Chapter 1

In seven days, I will marry the Empress of the Shadow Realm.

The War Goddess and the Holy Princess, who once begged to be my wives, remain blissfully unaware.

They are currently preoccupied, joyfully preparing a lavish birthday gala for their new favorite pet, a siren.

Once, to preserve the peace of the three realms, I volunteered to guard the Abyssal Void for a thousand years.

Before I left, they promised me that upon my return, they would serve as my closest guardians, never to be parted from me.

But when I returned covered in scars, they took advantage of my recovery.

They ripped out my dragon sinews to weave a cloak for him and stole my dragon core to heal his failing eyes.

The agonizing pain nearly made me black out, my vision swimming in darkness.

They watched with cold indifference, offering nothing but a mocking sneer.

"You are a Divine Dragon. Your body heals eventually. Stop acting like you are dying; it is pathetic."

"Caelum is fragile. You need to yield to him. Consider this his birthday gift and stop being so ungrateful."

When I finally woke up again, I immediately accepted the High King's proposal for a political marriage between the Celestial Heights and the Shadow Realm.

……

1

"Are you certain? A marriage between the Heavens and the Shadows is no small matter. There is no room for games!"

"Besides, Kaelith and Lyra... those two girls have always insisted they would marry no one but you. Do they know about this decision?"

The High King's joyful expression shifted into a frown, his gaze lingering on me with hesitation.

I adjusted the white silk bandage covering my eyes, suppressing the metallic taste of blood in my throat.

"Kaelith, Lyra, and I are nothing more than childhood friends," I replied calmly.

"Insisting they would marry me? That was just the reckless talk of youth. It should not be taken seriously."

"To ensure the marriage proceeds smoothly, it would be best if you kept it from them for now."

The High King lowered his brows in thought for a moment before finally nodding.

He then granted me access to the Well of Souls, urging me to heal quickly so I could meet the Shadow Empress in peak condition.

As he began to discuss the wedding logistics, Lyra, the Holy Princess, came charging in like a frantic bird.

She must have overheard a fragment of the conversation, as her voice turned sharp and suspicious.

"Father! I have no intention of marrying Alaric right now. You cannot just give me away like a piece of property!"

"Wait, is this about Kaelith and Alaric? That is even worse! Kaelith has no interest in him either!"

"Right now, the only thing that matters is Caelum's coming-of-age gala. I am here to beg you to let Caelum use the Well of Souls!"

Her frantic words cut through our conversation and dragged my recent nightmares back to the surface.

As the High King's most pampered daughter, she was rarely punished for barging into the throne room.

However, her gaze turned venomous as she glared at me, her tone dripping with threats.

"Alaric, how can you be so shameless? Running to my father to whine about trifles! Get out of here right now!"

I knew exactly what she was doing. She was afraid her father would find out that she and Kaelith had flayed me alive for my core.

Kaelith had used the very sword I gave her to gouge out my eyes. Lyra had used a dagger to meticulously pluck out every one of my dragon sinews.

Before they left me bleeding, they had both hissed a warning into my ear.

"What happened today is just a little spat between us. Consider your sinews and core a voluntary gift for Caelum's birthday."

"If you dare to tattle to the High King, we will destroy your reputation. We will make sure everyone knows you are just a pathetic, low-life dragon who fakes misery for attention!"

I had been severely wounded, forced to wear this white cloth to hide my empty sockets, but my first priority was negotiating the marriage.

To put it simply, they had shattered my heart. I no longer wanted to stay in the Celestial Heights and face the ghosts of who they used to be.

The High King, who usually indulged Lyra, suddenly exerted his divine pressure, forcing her to her knees.

"Listen to yourself! Throwing a tantrum over a mere siren? Do you have no regard for Alaric's sacrifices? This is absurd!"

"I thought you kept Caelum as a pet, but now you have lost all sense of decorum. You dare to insult Alaric to his face?"

"I have already granted the Well of Souls to Alaric. That siren, Caelum, has no right to use something so precious to our realm!"

The High King was at least a fair ruler. He felt a debt of gratitude for the millennium I spent guarding the Abyss.

Lyra was furious. She looked ready to scream and roll on the floor, but the High King coldly ordered her out.

I watched the scene with indifference, ignoring the High King's apologetic expression.

On the way to the Well of Souls, Lyra intercepted me.

In her hand, she held a silk ribbon. I had hunted hundreds of spirit beasts to gather the materials for that ribbon, stitching it myself for her. Now, she used it to bind my limbs, each wrap feeling like a fresh cut against my heart.

Suddenly, she kicked my legs out from under me. Caught off guard, I crashed heavily to the floor.

Before I could react, her quick hands ripped the white bandage from my face.

She threw the cloth down like it was trash and stomped on it repeatedly.

"Alaric!" she screamed, her eyes burning with a rage that wanted to consume me.

"What did you tell my father? Why is he so angry with Caelum all of a sudden?"

Her voice grew shrill with fury.

"Father never treated him like that before. You must have been whispering poison in his ear, badmouthing Caelum!"

She stepped closer, like a predator cornering prey.

"Why do you get to use the Well of Souls while he is denied? Caelum is so pure and kind. Why are you so malicious?"