The War of the Realms ended. My sister's husband returned home, safe and sound. But my husband fell in battle. Everyone pitied me. Yet I knew. It wasn't my brother-in-law who returned. It was my husband, Kaelen. He and my brother-in-law were identical twins, their magical prowess so evenly matched that no one, not even their own kin, noticed the deception. Kaelen explained it to me, his voice a low murmur: “Aelia, I did this for the greater good. My brother, Orion, is the Crown Prince of the Dragonkin. If our people were to learn that the Prince had fallen, it would surely plunge the kingdom into chaos. And your sister, Lyra, is so pure and gentle; she could never bear the sorrow of losing a loved one. I am simply taking Orion's place, caring for her for a while. Once stability returns, I will rejoin you, truly.” I believed him. Until Kaelen condemned me to be torn to pieces on false charges of conspiring with fiends. It was only then, as I watched him embrace my sister, their closeness a dagger to my heart, that I understood it had all been his cruel design. I opened my eyes again. I was back on the day the Dragonkin celebrated their great victory, the day the grim news of my husband's death arrived. Kaelen held Lyra close, silent, while the clan looked upon me with pity. Without hesitation, I chose to remarry. Kaelen believed that by impersonating the Dragonkin Crown Prince, he would bask in endless glory and power. He had no idea that by casting me aside, he had forfeited his only chance to become the Sovereign of the Dragonkin... … “Aelia, Kaelen… he fell!” The agonizing torment of being flayed alive still vibrated through my body, leaving me trembling. When I opened my eyes again, those words reached me. It was King Theron, the Lord of the Dragonkin, who spoke. He had only two sons: one, the Crown Prince, who had taken my sister as his Crown Princess. The other was my husband, Kaelen. Now, King Theron, who should have been mourning the genuine loss of his son, sat on his throne, gazing at the coffin before him, his face etched with profound grief. My own heart, however, surged with an uncontrollable, silent joy. I had been reborn! Before I could speak, my sister's voice drifted from beside me: “Sister, I know your heart aches. Weep if you must.” Lyra looked down at me, her face carefully composed into a mask of pity, yet her powdered cheeks remained perfectly unblemished. I lifted my gaze, not to her, but to the man standing at her side – my brother-in-law. No, that wasn't Orion. Orion already lay within that coffin. The man before me was my husband, Kaelen. The one who should have been embracing me in intimate sorrow now stood with his fingers intertwined with Lyra's. Noticing my gaze, he turned to me, his eyes wide with an exaggerated surprise. A bitter, mirthless laugh rose in my chest. Kaelen’s acting, as always, was flawlessly convincing. In my past life, even when I sensed something was wrong, it had taken me agonizingly long to confirm that the man by Lyra’s side was truly Kaelen. Now, I saw through his charade instantly. A fresh wave of wails broke the silence. “My son! My beloved son!” Queen Seraphina, Kaelen’s mother, threw herself onto the coffin, fat tears streaming down her face. She then turned, pointing a trembling finger at me. “It’s you! You, the bringer of ill fortune! You cursed my son to his death!” The Queen had never liked me. She believed I lacked decorum, lacked grace, that I was simply unworthy of her son. I had always harbored doubts about Kaelen's promises on this front. He had sworn to me, time and again, “If Mother ever clashes with you, I will always, always stand by your side, no matter what.” Slam! The Queen's hand lashed out, a brutal slap across my face. Still not appeased, she raised her hand to strike again. King Theron, momentarily forgetting his grief, quickly ordered the guards to intervene. The hall dissolved into disarray. Through it all, Kaelen held Lyra’s hand, standing silently to the side. He even pulled her closer, as if to shield her from the unsightly scene. From his pocket, he produced a gleaming, vibrant Water Arcane Crystal, presenting it to Lyra like a prized treasure, his voice soft, coaxing. “My Lyra, this is something special I prepared just for you.” A bitter smile touched my lips. As a Phoenix, I was attuned to fire, yet I had always longed for a Water Arcane Crystal. In my previous life, I had pleaded with Kaelen, begging him to bring one back for me. He had promised, but it had never materialized. Now I knew. He hadn’t failed to find one; he had simply never intended that gift for me. Not even when Lyra had no need for such a gem. Not even when he had once sworn he would always protect me, yet now stood by, watching. Lyra, sensing my gaze, subtly stepped in front of Kaelen, shielding him, a hint of displeasure in her eyes. She reminded me, “Sister, why do you keep staring at my husband? Father King is speaking to you.” King Theron sighed, his voice weary. “Aelia, according to tradition, when one’s spouse falls in battle, the survivor must observe a century of mourning. I won’t force you, but I must ask, what are your intentions?” I shook my head. “I choose the second path. I will remarry.” The entire hall fell silent, everyone staring at me in utter disbelief. Kaelen was the first to speak. “Nonsense! Aelia, how can you