The pressure that had hung in the air—violent, suffocating, like a storm about to rip the earth apart—vanished in an instant. Not like it faded or dispersed, but as though it had never existed at all. The silence that followed was deafening, thick, unnatural. Only one word had been spoken, yet it had been enough.
Seraphina's trembling voice had tamed a raging dragon.
Hans and Emily, who had been frozen in fear, could scarcely believe what they saw. Their eyes darted between Seraphina and Asher in disbelief. This girl… this girl who wasn't a Draker, wasn't even a high-ranking noble… she had authority over him? Over Asher Valcren—the boy who bowed to no one, who defied kings, who silenced entire courts with his pride alone?
And yet here he was, his eyes softened, his every movement tempered, as though tethered to her will.
Asher's gaze lingered on Seraphina, scanning her pale face, her reddened cheek. His chest tightened.
"Does it hurt?" His voice was stripped of its usual coldness, full instead of an unfamiliar gentleness.
Seraphina forced a small smile, though her lips trembled. "It's alright."
Not satisfied, Asher raised his hand. A soft glow of healing magic spread across her skin. The crimson mark left by Rose's slap faded away, leaving her cheeks pale once more. Even Asher himself seemed unaware of what he had done—the act had been instinct, like a dragon shielding its treasure.
But the moment was shattered as the heavy doors burst open.
Two figures stepped inside, their presence instantly shifting the atmosphere. Samael Aurelion—Dragon Duke, father of Asher—his shadow alone demanded silence. At his side was Alina, Asher's stepmother, with her graceful poise, and behind them the Valcren siblings entered—Michael, William, and Lilith—the entire bloodline gathered under the vaulted roof.
Michael's hand gripped his sword, his eyes sharp.
"Someone attacked you, brother?"
William's aura blazed as he conjured a blade of pure mana.
"Tell us the name, Ash."
Lilith's voice cut through, quieter but no less dangerous.
"Just say the word."
But what they saw silenced them. Rose, struggling to rise with her maid's help. A stranger—a trembling girl at Asher's side. And Asher himself, his fangs bared at Rose, his entire body angled protectively toward the unknown girl.
Aurelion's face twisted in shock as he rushed to Rose.
"What happened?!" His fury shook the hall.
Before Asher could speak, Rose's shrill voice pierced the air.
"A-Asher was about to kill me!"
Aurelion's gaze snapped to Asher, his fury mounting. "Is that true, boy?!"
"No." Asher's reply was steady, cold, but resolute. His golden eyes gleamed. "It was merely a warning. A glimpse of what awaits those who dare lay hands on what belongs to me."
The words struck the hall like thunder.
Alina's brows arched, realization dawning in her eyes. Lilith hid her laughter behind her hand, already amused. But Aurelion staggered, his anger stumbling into confusion.
"She's just a low-born noble!" Rose's scream rang out, desperate, venomous.
The words froze the chamber. Even Samael's expression faltered, as did Aurelion's. Michael and William both blinked, startled.
Then came Asher's answer—low, unshaking, absolute.
"She is of the Hale family."
Silence.
"And?" Samael finally asked, voice calm but heavy with curiosity.
Asher hesitated, his lips pressing into a tight line before finally, his pride gave way to truth. His voice dropped, almost shy, but carried to every corner of the chamber.
"I… don't know what to call it. But she has something I lack. She completes me."
The words were like a blade cutting through the air. No one spoke. Even the siblings, so used to Asher's arrogance, were frozen. For the first time, the boy who had never bent to anyone revealed a vulnerability deeper than any wound.
Then—a booming laugh.
Aurelion's voice echoed, shaking the walls. "Like father, like son!" His smirk turned toward Samael. "I see history repeating itself."
With that, Aurelion turned, guiding Rose away, his mirth carrying him from the chamber. One by one, Michael and William followed, though both cast one last glance at Asher—half in shock, half in dawning pride for their little brother.
Only Samael remained. He sighed, his towering form weary.
"Walk with me."
The two strode into the moonlit courtyard, their shadows long and heavy. Samael's face was solemn, touched with sorrow.
"Your mother," he began, voice thick with memories. "She, too, was from a low noble house. A gentle soul. She died giving birth to you." His eyes, usually sharp, glistened with grief. "If you truly love that girl, be wary. Love is dangerous. When it departs… it takes everything from you."
Asher said nothing. The weight of those words pressed on him like armor, heavy and suffocating.
When they returned, Alina and Lilith were already seated with Seraphina, who sat stiffly, trembling under the sheer weight of their gazes. Samael's presence only worsened it, her heart racing so hard she feared it might betray her. One word—one wrong word—could erase her entire family from existence.
"What's your name, child?" Alina asked softly.
"S-Seraphina Hale," she stammered, bowing low.
"A lovely name." Alina smiled. With a flick of her hand, she and Lilith gently pulled Seraphina away from the heated dispute.
Samael then turned to his son.
"Explain."
Asher's answer was quiet but unwavering. "She touched what belongs to me."
Lilith burst into laughter, elbowing Alina. "Our little dragon has fallen for a deer."
"Introduce yourself, child," Samael ordered.
