Chapter 3

The dragons certainly lived up to their reputation as a proud, ancient power. A mere engagement ceremony was executed with staggering opulence.

Dozens of elite factions had gathered to bear witness, bearing mountains of rare treasures to show their utmost respect.

Clara made her grand entrance under the expectant gazes of the crowd. Draped in a brilliant crimson bridal gown, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she held Kail’s hand.

She had finally secured the position of her dreams. Pure ecstasy radiated from her.

When her eyes found me in the crowd, she tilted her head provocatively. Her lips moved, mouthing a silent, two-word insult:

“You loser.”

Fine. Let me be a loser.

She was about to step straight into a living hell anyway. I wondered which of us would look more pathetic by the end of it.

Her triumphant smile didn't last long. Kail soon thrust a goblet into her hands.

"Drink," he commanded, his voice echoing through the hall. "Drink, and our betrothal becomes law under the eyes of the Elders."

Clara took the goblet eagerly, intending to down it in one go. But as she brought it close, a volatile, suffocating heat flared from the liquid. The wine churned violently, glowing with a faint, ominous crimson light.

Clara gasped, her face draining of color. Instinctively, she knocked the goblet away.

"There's dragonfire in this wine!" she shrieked.

It was Hellfire Brew—an ancient concoction infused with a dragon's own primal breath. Drinking it was akin to swallowing liquid coal. Even a battle-hardened warrior would be left bedridden for months after a single cup. For human women with fragile constitutions like ours, it was a torment worse than death.

In my past life, I had faced the exact same trial. But I hadn't even thought of refusing.

I knew my life was worthless compared to the pride of the Dragon Clan. If I humiliated Kail in public, our relationship would never be anything more than a cold, transactionary arrangement.

So, I had braced myself and swallowed it. Throughout the entire ceremony, my internal organs felt like they were being incinerated from the inside out.

And Kail hadn't cared. To him, I was a political tool meant for breeding. Who cares about a tool’s feelings?

Clara, however, clearly failed to understand her new reality. Pouting her lips, she threw herself into Kail’s arms, throwing a tantrum.

"I don't want to drink that!"

She failed to notice Kail’s expression darkening. Aware of the hundreds of high-profile guests watching, he forced himself to maintain a shred of patience, leaning down to soothe her.

"Clara, this is an ancient dragon tradition. Everyone is watching. Don't be childish."

For a crown prince of the Dragon Clan to lower his voice like that was a massive concession. Clara should have taken the cue and swallowed her pride.

Instead, utterly blind to the escalating danger, she pushed further.

"I don't care about your stupid traditions! I’m human! How am I supposed to withstand dragonfire? I don't ever want to see it again!"

Those words sealed her fate.

The Dragon Elders in the front rows stiffened, fury flashing in their eyes.

To the dragons, consuming the Hellfire Brew was the ultimate symbol of loyalty and submission. For a bride to swallow the flame meant she was willing to burn herself to ash for the glory of the clan. Clara’s public rejection was a direct slap to their collective faces.

Whispers immediately broke out among the dragon nobility. They openly murmured about the new bride's utter lack of decorum, instantly questioning Kail’s judgment in choosing her.

As the criticism reached Kail’s ears, his remaining patience evaporated. His voice dropped to a freezing, menacing register.

"I will not say it again. Drink it."

Clara froze, utterly stunned by his sudden shift in tone. Panic setting in, she snatched a fresh goblet from a servant's tray and choked the fiery liquid down.

The moment the scalding wine hit her throat, her face turned dead white. Her knees buckled. She only managed to stay upright by violently clenching her jaw, her entire body trembling.

But the damage was done. The festive mood of the banquet had been thoroughly ruined.

The moment the formal vows were concluded, Kail swept out of the hall without casting a single glance back at his new fiancé.

Clara stood frozen in the center of the room, completely lost. Just yesterday, they had been wrapped in passionate whispers. How could a single cup of wine turn him into a total stranger?

Clutching her chest, she fought back the burning agony tearing through her throat. She stared at the empty doorway where Kail had disappeared, her eyes burning with resentment and disbelief.

I let out a quiet, mocking breath.

She was so incredibly naive.

To a dragon, nothing mattered more than pride. A trophy bride meant to decorate his court actually thought she had the power to dictate a prince's will.

This was barely the prologue. Her "happily ever after" was about to get a lot more interesting.