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The Phoenix's Second Choice
The Phoenix's Second Choice
Author: Perfect Timing

Chapter 1

Author: Perfect Timing
The searing pain of an arrow through my heart made my entire body tremble.

Just when I thought I was going to die, consumed by hatred, the pain vanished.

I opened my eyes and found myself back in the Phoenix Court's secret realm.

My father, who had long since passed away, gently tapped my shoulder and whispered, "Althea, weren't you the one who insisted on forming a contract with the black serpent? Why are you just standing there in a daze?"

Forming a contract?

I was stunned. I'd come back—to the day of the Sacred Bonding ceremony.

"Father!" I began. But before I could say anything, Nyxar, the black serpent, suddenly bowed.

His eyes, full of devotion, turned to my sister, Seraphine.

"Lord Pyralis," he said, "I feel nothing for Althea. I only wish to spend this life and the next at the side of the First Princess, Seraphine."

Gasps echoed through the crowd. My father's face darkened.

Everyone knew the black serpent clan carried a diluted bloodline, part dragon but not pure. By the Phoenix Court's rules, Nyxar had no right to even stand here.

It was only because I favored him—because I insisted on choosing him—that he was allowed this opportunity at all.

And now, at this important ceremony, he humiliated me before everyone.

When his cold, hateful eyes met mine, I understood—he had been reborn too.

"Insolent!" my father snarled, his teeth bared. "Althea remains Second Princess of the Phoenix Court. You dare treat her like some common merchant haggling over turnips?"

The raw force of his divine aura exploded outward, forcing Nyxar to the ground.

Even so, he refused to lower his head.

"Lord Pyralis, how is it my fault? Must I bind myself to her just because she claims to like me? My heart belongs to the First Princess, Seraphine!

"Seraphine is diligent in perfecting her divine refinement and kind to others. Whereas the Second Princess is reckless and idle. Anyone would naturally prefer Seraphine."

Nyxar's voice was full of conviction, like he truly believed what he was saying.

But I knew the truth.

In our previous life, he had learned my sister was the preordained heir to the Phoenix Court. If he could form a contract with her, he would gain half of the Phoenix Court's divine power and evolve from a lowly black serpent into a black dragon.

It was all for power. Nothing more.

My father was seething now.

"A filthy black serpent dares to pass judgment on my daughter? You court death!"

Just as he raised his hand to strike, he was stopped.

Seraphine had been listening to every word Nyxar said. Her cheeks were flushed.

She looked up and said softly, "I'm willing."
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  • The Phoenix's Second Choice   Chapter 11

    I coughed up blood. The pain etched deep into my soul, flooding my entire body. I couldn't stop shaking.Father walked over, disappointment clouding his face."If you weren't the embodiment of divine will in Phoenix Court, if you hadn't stood in Seraphine's way of becoming heir, maybe I could have spared your life," he said. "But now…"I lifted my gaze, my expression laced with quiet scorn."So, to kill me, you dismantled the clan's protective barrier, allowed demon beasts to invade, and caused countless deaths?"His face didn't change. There was not even a flicker of guilt."Their sacrifice was necessary. All for Seraphine to inherit the Phoenix legacy and ensure our clan has a stronger leader. Besides, this is natural selection. If they died, they were simply too weak to belong."Seraphine wasn't satisfied with stabbing me just once. She kept plunging her blade into my body, over and over again, venting every ounce of resentment she held."I'm stronger than you!" she shouted,

  • The Phoenix's Second Choice   Chapter 10

    Nyxar returned to Seraphine's side.In my past life, I had done everything to preserve his dignity. I shielded him from the clan's judgment, upheld his pride both in public and behind closed doors. But Seraphine was not the type to care for such things.She mocked him openly, shredded his worth without restraint. And of course, the clanspeople followed her lead.Compared to the life he had known beside me, his days now were really shitty.Father soon summoned me to the altar. Before the entire clan, he bowed his head and offered a formal apology. He then forced Seraphine—her pride visibly fracturing—to kneel before me."Althea," she said smoothly, "I won't deny I was wrong. But Father is getting old. The Phoenix Court can't go long without a successor. Do you really think the heavens would preserve you, even if it meant letting the whole clan fall?"Let's put this grudge behind us. The future of the Phoenix Court matters more than either of us."Her words, righteous and composed

