บททั้งหมดของ The Demon King’s Bride: บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 58

The day gave her no respite. Since dawn, the heavy wooden doors had swung open and shut in an endless loop, admitting a constant procession of servants bearing chests, silks, perfumes, and jewels—each gift more ostentatious than the last. They were all sent by the Avelyne family as a silent, yet blatantly public, display of absolute dominance. Lyria remained seated as the wealth piled up around her, as if they were attempting to bury her in gold until whatever she truly was simply ceased to exist. She offered a polite smile when required, nodded at all the right cues, and expressed gratitude with the precise delicacy expected of a lady. In truth, however, she heard nothing they said. The whispers seeped through anyway—they always found a way. They slithered down the corridors, hid behind heavy drapes, and disguised themselves as respectful glances while muttering what everyone was already thinking: that the marriage remained unconsummated, that the king had not truly chosen her, an

Elinor had lost all track of time inside that dark, damp place, where the air seemed trapped between the stone walls and every breath dragged in a bitter trace of grime. The coarse rope binding her wrists burned her skin with every slight movement, but the physical pain paled in comparison to the agonizing uncertainty consuming her. She didn't know how long she had been there or what was unfolding in the outside world, and that ignorance was what eroded her sanity most. The voices reached her before the men did, filtering through the shadows with uncomfortable clarity. One of them stopped directly in front of her and studied her intently, tilting his head slightly as if assessing her value. He was a short, gaunt man with a disproportionate face dominated by a pointed nose and prominent teeth that protruded even when he wasn't speaking. His bulging eyes, heavy with disdain, raked over every detail of her appearance as if already calculating how much her life could yield. “She’s not

Lyria lay tangled in Edrion’s arms, her back pressed against his chest as he held her with a closeness that no longer felt accidental, but deeply chosen. His breathing had evened out, yet his grip remained firm—as if, even in the quiet of dawn, he refused to let her go. For a moment, neither of them spoke. There was no need for words. Lyria closed her eyes, letting the stillness wash over her: the weight of his arm draped around her waist, the familiar heat of his fingers resting on her skin like a silent claim over territory he now considered his own. Then, slowly, she shifted. She slipped out of his embrace with deliberate care, unwilling to shatter the peace of the moment, yet knowing she couldn't linger in bed forever. Edrion didn't stop her. He simply watched. She sat up, gently brushing back the sheets, and the cool morning draft swept over her bare skin as she stepped onto the floor. She didn't rush. Every movement was calm and measured, keenly aware of his eyes tracing

The invitation arrived after the meal—discreet and unannounced, like everything that truly mattered within the palace walls. Valeria accepted it without hesitation; she could not afford to do otherwise. When she entered the private chamber, Edrion was already there, standing beside the table. He carried the same imposing presence as ever, though this time stripped of the public chill he had displayed hours earlier. That subtle shift was enough for something inside her to cling to the fragile hope that all was not yet lost. “Your Majesty,” she greeted him with polished elegance. “Valeria,” he replied with a slight nod. “Sit.” His tone was softer, more intimate—a composure that disarmed her far more than any outright rejection could have. She took her seat opposite him, and for a moment, a calculated silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken purpose. “You must feel hurt,” he said at last. Valeria lowered her gaze for a brief second, just long enough to project the exact im