Chapter 4

The night before the investiture, Rayne Castle blazed with light.

The ceremony roster for the next day hung high in the center of the hall.

Cecilia's name topped the list, followed by her domains, title, witnesses, and Lorne as her Sworn Knight.

I searched for a long time before I found my own name at the very bottom.

[Transformation Array Stabilizer: Elaia Rayne.]

No assigned seat. No dragon title.

In a ceremony held in both our names, I was nothing more than a footnote.

I stared at my name at the bottom, and even anger felt pointless. They had taken my title and my seat, yet expected me to use my frost essence to bear the risk for Cecilia.

I turned to look at the banquet hall.

Everyone was gathered around Cecilia, bustling with preparations.

My mother and her attendants adjusted Cecilia's gown. My brother directed servants as they set up the transformation array.

Lorne knelt on one knee before Cecilia and placed the oath corsage on her wrist himself.

"I will protect you tomorrow," Lorne said firmly. "I won't let anything interrupt your transformation."

Cecilia's cheeks flushed pink, and she nodded with a smile.

"Where is my seat?"

The hall went quiet for a moment.

My mother didn't even turn around. "It should be on the roster. Keep looking."

My brother crossed his arms. "You're not the star of the show, and you're responsible for maintaining the array. Why would you need a seat?"

Lorne added matter-of-factly, "Tomorrow, when Cecilia transforms, she'll release violent flames. You have to use your frost power to stabilize the array. No mistakes."

If it spiraled out of control, my frost essence would be completely destroyed.

But no one cared about the risk I was taking. They only cared whether Cecilia would transform successfully.

"What about the mine you promised me?"

My father was going over the guest list. He frowned.

"The mines have all been given to Cecilia. There aren't any left. Why do you sisters have to keep score like this?"

Dorian warned coldly, "Lord Vale will be there in person tomorrow. This involves the family's marriage alliance. Don't ruin things by trying to steal the spotlight."

I said nothing and went back to my room.

It wasn't until late that night that the noise from the banquet hall finally died down.

On the desk, a line of silver text materialized on the Northern Court contract.

[Elaia Rayne, please proceed to Boarding Platform Three. The Royal Vessel departs in three hours.]

I rolled up the contract and took one last look at the room I had lived in for eighteen years.

I pulled the bag I had already packed from beneath the desk.

The bag bumped the corner of the desk, and a dust-covered teleportation scroll rolled to my feet.

I paused.

Lorne had bought it for me with his entire reward from his very first mercenary mission. He hadn't been willing to replace his own worn-out sword, but he had pressed the most expensive teleportation scroll he could find into my hands.

He had placed the scroll in my hands and told me solemnly, "Just speak the incantation, and no matter where you are, I'll be brought straight to your side."

"Use it when you're in danger. I'll take the hit for you."

He had said it with such gravity, folding my fingers around the scroll one by one. I had thought I would remember that moment for the rest of my life. I had believed that no matter what happened, he would always choose me first.

Now, the memory of the look in his eyes had blurred.

I kicked the scroll back under the desk, grabbed my bag, and walked out.

The moment I stepped aboard the Royal Vessel, Lorne's call lit up my crystal.

I didn't answer.

A moment later, he sent a text message.

"Asleep? You worked hard today. Tomorrow's all on you."

"I've already booked two portal passes. After tomorrow, I'll take you to the Moran Plains to unwind."

I didn't reply. I tucked the crystal into my bag.

The ice-blue hull doors sealed shut behind me, closing off everything from my past.

This time, I was not turning back.