Alana's perspective
I boarded the carriage and silently observed Darius as he stared out the window. His expression was unreadable and distant as if the world passing by beyond the glass mattered more than anything sitting beside him.
I'm basically rotting, I thought bitterly, the realization tasting like copper in my mouth.
In a few years, I'll probably be nothing. I'll lose my mind, too just a decaying lump of flesh until my existence fades into a memory of nothingness.
The entire journey was drowned in a suffocating silence. The only sounds were the sharp, rhythmic cracks of the whip striking the demon horses and the heavy thud of their hooves clashing against the stone road. Each strike echoed like a countdown toward an inevitable end.
After what felt like an eternity, we finally reached the Royal Castle.
Darius didn't hesitate. He jumped out of the carriage without a single glance back, striding through the courtyard with a predatory grace, as if the very stones belonged to him. I followed closely, a shadow in his wake. He pushed open the massive, gold-embossed doors leading into the grand living room, where Volta sat comfortably in a velvet armchair, swirling a crystal cup of wine.
"Ohhh, there you two are," Volta said, turning toward us with a wide, feline grin.
"Come, sit,make yourselves at home."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's just get on with it," Darius snapped impatiently, dropping into a seat with his boots kicked out.
"Well, that's unexpected," Volta chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. His gaze then shifted to me, sharpening. "And Alana… are you alright? You look a bit pale."
As if he cares.
He doesn't. He just wants to ensure I agree to marry Darius so the Dragon Lord can sink his claws into the remainder of the demon army.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, forcing a cold, porcelain smile onto my face.
"Good. Then let's proceed," Volta said. He poured wine into two ornate cups, handing one to Darius and pushing the other toward me.
"Well," I asked, lifting the cup briefly to acknowledge it before setting it back down untouched, "where exactly will this wedding be held?"
"I suggest we hold it here in the castle," Volta replied smoothly. "Perhaps in the courtyard the moon-flowers are especially beautiful this time of year."
"Well, that settles it," Darius said harshly, his voice cutting through the air. "I just want to get this over with."
"Then it's all sorted," Volta said with a satisfied, chilling smile. "I'll inform the maids at once and make sure everything is prepared by tomorrow."
"Okay," I responded quietly, letting out a silent, weary sigh.
Volta left us alone, his humming echoing as he headed toward the courtyard to oversee the preparations.
The silence that followed was heavy and suffocating. Darius said nothing to me. He simply lay back on the couch, closed his eyes, and began humming a haunting tune I'd never heard before. It was melodic yet hollow, sending a strange, icy chill down my spine.
Moments later, the doors burst open.
Volta returned with loud, exaggerated cheer, slamming the doors wide as he practically danced his way inside. The princess followed behind him, her light laughter tinkling like glass. The sight of their effortless joy irritated me more than I expected; it felt like a mockery.
The princess approached me, grabbing my hand without warning, and pulled me through the long hallways every step was taunting and out into the courtyard. We sat on a cold stone bench as a flurry of maids rushed about, draping silk banners and arranging exotic flowers for my so-called wedding.
"Why are you so sad?" the princess asked, her eyes sparkling with a genuine, naive curiosity. "You should be happy! It's a royal wedding."
"Some things aren't worth being happy about," I replied sharply, my gaze fixed on a maid hanging a banner. "I'm doing this to save my own skin. Anyone would, if they were in my place."
"Well, it's not all that bad," she said, gazing up at the three moons reflected by the sun, as she kicked her feet back and forth like a child. "If you marry him, there won't be any more wars between dragons and demons. Isn't that what everyone wants?"
"You don't see the bigger picture," I said, clenching my fists until my knuckles turned white. "But never mind." I turned toward her, my eyes narrowing. "Why did you lie about Justin?"
Her feet stopped moving instantly. The brightness drained from her face, replaced by something dark, guarded, and uneasy.
"Well… I I…" her voice trembled, her confidence vanishing. "He was in my room. What do you think he was about to do?"
"Save the act," I said coldly. "I already know what he said to you that night."
"You know…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then, she straightened suddenly, her dragon pride flaring. "Even if you do, I doubt it's true."
"He's your half-brother, for heaven's sake!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the castle green garden. "You'd rather let him die just because his scent was in your room?"
"No!" she shouted back, standing up. "I don't believe that nonsense. Justin is not my brother he's just lost his mind!"
"Of course," I snapped, a bitter laugh escaping my throat. "You're so hard-headed." My chest tightened painfully, the second heart giving a dull, warning throb.
"You do realize he lost what mattered most to him because of your lies? He's probably dead as we speak."
The words felt like lead as they left my mouth.they tasted bitter
"We're nothing more than pawns in the dragons' game," I added quietly, the anger leaving me, replaced by a hollow exhaustion.
"Justin fed you lies!" she yelled, clutching her own chest as if the words physically hurt her. "Now you doubt everything! You don't even see the empire the Dragon Lord is trying to build,true peace between our two realms!"
"You're part dragon," I said, standing up to face her. "I don't expect you to understand the cost."
I began walking toward the gate, then glanced back over my shoulder, my gaze freezing her in place.
"And from now on, don't look at me. Don't talk to me."
"So you'd rather lose our friendship over Justin's mistakes?" she cried out, tears finally streaming down her face.
"At least he's not a dragon," I said, my voice breaking as tears of my own fell onto the stone beneath me, "and he didn't slaughter my parents."
I paused, staring at the ground, the weight of the past crushing the present.
"If you'll excuse me… goodbye, Calamity."
She stood frozen, her mouth opening to protest,but no words came out.
I climbed back into the carriage alone and ordered the driver to take me home immediately.
After what felt like an endless, rhythmic ride, I finally arrived. I stepped inside and walked into the dining room, where the long mahogany table was overflowing with a feast. I sat down silently as the maids served me roasted meats and bitter vegetables. I ate slowly, forcing down bite after bite until the plate was empty.
I stood, climbed the grand stairs, and entered my room. I closed the door behind me and slid down against the wood until I hit the floor, tears finally flooding my eyes.
If only Father were here…
He would hug me, his warmth chasing away the rot. Mother would stand beside him, a calm anchor in the storm. He would smile and say, "It's okay, my little girl. Everything will be alright." He'd push his glasses up his nose, brushing a lock of his stark white hair from his face. Mother would kiss my cheek and hold me so tightly I could barely breathe her dark blue hair smelling of jasmine, her deep black eyes kind behind her own spectacles.
"I miss Mom and Dad," I whispered, my voice cracking as the first sob broke through, my tears hitting the cold floor.
After a long while, I wiped my eyes with my sleeve and stood up. I walked to my bed, buried my face into the pillows, and let the heavy quiet of the manor consume me.
Everything finally felt calm.
And then, the exhaustion won, and I passed out into a dreamless sleep.