When we reached the camp, the sun had already set. But there were so many campfires illuminating the site. I heard the commotion outside, and the carriage finally came to a stop.
"We're here," Jiao said. He opened the carriage door and stepped out. I was about to do the same when an earthen-colored hand suddenly appeared in front of me. I looked up at its owner—a blonde-haired, ash-grey-eyed man stood before me. He was beautiful. The most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on. I slowly slipped my hand into his, accepting his help.
After getting off the carriage, he still didn't let go of my hand.
"I'm Arvid von Senayak, the Emperor of Selon," he introduced himself. He smiled softly. That smile made him look even more beautiful. I had to admit—he was attractive. I took my hand back from his grasp, placed it over my heart, took three steps back, and curtsied—the traditional northern greeting.
"I'm Rhiaenne Sarenna Draga, Queen of Draga. Pleased to meet you. May the blessings of the Gods above Mount Serana be with you," I greeted him.
When I looked up at him, he smiled again. He didn't look like a monster—or a murderer, for that matter. He just looked like a grown yet strikingly handsome man. But there was a saying: you can't judge a book by its cover. So, I decided to hold off on all the assumptions I had.
"Please, come inside—" he said, pointing toward the largest tent in the camp. I could see his soldiers gathering around—not too close, but not too far either. I felt their gazes on me. They all had brown or even richer, darker skin tones—most of them bearded. They wore traditional Selon clothing, bundled up in fur coats. The cold was clearly bothering them. The campfires every five yards told me all I needed to know—they gathered around them like moths to a flame.
Should I have waited until the coldest days of winter? But that thought vanished when I saw what lay ahead—a line of massive siege machines beyond the first rows of tents. The smell of gunpowder burned in my nostrils with every breath. We wouldn't last, I told myself.
I was escorted inside. They stopped Jiao at the entrance.
"Only the Queen," a gruff man with a huge build and golden eyes said, blocking his way. I looked at him, silently questioning the reason.
"Only the Emperor and highest nobles are allowed inside," he explained, standing firm.
Jiao was about to argue, but I held his hand.
"Wait here—I'll be back," I told him. He hesitated but nodded.
So, I stepped inside, and the curtains fell behind me, shutting us off from the outside world. It was only the two of us now. The tent was spacious, with a carpeted floor and soft-looking pillows in one corner. It gave off a sense of luxury—effortless, but undeniable.
"Shoes off," he said.
I was dumbfounded for a moment. While I was wondering if I'd heard him right, he took off his boots and placed them neatly in the corner. Then he turned toward me and kneeled in front of me.
"May I help you?" he asked.
I froze. Taking off my shoes was one thing—but he was the Emperor of Selon. Why was he kneeling in front of me? Before I could protest, he gently lifted the hem of my gown and slipped my shoes off with practiced ease. Words of protest never left my throat.
"There you go," he said softly, releasing my feet. He placed my shoes neatly in the corner. I was still dumbfounded. All I managed to say was a quiet, "Thank you."
My feet sank into the soft, fluffy carpet. It was a strange, tingling feeling. I had never gone barefoot before. I'd heard that Selonians didn't wear shoes inside their homes, but this was my first time experiencing it.
"Come, sit here. I made sure it's comfortable—but if you're not used to it, then—" he pointed at the pillows in the corner.
"It's fine," I interrupted him. I shouldn't be a burden. He had already taken my shoes off for me. I slowly sat down on one of the pillows. It was a little uncomfortable since I wasn't used to sitting this way, but it wasn't unbearable.
After I sat, he sat down across from me, a strange smile playing on his lips—like he was amused.
He didn't start talking. Just stared at me, his ashen eyes glistening with a faint glow. I sat there awkwardly, unsure whether to start the conversation. But my people needed peace, so I decided to speak.
"About the marriage—how can I take your word for it? Will you not go back on your promise?" I asked.
"Hm, if you're unsure, I can make a blood oath with you," he said. His voice was deep, with a playful edge to it. But I was stunned. How could he know about the blood oath?
The blood oath was a contract between us and those who wished to make a deal with our house. It was barbaric, in my opinion—something that should have gone extinct. But it gave us power over the other party if they chose to betray us. It was proof that dragon blood truly ran through our veins. An unfair contract, one that always gave us the upper hand.
"How do you know about the blood oath?" I asked, genuinely curious.
He shifted slightly. His eyes avoided mine.
"I, uh—did a bit of reading," he said, his voice uncertain.
He was lying. Perhaps the vassal who betrayed me had told him. There were no written records of dragon blood outside of Draga. All such documents were kept in our castle library's restricted section—accessible only to the royal family. But I didn't correct him.
"Then you know that the blood oath is unfair to you—and what its consequences are if the contract is broken. Are you still willing to go through with it?" I asked.
How he knew didn't matter. What mattered was that he offered it himself. So, he couldn't blame me for being ruthless.