The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 35: Framed

Chapter 35: Framed

>>Aelin

I had my eyes shut tightly as I waited for impact

...

???

But it never came. Slowly, I opened my eyes and looked at him through the space between my crossed arms. Unsure what happened.

Draegon pulled his hands down, the motion slow and strained, almost as if invisible chains were dragging him back. His mouth stayed sealed shut, not a word leaving his lips, but the look in his eyes... it felt different. He had a frown on his face, making it look like he was in pain

"..."

I stared at him, heart hammering in my chest. The tension in the air was suffocating, every sound amplified in the quiet of the early dawn.

Then, with stiff, slow, robotic movements, he shook his head which was actually a little scary to see.

What is he trying to say? I brought down my arms as I kept my eyes on him

I froze, my breaths shallow, trying to make sense of it. He didn’t move from where he stood, but his hands shifted, intertwining in front of him. The motion was jerky, unnatural, as though he wasn’t fully in control.

His fingers locked together in front of him and I stared at his hands for a moment, then at his face.

Is he? I slowly moved my face. Is he trying to show me he wouldn’t hurt?

I gulped

Then, was it that he raised his hand not to hurt me?

My chest tightened, emotions swirling in a storm of confusion and cautious hope. My eyes remained locked on his, searching for something—anything—that might explain the strange duality in him.

I stepped closer to him, slowly, cautiously, my gaze never leaving his. "What are you trying to tell me?" My voice was soft, barely above a whisper, trembling with the weight of uncertainty.

The sky began to lighten, a faint glow spreading across the horizon.

That meant the sun was going to rise up soon. And with the lightning sky, came a realisation.

"Today is your wedding day," I said, my voice breaking as I dared to step dangerously close to him. "And—" My words caught in my throat, a lump rising that I couldn’t swallow. "I may try to be brave—"

I stopped, unable to continue, afraid that if I said more, I’d fall apart. My gaze dropped to the ground, my hands trembling at my sides as I choked back the tears threatening to spill. I bit my lip to myself and then took a deep breath.

After a moment, I let out a shaky sigh, forcing myself to gather whatever strength I had left. Slowly, I reached up, softly trying to cradle his cheeks with trembling hands. His skin was cool beneath my palms, but he didn’t flinch or pull away. He stayed still, almost unnaturally so, his frown deepening as he let me touch him.

"Though you scare me," I said, my voice barely audible, "I want to believe in you." I want to believe in the facts in front of me. When you came for me, trying to help me.

When you came and told me it wasn’t you.

My hand quivered as I raised it further, my fingertips brushing against his face. The memory of his hand poised to strike me flashed through my mind, making my heart race, but I pushed the fear aside. I still remember when he hit me and I hit my head on the edge, only for him to leave me bleeding.

I pursed my lips tightly. My eyes constantly darting to his hands to see if he will react.

"I don’t know how to use this power," I murmured, struggling to steady my voice. "But I’ve learned... a little."

Summoning every ounce of courage, I let the faint glow of my magic spark to life beneath my fingertips. The light was weak, flickering like a fragile flame, but I pressed on, focusing on the warmth radiating from my hands.

His body stiffened, and I hesitated, watching his reaction carefully. But he didn’t move, didn’t lash out. He simply stood there, his gaze locked on mine, his dull purple eyes filled with something I couldn’t name.

I didn’t know what I was doing—only that I had to try. If there was even a sliver of a chance that this power could reach him, could bring him back, I had to take it.

The faint glow of my magic grew brighter, wrapping around him like a soft embrace. I could feel the resistance, the dark energy surrounding him pushing back against my light. But I kept going, pouring everything I had into the magic, hoping it would reach him.

Then, suddenly, a piercing siren shattered the fragile moment. The sound was sharp and urgent, echoing through the air like a warning bell.

!??!?!

I froze, my concentration breaking as my magic flickered and faded. Draegon’s head turned slightly, this time more naturally as his expression shifted.

"What... what’s happening?" I asked, my voice trembling as the siren continued to wail. The siren was very similar to when Princess Alisay was found dead.

The siren’s wail grew louder, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Whatever was happening, it couldn’t be good.

"I should get back," I whispered as I stepped away from Draegon. The siren is bound to wake everyone up and I need to see what’s happening.