Seraphina stood, gathering what remained of her courage. Her voice trembled, but she spoke.
"I… I am Seraphina Hale, daughter of Azakael Hale. Our house guards the eastern borders from lesser beasts."
"The Hales, hmm?" Samael stroked his chin, thoughtful.
Alina and Lilith exchanged knowing glances. Lilith broke into a grin. "Why are we wasting time? If they like each other, why not make a pact?"
"Silence," Samael snapped.
But Alina's soft laugh followed. "She's right, you know."
At last, Samael's decision came. "Bring Lord Azakael Hale here."
The announcement thundered through the great hall like a decree of judgment.
"Lord Azakael Hale of the House Hale has been summoned by the Patriarch of Valcren!"
The herald's voice boomed, echoing off marble pillars and vaulted ceilings gilded with gold. For a heartbeat, silence followed, and then the hall erupted into a storm of whispers.
"The Hales? Summoned by the Dragon Duke?"
"Surely, it must be punishment."
"Did the low house finally overstep their place?"
Every noble turned their eyes toward Azakael and Jane. The couple stood frozen where they were seated, their faces pale as snow, fear pooling in their veins. Jane's hand instinctively clutched Azakael's arm. He was trembling—his legs threatened to collapse, his hands shook so violently he could not still them.
"Why… why would the Duke summon us?" Azakael whispered, his voice hollow. "What have we done?"
"You've done nothing," Jane hissed back, though her own voice cracked with terror. "We must go. To refuse is worse than death."
The crowd parted like the sea as two Valcren guards approached—tall men clad in obsidian armor with golden dragon crests etched into their breastplates. Their halberds gleamed as they tapped the floor in perfect rhythm, the sound reverberating like a funeral drum.
"Lord Azakael. Lady Jane. You will follow."
Each step toward the chamber felt like walking into an abyss. Nobles whispered behind their hands, their voices sharp, cutting.
"Poor souls. Their house is finished."
"Imagine, a minor house offending Valcren…"
"Perhaps the girl dishonored them somehow. The Duke spares no one."
Azakael's knees wobbled, but Jane squeezed his hand tightly, forcing him forward. Their breaths were shallow, sweat dripping down their temples as they climbed the endless stairs that led to the Duke's chambers.
At the top stood Michael and William Valcren. The young Dragons were radiant with power, their very presence suffocating. Michael's eyes were cold, sharp as a blade.
"Who are you?" His voice was clipped, heavy with disdain.
Azakael stumbled to his knees instantly, bowing low until his forehead nearly touched the marble floor. His voice trembled. "I am Azakael Hale of the House Hale."
Jane followed, her own bow graceful despite her shaking frame. "Jane Hale of the House Hale, my lord."
William's aura flared briefly, a spark of mana shimmering in the air. He exchanged a look with Michael before stepping aside.
"Enter. Father awaits."
The massive dragon-carved doors groaned open, revealing the chamber beyond. The sight inside nearly made Azakael collapse.
There, seated with the authority of a king, was Samael Valcren, the Dragon Duke, his eyes aglow with an otherworldly brilliance. Beside him sat Alina, her smile sharp and knowing. Lilith lounged nearby, her laughter barely concealed. And there—by the Duke's side—was Seraphina.
Their daughter.
Azakael's heart dropped into his stomach. His instincts screamed at him to run, to flee this den of dragons, but Jane tugged him forward with all her strength. They both fell to their knees the instant they crossed the threshold.
"We pay our respects to the Dragon Duke," they said together, their voices breaking.
Jane's eyes darted to Seraphina, her heart lurching. "Sera… what are you doing here?"
Seraphina's lips parted, but no words came. How could she possibly explain? That the coldest dragon in the kingdom had declared her his? That she was the reason the air itself had burned moments ago?
Lilith's voice cut through like a blade.
"Your daughter has caused some trouble, old man."
Azakael froze. The words slammed into him like a death sentence. His entire body shook violently, and before Samael could utter a single word, he collapsed forward, his hands clutching the ground.
"Great Duke, forgive her!" His voice was raw, desperate. "If punishment is necessary, take my head instead! Spare my daughter!"
Jane fell beside him, tears glimmering in her eyes. "My lord, please… she is young and foolish. Whatever her mistake, let it fall upon us, not her."
The chamber went still. Alina hid a smile behind her hand. Lilith's eyes gleamed in delight. Asher, however, stood rigid, his gaze burning—not with anger, but with a strange tenderness as he watched Seraphina's terrified parents kneel.
Samael sighed, rubbing his temple as though weary of the weight of his children's lives. His voice rumbled, deep and commanding.
"It is nothing like that. Rise."
The words, though gentle, were heavier than steel. Slowly, shakily, Azakael and Jane lifted themselves, though their knees threatened to buckle again under Samael's gaze.
And then they saw it.
Asher. Their daughter's protector. Smiling softly, genuinely as he looked at Seraphina. The expression of a dragon who had found something he would never let go of.
Both parents froze in disbelief.
Michael and William, watching from the door, exchanged stunned glances. For the first time, even they understood.
Asher Valcren had chosen the doe he wish to protect .