Reborn as the Sleeping Dragon's Bride Billionaire Romance

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00:00I was born with a blood scent that could make dragon lords lose control.

00:04Pure breeding blood, the rarest kind in 300 years.

00:08At my mating ceremony, I crawled past the sacred gold offerings and grabbed Crown Prince Caelan between his pants.

00:15This little whore could be a clingy breeder in the future.

00:20He was wrong. Caelan and I became enemies.

00:24For 10 years, I watched his dragon eyes learn to hate my scent.

00:27On my 18th birthday feast, the king called me before the throne.

00:31Freya, choose any dragon lord in Valeria. I will grant him to you.

00:36Before I could answer, Caelan's voice cut across the hall.

00:39I would rather be torn apart by wild dragon knees than mate her.

00:44Something inside me broke. Good. Then make him choke on it.

00:47Then I will leave his fate to the gods. Pay for the price, Crown Prince Caelan.

00:51I thought he didn't mean it. Our betrothal ceremony was beautiful, but Caelan never gave me a glance.

00:58Your scent makes me sick.

01:00Years passed. I gave him no air. The court stopped bowing.

01:04Dragonborn ladies spat in my food, ripped my gowns and called me a barren human leech.

01:10Caelan only smiled. Then I heard him say it.

01:12She forced this marriage. She deserves karma.

01:16No one should pity her.

01:18One week later, he threw me into the velvet quarter.

01:20A useless breeder belongs in a pleasure house.

01:24I died there, bloody and left like rotten meat. His figure was the last thing I saw. He never looked

01:30back.

01:30Then light split open. I woke on cold marble, gasping. I was reborn at my mating ceremony.

01:37Freya, choose any dragon lord in Valeria. I will grant him to you.

01:42The royal citadel. The feast. I would not risk my life on Caelan again. I took a deep breath.

01:48Your majesty. I respect the Crown Prince as someone I grew up with. Like a brother. I never wanted him.

01:54Not as a man. Not as a husband.

01:57My heart only belongs to dragon crook Lufician Draenmoor. If I couldn't marry him, I'd go finish myself.

02:03The court exploded. I had refused Valeria's golden prince and chosen his uncle.

02:08The cursed black silver dragon. The most fierce dragon who destroyed wild dragonkins for 200 years.

02:20Lucian Draenmoor fell coma since year ago on the northern warfront.

02:24Hurt by an unseen blade with curse. The healers said he would never wake. I knew they were wrong.

02:30In my last life, Lucian woke during my third year in hellish marriage.

02:34When dragonborn ladies had cornered me in the kitchens, they laughed, tore my sleeves, and called me a barren human

02:40leech.

02:41Then a broken dragon rose from his wheeled chair. Lucian Draenmoor stood between us.

02:46Half crippled, but still terrifying. Back to now.

02:49Little one. Marrying Lucian would waste your gift. Choose another lord. Someone who can speak to you.

02:55I kept my forehead against the marble floor.

02:57Your majesty, I swore before the old gods. It is Lucian Draenmoor or no one.

03:02I hit my forehead on the floor. Once and once again.

03:05The court went quiet. Only left the sound of my bones crack.

03:09Queen Marianne smiled like she had been handed a gift.

03:12If the human girl wants a sleeping dragon, let her have him.

03:15So be it. Your bloodline is gone. Lucian cannot answer for himself.

03:21My queen will arrange the wedding for you too.

03:23I rose my bloody forehead and crumbling stood up.

03:26I am humbled beyond speech.

03:29I did not look at Caelan. I only felt his gold fire burning behind me.

03:33Let him burn. I would never choose him again.

03:36Lucian is way better than Caelan.

03:38Last life, though he's still weak, he's nice to me.

03:40I'll save him this time. We'll claw our way out of this shithole.

03:43Together. For three days, I slept like someone freed from a cage.

03:49Then came the knock at Ashbourne Hall.

03:51The queen commands your presence at the royal citadel tonight.

03:55My blood went cold.

03:57At dusk, Madam Corvin led me through the royal corridors.

