The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 20: The Human Hero

Chapter 20: The Human Hero

>>Aelin

Lazelle came to do a medical check on me and today, Kaima, the minotaur maid was on duty, so I decided to test something out, something that I had already suspected.

"I’m done," Lazelle put her stuff in her doctor’s bag while we both sat on my bed, "I’ll be taking my leave then." She stood up from the bed when I called out to her.

She had turned when I called her, "Doctor?"

She immediately looked back at me, "Yes?" I stood up from the bed too and grabbed the ancient book and handed it to her.

"Can you read this?" I asked and Kaima looked at me with a perplexed look. I had previously asked her to do the same thing.

Lazelle was a little confused by my demand, but nonetheless, she put her bag down and took the book, "Okay..." She looked at the cosmic cover and looked intrigued but when she opened it up, all she did was raise her eyebrow.

She flipped through the pages with her brow still raised, then closed the book as she sighed, "My lady," She then looked at me, "I don’t know what you’re trying to do here but I definitely can’t read empty books." She held out the book to me, "Is there something bothering you?" She kept her rectangular shaped pupils on me, "I’m sure you didn’t actually want me to read the book." She was trying to read me, "Is there something bothering you?"

Kaima’s expression turned to awe and she nodded to herself. I could tell she was thinking something like, ’That must be it, that’s why she asked me to read the book too even though it’s blank!’

That’s right, Kaima couldn’t read it either and neither could Lazeele. Kaima had turned the book over and over, squinting at the pages as if the words might suddenly appear if she just looked hard enough, then finally gave up and returned the book to me saying, "I can’t read it... It’s blank..."

The ancient book was empty to them. Completely void of the strange glowing words and symbols that seemed so vivid to me.

I nodded, my thoughts swirling. "Thank you," I murmured, "You don’t need to worry, I was just doing a little experiment."

"An experiment?" The doctor was a little surprised, then smiled, "I see," She nodded, "Something like a prank?" She seemed to relax a little, "That’s good. It’s a good sign for your mental health."

Kaima’s mouth opened a little wider when she heard the word ’prank’ but then she nodded to herself as she readily accepted what doctor Lazelle said.

It was a good excuse, so I went along with it.

"Yes," I tried to conjure a smile, "Something like that."

"I’ll take my leave," She picked up her bag again and then turned to leave, "I’m glad you’re recovering My lady,"

I told Kaima to leave with her and waited until the door shut behind them before letting out a heavy sigh.

Why could I see the writing when no one else could? What was it about me that made this book reveal itself? Was it tied to the strange magic it had awakened in me, or was it something else entirely?

I sat at the small desk by the window, staring at the book’s pastel cosmic cover. My fingers traced the embossed patterns absentmindedly as my mind wandered. There had to be someone who could tell me more. Someone who might know what this book was, or why it had chosen me. But who? Who could I trust in this palace?

As I pondered, there was a soft knock at the door, followed by my maid’s voice. "Your Grace, there is a guest here to see you."

I frowned, startled. A guest? For me? It was almost laughable. No one in the palace sought me out unless they wanted something—or wanted to make my life harder.

"My lady?" Kaima knocked again when I didn’t answer.

A guest...

Curiosity got the better of me.

"Who is it?" I asked, standing and smoothing the folds of my dress, "Come in," I told her and she opened the door but didn’t come in, instead she stood in the doorframe.

"I... I’m not sure, Your Grace," she replied, her voice hesitant. "He didn’t give a name, but he said it was urgent."

Him?

A guy?

A flicker of unease ran through me, but I pushed it aside. "Very well. I’ll see him."

I followed her through the winding halls of the palace, my steps echoing softly against the marble floors. My mind raced with possibilities. Who could it be? Someone sent by Ruoxy to spy on me? A noble who wants to tell me to leave Ruoxy and Draegon alone?

...

Or, absurd as it sounded, could it be someone who actually wanted to help?

Then I scoffed at myself

As if anyone would come to me for help.

When we reached the living room, Kaima stepped aside to let me enter first. The room was bathed in warm sunlight, the golden glow highlighting the ornate furniture and rich tapestries. And there, standing by the window with his back to me, was a figure I didn’t recognize.

"Princess" he said, his voice smooth and measured as he turned to face me.

I froze. There was something unsettlingly familiar about his beautiful face. The man in front of me was the definition of a pretty boy, red hair, red eyes, about 5’11 in height with a slender figure.

It took me a moment to remember him.

Ariston

The sight of him standing in the warm sunlight of the living room stole the air from my lungs. For a moment, I could only stare, unsure if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Ariston? Here?

It had been years since I’d last seen him. He was one of the human warriors Havenmoore had sent to fight alongside Draegon during the war against the unknown monsters. His presence back then was a symbol of unity, a reminder that despite the tense alliance between our nations

Like Draegon who was the demon hero to Dravos, Ariston was the human hero Haevnmoore.

I had only spoken to him briefly during that time—when he was temporarily assigned to escort me on a diplomatic trip. He had been a good man, loyal and steadfast. The kind of person who could ease a tense room with a calm word or a rare smile. But that was a lifetime ago.

"Ariston?" I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "What... what are you doing here?"

He smiled faintly, inclining his head in acknowledgment. "Princess," he said, his tone respectful but warm. "It’s been some time."

"That doesn’t answer my question," I said, stepping further into the room, my heart still pounding. "I never expected to see you again, let alone here."

His smile widened, though there was a shadow behind his eyes that hadn’t been there before. "I imagine my presence must be surprising," he admitted. "But I assure you, I come with no ill intentions."

"Then why?" I pressed. "Why now?"

He glanced around the room as if ensuring no one else was present before turning his full attention back to me. "My reasons are... personal," he said carefully. "I wanted to see how my old friend was doing. Draegon and I fought a war together, and that kind of bond isn’t easily forgotten."

Friend.

The word lingered in the air between us, heavy with unspoken meaning. My mind raced as I tried to process his words. Ariston and Draegon had fought side by side, endured the horrors of that war together. If anyone understood what Draegon had been through, it was him.

"And," Ariston continued, his gaze sharpening, "there is something I’ve been meaning to look into. Something that couldn’t wait any longer."

My brows furrowed. "What is it?"

He hesitated, and for the first time, I noticed how his jaw tightened and his shoulders squared, as if he was bracing himself. "That," he said softly, "is a conversation for another time. I’m afraid I can’t share everything just yet."

Ariston leaned back slightly, studying me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. His gaze was sharp but measured, as though he was carefully weighing how much to say. "How much do you know about the war?" he asked, his voice low.

I hesitated, unsure of where this was going. "Just the basics," I admitted. "The gate opened in the sky... monsters poured out... Draegon led the charge to fight them, with aid from Havenmoore and other allied forces. That’s all anyone ever said."

His expression didn’t change, but the weight in his eyes deepened. "And have you ever wondered why? Why the gate opened in the first place?"

My heart skipped a beat. There was something in his tone that felt... off. Like he already knew the answer but was testing me. "Of course I’ve wondered," I said cautiously. "But everyone claimed no one knew. That it was some freak occurrence, some anomaly of nature. Are you saying—"

"I’m saying that’s a lie." His voice was quiet, but the impact of his words hit like a thunderclap.

I stared at him, my mind racing. "What... what do you mean?" I asked, though part of me wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.

He didn’t look away. "The gate that opened wasn’t some random, unexplained phenomenon," he said. "It was opened by people. On purpose."

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