Chapter 4 HELLO, PENELOPE

Joseline’s Pov

The screams grew louder, along with the blaring horns and rising clamours.

Shit!

I had to get to safety.

I turned back whenever I saw my guards or maids so they wouldn't recognize me but even as I was trying to sneak out, I was getting lost.

This place was like a maze. No matter which corridor I took, I somehow ended up in the same place.

“Are you lost?” I heard a voice ask me.

For a moment, my spine went rigid but sooner, my body relaxed. Okay, weird.

I turned around slowly and met him.

He was so beautiful. Most of the dragons I'd seen looked the same — deep-red eyes and hair and skin as brown as sand but he… he looks very different. He had long silver hair flowing down his back with equally silver lashes and the bluest eyes I'd ever seen.

He must be Cedric. The one I fell from.

I tiptoed towards him and whispered. “Please, you have to help me.”

His kind expression didn't change. “How can I help you, my lady?”

A sigh of relief escaped me. Thank God. He's one of the reasonable ones. I put the swords away and reached for him.

My eyes darted around the hallway and I looked at him. “I need to escape this place. I don't belong here. Can you take me back?”

“Take you back?”

“Yeah. You're Cedric, aren't you? You brought me here.” I whispered.

“Oh… Oh! You must be Lady Penelope!” He said aloud.

“Shhh. Don't let His Majesty hear you,” then I leaned closer. “Can you help me? I need to leave. I don't like it here.”

A flicker of emotion crossed his eyes before he quickly snuffed it out.

“Alright. I'll help you.” He nodded.

“Really?” I smiled. “Thank you so much.”

I leaned in and hugged him. “Thank you.”

He smelled so good. The other dragons I'd come across either smelled like burning wood with a hint of sandalwood but him… he smelled like citrus and something metallic… wait, is that blood on his armour?

I pulled away quickly to avoid the awkwardness. “Sorry… I was a bit carried away.”

He leaned in and stared at my face.

“What are you doing?” I asked, confused.

He didn't answer. Just removed his left glove and wiped something off my cheek.

“You had blood on it.” He explained.

My eyes widened. So it was blood after all.

I cleared my throat. “Shall we? I wouldn't want Drakarys to find me.”

“What?”

“Drakarys?” I blinked. “The Dragon King? Your king?”

“I know," he said smoothly. "I just… love the way you say his name."

“I know a lot of languages.” I said proudly. For some reason beyond me, I know two languages called Ancient Tongue and Script.

“I'm aware. Let's go.” He held out his hand and I took it.

While we walked, I kept looking around us. Surely, Drakarys wouldn't find us sneaking out and burn us to ashes, right? I remember his red eyes and a shiver rolled down my spine.

I tried to make small talk to forget the fear.

“So… Cedric, are you married?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Really?” I smiled. “Your wife is lucky to have a kind man… a dragon like you.”

He chuckled. “I don't know. I just met her.”

“Oh, you got married recently? So did I.” I added.

“But… Why do you want to run away?” He asked.

I paused. “Hello? Look around us. I'm the only human being in this kingdom. I don't know anyone here. What if I can't defend myself? What happens to me then?”

“You don't need to defend yourself. There are Sentries and Guards that will lay their lives for you.” He said.

“No,” I shook my head. “I can't bear the thought of letting someone die for me. I have to defend myself. I wish I'd taken self-defense classes.”

His eyes widened.

“Cedric, are you okay?” I cupped his cheek. “Are you having a stroke?”

He touched my hand. “No. I'm just surprised. You're the only woman who's ever said that.”

I blinked. “Said what? That she doesn't like dragons?”

“No,” he shook his head. “That she doesn't like letting people die for her.”

“Oh. I must be special.” I chuckled nervously.

“You are.”

Okay…

“Shall we?” I gestured to the road ahead and froze. A pair of red eyes stared at me. It was then I realized where we were.

We were in the yard, just before the castle gates.

The screaming had ceased and the soldiers had reduced in number. Only a few in armor decorated with medals stood.

It took me a moment to realize this wasn't a war. This was a royal welcoming ceremony. I'd read too many Historical Manhwas to know what it looked like and holy shit! Cedric brought me here! The asshole set me up!

I turned to Cedric. “You tricked me.”

He reached for me when I tried to pull away. “I didn't.”

The red-eyed man marched towards us, a woman dressed in armour following behind him.

Oh no, Drakarys is here. He'll kill me.

I hid behind Cedric, gripping his cape as tightly as I could. Call me a coward for behaving like this but I need a dragon shield in case Drakarys starts spitting fire everywhere.

“Your Majesty!” A voice cried out and the next thing I heard was the shuffle of feet and clinks of armor. What's going on?

I looked around and one by one, every soldier lowered their head. Every guard knelt. Even the red-eyed man had dropped one knee to Cedric. What was going on?

“Penelope?” Cedric called me.

“Yeah?” I answered shakily.

He turned to face me. “Don't be afraid.”

“Too late.” I muttered, tears already gathering at the ends of my eyes.

“Your Majesty!” Someone called out that someone was the red-eyed man.

My face fell.

He wasn't the Dragon King? If he wasn't, then who…

Everyone was bowing at us. Everyone was bowing at Cedric. No… it's not Cedric.

“Your Majesty, Cedric Bronovan at your service!” the red-eyed man called out.

I took a step back. The silver haired man wasn't Cedric. He was the Dragon King I was supposed to escape from.

“Hello, Penelope,” Drakarys smiled. “I’m your husband.”

My eyes widened in shock and before I could recover from it, my eyes rolled into the back of my head and I passed out.