04:01Dragonflowers scented the stone.

04:03Then she stopped and bowed.

04:05Your highness, crown prince.

04:07I lifted my head. It's Caelan.

04:20Caelan stepped into the lamplight.

04:21He looked exactly like a future king.

04:24Proud and untouchable.

04:25Beautiful in the cruel Valorian way.

04:27Your highness.

04:28He looked me over from crown to shoes,

04:30as if searching for the girl who used to chase him through these halls.

04:33That's all?

04:34In my last life, I knew his every habit.

04:36I baked honey cakes for him.

04:38I waited outside Crown Tower just to hand them over.

04:40He always tossed them to the palace drakes.

04:43Stop this pathetic chase, Freya.

04:45You are marrying my uncle now.

04:47Try to have some dignity.

04:49You disgust me.

04:50I am not chasing anyone.

04:52I was only telling the truth to your king father.

04:54I do not love you.

04:55Then you wandered into the royal family's private wing by accident?

04:58The queen summoned me.

05:00Ask Madam Corvin.

05:00His gold fire flared.

05:02So it was true.

05:02I had not come for him.

05:05My uncle is a corpse with a title.

05:07You may be a widow before your wedding bed even cools.

05:11Then I will be the happiest widow in Valoria.

05:14His pupils narrowed, then went black.

05:30Queen Marianne heard me out in silence.

05:32And before I had even finished my audience with her,

05:35my wedding to Lucien Dravenmore was set for one week later.

05:40Dravenmore's black silver banners stretched across the road

05:42as Gareth Thorne bowed before me.

05:44Lady Ashborough, Darrenmore receives you with honor.

05:48In my last life, Crown Tower never gave me this much respect.

05:51Some nobles called it widowhood with a title.

05:54I ignored them.

05:55Dravenmore had already given me more honor than Crown Tower ever did.

05:58When I reached Dravenmore Keep,

06:00Gareth Thorne led me straight to the bridal chamber.

06:03Lucien Dravenmore lay on the bed, pale and silent.

06:06But even unconscious, he did not look weak.

06:08His sharp features, silver black hair and quiet dragon pressure

06:11made him seem less like a dying man and more like a sleeping dragon.

06:15My lady, I prepared another room for you.

06:16I looked at Lucien, my heart steady despite the tension.

06:19No.

06:20He is my husband now.

06:22I'll stay here.

06:23The room went silent.

06:24After they left, I sat beside him.

06:26The air itself seemed to hold its breath.

06:29I leaned closer, feeling the subtle warmth of his body beneath the thin sheets.

06:33You're asleep anyway, so this doesn't count.

06:35I lowered my head and kissed him.

06:37His lips were warm.

06:38For a heartbeat, nothing happened.

06:40Then the air broke open.

06:41Dark pressure slammed through the room.

06:43Black silver scales erupted along his neck.

06:46Windows cracked.

06:47His hand shot up and caught my throat.

06:49Not gentle, not soft.

06:50Dragon fire exploded from his body,

06:52scorching the ceiling and bed frame.

06:54I gasped, gripping his wrist.

06:56Lucien.

06:57His fingers burned against my skin,

06:58yet he didn't push me away.

07:27His fingers burned against my skin,

07:32then the fire pulled back.

07:33His hand dropped.

07:34The room went dark.

07:36Outside, Draven Moor Keep erupted.

07:38Shouts, running boots,

07:39dragon flame lighting up the sky.

07:41Gareth broke through the door.

07:43My lady.

07:44I touched my neck.

07:45It was bruised.

07:46Lucien lay still again,

07:47but his breathing had changed.

07:49Deeper, stronger.

07:50The curse had cracked,

07:51but whatever was underneath was not gentle.

07:53I didn't know if I had started to wake him up,

07:55or started something worse.

07:57By dawn, healers filled the hall.

07:59Gareth locked down the entire floor.

08:10No one tells the Royal Citadel what happened last night.

08:14The mate Flyme responded to the marriage bond.

08:16That's all anyone needs to know.

08:18The bruise on my neck was already dark.

