CHAPTER 20: FIRE FEAST

From the moment Ashen, Lumina, Ero, and Stella stepped into view, the once-busy palace courtyard stilled.

Eyes turned while some servant froze mid-step. Courtiers leaned closer to one another, whispering behind delicate fans or the folds of their sleeves.

Even though they don’t care about Ashen and see him as the cursed prince, they still can’t hide the fact that how gorgeous and elegant he and his soon-to-be wife are.

Lumina walked with a grace that made her blindfold seem ornamental rather than a limitation.

Her hand rested elegantly on Ashen’s arm as they walked through the corridor that led toward the royal palace.

"No one likes you here," she whispered, her tone light and mocking, meant only for his ears.

"And yet you strut through your chambers like a dragon king with golden wings." She added.

Ashen scoffed, tilting his head slightly toward her, his silver hair catching the faint glint of dawn, he won’t lie he is beginning to enjoy being with her.

"It’s my chamber for a reason," he said flatly.

Lumina chuckled and tilted her head toward him. "Well, it’s the only thing you have to boast about in this entire realm. I understand."

Ashen halted in his steps and let go of her hand. His jaw twitched. Lumina had poked too close to his bruised pride.

"Don’t piss me off, enchantress."

But Lumina only smiled sweetly, stepping in front of him and slipping her hand back through his elbow as if nothing had happened.

"Hey... my Lord," she said softly, so only he could hear. "You don’t have to growl at me. I was just reminding you... There is a lot to do today. You should save your anger for your enemies."

Ashen stared down at her, and for a strange moment, his heart slowed as he studied the blindfolded woman beside him.

His future wife, a woman he had been forced to accept but who, somehow, seemed to be reading his soul like a forgotten prophecy.

He tapped her forehead lightly with two fingers.

"Don’t poke the dragon again," he muttered.

Lumina laughed softly, the sound ringing like stardust. Just as the palace gates came into view, they caught the attention of two more figures standing beneath the stone archway.

Rhynera stood tall beside Crown Prince Adam, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, eyes puffy and red, though she did her best to hide it beneath a veil which Prince Adam had made her use to hide her pain from the world.

Her body was sore, her spirit weighed down, and yet none of that mattered in this moment because the sight before her gutted her far more than anything she had endured in the bathhouse.

She had thought Lumina would be a weakling, someone who would be tossed aside in the stormy halls of Drakonia.

But instead, she watched as Lumina and Ashen moved in gracefully, and what pisses her more is the fact that there is a smile on her face, her close connection with Ashen, and how even Ashen wasn’t pushing her away:

It hurt more than her bruised skin and the humiliation of the morning.

She bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to taste blood.

Adam, sensing her shift, cleared his throat.

The guards at the gate immediately struck the stone floor with their spears and called out in unison, their voices echoing across the courtyard.

"Announcing His Highness, Crown Prince Adam of Drakonia!"

Ashen and Lumina stopped in their tracks, hearing this, "Welcome, my lord," Lumina, Stella, and Ero all bowed respectfully though, of course, Ashen stood rigid and unmoving, hands behind his back, eyes narrowed.

The realm was used to this. The Last Prince rarely showed respect.

Adam’s lips twitched with disdain. "It’s a disgrace, behaving like children at the palace gate. And now..." His gaze turned cold as it locked with Ashen’s. "You stand before the heir to the realm and show no courtesy?"

Lumina felt the stiffness in Ashen’s arm. Without a word, she stretched out her hand and subtly touched the back of his.

Then she stepped forward, bowing deeply, her voice calm and composed.

"My lord," she said, lifting her head gracefully, her blindfold still in place.

"Forgive my husband-to-be. His misbehavior reflects poorly, and I will speak to him about it the moment we return to our chamber."

That single word, "our chamber." struck something deep in Rhynera’s chest.

Adam raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.

"I am pleased to see there’s someone who can advise him," he said, stepping aside. "Let’s hope your efforts won’t be wasted." Lumina smiled and extended her hand once more.

"Please, my lord," she said softly. "Enter first."

Adam nodded, the corners of his lips lifting faintly in amusement as he stepped through the palace entrance. Ashen watched him walk past, saying nothing.

Then he turned to Lumina, his brows furrowed as though trying to decipher a puzzle.

"You solved that like you have played this game before," he muttered under his breath.

Lumina only turned her face slightly in his direction, lips curving upward.

"The first rule of the palace is simple. Smile with the wolves, but know where to drive the knife."

Ashen let out a breath and shook his head. "I am not ready to play fool with them."

"Then stay stubborn," Lumina whispered. "But don’t drag me down with you, my Lord." Behind them, Stella, Ero, and the guards awaited.

Ashen nodded stiffly and stepped forward. "Let’s go."

As they entered the palace, the guards announced them also.

"His Highness, Prince Ashen of Drakonia, and Lady Lumina of the Celestial Realm."

Inside, the golden halls gleamed with firelight, tapestries of dragons and war covering every inch. But Rhynera stood frozen at the gates, along with Crown Prince Adam, her gaze locked on Lumina.

There was hatred in her eyes, undeniable, no matter how hard she tried to hide under that veil.

Lumina, though blind, turned her head slightly. She didn’t need to see the look on Rhynera’s face.

She could feel it, then a sly smirk appeared on her face as she wrapped her hands around Ashen again.

"Let the game begin." she thought.