected and forgotten by the elves, went mad with envy. In the end, she pushed me off that cliff.

Coming back to this moment, I assumed she would walk the same path. I assumed she would chase her Elven Prince again.

I was completely wrong.

"Clara has accepted the Dragon Prince's proposal."

Our mother stepped out of the grand hall, a look of pleasant surprise on her face.

I snapped my head up.

She accepted?

The same Clara who had haughtily humiliated the dragon envoys in our past life had eagerly agreed the very first second this time around?

I looked toward the center of the hall.

Clara stood there in a flowing, moon-white gown, bowing gracefully to the dragon envoy. Her face was identical to the one from my memory, but her lips carried a smug satisfaction she couldn't quite hide.

Our eyes met.

Her smirk widened, throwing a deeply meaningful look my way.

In that instant, everything clicked.

She had been reborn, too.

She knew the Dragon Clan would rule the continent. She knew the Dragon Queen would hold absolute power. So, she moved first to claim that crown for herself.

How tragic for her.

She only sees the glory of the Dragon Queen. She has no idea what it costs.

The dragon bloodline is notoriously volatile and dominant. Nourishing a pure-blood fetus requires draining the mother’s own life force and essence. A normal woman wouldn't survive the ten-month term.

In my past life, walking away from death's door alive wasn't a stroke of luck.

Clara thinks that by stealing this marriage, she is stealing my crown.

She has no idea that this match was never a blessing. It is a deadly gamble where the odds are heavily stacked against her.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Clara walking over.

She stopped right in front of me, looking down her nose.

"I’m marrying into the Dragon Clan, Lena," she said. Her voice was soft, but loud enough for everyone around us to hear. "If you ever find yourself with nowhere to go in the future, I suppose I could find a job for you in the dragon palace. As a maid, perhaps."

Muffled chuckles broke out around us.

I didn't argue.

I simply lowered my gaze and said quietly, "Congratulations, sister. You got exactly what you wanted."

She stared at the top of my head for a long moment, caught off guard by my submission. Then, she let out a sharp scoff.

She leaned down, whispering directly into my ear.

"Stop acting, Lena. I know you're burning with jealousy right now."

My eyelashes fluttered slightly.

"Too bad for you. The one marrying the Dragon Prince is me. Sit tight and watch me take my place on the dragon throne."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and swept away. Her moon-white hem brushed past my feet like a passing cloud.

I watched her retreating figure and slowly straightened my back.

Out of her line of sight, the corners of my mouth curled into a faint smile.

If you are so eager to die, Clara, far be it from me to stop you.