marry another?” This time, King Theron and Lyra also sensed something was amiss. Though confused, King Theron spoke gently. “Orion, this is your sister-in-law’s private matter. It should be her decision.” Kaelen was speechless, his eyes fixed on me. Lyra was even more agitated than Kaelen. She stepped forward, her gaze filled with condemnation. “Aelia, your husband has just fallen. His body isn't even cold, and instead of mourning him, you’re clamoring to remarry. If this news spreads, do you mean to let everyone think that all the Phoenix Lineage are as heartless as you?” Queen Seraphina stared at me, her eyes venomous. “Had Kaelen not been so insistent on marrying you, I would never have let a scheming wretch like you into our house!” I replied, my expression calm, “Since Kaelen loved me so much in life, he surely wouldn’t wish me to mourn for him, wasting away my entire existence. I will remarry!” Kaelen cried out, anxious, “You—” King Theron cut him off. “Enough. Since Aelia’s mind is made up, let it be as she says. However, the ancient compact between the Dragonkin and Phoenix Lineage states clearly, Aelia, you may remarry, but you must choose a male of our Dragonkin.” I turned, looking out at the throng of onlookers, and asked in a clear voice, “Is there anyone here willing to take me as his wife?” No one stepped forward. Some looked as though they wanted to, but were pulled back by their families. Others, meeting my gaze, quickly averted their eyes, as if encountering a venomous serpent. A wave of helplessness washed over me. The Divine Order had given me only two paths: widowhood or remarriage. Could fate truly not be altered? Kaelen, seeing the situation, couldn't help but add a sneering remark. “Aelia, no one would dare marry a heartless woman like you. You might as well just mourn properly.” His voice was filled with a certainty that churned my stomach. Just then, a figure descended from the heavens. “I will!” I stared, my eyes widening. It was Roric, the Dragonkin’s War Lord! He was known for his fierce, almost ruthless reputation, yet at this moment, he knelt on one knee before King Theron, addressing him with sincere earnestness. “King Theron, I am willing to take Aelia as my wife.” Kaelen instantly bristled. “Roric, what business is this of yours? A word of friendly advice: my brother barely just died, and Aelia is already desperate to remarry. How dare you take a woman like that into your home? Are you not afraid she’ll bring misfortune upon you?” Roric stepped in front of me, frowning. “Crown Prince, Aelia is your sister-in-law. Instead of protecting her, you slander her with false accusations.” Kaelen retorted, indignant, “I speak only the truth!” Roric ignored him, turning to me. “Aelia, will you marry me? I will pledge my loyalty to you, to be by your side for all eternity. The Divine Order bears witness: if I ever break this vow, my soul shall be utterly shattered!” My heart trembled. In his gaze, I saw only unwavering resolve. I couldn't help but nod. “Yes.” With this, Kaelen had no further grounds for objection. Roric and I sealed our union on the spot. King Theron, seeing the matter resolved, waved a weary hand at me. “Go.” He then announced to all present, “I am old, and have lost a son. I no longer have the heart to continue as Dragon King. Three days from now, I shall pass the throne to Orion.” Orion was my brother-in-law’s name, now usurped by Kaelen. I mused silently. In my previous life, King Theron had never passed the throne to Kaelen, not even when Kaelen orchestrated my death with false charges. Why had he moved so quickly now? Before I could dwell on it, as the crowd dispersed, Kaelen passed by me. I heard his words, clear as a bell: “Wretch. You will regret this, eventually.” That very night, I moved from Kaelen’s palace to Roric’s domain. The servants whispered, their voices carrying through the halls: “The War Lord is admirable in every way, but his judgment is clearly flawed.” “The Second Prince’s body isn’t even cold, and Aelia is already desperate to remarry. How could such a woman be a suitable match?” “Didn’t Queen Seraphina say Aelia is cursed to bring ruin upon her husband? I truly fear the War Lord will fall to her curse.” ... I listened to the whispers outside the window, a faint, wry smile on my face. I turned to Roric, nudging him lightly, a self-deprecating laugh escaping me. “My Lord War Lord, your noble reputation is completely ruined because of me, isn’t it?” Roric frowned. “Don’t speak such nonsense. Aelia, give me half a day. You won’t hear them speak ill of you behind your back ever again.” I sighed. “In truth, I don’t care.” Compared to my previous life, where I mourned Kaelen as a living widow, endured endless humiliation, and was finally torn to pieces in public… Roric had provided me with the finest food, clothing, and comforts, no less than what the royal family enjoyed. I was already more than content. Before the lights were extinguished, I heard him murmur softly, “Let my reputation suffer. As long as I could marry you, nothing else matters.” I lay awake that night. Not long after, Lyra sent for me to come to the palace. She was soon to become the next Dragon Queen. Her maidservants brought her heavy, ornate robes. She eagerly held the Crown of the Dragon Queen to her head, turning to me. “Aelia, between Queen Seraphina and