Chapter 186

Chapter 186
Lina's POV

"According to the ancient laws of elven magic, when a human woman bears a child to an elf, her soul becomes permanently bound to his magical essence. Even in death, she cannot find peace—her spirit is forever tethered to follow the bloodline that claimed her, never able to rest."

Augustus's expression shifted from irritation to something approaching comprehension as the full implications of what I was describing became clear to him.

"My mother spent her entire life as Horace's possession," I continued, my voice beginning to tremble with suppressed emotions. "She was purchased when she was barely more than a child, used for his pleasure and convenience, and discarded when she became inconvenient. She bore him a daughter—me—and received nothing in return but pain and abandonment. She lived without freedom, without dignity, without even the basic respect due to any living being."

Tears began to gather in my eyes as I spoke of the woman who had given me life but had never been allowed to truly live herself. "She died alone and forgotten in a hovel at the edge of his lands. But even death hasn't freed her from his control. Her soul remains bound to the Valerian bloodline, forever trapped in servitude to the man who destroyed her life."

I leaned forward slightly, my hands clasped tightly together as I made my final, most heartfelt plea. "I want to demand him to release her soul from the blood contract. I want to ensure that she finally has the freedom that was denied to her in life."

Augustus studied my face for a long moment, his golden eyes seeming to weigh not just my words but the depth of conviction behind them. When he finally spoke, his voice had lost much of its initial harshness.

"The dungeons are dangerous, Lina," he said quietly. "Even if I were to order them cleaned and cleared, there would still be risks. The stress alone could be harmful to you and our child."

I nodded, acknowledging his concerns while refusing to abandon my position. "I understand the risks, and I accept them. But this is something I must do. Only I can make this demand of him with the moral authority it requires."

Augustus was quiet for several heartbeats, his internal struggle visible in the tension around his eyes. Finally, he exhaled slowly and reached across the table to take one of my hands in both of his own.

"Very well," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a royal decree. "I will grant your request, but only under strict conditions that are not negotiable."

Relief flooded through me so powerfully that I felt momentarily dizzy. "First," Augustus continued, "Selas will personally accompany you and will remain at your side at all times. Second, I will have the dungeon area thoroughly cleaned before your arrival, and the visit will be limited to thirty minutes at most."

"I understand," I said quickly.

"Third, and most importantly," Augustus said, "regarding your mother's blood contract—I will personally ensure that Horace complies with your request. If he refuses, I will use my authority as Dragon King to break the magical bonds myself. Furthermore, I will arrange for your mother's remains to be moved to a place of honor, with a proper memorial that bears only her own name."

The unexpected generosity of this final promise broke through the last of my emotional defenses. Tears began flowing freely down my cheeks as the full impact struck me.

Augustus stood and moved around the table to pull me gently into his arms. His embrace was warm and protective, offering comfort without possessive intensity. "Don't cry," he said softly. "Such strong emotions aren't good for the child. I've given you my word, and I will see it done."

For the first time since learning of my pregnancy, I allowed myself to truly relax into his embrace, drawing strength from his solid presence and the absolute certainty in his voice.

When he finally released me, Augustus used his fingers to gently lift my chin until my eyes met his. His golden gaze held mine with an intensity that seemed to reach directly into my soul.

"Lina," he said, my name carrying a weight of meaning that made my breath catch. "I want you to know that I meant what I said yesterday. The past is behind us now. Your mother will find her peace, and you and our child will have a future free from the shadows that have haunted your family."

He paused, seeming to gather his thoughts before continuing with even greater intensity. "I know I've made terrible mistakes. I know I've caused you pain when I should have been your protector. But I want to change that. I want to prove that I can be the partner you deserve, the father our child needs. Will you give me that chance?"

"Mm," I managed to whisper.