Chapter 137: Bargain (Ch.137)
The first crack of dawn stirred Neveah awake and her hand lifted up to wipe the dregs of sleep from her eyes.
Neveah was not even certain when she had drifted off to sleep, her mind was clouded with exhaustion and it was hard to think clearly with the pain from her wrists and neck,
Her knees also felt numb and all Neveah could rember was that warm feeling that drove away the cold and biting night wind after a heavy rainfall.
’Xenon...’ Neveah thought, recalling the presence of the wild black dragon by her side right till the mont she had drifted off to sleep.
As a beast of fla, his being exuded an intense warmth and having him so close had been quite like having her own customized fireplace out here in the open courtyard.
A large and imposing black fireplace that was so terrifying on the outside but with a heart so tender,
Neveah was certain not many would agree to her opinion of Xenon but truly, all she had seen of the black dragon was nothing like everyone said of him.
’Between Xenon and the rest of them, they need to have a rethink about who truly is wild...’ Neveah thought.
Neveah’s eyes finally fluttered open, she squinted slightly to let her eyes adjust.
There still remained that comforting warmth and a small smile settled on Neveah’s lips as she turned around,
However where she was hoping to find Xenon gazing down at her or slumbering as he sotis would, be it in human or dragon form,
Neveah instead t a pair of mismatched eyes and silvery white tresses that belonged to the Dragon King.
"Why is it you?" Neveah grumbled in annoyance, her smile dropping completely and a blank expression taking its place.
King Jian stood at the edge of the platform, his hands crossed behind his back and his stance as regal and noble as always.
He exuded an aura that was so majestic, Neveah could not help feeling it was just wrong.
’How could one have such a cruel and cold heart yet appear so cultured and civilized?’ Neveah wondered as she stared up at him.
To have chains ready for her just a short mont after being accused...the level of eagerness to ruin Neveah was just unbelievable.
As though he knew Neveah’s thoughts, King Jian passed her a chilling cold glance.
"The one you expect to see is not here." King Jian stated in his characteristic cold tone.
"I see that." Neveah murmured in response as she moved her gaze away from the Dragon King, she instead settled to stare ahead of her.
"To what do I owe Your Grace’s esteed presence?" Neveah asked when King Jian did not speak afterwards.
"Three days were granted to Kalia and sa was granted to you, a day has rolled by. Have you nothing to say?" King Jian asked.
"There was never anything to be said. I have said all I need to." Neveah replied blankly.
"You must be confident... confident in Xenon’s favor..." King Jian stated.
Though his tone did not change, Neveah could understand King Jian’s accusation.
"Xenon’s favor?...It is interesting indeed." Neveah began as she glanced up at King Jian.
"Yet my pride does not allow
to be confident in anyone, or accept any favors from your kind."
"Whatever happens at the close of these three days is my own fate, I will not burden another... I also will not be the reason Xenon taints his scales to battle you...Your Grace." Neveah replied calmly.
King Jian’s gaze narrowed at Neveah’s words.
"You know it, that Xenon cannot save you. And yet, you are so confident?" King Jian asked suspiciously.
"The ultimate end is just death, is it not?...In my world, death is not such a big deal." Neveah replied with a hollow smile.
"Do you truly have no fear of death...or you have already made your own plans?" King Jian asked.
"I did nothing wrong, and I am fully aware you persecute
only to satiate your distaste and distrust of ."
"There is nothing and no one that can save
from your darkness...Your Grace. Why must I bother making plans?" Neveah asked with a scoff.
King Jian did not respond imdiately, just staring at Neveah with narrowed eyes for a long while.
" Lord Everon pleads to save you and vows to seek a thod to restore Kalia to health... narx sought out Xenon and spoke of your chains to him yet he believes I do not know of it."
"... Xenon has taken flight in rage, perhaps he would battle
if he lingered anymore, do you believe my concerns lie with the molt scales alone?" King Jian asserted.
"You consider
a threat to those you value, for that... I must die, guilty or not. So why bring
here in the first place?" Neveah asked.
"It was the first ti he asked sothing of ...be it loathso to
or worse, he sought my help..." King Jian replied, trailing off at the end.
Neveah blinked, montarily taken aback by King Jian’s honest response.
"Xenon will not stand against you for , Your Grace. Was it not clear enough back in the cave? Because it was to ." Neveah assured, a mirthless chuckle escaping her.
"If you wish to live, you should give
a reason not to kill you then...two days is all you have." King Jian reminded as he headed away.
"The Lady Kaliana, Xenon values both mother and child...as does narx and Lord Everon, as do you. Do you all truly plan to wait upon providence for the two days left?" Neveah asked.
This had been on her mind for quite soti, it was not as though Neveah’s death could bring back mother and child if anything untoward happened to them.
If they died and Neveah died too, was that so sort of consolation for the loss?
"Half my keep is out seeking an answer... providence? Your life is the only one left to that." King Jian replied blankly.
"I do not believe in providence or fate, Your Grace. If you do not wish for your trusted ones to take my side, then this situation where I am in need of saving... has to be rectified."
"You have offered a wish to whoever can save the Lady Kaliana... this wish, can I trust that you will keep your word?" Neveah asked with a raised brow.
"A King never breaks his word." King Jian replied.
"Very well then, I am willing to offer you a way out...a way where you do not have to be the villain, I will be that instead."
"I will return to you your trusted ones and completely disappear from their minds..." Neveah trailed off.
’And their lives too...’ Neveah added in her thoughts.
"In return, let
decide my own fate. I will save your nephew and the child’s mother too...at any cost." Neveah decided.
Neveah was not certain why she was even making such a bargain, she had decided to do nothing initially,
But Neveah realized, if she remained the damsel in distress then there would always be those trying to play hero.
Xenon... narx, these two were valued by the Dragon King. The more they took her side, the more trouble she would be in, that was just the way it worked.
And so, Neveah had to save herself...by her own hands. From this accusation and from the Dragon Keep itself.
Freedom in exchange for the lives of the Dragon King’s nephew and the child’s mother, Neveah did not think it was an impossible exchange.
And if she failed to save mother and child, regardless of if she tried or remained kneeling here, doing nothing and awaiting heaven’s decision, she would still have to share the sa fate as the mother and child.
"I have summoned a council of riders, you shall stand before them and they will judge...if your words can be trusted." King Jian replied after pondering for a mont.
"And you cannot make that judgnt yourself?" Neveah asked with a raised brow.
"I know my judgnt. I cannot and will never find you trustworthy, princess." King Jian stated blankly.
"These words of yours, I shall rember them. Ensure you always maintain the sa energy, Your Grace."
" Detest
and distrust
always, just as you do now." Neveah said with a low chuckle.
King Jian passed a glance over his shoulder, a complicated expression in his eyes as he regarded Neveah quietly for a mont.
"I do not think you ca to
just to stand and linger here till I said sothing of my own volition."
"Whatever made you decide to hear
out?" Neveah asked suspiciously.
"He asked it of ..." King Jian murmured in response as he strode away.
Neveah stared after the dragon king for a long mont, she was not certain why, but she had gained a new understanding of him today.
"You must have lost a lot of people...to be so fiercely protective of those you have left..." Neveah murmured to herself, shaking her head slightly.
Each dragon was bound to have their own story, a reason they were the way they are...but what did it matter? Who did not have a story?
It most certainly was not Neveah, for if there ever was one with the darkest tale of a horrifying past...
Neveah could speak of two lifetis worth and an entire lifeti ahead, since even at this very mont, she was yet to find... peace.
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