me, who looks better in this?” I remained silent. She continued, oblivious to my quietude, “Some people, you know, just have to accept their fate. What does it matter if your talents surpass mine? In the end, it’s I who will become the Dragon Queen.” She had always been like this, ever since we were children, always trying to outdo me. My gaze drifted to the cluttered tabletop, then fixated on the Water Arcane Crystal Kaelen had given her. A sudden spark of insight flickered in my mind. When Lyra was a child, during one of her training exercises, she had been dragged into the sea by a mer-fiend. Since then, she had detested Water Arcane Crystals. Orion, thoughtful and attentive, remembered this perfectly. After a long pause, my voice was strained as I asked, “Did you truly not realize that wasn't Orion?” Lyra’s hand froze. In that instant, I knew the answer. In my previous life, no matter what, I had never once suspected Lyra. In my eyes, even if we had always been at odds, Kaelen was the sole perpetrator in this matter. But now, Lyra’s reaction told me she was complicit. Tears welled in my eyes, and I couldn't help but demand, “Lyra, have you gone mad?” Slam! Lyra impatiently slammed a winged circlet onto the table, turning to me. “So what if I did?” I flinched. Lyra sneered. “Let me tell you the truth: as long as he is the Crown Prince, as long as I can become the Dragon Queen in the future, I don’t care who my husband is.” She glared at me, her eyes narrowed in warning. “As for you, stay a good widow. If you behave, once I become Dragon Queen, I will not treat you poorly. But if you reveal this, I will never let you go.” A chill seeped from my heart. Her words were identical to Kaelen’s from my previous life. But in the end, neither of them had spared me. Just then, voices sounded outside the door. Kaelen, King Theron, and Queen Seraphina entered, pushing aside the hanging tapestries. Seeing me, all of them paused, surprised. Kaelen frowned, his voice laced with guilt as he demanded, “Aelia, what are you doing here?” Queen Seraphina spoke with an acid tone, “Why aren’t you with your new husband? What are you doing running around the Dragon Palace?” Lyra squeezed out two crocodile tears, nestling against Kaelen. “Aelia didn’t mean it. She’s just suffering too much from losing her husband, so she...” Kaelen put an arm around her, speaking bitterly. “Aelia, none of us wished to see my brother fall in battle. Yet not only do you refuse to mourn him, insisting on remarriage, but you also take out your resentment on your sister. Get out!” I gazed steadily at Kaelen, then a slow smile touched my lips. “Alright.” Reckoning would come, but not yet. … The next day, Roric and I received an invitation to Kaelen’s coronation ceremony. He had successfully impersonated Orion and was now recognized by King Theron as the next heir. Although he still needed the approval of the Divine Order to complete the coronation and receive the royal inheritance, in everyone’s eyes—even Kaelen’s own—it was a foregone conclusion. Now, he stood proudly in shimmering silver armor, arm around the equally exquisitely adorned Lyra, greeting everyone with a triumphant smile. I watched him, unable to help but remember my past life. King Theron had once asked Kaelen if he harbored any resentment over Orion being named Crown Prince, as his twin brother. At the time, Kaelen had sworn, “Brother is upright and kind, his talents are brilliant, and his abilities far surpass mine. That he should become the Dragonkin Crown Prince, I, his brother, naturally accept with a willing heart.” His actions now were a stark contrast to his words then. I shook my head, a bitter smile on my face. Such a hypocritical man, and yet in my last life, I had been utterly blind. Soon, Kaelen and Lyra approached me. Kaelen glanced at Roric beside me, a flicker of jealousy in his eyes, and deliberately said, “Aelia, I know you still think of Kaelen, but you insisted on remarrying, so you should live your new life properly.” Before I could speak, Roric casually replied, “There’s no need for the Crown Prince to worry. Aelia treats me very well.” A warmth spread through my heart. I looked at their triumphant smiles and offered a warning. “Crown… Prince. Are you truly certain you can successfully receive the inheritance today?” Lyra immediately frowned. “What do you mean? Aelia, are you cursing us?!” Kaelen’s eyes burned with resentment as he stared at me. But with so many eyes watching, he merely restrained Lyra, saying gently, “Why bother with her? Let’s go.” I sighed, leaning into Roric’s embrace, saying nothing more. The coronation ceremony soon began. Kaelen ascended the steps, one by one, stopping before King Theron, his gaze greedily fixed on the royal crown that symbolized authority. The High Priest of the Dragonkin stood beside him, casting spells and chanting aloud, “We humbly beseech the Divine Order to bestow its inheritance!” Rumble! Thunder roiled incessantly in the sky. Just as the Phoenix Lineage’s leader must endure a fiery rebirth, every Dragon King must undergo a Celestial Trial. If deemed worthy by the Divine Order, the Dragon King and Queen would emerge unharmed. Kaelen held Lyra’s hand, standing at the center of the altar.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "392744", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel