Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 435: Her Own Terms ()

The ascending room came to a stop but Adrienne did not step out, she stayed put, her gaze fixed on the unconscious Celia.

Adrienne had hit her hard enough, by her calculations, Celia would be out for a few hours at the least and as for Rosalie... she would wake up sometime after the hour.

’How had it come to this?’ Adrienne wondered.

How had a place she had called home for decades become a place she could not access unless through such methods?

How had Dragon Keep, the home to all her dreams and aspirations become a place she could not dare step foot into?

’Where had it all gone wrong?’ Adrienne thought to herself.

For months, Adrienne had sat alone in a dingy room in some tower at the very edge of the world, asking and asking again this very same question,

Where had it all gone wrong?

Was it when she had come to the conclusion that it was okay to do whatever it took...moral or immoral to get what she wanted?

Or was it long before that? When the seed of ambition was planted and began to bloom, taking over every space in her heart and leaving her with nothing else but the desire to take and take even when she knew she would never be satisfied?

Was it when she had decided that the unattainable was her birthright, that she was the only one deserving of the highest prestige?

Was it when she set eyes on him, that cold, heartless dragon who stood at the very peak of the world and she dared to desire him, his heart and the place at his side?

Adrienne was not sure, it was already too late now, too late to understand any of it.

Now that it had come to this, Adrienne felt she at least deserved to have it all end on her own terms... one last glimpse of him, that was all she needed.

A terrible ache stirred up in Adrienne’s gut and she coughed quietly, lifting the small fan she held to her lips.

When the cough subsided, Adrienne pulled the fan away, not surprised to see the spots of blood that had sprayed over the fan.

Adrienne lifted a handkerchief to wipe her lips, a pained look in her eyes.

After all this time, this was how it would end for her, losing her life to a malicious poison she had come in contact with in her place of exile.

A poison she was still not certain from what source it had come or why anyone would be after her life in the first place.

Someone had plotted against her with no cause, just as she had done to others. Getting a taste of her own medicine in this manner... Adrienne guessed this was a fitting fate.

But even so, even if this was what she deserved, Adrienne was unwilling to die in that way... banished and forgotten, she would never accept such an end.

It was why Adrienne had come to make sure her end was on her own terms, here in Dragon Keep...her rightful place.

Adrienne lifted the fan so it hid her from view well enough, and only then did she step out of the elevator.

Adrienne quickly pulled the lever, sending the lever back down before anyone could think to get on it.

She could not hope Celia would not be found unconscious on the elevator, but at the least this would buy her some time... hopefully enough time.

Adrienne kept her head low as she walked down the hall. There was barely anyone down the hall, all the guests were most likely in the ceremony.

The ceremony to celebrate the attendant getting her way, while Adrienne was left in the abyss with no way out...at least not a way they left for her.

Adrienne soon arrived outside the grand hall, pulling out her tag, she handed it to the dragon guards outside the hall.

"Lady Rosalie, you are late. Your clan’s arrival has already been announced." The dragon guard said as he confirmed the identity tag.

"I am not in good health... I’m only here to hand in the gift for the academy, it was left in my care." Adrienne explained, her voice low and hoarse.

"That accounts for the fan you have up?" The guard asked with a raised brow. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"I caught a cold while tending to some patients out in the Citadel on Lord Everon’s orders. I fear my appearance might be unsightly but I absolutely have to hand in the gift in person, this were Lord Everon’s orders." Adrienne explained.

"Then you should be out within the hour. Keep a distance and hand in your gift without delay, we would not want the health of the guests affected." The dragon guard stated, stepping aside to let Adrienne through.

Adrienne lowered her head to a small bow before she walked into the grand hall.

She still kept her head down as her gaze roved about the hall, quickly finding him, the object of her every desire, the Dragon King.

His throne was empty, he stood there in the crowd, a goblet of wine in hand as he conversed with Lord Rodrick and an elder.

The atmosphere in the grand hall was warm and homely, the guests mingling while most still made acquaintance with the center of all the attention.

Adrienne watched her, the Lady Neveah. With a small smile on her lips, she chatted with a group of riders, revelling in all the attention she was getting.

Adrienne’s eyes fluttered closed and she sucked in a deep breath, shifting her attention away. She needed to focus on the reason she had come, she did not have much time.

Adrienne walked further into the hall, keeping a low profile. She had only a short time before either Rosalie’s family or Lodenworth and her sister Keila would notice that something was off.

Adrienne made her way towards the Dragon King, blending into the crowd as much as she could.