Chapter 30 30
IRIAN SHAW.
Orrifin had always been a great obstacle on my way. He forgets all the time that he was supposed to be under me, but he acts as though I were inferior to him. Of course, I knew he acts that way because of how his master presents me, because if he loved me back, Orrifin would have no say against me.
If I had succeeded in taking the life of that fae in the cell, the slave introduction wouldn't hold on. And even though I had reached out to the Sovereign's parents to do something about the introduction so it didn't happen, I was so disappointed to hear from my headservant that the fae took the oath and left the throne room before Dragon Sovereign could answer his parents.
Was it because I am not his mate? But his mate could happen to be a lowly dragon, which wouldn't suit his rule, and the realm wouldn't accept that. The councils had agreed on our wedding ritual, and both families supported it, that I was the right woman for him, yet he still doesn't regard me and lacks interest in making me his queen.
I quickly tied the robe of my gown and made my way out of my chamber. I flitted to the royal manor where his family stays and requested an audience with them.
“You are permitted to come in,” the servant who was sent over said to me, and I began walking towards the building. I entered the parlor, and there, the Sovereign's parents were seated, each looking so furious that they could endanger anyone who pisses them off the most.
I bowed before them and greeted, “My Lord and Lady,” then I raised my face, and the mother gestured that I take a seat.
“Is there not a way for you to pull back Zaugustus? Have you tried so much and didn't succeed?” she asked, her voice tainted in fury.
With a nod, I responded, “Honestly, I've tried my best, and nothing is helping at all. I can't even tell if it was because of how long he stayed in the underground cage, or if the fae had a spell on him, but he doesn't seem to regard me any longer and even avoids being with me, unlike in the past, where he at least makes time for me.” I stated and moistened my lips.
I felt like I was losing what belonged to me just before my eyes, and I didn't want that to happen. I had spent over a millennium loving him alone, so will I cope if he happens to dump me because of that fae slave of his?
“You know what? We are not giving up, and will never. Zaugustus is engaged with you, and even the heavens have blessed your union, so the marriage must happen at its due time. If that fae will be an obstruction, then I will take good care of her myself,” the woman said, assurance stirred in her voice, and I nodded pitifully.
After a little time with them, I decided to head back home and speak to my father about the issue on the ground. He was busy playing the chess game all alone when I showed up in his chamber, and he didn't even bother to raise his head.
“Father, you're not just a flame lord, but also a merchant. Why is it that the Dragon Sovereign thinks that I am not worthy to be his queen? Do you have any idea how he met that fae? Or, has he found his mate already?” When I asked those questions, my father finally looked up to me.
He wore an unpredictable expression, like one who had been battling with his thoughts lately.
“If he found his mate, the whole realm would know, so I don't think you guessed right,” he said and picked up the black chess pieces from the chessboard. “And about the fae…”
I swallowed the lump that rose to my throat, waiting to hear him speak further.
“I have that feeling she could be behind his rescue from the underground cage, or he wouldn't let her live. He has saved her countless times from being executed, which meant that aside from being his slave, there's more to their relationship,” he explained and shook his head as though he was fed up with the whole thing.
Fear gripped me. Not the kind of fear that others felt, but the type I didn't seem to have control over.
“But one thing is sure, you are going to be the queen of this realm, and I will become the high flame lord. Even if he finds his mate and she's a lowly dragon, the realm will not accept it, so you are the only one the realm is expecting.”
Although his words were very consoling, they did nothing for me, because the Sovereign couldn't be controlled. He is feared by even his parents, so who was my father to challenge him? He wasn't just appointed to be the ruler by the realm, but the heavens had also blessed him to rule on earth and not ascend.
So, what if the fae serves him until heaven insists he ascend? Then I would be the loser here.
“Father, I don't want to lose him. I don't want him to ascend too. Don't you think being served would lead to that?”
He shook his head, “The heavens don't want him to ascend, or he shouldn't be with us here.”
I sighed and nodded.
I got back to my chamber and stayed till dawn, then I hurried to go meet with Dragon Sovereign in his chamber.
“Your Sovereignty, could you spare me some time?" I requested at his doorpost, fidgeting that he would reject me. I waited for seconds, and just when my feet began hurting, he responded to me, “Come in!”
I unlocked the door and walked in, then bowed to him. The servant who was dressing him up stepped aside, and Orrifin glared at me like I was a prey to him.
“Irian, is everything okay?” came his voice, calm, dominating.
I wasn't sure whether to nod, but a heavy slam on the door made us all flinch.
“Dragon Sovereign!!!” a female yelled, and just by her scent, I knew she was a human. “Open the door, you hellish dragon. Open this door, or I'm going to break it in two.”
My eyes grew large. Who could be speaking down on him that way? A human, for that matter. How did she even come into this realm?
Orrifin opened the door, and the human bumped in and got to her knees. She had streaks of tears on her cheeks, and her chest seemed to explode so soon with how fast it played in response to her heartbeat.
“You promised to protect her; now she's missing. I searched the whole castle with Perrin so I could give her the meal I prepared, but she was nowhere to be found…not even in the cell. What did you do to her? Was it her fault that you were caged?” the human female screeched, glaring at the Dragon Sovereign even as tears poured down her face and her voice shattered.
I got enraged by her manner of speech and wanted to warn her to mind her tongue, but the Sovereign teleported out of the room immediately.
I didn't want to believe it, but Orrifin followed too.
Did they just leave that way because of a mere fae whose life wasn't worthy?