  • The Phoenix's Second Choice   Chapter 9

    Nyxar looked far older than he had the day before. His eyes stayed fixed on me, unblinking.Then, quietly, two lines of tears slid down his face."Althea," he said, "I was wrong. Seraphine and Lord Pyralis never saw me as anything more than a tool. But you… you were the only one who ever treated me like an equal."He had once believed that bonding with the phoenix clan's chosen heir would elevate him instantly. That with Seraphine, he'd rise above his lowly bloodline.But in the end, apart from offering up the Ouroboros' Orb, he was worthless.Last night, Father had been consumed by fury. He didn't dare lay a finger on me again.The lightning strikes had already forced him back into his true form. And he knew that angering me further could mean utter annihilation.Still, he couldn't let it go.The daughter he had discarded and indulged into ruin turned out to be the Phoenix Court's embodiment of divine will. All the years he'd spent grooming his favored daughter became nothing

  • The Phoenix's Second Choice   Chapter 8

    Late at night, I leaned quietly against the edge of the hot spring.A white snake glided slowly across the water's surface. I reached out and caught it in one swift motion."Althea…" Franz's voice sounded plaintive, almost wronged.He shifted into his human form, his bare chest settling easily beneath my hand as he leaned into me, dependent and relaxed.I looked down at him.His golden eyes glowed faintly in the dark. There was no deceit in them—only a deep, abiding affection.Since that first encounter, I had wondered why Franz, a complete stranger, had fallen for me so deeply and so quickly. Was it because of my identity?It was as if he could hear my thoughts. He tilted his face into my palm and whispered, "We've met before, Althea. This isn't the first time."He guided his memory into my mind through a gentle surge of spiritual energy.A flicker—A small white snake, barely the length of a forearm, was being tormented by a few young phoenix clansmen. Wounded and trembling

  • The Phoenix's Second Choice   Chapter 7

    I laughed out loud. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. I wept for the utter absurdity of my past life. For how much I had given, and how little it had ever been worth."Never would've what?" I said. "Never would've driven an arrow straight through my heart for Seraphine's sake?"Nyxar, didn't I ever tell you? Yes. I could never be the heir of the Phoenix Court. But if you had truly devoted yourself to me, if you had been mine in soul and will, when I ascended, you would've become a true dragon."Our child… would have inherited the gift. But you never believed me."You want to know why you reincarnated with me? Because the moment I died, heaven took your soul too. You were punished, Nyxar. You were never spared."The truth hit him like a blow.He staggered back, step by step, staring at the contract mark on his hand, the one he had formed with my sister. His face turned pale.Then, a phoenix's cry pierced the air from the altar.Seraphine, charred and humiliated by heavenly light

  • The Phoenix's Second Choice   Chapter 6

    The entire place fell into dead silence. Every gaze turned to me.My father thought I was causing trouble again. Seeing my sister fail to receive the inheritance pushed him over the edge. Fury burst from him like a storm.He unleashed his divine aura, and I was forced to my knees."Althea," he growled, "You've disappointed me beyond words. I've let you off too many times before, but this—this time, your sister was meant to inherit the Phoenix Court's legacy, and you interfered again and again. Today, I'll discipline you on behalf of your mother."He raised his hand.A heavy wave of spiritual force condensed into a slap aimed straight at my face.I stared up at him, calm, unflinching.From the side, Nyxar actually looked concerned."Althea, just apologize," he said hurriedly. "Do you really want to be struck?"But as the blow came close, he backed away, unwilling to be caught in it. He chose himself, as always.What I didn't expect was for Franz to suddenly lunge forward and s

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