08:20A healer offered to treat it.

08:22Leave it.

08:22I went back to Lucien's room.

08:24He was still.

08:25But the black silver scales on his hand had not faded.

08:28His dragon blood was fighting something.

08:29The curse.

08:30The medicine.

08:31Maybe both.

08:32I sat beside him.

08:33I don't know if you can hear me,

08:35but I'm not leaving.

08:37His fingers moved.

08:38Barely.

08:38The news reached Crown Tower before noon.

08:41Caelan was sparring when a servant ran in.

08:43Your Highness,

08:44Dravenmoor's mate Flyme answered Freya last night.

08:47Caelan stopped mid-swing.

08:48The whole northern sky lit up.

08:51Gold fire burst from Caelan's palm.

08:54The training post shattered.

08:55He thought the wedding would humiliate me.

08:57Instead, all of Royal Citadel was talking about

08:59how Dravenmoor's dragon blood had chosen a human bride.

09:02Princess Anya walked in.

09:04So it's true.

09:05She looked at the burn post.

09:07They say Freya looked more like a duchess than a widow.

09:10Careful, Caelan.

09:12People might think you're the one who got left behind.

09:16That afternoon, Caelan called his steward.

09:18The Ashborough war records we archived

09:20move them to the sealed vault

09:21and send a message to the Royal Pharmacy.

09:23Any requests from Dravenmoor go through my office first.

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10:23I put on Dravenmoor black and silver and walked straight into the main hall.

10:27Selene's housekeeper stepped in front of me.

10:29Lady Selene is waiting in the west parlor.

10:31Then she can come here.

10:32The servants froze.

10:33Davinmoor keep is not Seleneva Lavas' house, and I am not her guest.

10:37Gareth stood behind me.

10:38He said nothing.

10:39Every servant in the hall understood it.

10:41Gareth supported me as Lady Dravenmoor.

10:43Bring me Lucian's healer records, medicine ledgers, and night watch lists now.

10:46Selene arrived with a soft smile.

10:48Freya, you were married yesterday.

10:50Leave the household matters to me.

10:52This isn't household business.

10:53This is my husband's life.

10:54Selene kept smiling, but her eyes didn't.

10:56By sunset, I found the first problem in the medicine logs.

10:59Some herbs were not healing Lucian.

11:01They were suppressing his dragon blood.

11:03He wasn't too weak to wake.

11:04Someone was keeping him asleep.

11:06I needed the source records.

11:07Where the herbs came from?

11:08Who ordered them?

11:09The trail pointed to the royal pharmacy.

11:11I sent a rider to request the purchase records.

11:13The rider came back empty-handed.

11:15Crown Tower denied the request.

11:17They said all pharmaceutical inquiries from Dravenmoor require approval from the Crown Prince's office.

11:20I understood.

11:21Selene's confidence didn't come from Dravenmoor.

11:24It came from Crown Tower.

11:25That night, Selene heard I had found the local records.

11:28For the first time, she stopped smiling.

11:29Send Rowan.

11:30Let my son teach her what happens to lonely wives in this house.

11:57Rowan Vos waited outside my chamber door.

11:59He smelled of wine.

12:01Lady Dravenmoor.

12:02I stopped.

12:03Come on.

12:04Your husband can't even open his eyes.

12:06Don't waste your youth on a sleeping man.

12:09He stepped closer.

12:10Selene runs this keep.

12:12I am her son.

12:13You are just the human bride they sent to warm Lucian's bed.

12:16Then I slapped him.

12:17Servants rushed over.

12:18No one dared speak.

12:19Rowan wiped blood from his lip.

12:21My mother will hear about this.

12:23Good.

12:24Tell Lady Selene I saved her the trouble.

12:26His face twisted.

12:28My mother!

12:28Your mother failed to raise you.

12:31That makes it my problem now.

12:32I turned to the hall.

12:34Freya.

12:34Gareth.

12:35Put him in the lower water cell.

12:37By morning, maybe he'll remember whose keep this is.

12:40The guards moved toward Rowan.

12:42That was when the whole keep understood.

12:44I was Lady Dravenmoor.

12:46Below the keep, Rowan shook in freezing water.

12:48My mother knows about Lucian's medicine.

12:50He looked up, shaking.

12:52She knows who kept him asleep.

12:53And Crown Tower knows she knows.

13:21He just kept him alive.

13:22I don't know.

13:23He just Ε- поверхant him.

13:23assume his mother nghiren's dreams were young.

13:50It's really nice.

14:03At dawn, Gareth brought me Rowan's confession.

14:05He was drunk, but he said the medicine was switched and he said Crown Tower was involved.

14:10I looked at Lucian. The black silver scales on his hand had faded, but his fingers were warmer than before.

14:14Bring me every medicine log from the last year. And find me a healer who doesn't answer to Salona or

14:20the Royal Pharmacy.

14:22By breakfast the hall was full. Servants stood with their heads down. Selina sat at the high table, calm as

14:28ever.

14:28Freya, you locked my son in a water cell over drunken words. Now you want to accuse me too?

14:33I want records. Household records are not toys for a new bride.

14:37I placed the medicine book on the table.

14:39Then explain this.

14:41Her smile stopped.

14:42Lucian's dose changed three months ago. The healer seal is missing. The delivery mark belongs to your steward.

14:48Gareth, step beside me.

14:49From today on, no one touches Lucian's food, wine or medicine unless I see it first.

14:53You think you can run Darren Moore?

14:56No. I already am.

14:58A crash came from Lucian's chamber. We ran back. The medicine bowl had split in half.

15:02Black silver fire burned across the floor. Lucian's eyes were still closed, but his hand had crushed the bed rail.

15:08That evening, a sealed letter arrived from Crown Tower.

15:10Not a personal note. An official order with the royal stamp.

15:13Gareth read it aloud.

15:14By the authority of Crown Prince Caelan, a royal medical delegation will be dispatched to Dragonmore Keep

15:19to evaluate Duke Lucian's condition and review all medical arrangements currently in place.

15:23The room went quiet.

15:24When?

15:26Three days.

15:26I looked at the letter. If Caelan's doctors walked in here, they would take over Lucian's treatment.

15:31Reverse everything I had changed. Put Celine's people back in charge. And I couldn't refuse.

15:35He was using his nephew's health as the excuse.

15:38Then we have three days.

15:57Got it?

16:15What's the reason?

16:16The woman said I'd love to put you in a secret.

16:16The comfort is a person.

16:16He was going on with it.

16:16And he was going on with it.

16:16If there were a person, he walked on with it.

16:16And he was going on with it.

16:17And he and he was going on with it.

16:23His name went on with it.

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19:42selena i can handle the servants and the whispers but i can't fight your nephew and the crown at

19:46the same time not alone his hand was warm the scales pulsed i need you to wake up silence then

19:52his fingers closed around mine freya his dark gold eyes opened who came into my keep and thought he

19:58could question my wife for protecting me lucian sat up in bed black silver flame tore through the

20:03room he looked at the bruise on my neck who did this you when your dragon blood broke through he

20:10touched the bruise black silver light wrapped around my neck it faded under his hand outside

20:14every dragon torch in dravenmore keep lit at once the whole northern sky burned silver in crown tower

20:20a rider burst through the gate your highness dragon own more's fire just lit the northern line all of

20:27it cailin stood up the duke is awake cailin's cup shattered in his hand

20:40so

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23:21The Royal Medical Delegation arrived before noon.

23:24They expected a sleeping Duke.

23:26They found Lucian Dravenmore seated in the main hall.

23:29He leaned on a cane.

23:30His face was pale, but black-silver pressure filled the room so hard the candles bent sideways.

23:35The Laid Physician swallowed.

23:37Your Grace, Crown Prince Caelan sent us to review your treatment.

23:40Lucian looked at him.

23:41My nephew sends doctors into my keep without asking me?

23:44No one answered.

23:45The Crown is concerned for your health.

23:48My wife kept me alive while your prince tried to take control of my be-medicine.

