Chapter 77 77
When I was returning to the Sovereign's quarter, I noticed that there was a large crowd in front of the throne room. Such a crowd was one I hadn't ever laid my eyes on since I came to this realm, so seeing them made me wonder what could be going on with showing up that way and making a hell of a noise.
A part of me wanted to go take a look at what was going on, but I was as well scared that getting closer when I wasn't a dragon could put me in more mess. They now know who I was and what I was to their ruler, so they could sprain my neck amid them for showing up.
With that, I headed into the quarters, but it was so quiet, like a graveyard.
I halted in the middle of the compound, darting my eyes from one corner to another to see someone, but no one was in view. The silence in the yard was something weird to me, and that caused me to panic that something wasn't right.
But as I turned around to begin leaving, a scream tore through my lips, my feet dragged backwards, and I almost lost my balance. “You freaked me out! This isn't good…” I said to Orrifin, still panting. “What about Ofelia? Where did you keep her?”
He glanced at his sides and flitted closer to me, “Do you want her returning to the human land?”
I scowled at him, “I didn't ask that. You took her away, so….
“Yes, it's also an answer…” he cut me short, and I took a deep gulp. “I don't want her returning, so try convincing her to stay back.”
I shook my head, “Sorry, but I can't do that when it has to do with someone's life. She can leave if she makes up her mind.”
He stared at me for some time before sighing deeply. The look on his face was one I couldn't even comprehend.
“But why don't you want her back? She's doing nothing for me here, and I don't want her hurt for my sake….
“I'll protect her, I promise,” he commented, and my brows furrowed.
Why was he all over her that way?
“Dragon Sovereign ordered that I bring you into the throne room, because slaves always stay beside their master,” he added and raised his shoulders a bit.
I shook my head, “I can't do that, please. How am I supposed to stay beside him in the presence of all those people because he's my master? Does he even hear himself at certain times? You know he doesn't even care about my safety, and this is why Ofelia has to leave this realm.” I yelled and tried turning to walk away, but he flitted before me and pressed his index finger on his lips.
I shot him a glare and stepped back, "What's that supposed to mean?”
“Don't ever mention her name when I'm talking about Sovereign. They have no business together, and your relationships don't concern her either.”
I scoffed and folded my arms to my chest, “Are you in love with my friend or what? You're acting so weird that I'm beginning to think you lost some nuts in your senses. When did you start being all over Ofelia like she's the air you breathe?”
If it were in the past, he would scowl at me…but he didn't just now, and even put up a smile as though I had just said nothing bad.
“That's why you need to help me convince her to stay back. I don't want to go a day without seeing her,” he muttered, and I nodded.
This wasn't funny any longer.
“Just marry her then. Propose to her, but you know how impossible it's going to be after the hell she's watching me pass through, right? Then you all should treat me right, or you will forget about her.” I said and walked past him.
I had almost reached the Sovereign's corridor when someone came over me and jerked me up to my feet over his shoulder. “What the heck is this about? Get me down and tell him that I'm not coming.” But he ignored me and leaped, only to find myself before the crowd of lords and many of his subordinates.
My gaze moved very fast until it found Sovereign as usual, staring at me with his fingers in his beard, but the lords were strangely quiet unlike when I was before them.
Soon, one of them walked out and bowed to Sovereign, then turned back to me. “Fae female, take a look at those men and mention if you ever had an encounter with them anytime, in addition to what they had done to you.”
I nodded gently and turned to my left, where about ten men were all kneeling with their heads lowered. I hadn't even searched for Ofelia yet, but I knew she was alright, and the crowd I saw from outside wasn't fake, because the room was filled up for the first time.
Gently, I walked towards those men and began raising their faces one after the other, until I was done with them all. I turned to the lord who had approached me and stated, “My lord, I saw those faces days ago…past a week now.”
He nodded, “So,”
“They were the ones who almost killed me in the woods, before Perrin and Sovereign's right-hand man showed up and saved my life. They tied around me a robe and kept stretching it so I could lose my breath, just because I came after my human friend, whom they abducted.” I stated and quickly lowered my face, my heart thumping loudly in my ears.
I seriously didn't even want to think about what could be going on, but rather just be taken out of the hot room.
“If this is the case…” the lord began, slowly getting back to where he's been standing. “...then it means that the Sky dragon, Irian Shaw, is truly responsible for the first and second attack on the Sovereign's slave. The first happened in his quarters, and the second in the woods. With this, I will leave the judgment to the lord of Justice." The man bowed and finally breathed out.
Irian Shaw? So everyone was gathered to witness what the judgment was going to be about?
At that moment, I began looking around until I found Ofelia, who signalled me to come to where she was. I ignored her and diverted my gaze to Dragon Sovereign, and he gave me a slight nod to go ahead, then I hastened my steps towards Ofelia.
We both sat down there, wiping our sweat like we were in an oven.
“Vina, what do you think will happen to Irian? It came to light that she was behind everything, and her father is one of the lords.” Lia whispered to me, and I could only press my lips together. “I want her to get away from you and mind her business. She should focus on her betrothed and leave the innocent you who came in here without your power.”
I took her hand and glanced at her, “Do you still want to return despite what Orrifin is doing?”
She nodded firmly and even winked at me.
“What if you marry a dragon?”
She shook her head, “They are too cruel to partner with. Imagine bringing home a dragon as my betrothed, then my dad will only disown me. How could I do that when there are so many handsome and hardworking human males waiting for my return?”
As it stood, I didn't even know what to say anymore. How could I convince someone to stay with me because of a man, when I always wanted her to leave? That wouldn't happen. Orrifin should earn her heart himself and stop implicating me when I have my own matters.
“Even though the person she conspired against was a fae female…” I heard a man say, and we both turned to listen carefully. “...she will still be exiled for ten years and stripped of her dragon powers. In these ten years, she is expected to atone for her sins, or another ten years would be added to it.”
The crowd began murmuring. Was it something good for her or not? Were they happy or not?
Ten years in exile without her dragon abilities, but she would still live fine.
My life couldn't be traded for such punishment, because she wouldn't atone for her sins and would return for revenge in the next ten years. She could find me anywhere I was just to unalive me like she always wanted.
I was even thinking that the penalty wasn't worth it when Dragon Sovereign stood and walked down his throne for the first time. He stared at Irian for quite a long time before ending the silence. “These men should all be beheaded before their bodies are burnt. But for Irian, I don't need you exiled,” he said and raised his face a bit.
Everyone was as curious as I was; my fingers dug deep into my palms as I waited for what he had in store.
“My penalty for you is the end of our engagement…” he came again, and the crowd broke into noise.
Irian looked like she was going to be swallowed up by the ground soon. Blood drained from her face.
“The seer will be here to end the engagement between us, because I can't have you as my queen, as I always told you. Once the engagement is broken, we will have nothing in common except I being your ruler…and when you attempt anything deadly towards my slave, I will finally have the might to punish you the way I want,” he concluded and turned to Orrifin, who bowed to him and leaped out of the room.
My lips hung open. I didn't even see this coming.
Their engagement was going to be broken? I felt so happy that it was happening, even when my fate was deadly in his hands, too.