25 - Public Scene
**Caelan**
The city buzzed with life as I rode through its gates, my arrival cloaked in the pretence of humility. The common folk barely glanced at me; their lives too consumed with their own struggles to notice mine. But the nobles—ah, they would care. They had to care. I would make sure of it.
As I approached the grand hall where the city’s council met, I rehearsed my performance in my mind. Every word, every gesture, every carefully timed pause had to be perfect. This wasn’t just about Lysandra. This was about power, influence, and ensuring my place in the world wasn’t overshadowed by a dragon.
The hall was already packed when I entered, the murmur of voices immediately dying down as I stepped into the room.
My presence drew the attention of the assembled lords and ladies, and I allowed them to study me, my face carefully arranged into an expression of grief and righteous indignation. Whispers rippled through the crowd as I strode confidently to the centre.
“Lord Caelan,” one of the council members said, his voice tinged with surprise. “We were not expecting you.”
“I apologize for the intrusion,” I said, my voice carrying just the right amount of strain to suggest a man barely holding himself together. “But I could not stay silent any longer.”
The murmurs grew louder, curiosity lighting the eyes of the gathered nobles. I let the tension build for a moment before continuing, my voice rising with controlled emotion.
“My betrothed, Lysandra,” I began, letting her name hang in the air for effect, “has been taken from me. And it’s been over a month how. Since she was stolen by a monster.”
A collective gasp rippled through the room, and I pressed forward, seizing the momentum.
“On what should have been the happiest day of our lives, the dragon of black mountain descended upon us and took her away from me, after incapacitating me by breaking my wrist” I raised my hand, showing them the bandage that was still wrapped around it.
I paused, letting the words settle in, my gaze sweeping over the nobles, meeting their eyes one by one. I needed them to feel my pain, my anguish, the loss that I had so carefully crafted for this moment.
“And yet,” I continued, my voice trembling with controlled fury, “her family remains silent. They do not explain, no outcry, no effort to bring her back. How can this be? How can they abandon her so easily?”
All eyes turned toward Lysandra’s father, who sat stiffly at the edge of the room, his face expressionless as he watched me. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but I didn’t give him the chance.
“This is not just about me,” I said, my voice rising with righteous fury. “This is about all of us. That dragon is a threat to our kingdom, to our families, to everything we hold dear. If he can take Lysandra, what’s to stop him from taking someone else’s daughter? Someone else’s wife? Are we to live in fear, cowering beneath his shadow?”
The room erupted into chaos, voices overlapping as the nobles debated and whispered among themselves. Some looked horrified, others sceptical, but I could see the tide turning. They were listening.
“Lord Caelan,” a woman’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding. Lady Ravelle, one of the more influential members of the council, stepped forward, her piercing gaze fixed on me. “These are serious accusations. Do you have proof of this dragon’s actions?”
I met her gaze, my expression hardening. “I saw it with my own eyes, my lady, and I’m not the only witness. The guests and the nobles who came on my wedding day witnessed it as well. He claimed her…” I paused and made my voice break, then my next words vibrated with anger and jealousy. “She was mine! How could he claim her as his?”
The room quieted, the weight of my words settling over the crowd. I knew they wouldn’t demand proof outright—not yet. The drama of the story was too enticing, the implications too dire to dismiss so easily.
“If what you say is true,” Lady Ravelle said slowly, “then this is indeed a matter of grave concern. But we cannot act on emotion alone. We must consider all the facts.”
“Facts?” I said, letting a note of bitterness creep into my voice. “While we deliberate and debate, Lysandra remains in the clutches of that beast. Every moment we waste is another moment she suffers. Is that what we’ve come to? Cowards hiding behind bureaucracy while our people are preyed upon?”
The murmurs started again, and I could see the doubt in some of their faces beginning to waver.
“Enough,” Lysandra’s father said suddenly, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. He rose to his feet, his face grim. “Lord Caelan, may I speak with you privately?”
I inclined my head, feigning respect. “Of course.”
He led me to a smaller chamber adjoining the hall, closing the door behind us. The moment we were alone, his calm façade cracked, and he rounded on me, his eyes blazing.
“What are you doing?” he hissed. “Do you have any idea what kind of chaos you’re stirring up?”
“I’m doing what you refuse to do,” I said coolly. “I’m fighting for Lysandra.”
“This isn’t about her,” he snapped. “This is about you, isn’t it? Your pride, your reputation—”
“Don’t you dare,” I interrupted, my voice low and dangerous. “Don’t you dare question my intentions! She is my betrothed. I have every right to demand her return.”
His jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. For a moment, I thought he might strike me. But then he exhaled sharply, turning away from me.
“Did you consider that when you started your affair with her right-hand maid?”
I was taken aback. Fuck. I didn’t think Lysandra told anyone about it.
“If you knew about it, then why didn’t you stop the wedding?” I shot back, cornering him.
“You’ve put me in an impossible position,” he said, he sounded pissed. Good. “The nobles will expect me to act now. If I don’t, they’ll see it as a betrayal. I’ll lose their support.”
“Then do something,” I said, stepping closer. “Help me. Together, we can bring her back and rid this kingdom of that dragon once and for all.”
He was silent for a long moment, his shoulders stiff with tension. Then he nodded, his expression grim.
“Okay then,” he said. “I’ll help you. But understand this, Caelan: if this goes wrong, if we fail... the consequences will be on your head.”
“Understood,” I said, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
It was a victory, albeit a small one. But it was enough for now. The pieces were in place, and with Lysandra’s father backing me, I knew I could turn this situation to my advantage. The dragon would be dealt with. And Lysandra—whether she wanted to be or not—would return to me.