Chapter 3
Aurora's POV
Kelvin's expression shifted when he heard my threat.
But soon enough, he sneered. "Who knows how long Draven will even live? That psycho gets those splitting headaches every other day—he's dying anyway. Could drop dead any second now."
"Exactly," Seraphine chimed in immediately. "Sister, you're already defending him before you've even married him. Too bad Draven is despised by the royal court. With so many princes, the throne will never fall to him. You'll just end up a powerless widow."
Widow?
I looked at Seraphine's smug, stupid face and suddenly laughed.
All these years, I thought this sister of mine was merely spoiled by our parents. Only now did I realize—she wasn't just cruel. She was genuinely STUPID.
Draven unpopular? He commanded three legions, controlled the Northern Fortress. Everyone on Aetherlandis feared him.
Kelvin grew bolder from her words. "Aurora, last chance. Kneel and apologize to Seraphine right now, and I'll reluctantly take you in. Otherwise—"
"Otherwise what?" I cut him off.
He froze.
I looked at him, suddenly realizing I'd never truly known this man.
All these years, starved for affection by my parents' favoritism, I'd desperately craved love. I'd treated Kelvin's cheap tenderness like a lifeline. For him, I would have given everything, humbled myself into dust.
But now I understood—his love meant NOTHING.
I glanced down at the engagement ring on my finger.
When Kelvin proposed, he said he'd protect me with his life forever.
What a joke.
I slowly removed the ring and hurled it at his face.
"I'd rather DIE than be your slave," I declared. "NEVER!"
Kelvin stiffened, my resolve clearly rattling him.
"Aurora, you—"
"Ah—Kelvin!" Seraphine suddenly shrieked, clutching her arm. "My hand hurts so bad, I think it's broken..."
Kelvin immediately turned, pulling a crystal vial from his coat.
My heart lurched.
That was the potion I'd spent an entire year crafting to cure Kelvin's chronic illness. To gather the rare ingredients—moonlight grass, stardust iron, dragonblood vine—I'd scaled cliffs, fought magical beasts, nearly drowned in the depths of the sea. Every single time, I'd barely escaped with my life.
And now he was wasting it on Seraphine's minor scrape.
Seraphine took the potion and drank it right in front of me. The redness on her arm instantly faded, her skin smooth as porcelain.
She smiled at me smugly.
Kelvin gently stroked her arm. "Does it still hurt?"
"Not anymore." Seraphine leaned into him. "Kelvin, you're so good to me."
Kelvin tapped her nose affectionately, then turned to me—his warmth instantly freezing into ice.
"Aurora, if you won't apologize, don't expect my help," he said coldly. "Let's see how long you SURVIVE!"
As he finished speaking, a piercing beast roar echoed from the end of the street.
Shadow Scorpion—
The magical beast stood three meters tall, its body covered in black scales, its tail stinger glowing with sickly green poison. It rampaged into the marketplace, leaving destruction in its wake.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
Kelvin scooped up Seraphine and bolted, his dragon wings half-spread for speed.
As he turned, his shoulder slammed hard into me.
Shit!
I crashed to the ground, pain shooting through my ankle—sprained.
The Shadow Scorpion charged toward me, its poisoned tail raised high.
I tried to stand and cast a spell, but the agony in my ankle kept me pinned.
The stinger descended.
In that split second, a man in a black mask appeared out of nowhere.
He caught the scorpion's stinger with one hand and twisted sharply—CRACK. The stinger snapped. The Shadow Scorpion shrieked in pain as his other hand conjured blazing white dragonfire, piercing straight through the beast's skull.
The scorpion collapsed with a thunderous crash.
The next moment, I was lifted into his arms.
His movements were gentle, as if afraid to hurt me. I could feel the warmth of his chest, and that faint scent of dragonblood wood—the same as the incense I'd bought.
He carried me to a quiet alley and silently handed me a vial of healing potion.
"Wait—"
Before I could speak, he vanished.
I stared at the vial in my hand, a strange feeling rising in my chest.
Two days later.
I stood before the mirror in the wedding gown sent by the Dragon Royal Family.
The gown was pure white, its train embroidered with intricate dragon patterns. The dress itself was priceless, yet it paled against the dowry filling the room—dragon gems, spellbooks, and ten full chests of gold.
My parents shuffled in hesitantly.
"Aurora," Mother said softly, "could you not make Seraphine publicly admit to the theft? Just say it was a misunderstanding. Give her some dignity."
The last shred of hope in my heart died completely.
These past three days, they hadn't asked how I'd fare after marrying Draven, hadn't cared about my injuries, hadn't even prepared a single piece of dowry for me. But they remembered to plead for Seraphine.
"No," I refused coldly. "Either she admits it publicly, or I take off this dress right now. You can explain it to the Dragon Clan yourselves."
Father's face darkened. "You—"
A commotion suddenly erupted downstairs.
I lifted my skirts and went down.
Kelvin stood in the center of the hall, holding a pair of silver magical shackles.
Seeing my wedding gown, he frowned. "Why are you wearing that? You're seriously going through with marrying that MONSTER?"
"Today is my wedding day," I said impatiently. "Kelvin, you weren't invited."
Kelvin's expression darkened. "Stop being stubborn, Aurora. The ceremony starts soon. Kneel now, grovel before Seraphine, and I'll reluctantly let you be my slave."
He paused, his voice dropping colder. "Otherwise, when Draven gets here, it'll be too late."
I said nothing.
My silence enraged him. He snapped his fingers.
Several guards rushed forward, roughly grabbing my arms, trying to tear my dress and force me to my knees.
"Let go of me—Kelvin, have you lost your MIND?!"
As I struggled, a low voice cut through from behind.
"Who DARES lay a hand on MY bride!"
