The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 101: The Forgotten Person

Chapter 101: The Forgotten Person

>>Draegon

The palace doors groaned as they swung open, the massive obsidian panels etched with ancient runes parting slowly under my command. Cold night air flooded in, laced with ash, blood, and something fouler still—a scent of corruption that made even demons flinch.

I stepped out into the night.

Behind me, the echo of my boots died on the black marble. The moment I crossed the threshold, I unclasped the mantle draped over my shoulders. It slid off with a heavy whisper and fell to the ground like a discarded shroud.

No kingly symbols now. It would only hinder me.

Drakkar and Draken emerged behind me, each of them falling into step a few paces back—ready to fight despite everything.

The soldiers assembled like shadows with form, flowing into the moonlit courtyard in tight rows and precise formations. There were hundreds of them—demon warriors I had been personally overseeing ever since I became king.

I knew I had to prepare them but I never expected something would happen this soon. We had only started seeing what was the cause of this all and suddenly we’re under attack?

I raised my voice, my power lacing every word.

"Form up in a crescent line! Shield bearers to the front! Winged units, rise above and hold the southern wind! If the Eye sends fliers, you clip their wings before they reach the palace walls."

Feet moved in unison. Armor clanged like thunder. Orders were shouted from captains. Formations shifted. The front line began to extend outward to protect the wide courtyard.

I could hear the hiss of fear behind me—the humans, unaccustomed to war on this scale, unsure if they should be praying or fighting.

King Orin stepped forward inside the great hall, his crown gleaming in the dim light.

"My guard will defend the interior. We’ll hold the central staircase. If anything breaks through, we will keep the high ground."

He didn’t ask for permission. And I didn’t stop him. There were far too few of them to actually manage anything and they were less organized than my own

I turned my gaze back toward the palace.

Through the tall windows, I saw flickers of movement. People who couldn’t fight were looking for safety.

I wondered how Aelin was. I told Ariston to go to her and keep her safe but I couldn’t see her face amongst the people rushing inside the palace.

I hope Ariston had gotten her to safety.

Just then-

A tremor shook the ground. I looked ahead once again.

The far wall trembled.

Then shattered.

It didn’t crumble. It exploded.

The force knocked dust and stone into the air, and from the billowing smoke they came. Crawling over one another. Hulking, bone-skinned beasts with jaws like broken glass and eyes that pulsed black. Their shrieks tore through the sky like banshee wails.

The Eye had opened. And the Abyss had sent its army once again

The palace gates—tall and fortified—cracked open from the pressure. Black tendrils shot through them like spears, knocking aside steel as though it were parchment. Creatures poured through in chaotic waves.

I stepped forward.

My claws unsheathed with a whispering shkrrk sound, extending into curved talons.

My chest began to heat up as I readied the fire inside of me.

***

>>Aelin

The hallway shook again, the trembling echoing in my bones as the roars of the abyss monsters thundered through the palace stone. My breath was ragged, but not from fear—no, not fear.

Fom frustration. Shame. Helplessness.

Ariston stood in front of me like a solid wall, his hand extended, his jaw set in that same soldier’s line I’d seen a hundred times before. He was a protector, through and through. Loyal. Brave. But this time, he was wrong.

"We need to move," he said firmly, his hand still out. "You agreed, Princess. You said we’d go."

I nodded once before, but now I was frozen in place, my heart hammering against my ribs. "But what if I regret it for the rest of my life?" I whispered, not even sure if the words were meant for him or for myself.

Ariston’s eyes narrowed, but not unkindly. "If anything happens to you, Draegon will have my head. And I would like to delude myself and think this would be the worst he will do. I can’t let that happen."

"But, I have a power-"

"This is not the time to prove anything. In a battle like this, someone without experience—no matter how powerful—is more of a danger than help."

"But, this power responds to these monsters." I tried to argue

"Except with this many running rampant, you might die before you even manage anything."

"Ariston-"

"You don’t even know how to control your mana." His voice got stern, "You’ll only be a nuisance."

!!!

His words hit me like a blade plunged straight into my chest.

More of a danger than help.

I looked down. My hands were trembling. I clasped them together, trying to still them, but the shame had already sunk its claws in.

...

My gaze dropped

So I was still that girl, wasn’t I? Power or not, I was still the quiet little shadow. A princess in name, a queen in title, but nothing more than a ghost drifting behind the ones who actually mattered.

My silence must have spoken volumes, because Ariston sighed and stepped closer. He took my hand, gently this time. "You shouldn’t be ashamed," he said. "You’re human. All the people who can’t fight, even demons, are seeking safety right now. You’re not weak—you’re just not a soldier."

I was about to take his hand again. I almost let him lead me. Almost.

But something inside me cracked open. Some small voice deep within me whispered,

Not everyone is seeking safety.

I stopped. Ariston turned back in surprise. "What is it?"

"No!" I jerked my hand away from his.

"Princess,"

My eyes were wide, "Draegon’s mother," I breathed. "Seraphine. She’s still in the abandoned wing. Alone."

Ariston’s brows drew together in confusion. "What?"

"She doesn’t know," I said, panic beginning to rise. "She doesn’t know what’s happening. No one would’ve gone to her. They probably don’t even think of her. That part of the palace is completely cut off." Only a few people know about her being there anyway!

Ariston wasn’t much fazed by my words but his gaze grew sharper.

"She’s helpless," I said, my voice shaking. "And I can’t just leave her there."

We both turned to look toward the corridor that led toward the old, silent wing.

"I’m sure she can take care of herself," Ariston said, "The isolated wing is too far from here and has no defense."

"She’s not just some noblewoman," I added, my breath catching. "She’s Draegon’s mother. My mother-in-law. She’s part of this palace now."

There was a pause before he answered, "I’ll go," Ariston said quickly. "You go to the safe room—"

"No," I snapped. "I know the wing. I know exactly where she is. I’ve walked those halls for two years. You’d lose time trying to find her. I’ll go."

Ariston cursed under his breath. "It’s too risky. The monsters might break through. That area is completely unguarded—"

"I know," I said. "But she’s alone, Ariston."

"Princess- You have to listen to me-" Before Ariston could shut me down, I turned around and ran towards danger.

"Princess!!!" Ariston screamed behind me but I didn’t stop.

***

>>Draegon

I took the first step. Then another. Then I ran.

The first beast lunged at me, its mouth a chasm of needles.

I met it mid-air, claws raking across its face, and ripped through its skull with a single motion. Black ichor sprayed across the stone.

"Look for the cores!!" I shouted as another leapt. Then another.

The dance had begun.

All around me, the courtyard turned into hell. My soldiers clashed with monsters in an explosion of steel and shrieks. Winged demons cut down the Abyssal fliers, lighting up the sky with streaks of flame. The smell of ozone and sulfur mixed with blood.

And I kept fighting. Cutting. Tearing. Leading.

Every so often, my eyes flicked back toward the palace.

Toward the window.

Toward her.

Towards my wife.

Let her be safe. I’ll make sure, none of these monster reach the inner palace.