Chapter 2

A long-forgotten stinging sensation flared from my wrist.

It was the euphoric rush of power—suppressed for ten years—now violently roaring and tearing through my veins.

The instant the bracelet snapped, the lighting in the entire banquet hall seemed to dim.

Even the dragon-flame crystals mounted on the domed ceiling began to flicker restlessly.

"Visenya... wh-what's wrong with you?"

Celia clearly had no idea what kind of monster she had just unleashed.

She was still putting on her little trembling act, desperately trying to milk sympathy from the onlookers.

I looked down at the dark purple curse mark slowly manifesting on my wrist.

It was a lifelike Abyssal Venom-Dragon, slithering slowly along the path of my veins.

"I've never had a very good temper."

I murmured softly, slowly raising my hand.

"And I especially hate it when people touch my things."

Before my words even faded, I backhanded Celia across the face.

The sheer force of the slap launched her entire body through the air.

She crashed heavily into a long table, taking down a mountain of exquisite silverware and crystal goblets with her.

"Aaaah—!"

Celia let out a bloodcurdling shriek, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with broken teeth.

The entire hall erupted in an uproar.

"You're insane!"

The knight with the drawn sword roared, slashing his blade right at me.

"You must have a death wish."

I didn't even spare him a glance.

With a mere flick of my finger, a wisp of dark purple mist—virtually invisible to the naked eye—snaked through the air and instantly darted into his nostrils.

His longsword clattered to the floor as the rage on his face instantly froze.

Both of his hands clamped desperately around his own throat.

Right before everyone's eyes, a layer of grotesque, purplish-black scales rapidly spread across his exposed skin.

In less than three seconds, he collapsed rigidly to the floor, convulsing violently and foaming at the mouth.

The crowd recoiled in absolute terror, staring at me as if I were a monster.

"Venom... It's dragon venom! She's a venom-witch!" someone shrieked.

"Insolence!"

An authoritative, furious roar boomed from the hall's entrance.

The crowd parted like a receding tide.

First Prince Valentine, clad in luxurious gold-threaded robes, strode in, flanked by a phalanx of Royal Guards.

He was handsome, but his brow carried the ingrained arrogance of a man who had spent his life looking down from the pinnacle of power.

"Who dares cause a disturbance at the Sacred Dragon Festival?! And who dared to hurt Celia?!"

Seeing Celia crumpled in a pool of her own blood, a flash of heartache and absolute fury crossed Valentine's eyes.

Treating him like a lifeline, Celia scrambled and crawled her way over to Valentine.

"Your Highness! Save me, Your Highness! Visenya has gone mad! Not only did she strike me, but she used some evil venom sorcery to ambush Knight Lance! She’s trying to kill me!"

She wept beautifully, tears streaming down her face as she pointed at me, her voice dripping with vicious accusations.

Valentine patted Celia’s back to soothe her. Then, he snapped his head up, his gaze piercing toward me like a drawn blade.

"So you're the shameless little bastard the Renault family brought back? Not only did you usurp Celia’s engagement, but you actually dare to use forbidden arts to maim people here. Guards!"

He barked furiously.

"Seize this peasant! Break her limbs and throw her into the dungeon!"

Over a dozen fully-armed Royal Guards instantly drew their longblades, surrounding me on all sides.

I stood exactly where I was. I didn't move an inch.

I didn't even bother taking a defensive stance.

I merely lifted the hand that had just struck Celia and methodically massaged my wrist.

Under the bright lights, the dark purple Venom-Dragon curse mark was clearly exposed for all to see.

"My, what an imposing display of authority, First Prince."

I looked at him, a mocking smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.

"Are you quite sure you want to break my limbs?"

Valentine let out a cold sneer, opening his mouth to fire back a retort.

But his gaze inadvertently swept over the curse mark on my wrist.

In that split second.

Valentine's voice caught in his throat.

He stared dead-eyed at the slithering Venom-Dragon mark.

It was the crest of the Master of the Abyssal Dragon's Lair.

The crest of the lunatic who, five years ago, single-handedly slaughtered the Empire’s top three Dragon Knight orders in the North, turning the entire Northern Territory into a venomous swamp!

"Your Highness? What's wrong?" Sensing something was off, Celia gave the hem of his robe a confused tug.

Valentine violently shoved her away as if he had been electrocuted.

His face turned a sickly shade of pale green, and bead-sized drops of cold sweat instantly broke out across his forehead.

"You... you're..."

Valentine's voice trembled uncontrollably. His legs turned to jelly, and right in front of all the assembled nobles, he dropped hard to his knees!

"Stand down! All of you, stand down!"

Valentine roared himself hoarse at the Royal Guards.

The guards exchanged bewildered glances, but swiftly sheathed their blades and backed away.

The entire hall was utterly dumbfounded.

Celia's eyes went saucer-wide, staring in sheer disbelief at the First Prince kneeling on the floor.