23:53From today on, Dravenmore's healers answer to me and Lady Davenmore, no one else.

23:56The delegation left before sunset.

23:58Céline watched from the upper hall, white-faced.

24:01That night, she sent a servant through the east gate with a sealed message.

24:04I watched him disappear into the dark road.

24:06I could stop him, but I didn't.

24:08I want to see who will answer.

24:09Later, Lucian found me by the chamber fire.

24:12How much did they make you carry alone?

24:14His jaw tightened.

24:17I'll start carrying it with you.

24:37the high school through the north end of the state of the city of the U.

24:38I'm on the right side of the state of the U.

24:38The North End of the East, the North End of the East.

24:53That's a pretty much complicated establishments.

24:53That our clients in the East.

24:53The North End of the East.

24:53The North End of the East is a huge disaster.

24:57The North End of East.

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26:05At dawn, Lucien ordered the ledgers sealed. Gareth brought iron boxes from Selene's office,

26:10tax books, supply lists, military payment rolls. By noon, the truth was on the table.

26:15Northern Rider pay was cut for eight months. Wintergrain was marked as delivered, but the storehouses never received it.

26:21He placed another page down.

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26:32I made sacrifices. Lucian looked at her. You sold my soldier's food and called it sacrifice?

26:38I protected Dravenmoor while you slept. No. You fed off it. The hall went silent.

26:45Rowan was dragged in, bruised and terrified. Mother, say something. Selene did not look at

26:50him. Lucian tapped the ledger. Rowan Vos goes to the dungeon until I decide his sentence.

26:56You can't do this to family! Family does not touch my wife, steal from my riders,

27:00or poison my house. The guards took him away. Selene Vox is removed from all household authority.

27:08She will remain under guard in the east wing. Then he turned to me. The accounts are yours now.

27:13Every servant in the hall dropped to one knee. For the first time,

27:17they were not kneeling because Lucian had woken. They were kneeling because I had won.

27:31for the next day. The house was recalled. So that's what I say. It was very nice and

27:38pretty strong. And there was no misunderstanding. There was a very kind of involve $4 but $4000 am

28:00for service. But customers should be over at that one end point of simple resurrection and

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34:33Tower by nightfall. Caelan read the report once, then goldfire burst from his hand. Half the desk

34:38burned before the guards could move. He threw out my delegation? The messenger shook. Yes,

34:43your highness. Lady Selina has been confined. Rowan Vos is in the dungeon. Caelan's eyes went

34:48gold. Freya did this. Lucien did this. Freya gave him the knife. Later, Queen Marion called House

34:54Marion into her private chamber. If Lucien speaks of the Northern Warfront, every old wound opens.

34:59A lord leaned close. Then we strike first. At court, accuse him of hiding troops, ignoring royal

35:05summons and using illness to build power in the North. At the same time, Caelan went to King Alaric.

35:09Father, Uncle Lucien just woke from a curse. He should return to the Royal Citadel for treatment.

35:14You sound very concerned. Caelan's mouth tightened. He is family. Across the hall,

35:18Princess Anya heard enough. That night, she found Edric Ravenshade near the chapel.

35:22Your cousin is walking into a trap. Which cousin? The one Freya married. Try to keep up.

35:28Edric's face changed. Send word to Dravenmore. Tell Lady Dravenmore the Queen is moving first.

35:58That ceremonial.

36:27The following was Cheese.

36:46Lucian could stand now, not long, not without pain

36:49His dragon blood had broken the curse but the damage stayed in his legs

36:52Some nights his fire turned wild

36:54One burst split the bedpost

36:56Another cracked the stone wall

36:57I worked his legs every morning

36:59Mixed the new medicine myself

37:01On the fourth night the flame surged before I could move

37:03The force threw me against the floor

37:05My arm hit broken stone

37:07Blood ran to my wrist

37:08Lucian froze

37:09The fire died at once

37:10He tried to stand too fast and nearly fell

37:13It's a scratch

37:14I hurt you

37:16The curse hurt me, not you

37:18Do not make this sound easy

37:20I wrapped cloth around my arm

37:22I knew what I was choosing when I married you

37:24He stared at me for a long second

37:26You should not only be ready to suffer

37:28His thumb brushed my bandage

37:30You should be treated well

37:32I stopped breathing

37:33For the first time he wasn't speaking as a duke

37:35He was speaking as my husband

37:57He gets the shit

37:57As if he was around the world

38:01Some people internships

38:02I don't know how many times they を

38:02Scripted him

38:08I was saying how many times I most

38:08Wanted him to be treated well

38:25I don't know how many times I

38:25He had kontrollied

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40:14The summons arrive three days later.