He didn’t move from his place as I began to ran

My legs burned as I sprinted back toward the palace, heart pounding as the siren continued its wailing cry in the background. The sky was fully painted with the pale hues of dawn now, but I couldn’t shake the overwhelming dread that had settled in my chest.

Draegon didn’t follow me.

I stole one last glance behind me, toward the tower and Draegon was nowhere in sight. The memory of his strange, jerky movements and the dull look in his eyes haunted me as I pushed forward.

I didn’t get to fully finish my magic. I pursed my lips. Should I stop and go back?

I pursed my lips, then continued to run. I know whatever happened will definitely involve me. There were people who barged into my room after all! I have to get back and see what happened.

By the time I reached the palace, the air was buzzing with chaos. Guards were scrambling through the halls, servants whispered in panicked clusters, and the once-silent corridors were now alive with the sound of hurried footsteps and raised voices.

I kept my head down, weaving through the confusion as I made my way back toward my room. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.

The crowd thickened as I approached, a sea of people gathered outside my door.

Oh No....

Their expressions were grim, their voices hushed yet frantic. My stomach dropped.

What’s going on?

I pushed through, ignoring the gasps and murmurs as people noticed me. My chest tightened with every step closer.

I know there’s going to be a new problem for me. I hope I can tackle it alone...

But when I finally made it past the throng and into my room, my breath caught in my throat.

There, on the bed, was a body.

The sight knocked the wind out of me, and I stumbled back, my hand flying to my mouth to stifle the gasp threatening to escape.

The figure lay motionless, her face pale and contorted in a grotesque expression of fear. Blood stained the pristine sheets, the metallic scent mingling with the faint perfume of the room. For a moment, I couldn’t process what I was seeing.

In the same way, a dagger was twisted in her chest, just like how Alishay’s was.

I gripped the doorframe, my legs trembling beneath me. "W-What...?" The words barely left my lips, my voice trembling and weak. Whispers rippled through the crowd, their words muffled and fragmented, but the accusing tone was unmistakable.

My mind reeled as I tried to piece together what had happened. Who was this person? How had they ended up here—in my bed? And why?

I took a shaky step closer, my eyes scanning the room for anything—anything—that could explain this. But the only thing that stood out was the body itself, a silent accusation lying in the place I should have been.

Fear clawed at my chest as I turned to the guard. "Who is it? Who... who is this?"

An orc guard stepped forward, "Acting innocent now?" He glared at me as he spoke, "You would know who this is, she’s on your bed."

"I swear, I don’t know what happened," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He came closer to me, "Yea, right," The moment the guard’s hand clamped down on my arm, I flinched. Others surged into the room, their presence looming and suffocating.

"Will you look at that, ’Princess’," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with mockery as his sharp eyes raked over me. The way he said it—like the title itself was a joke—sent a fresh wave of humiliation washing over me.

Another guard muttered with a twisted grin. "Looks like you’ve slipped up."

"I didn’t do this!" I cried out, twisting against the iron grip of the guard who restrained me. Panic clawed at my chest as my heart pounded wildly. "I—I swear, I didn’t!"

But my voice was drowned out by the murmurs and jeers of the others. They weren’t listening to me. None of them believed me.

I whipped my head around, desperate to meet their eyes, to find just one face in the crowd that didn’t look at me like I was guilty. But every demon in the room stared at me like I was already condemned, their expressions cold, judgmental, and laced with disdain.

One guard snorted. "Of course you didn’t." His tone made it clear he didn’t believe a word I said.

I felt my throat tighten as the weight of their suspicion pressed down on me. "Please," I begged, my voice trembling. "You have to believe me. I wasn’t even here! I was—"

"Save it," the guard holding me growled, yanking me forward. "You think your excuses mean anything after this?"

Tears stung my eyes as I stumbled, trying to keep up with his harsh movements. My mind raced, the pieces of the night scattering like shards of glass.

"Someone’s framing me!" I tried again, louder this time, but it only earned me another mocking laugh from the demons.

"Sure they are," one of them scoffed. "Because a little human like you would never do something like this, right?"

I clenched my jaw, my hands trembling as I fought against the rising despair. They weren’t going to listen. To them, I was already guilty

No, I was a criminal to them ever since I came here.

"I’m innocent," I whispered, the words barely audible over the noise in the room. But even as I said it, I could feel the heavy silence settling over me, the crushing realization that I was utterly alone in this moment.