Chapter 4
Seraphina's POV
I thought I'd die in that dungeon.
Moss covered the walls. Everything smelled like death. I was chained to the corner, wounds on my back festering, those damn vines still growing inside me, eating me alive.
No food. No water. No treatment.
I don't know how I'm still alive. Maybe hate kept me going. Maybe my royal blood was tougher than I thought.
Don't know how long before the iron door opened.
Torchlight stabbed my eyes.
Caelen stood in the doorway, holding a tray.
He crouched in front of me, set it down. A vial of medicine and a piece of bread.
"Eat something." His voice carried exhaustion. "You're gonna die like this."
I stared at him coldly. Didn't move.
"Sera." He reached to touch my face.
I jerked away hard. "Don't TOUCH me."
His expression darkened. He stood, looking down at me.
"Listen, Victoria's actions—I know she went too far." He frowned. "But you DID attack her. Almost made her lose the baby."
I couldn't believe my ears.
"She had a witch plant Ashenthorn seeds in me!" I screamed myself hoarse. "She made me barren FOREVER! And you're saying she just went 'too far'?!"
"She was protecting HER child." Caelen said. "Sera, you need to understand—"
"Understand?" I laughed till I cried. "Caelen, you make me SICK."
His eyes turned cold.
"Think what you want." He turned toward the door. "But you need to know something. Tomorrow is my wedding with Victoria."
My heart seized.
"To prove my loyalty to the Grand Council, and to give Victoria satisfaction," he paused, "on the wedding day, you'll be publicly flogged in the town square. Fifty lashes."
Fifty lashes.
In my condition, I wouldn't survive twenty.
"You'll regret this." I stared at him. "I SWEAR to God you'll regret this."
"Maybe." He said flatly. "But that's for later."
Shortly after he left, Victoria came.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here." She walked over, eyes full of triumph. "The Empire's future Governor's wife came to see you. Shouldn't you be on your knees thanking me?"
I stared at her coldly.
"Tomorrow's my big day." She smiled like a victorious peacock. "A gown covered in gems, a carriage escorted by three hundred dragons, and the Empire's elite Dragon Knights playing music. Oh, and look."
She touched the Starfall Necklace around her neck—MY necklace—smugly.
"Best part is, the wedding procession passes through the town square." She leaned close. "You can witness Caelen and I getting married. So romantic, right?"
I clenched my jaw, nails digging into my palms.
"What's wrong? Jealous?" Victoria laughed. "Such a shame. You'll be kneeling there getting whipped, watching me marry YOUR man."
I took a deep breath, looked up at her.
"I heard royal weddings always have grand firework displays."
Victoria froze.
"Fireworks?" Her eyes lit up. "Right! Why didn't I think of that!"
"An ordinary wedding wouldn't need them, of course." I continued. "But you're marrying the Empire's Chief War God Governor. Grand fireworks would show your status even more, wouldn't they?"
Hesitation flickered in Victoria's eyes.
I knew her greatest weakness was vanity.
"But isn't it too late to arrange fireworks now?"
"I have a magic scroll." I said. "It can release the most spectacular fireworks in the entire Empire. I was saving it for myself, but since you're marrying Caelen..."
I gave a bitter smile. "Take it."
Victoria looked at me suspiciously. "Since when are YOU generous?"
"Generous?" I laughed miserably, lowered my head, voice full of pleading. "I just don't wanna DIE. If you use my scroll and you're happy, could you... reduce my punishment? Please, Victoria. Fifty lashes WILL kill me."
Victoria stared at me for a long time, finally had her maid pull an ornate scroll from my clothes.
Complex magic circles were carved on it.
"This really creates fireworks?" Victoria opened it to look.
"Don't trust me? Get a mage to check it." I said wearily. "Look at me. What tricks could I possibly pull?"
Victoria hesitated, then tucked the scroll away.
"Fine." She stood. "If those fireworks are amazing tomorrow, maybe I'll let you live."
"Thank you..." I lowered my head. "Thank you for your mercy."
Victoria smiled with satisfaction and left.
I raised my head, cold amusement flashing in my eyes.
That scroll would indeed create fireworks.
Grand, spectacular fireworks the entire capital could see.
But it was also the royal family's emergency distress signal.
On the wedding day, guards dragged me from the dungeon to the town square.
The sun blinded me. The square was packed. I was bound to the whipping post in the center.
A guard came over with a salt-soaked whip.
The first lash fell.
"AHH—!"
My skin tore open.
Second lash. Third lash.
I bit down hard.
Someone in the crowd: "Heard this woman tried to murder the Governor's wife's child." "She deserves it!"
By the fifteenth lash, I was barely conscious. My back was on fire, blood running down my spine.
Noise echoed in the distance.
The lavish wedding carriage rolled slowly closer. Caelen and Victoria sat side by side, all smiles.
The carriage stopped. Caelen strode over.
"Sera..." He looked at my shredded back. Something flickered in his eyes—regret, maybe. "Just hold on. Once this is over. After the wedding, I'll get you out."
I lifted my head with difficulty, stared at him coldly. "Don't bother. I'm going HOME."
Caelen frowned. "Don't be like this—"
"Caelen!" Victoria interrupted irritably, walking over. "What the hell are you DOING? It's OUR wedding!"
She looked at me, malice in her eyes. "Oh right, I almost forgot. The fireworks? They better be GOOD, or else!"
I forced a smile. "You'll be satisfied."
Victoria pulled out the scroll, chanting the spell.
Golden magical light shot into the sky.
BOOM!
The entire sky lit up. Massive dragon shapes in gold and purple coiled and roared overhead.
The crowd gasped in awe.
Victoria smiled with satisfaction. "Not bad at all. Since you've been so good—"
She turned to the massive guard behind her. "Marcus, you finish her off. Ten more."
Ten lashes?!
I jerked my head up. The guard stood nearly seven feet tall, muscles like steel cables, arms thicker than my waist. In my condition, ten of his lashes meant death!
"Victoria—" Caelen frowned.
"What?" Victoria raised an eyebrow. "I'm being NICE."
Marcus took the whip, grinning wickedly as he approached.
"No—" I struggled. "Please—"
No one listened.
The first lash fell.
"AHHH—!!!"
I was nearly thrown forward, chains cutting into flesh.
Second lash.
I bit through my lip, the taste of blood flooding my mouth.
Just as the third lash was about to fall—
A dragon's roar shattered the air.
A massive golden dragon plummeted from the sky!
Dragon fire blasted the crowd—people scattered screaming!
The dragon's wing covered me, amber eyes blazing.
Then hundreds of Dragon Knights in royal armor dropped from the sky, surrounding the square.
The Captain of the Guard strode forward and dropped to one knee before me.
"Princess Seraphina!" His voice boomed across the square. "Forgive us for our tardiness, Your Highness!"
Silence.
Dead silence.
Caelen staggered back, face white as a sheet. "You're... you're really the PRINCESS?"