40:16King Alaric's Seal.

40:18Royal Parchment.

40:19No room to refuse.

40:21Gareth read it in the hall.

40:22Dragon Duke Lucian Dravenmore and Lady Freya Davenmore are commanded to attend the Royal Citadel.

40:27The servants looked at me.

40:29Lucian took the letter.

40:30So they finally want us in the open.

40:32It could be a trap.

40:33It is a trap.

40:35Then we should not go.

40:36If I refuse, they call it rebellion.

40:38If I go, they have to face me in front of the King.

40:40He looked at me.

40:41And I have things to show my brother.

40:43That night I packed the evidence myself.

40:46Selene's ledgers.

40:47The medicine logs.

40:49The payment trail to the Royal Pharmacy.

40:51Every page that tied Dravenmore's sickness to Crown Tower and the Royal Citadel.

40:55Meera tied the case shut.

40:57Are you afraid?

40:58I looked at the Royal Seal.

41:00I died in that city once.

41:03Meera went quiet.

41:04I'm not going back as that girl.

41:08Before dawn, I found Lucian on the tower.

41:11Royal Citadel was far beyond the dark hills.

41:15Caelan will be there.

41:16So will the Queen.

41:19And me.

41:20He offered his hand.

41:21I took it.

41:22This time, I was not walking into Crown Tower alone.

41:39We returned to the Royal Citadel under black silver banners.

41:43The streets went quiet first.

41:44Then everyone started whispering.

41:46Lucian Dravenmore was not dead.

41:47And I was not the ruined girl Crown Tower once threw away.

41:50Northern dragon riders rode on both sides of our carriage.

41:53Gareth led them with one hand on his sword.

41:55At the palace gate, Caelan stood above the steps.

41:57He looked at Lucian's cane.

41:59Then he looked at me.

42:00I looked past him.

42:01That hurt him more.

42:03Queen Marianne held a welcome feast that night.

42:05Duke Lucian.

42:06Valeria is relieved to see you awake.

42:08Relieved enough to send her a sucker?

42:10Her smile tightened.

42:11The king missed his brother.

42:13Then we are happy to answer his majesty.

42:14We brought everything he needs to see.

42:16Her eyes moved to the locked case beside my chair.

42:19How thoughtful.

42:20After dinner, Princess Anya caught my sleeve near the corridor.

42:23Madame Corvik has been going to the Royal Archive every night.

42:26I stopped.

42:27Whatever you brought, she may be trying to burn the matching half.

42:31That night, Lucian closed our chamber door.

42:35Edric confirmed it.

42:36The original letter about your father's march is still sealed in the Archive.

42:40Can we get it?

42:41Only the king can open that vault.

42:46Then we make him want to.

43:16Of course.

43:17Yes.

43:21Yes.

43:46The great name is social science.

44:05The autumn court filled the royal hall by sunrise.

44:08Dragon lords, human nobles, crown loyalists.

44:11Lucian entered with a cane.

44:12The room still bowed.

44:13Black silver pressure rolled over the floor.

44:15Even House Marianne's men stopped smiling.

44:18Caelan sat in the prince's seat, gold fire flickering under his skin.

44:21A Marianne lord stepped forward first.

44:23Your Majesty, Duke Lucian has been absent from court for a year.

44:26His private dragon riders remain under northern command.

44:28Valeria needs a royal oversea her in Drevenmore.

44:30The hall stirred.

44:31So that was their move.

44:32Call Lucian weak.

