CHAPTER 65: PATH MEANT FOR HIM

In his five years of service, Riley had never once stepped inside this part of the estate.

Sure, he’d been dragged here for business on more occasions than he could count, but "pleasure"? Not once. And honestly, he wasn’t sure Kael himself ever came here for such things either.

But if he had, then Riley was going to be furious. Because his boss could have at least warned him about Satan’s carpet.

Or maybe not?

"?!"

Because the moment Kael’s shoe touched the flaming rug, the entire thing changed in waves.

The fire—previously a molten red blaze meant to roast him alive—shifted into rippling blue waves, starting from beneath Kael’s feet and spreading outward in a shimmering tide. The color rushed down the long corridor, licking at the edges of the flames until it reached all the way to the dais where Lord Karion and Lady Cirila sat.

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

Those who had been pretending not to care suddenly craned their necks. Those who had been whispering behind elegant sleeves stopped mid-breath. Riley could practically feel all those eyes now, every single one burning a hole through him.

He tugged lightly at Kael’s sleeve, a tiny act of rebellion, resisting the pull forward. This was not what he signed up for. The flames weren’t just fire anymore—they were Kael’s flames. And that made them infinitely more suspicious.

Earlier, Riley had been ready to risk it. At least red fire was straightforward. Red fire meant to be burned to death. But blue Kael fire? He had no idea. For all he knew, if Kael decided to throw him under the bus right now, he’d come back as a diamond—a glittering jewel formed from his very own carbon ashes.

Kael didn’t even bother to look at him. The golden menace simply placed one hand at the small of Riley’s back and nudged.

To onlookers, it probably looked sweet. Charming, even. The dignified Dragon Lord escorting a fragile little human across fire, oh, how romantic.

But Riley knew better.

This was a shove toward the plank, and he was the idiot pirate being made to walk it.

And yet—

When Riley stepped forward, bracing for impact, there was no pain.

He swallowed hard, unable to look down. If he did, the illusion would break. He would ruin whatever trick Kael was pulling, and then he’d be dead for real.

But he didn’t need to look.

The gasps, the whispers, even the sharp gleam in Lady Cirila’s eyes told him enough.

Something noteworthy was happening.

It’s just that how could he have guessed that the fire was parting for him?

With every step, the strongest flames folded away as if bowing, rippling to the side in a deliberate, almost reverent motion. The corridor of fire was no longer an execution ground on his side. It had become a path.

A path opening just for him.

And that was what Seris witnessed when she finally arrived.

From the entrance behind them, her vision went red. Rage boiled in her chest, jealousy spiked so sharp she nearly choked on it. Had the Chancellor not raised his voice in warning, she would have already incinerated something. Perhaps everything.

Because how dare that human show his face here? And worse, how dare he stand there with Dragon Lord Kael’s hand on him? Her beloved.

"Control yourself. If you do not, then you had better not think of continuing in," the Chancellor’s voice wrapped around her mind like cold iron, the command woven with magic.

Her jaw clenched.

"You were sent here to deliver your testimony at the appropriate time. The only reason you even secured leave was because I personally requested it."

His voice was sharp as steel. "Allowing you to arrive before me was already the greatest grace I could arrange. So do not waste it by reacting in such a petty way."

Seris trembled but forced herself still. The Chancellor’s reminder cut through her rage just enough to make her pause. She had prepared for today. She had used every card she had, pulled every string, twisted every rule to make sure she could be here.

And she would not ruin it now.

Drawing herself tall, she adjusted her red silk sleeves and lifted her chin. She would walk in with confidence. She would show them all her rightful place.

Or so she thought.

Because the moment she crossed the threshold and set foot on the flaming carpet, the fire snapped. It flared up, blue light rippling along the path, and for an instant, she swore the heat licked at her skin like a warning.

Her eyes widened. She nearly stumbled.

What.

What was happening?

This was Kael’s flame, she realized in horror. His flame, bending for someone else.

Her step backward was sharper than she meant, the sound of her heel against the floor echoing just enough to draw attention. Heads turned. Eyes narrowed. And worst of all, the human looked straight at her.

His expression was not smug, not triumphant, but surprised. Surprised at what? Surprised that she was there? Or surprised that the flames that didn’t touch him wanted to incinerate her?

The humiliation made her blood roar.

She quickly turned her gaze to Kael, ready for comfort, ready for acknowledgment, for anything.

But Kael’s face was unreadable. Completely blank.

No flicker of recognition, no anger, no warmth, not even disapproval. Just nothing.

And then, as though he hadn’t noticed her at all, his voice rang out clearly, pitched for others to hear.

"I’m surprised at how lively it is today, mother."

Seris felt her stomach twist.

Because he had looked right past her.

And as if to add salt to the injury, Lady Cirila laughed softly, the kind of laugh that seemed to float above the tension like nothing at all was wrong.

When in fact, everything was wrong.

Because it was painfully obvious why they were all here.

They had been coming to the grand hall since the news spread about Riley. And of course, since the grand hall was not some private lounge but the communal heart of the Dragon Clan’s main estate, there was no real way to stop people from gathering.

The place itself was a monument to their legacy, lined with carvings and traces of their earliest ancestors.

However, today, it seems like it’ll also witness something extremely interesting that even she didn’t expect to experience in all her years.