Chapter 4

My cheek burned with a sharp, throbbing pain. My fist automatically clenched to hit him back, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw the nobility closing in to watch. To keep the ball from devolving into a complete circus, I forcefully suppressed my rage and stared at them with icy silence.

Rose buried her face in Aaron’s chest, a smug, victorious grin playing on her lips.

Aaron seemed to realize he had struck me a bit too hard; his hand twitched as if he wanted to reach out. But Rose instantly locked her arms around his. “Aaron, I think some glass dust got in my eye... it hurts so bad...”

The whispering nobles started pointing fingers.

“Isn't that the eldest daughter of the Celtic family? Throwing a violent tantrum and hitting her own maid over a man? Humans really are classless peasants.”

Aaron’s face instantly twisted back into disgust. “Apologize to Rose right now, Quinn! God, what a mistake it was ever getting involved with a toxic woman like you. Real bad luck.”

His frat-boy sycophants laughed mercilessly.

“Lady Quinn, your jealousy is showing. Aaron is going to be the Dragon King; you really think you're going to be his only wife? If you're going to lose your mind over every side piece, you'll literally stress yourself to death.”

“Haha, maybe Lady Quinn thinks she can punch her way through his entire harem!”

In my past life, I had actually trained in martial arts just for Aaron, publicly declaring that I’d beat up any woman who dared touch him. Looking back, it was cringe-inducingly stupid.

Amidst the mockery, Aaron stepped in front of me, adopting a patronizing, charitable tone. “Listen up. Father is going to announce our union tonight. If you still want to be my wife, you'd better remember my terms. We have an open marriage, and you stay out of my business. If you play nice and keep your mouth shut, I'll forgive your toxic stunt tonight and give you the basic respect a Dragon Queen deserves.”

I stared at him in utter disbelief. I knew he was trash, but I didn't know he was this shameless. Seeing my silence, he assumed I had bowed down. His chest puffed out, looking as though the crown was already sitting on his head.

Just then, heavy, measured footsteps echoed down the corridor.

The King’s chief herald stepped out, barking authoritatively. “What is all this racket? Are you trying to invite the King's wrath?!”

Behind the herald stood the eldest brother. Cael.

He wore a perfectly tailored black bespoke suit. His volatile, terrifying magic was intentionally suppressed, but the hair-raising aura of danger radiating off him still made it impossible to look him in the eye.

Seeing me holding my bruised cheek, he cut straight through the crowd and stopped right in front of me. His crimson eyes locked onto my reddened skin, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly rasp that sounded like a chained beast trying to break free. “Are you alright?”

Looking at his face, my mind flashed back to the past life. Back when Aaron had pushed me to the edge of ruin, leaving me wandering the freezing winter streets like a ghost. A carriage had pulled up beside me, and the man who pulled me inside out of the cold was Cael. In that lifetime, he rarely spoke to me, and I always assumed he despised me for being human. It wasn't until the moment I died that I discovered the heartbreaking truth.

“Does it hurt?” Cael asked again, noticing me spacing out. Sparks of violent, raw magical energy crackled at his fingertips, as if he was ready to tear whoever touched me limb from limb.

I locked eyes with his bottomless crimson gaze. My throat tightened, and I shook my head. “No.”

Aaron let out a loud, mocking scoff from the side. “Whether it hurts or not is none of your damn business, Cael. Mind your own affairs. If you throw one of your psycho tantrums here, Father will strip you of your titles permanently.”

The herald shot Aaron a deeply complex look before simply stating, “Everyone inside. The King is waiting.”

As he brushed past me, Aaron deliberately slammed his shoulder into mine, leaning in to hiss, “Don't forget what I just said.” His incredibly punchable, smug face made it look like he already saw his own coronation.

Too bad his little pipe dream wasn't going to last.

Once the guests took their seats in the grand hall, the Dragon King slowly walked up to the high dais, flanked by his attendants. Though his hair and beard were stark white, the immense pressure of an ancient primal dragon instantly silenced the entire room.

He smiled warmly, gesturing for me to come up, and took my wrist.

“Tonight is a momentous occasion. In honor of the Winter Solstice, I am announcing a decree that will shape the future of our realm,” the King’s voice boomed through the hall like thunder. “Quinn has reached her twentieth year. In accordance with the ancient blood-oath between our families, she will choose one of my sons to be her lifelong mate.”

“The young man chosen will not only bind his soul to Quinn to ensure the purest royal lineage, but upon their marriage, he will inherit all my territories, my infinite treasures, and—the title of Dragon King.”

The Dragon Crown and the entire royal treasury!

An audible gasp rippled through the hall. Every noble stared up at the dais with a mix of raw lust and jealousy.

“Now, let us bring the boys forward so I may bear witness.”

Aaron squared his shoulders, adjusted his collar, and confidently took his first step forward. But just as his boot was about to hit the first stair, the King raised his hand, freezing him dead in his tracks with a cold, absolute gesture.

The King’s gaze cut right past the paralyzed Aaron, locking onto the shadows on the opposite side of the hall.

Cael.

In the dim light, he looked monstrously massive and lethal. The violent aura that usually terrified the masses was strangely subdued. Holding a bouquet of fresh red roses dusted with morning dew, he walked up to the high dais with heavy, measured steps.

Stopping right in front of me, Cael dropped down to one knee. His crimson vertical pupils locked onto mine, a dark, consuming fire burning deep within them.

“Quinn... are you ready to be my Queen?”