44:33Call his army dangerous.

44:34Put crown tower inside our key.

44:36Lucian handed Gareth's sealed report to the king's steward.

44:39Current rider count, grain stores, border patrols, tax ledgers records for Sir Nervas and her son.

44:44King Alaric read in silence.

44:46Reports can be dressed up.

44:48So can treason.

44:49The lord froze.

44:50King Alaric lowered the report.

44:52The north appears better managed than half the estates in this room.

44:56No oversaw will be sent.

44:58Caelan's jaw tightened.

45:00After court, he blocked me on the stone steps.

45:02Did you come back just to parade him in front of me?

45:05No.

45:06Then why are you here?

45:07To speak to the king.

45:09I stepped around him.

45:11This has nothing to do with you.

45:13For once, Caelan had no answer.

45:35Curious.

45:52I stopped trying to do with you.

45:54I thought I was running it for this time.

45:54I look forward to seeing me.

45:54I�� Spirit, of course.改ASE

45:54make a representation of Chamber of etiquette for Hangout.

45:54look full. I Damit did it

45:54on your ship. I know it.

45:58I know it's

46:04going to be around the day, and I'm going

46:05.

46:47The next day, the court gathered in the rose dragon garden.

46:50I found the old pool behind the rose wall.

46:53I had fallen in there as a child.

46:55I remembered cold water, small hands, then a black cloak around my shoulders.

47:00Lucian stopped beside me.

47:02You told me Ashborough girls didn't cry over water.

47:05I turned.

47:07That was you?

47:08You were ten, soaked through, furious at the pond.

47:13And you remembered that?

47:14I remembered you.

47:15For a second, the court noise faded.

47:17Then Queen Marion's voice cut through the garden.

47:19How charming.

47:20A human duchess among dragonhounds.

47:23Valeria is becoming very generous.

47:25The noble ladies went quiet.

47:27Caelan looked at me.

47:28I did not speak.

47:29Lucian did.

47:29House Ashbird bled for Valeria before half these dragonhouses learned how to hold a border.

47:34Queen Marion's smile cracked.

47:38Freer's bloodline has earned its place here.

47:40A Marion lady muttered.

47:41Human blood is still human blood.

47:45Lucian turned his dark gold eyes on her.

47:47Then pray you never need human soldiers to die for your comfort again.

47:50No one laughed.

47:51I looked at Lucian.

47:53For the first time, I understood.

47:55His silence all these years had never been indifference.

47:58It had been restraint.

48:44Anya's warning was real.

48:46Edric checked the Royal Archive records for me.

48:48Three nights.

48:50Three visits.

48:52Madame Corvin entered the sealed wing each time with a Marianne clerk.

48:55The exit list is wrong.

48:57Files went in.

48:58Fewer came out.

48:59Which files?

49:00Northern Warfront.

49:01Ashbington Marching Routes.

49:03Dragonblood curse reports.

49:04Lucian's hand tightened on his cane.

49:06They are destroying the trail.

49:08Then we split it.

49:09Lucian went to request royal access from King Alaric.

49:11I sent Edric to the old Archive clerk who had served my father.

49:16By midnight, Mira came to my room carrying a basket of white roses.

49:31Don't yell.

49:32I know it looks stupid.

49:34She pulled the cloth aside.

49:36Three copied letters lay under the flowers.

49:38My hands went cold.

49:39One letter marked my father's route through the northern pass.

49:42One confirmed the route had been sent before the ambush.

49:45The last carried a red wax seal.

49:47House Marriand.

49:48Mira stared at it.

49:49My lady.

49:50That's the Queen's family.

49:52I closed the letters.

49:55Not just her family.

49:58Lucian entered before dawn.

49:59The King agreed to open the vault tomorrow.

50:01I handed him the copies.

50:03Good.

50:04His face changed as he read.

50:07Because now we know what they'll try to hide.

50:09He's a good one.

50:39.

51:37Don't yell.

51:38Don't yell.

51:38I know it looks stupid.

51:40She pulled the cloth aside.

51:41Three copies.

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