Villain Awakening: Rising to the Strongest Dragon God-Chapter 57: The Kiss

"I’ll challenge the Third Prince for your hand," Lorian’s young and determined voice still echoed across the cramped library.

The elven girl laughed nervously, looking at him.

"You can’t be serious," her eyes turned to the others with a puzzled expression.

"He can’t be serious right?"

No one could answer. They just chuckled but Lorian’s face seemed raw with desperation and determination. Everything that made him shy was now a thing of the past.

"You write poems," the ponytail girl said gently.

"He’s a dragon. You’d die."

"I know," his hands clenched into a fist. White-hot with infatuation or was it love.

"But I’d try."

The rising laughter died down as it dawned on them. The boy was being serious.

Claudia stood slowly. "Lorian, don’t be stupid, please..."

"You don’t love him," Lorian’s entire body trembled like a child about to watch his mother leave without giving him sweets.

"No.. But I have to marry him," Claudia’s voice was firm and kind.

"This isn’t a book where love wins. It’s reality. And in reality, I must do my duty."

Claudia completed, her face was cold as she did her very best to deter this moment of madness.

Lorian gritted his teeth and stormed out towards the light of Valyron’s evening streets. His back disappeared in no time.

Everyone turned to face Claudia who was still shocked even as the ponytail girl spoke, breaking the tension.

"We all knew but that was awkward"

Claudia and the others nodded in agreement.

It didn’t take long when everyone began leaving the library to their various homes.

Claudia waited until everyone left before slipping through the back door.

—--

The secret passage entrance was behind a loose stone in the alley wall just beneath the north wing of the castle.

She took the path, pulling the entrance close behind her. Her form disappeared into the consuming pitch black interior.

Walking up the path, she could hear her breathing vividly and the sound of her heartbeat turned into war drums within the confined space.

Navigating through the darkness, she kept one hand on the wall, feeling her way forward. Counting steps like she always did. Fifty to the first turn then thirty more to the stairs.

As she approached further. She suddenly heard footsteps just at the opening to the castle.

She froze with her back on the wall as the approaching footsteps became louder.

"It’s just politics. The duke is a warrior not a council rat like the princes," the approaching soldiers chatted.

Claudia pressed against the wall harder like she was about to burrow through. If they found the passage entrance, if they opened it now— she would be exposed.

The footsteps passed without noticing the tiny aperture that Claudia had opened.

She remained motionless, fingers crossed, palms sweaty as the duo were so close, She could smell the whiff of garlic that they probably had for lunch.

She waited. making sure to count to thirty before she walked out the passage near her library office.

She moved towards a less occupied area of the castle to emerge in an occupied area in such a way it wouldn’t draw attention after she was the residential explorer of the castle since infancy.

There were voices in the hall outside. Servants speaking in hushed tones. Gossiping as ever.

She was tip-toeing her way to safety when something stopped her.

"—Prince Auryn, I heard he—" Claudia went still. Gossip about Auryn within the castle was juicy afterall she wanted to hear others opinion about the entity she was to marry.

The whispers continued behind closed doors.

"----Heard he was moving along the castle today and the duke was his envoy"

Another voice replied. "I followed them around, I saw with my own eyes. Seems the duke is grovelling more than his highness predicted"

A third voice grunted. "We must inform his highness immediately"

His Highness? Claudia thought, extremely puzzled. .

Who..? Confusion gripped Claudia as she turned back slowly making sure not to alert them.

She sneaked out cleverly, definitely not one of those idiots that would alert the enemies by falling something on the floor mid escape.

-----

A few minutes later in her room. Claudia was done bathing. But her mind was far from settled.

Those men were definitely not loyal to her father. The way they spoke of him lacked reverence and respect.

So who were they loyal to? Her mind tried piecing the puzzle together but one piece just didn’t seem to fit.

She needed to tell someone. Her father? No—he’d want to know how she’d overheard. Then the passage would be exposed.

Lord Auryn, then.

She planned telling him at dinner, before they leave for Aurelia. He’d know what to do with the information without compromising her.

—-

In a few minutes, Claudia arrived at the dinner hall. The rich aroma of roasted chicken and pastries after a long day almost distracted her from her intent.

Her eyes widened as she looked over the table and only her family was there.

"Lord Auryn isn’t joining us tonight?" she asked immediately. She wouldn’t want to accept it but she was looking forward to seeing him.

"No..." Castor answered swiftly before Eva had the opportunity to sugarcoat it.

"Now.. sit down!" Castor continued, almost making her heart skip a beat.

Did he find out...her mind wandered even as Castor’s gaze remained glued to her with indifference.

Meanwhile at the eastern wing of Valir Keep.

A hovering ball of orange flames hovered between Auryn and Lyra.

The prince had decided to use his magic instead of lighting a candle between them not trusting the people here especially on their last night here.

Lyra ate silently without saying a word. She glanced at him every now and then, holding words in her throat like a nut was stuck in there.

"How was your day," Auryn suddenly asked. Her eyes grew calmer as she looked up slightly.

"It was pleasant. Lady Eva is an amazing host," Lyra said, feeling the mouth-watery flavour of the chicken melt in her mouth.

"I guess she is a better host than Castor—" Auryn paused.

"---She even let you cook," he finished, licking his lips to show he was definitely enjoying the meal.

Lyra couldn’t help but smile warmly.

"You knew?"

"Of course I did," Auryn answered with a grin. "It’s you, of course I know."

Lyra set down her fork. Taking a calm breath. She finally allowed the nut in her throat, dissolve as she spoke.

"You talk to her differently than you talk to most people,"

Auryn’s eyes widened. He knew she was jealous but now she was confirming it.

"She asks about things I care about." He cleared his throat, then continued.

"She speaks of history and the forbidden."

"And I don’t?" Her voice was quiet, not accusing but definitely conflicted.

The original Auryn also had these interests. It was part of the charm that attracted her.

"You ask about me." Auryn broke through her conflicting thoughts. As he reached for her hand. Easily finding it, holding it softly.

He continued while staring directly into her eyes.

"You ask if I’m okay. If I slept. If the wound from Castor’s arrow still hurts even though it healed weeks ago."

His thumb traced her knuckles. "That’s more important than someone who wants to discuss ancient civilizations."

Lyra finally looked at him. The walls she’d been building since she first received the news, since the dinner. Cracked. Not destroyed but enough for light to pass through. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"So, I’m not being replaced?

"Never." Auryn spoke as he moved to his seat over to her side of the dinner table.

"You’re irreplaceable, Lyra. Claudia’s brilliant and I enjoy talking to her. But she’s not you."

"Prove it,"

Auryn’s lips curled and instead of answering with more words. He kissed her.

In that moment, her eyes were wide open in shock as she felt herself melt into the red of his eyes.

Her heart burned like a volcano erupted in her chest and yet every moment of it felt pleasant. The moment seemed like it would last forever or so she hoped.

Then----

KNOCK

Lyra’s eyes snapped wide.

Who in the eternal flame is that?