The sun had barely risen over the grand palace of Umbraxia, but the atmosphere was thick with tension. Today was the day no one believed would ever come, the day the royal court would execute Selen, the most loyal and powerful royal guard. The whispers of the palace echoed like shadows, full of disbelief and fear. Selen, once the most revered creature in the empire, was now branded a traitor.

In a world where the royal family of Umbraxia ruled over both humans and mythical beings, the existence of creatures like Selen was intertwined with the bloodline of the royals. The laws of Umbraxia were ancient and cruel: creatures like Selen, powerful dragons, were bound by a sacred oath to the royal family. As long as the royal blood existed, these creatures lived, but they were forbidden from forming intimate ties with humans. The bond was their life source, and betrayal meant death.

Within the court, the air was stifling, filled with the gazes of the ministers, nobles, and soldiers. The court was a spectacle of grandeur, with polished marble floors and towering golden columns, yet today it felt cold and lifeless. On the central platform, chained and on his knees, was Selen. His once proud figure was now bowed before the very throne he had sworn to protect.

"Selen, you are hereby sentenced to death for breaking the most sacred and forbidden rule of the empire." The herald's voice cut through the silence, echoing across the massive hall. "You dared to fall in love with a human."

A murmur rippled through the crowd, as if they were all waiting for the dragon to roar in defiance. But Selen did not speak. His face, once full of fierce loyalty, was now calm, resigned to his fate. He knew there was no escape from the chains of politics that had sealed his doom.

The king, seated high upon his throne, gazed down at his former guard with an expression of deep sorrow. His silver hair reflected the light of the burning torches, and his eyes, normally sharp and authoritative, were softened by regret. Selen had been more than just a guard to him. He had been a friend, a protector of the realm, and the strongest creature bound to the royal family.

"Selen," the king's voice was low, almost cracking, "if you are ready for your execution, I will promise you this—your wife will be spared. No harm will come to her."

At the mention of his wife, Selen's eyes flickered for the briefest moment. His heart clenched, but he did not falter. He knew the king's words were not empty. The royal family had a twisted sense of honor, and this was the last mercy he could offer to the man who had once defended their very lives.

"I am deeply obliged, Your Highness," Selen said, his voice steady, though it carried the weight of a thousand burdens. He bowed his head in respect, though every fiber of his being ached. The love he had for his wife, the woman who had broken through the cold, unfeeling armor of a dragon, was all that mattered to him now.

The court fell silent, and all eyes turned to the king's youngest brother, assigned the grim duty of carrying out the execution. He stepped forward, his sharp, handsome features marred by a dark smirk, the cruelty in his eyes undeniable. Unlike the king, the brother held no sadness for what was about to unfold. To him, it was a necessary act of power and control.

Without a word, he unsheathed the sword—an ancient blade drenched in the blood of the royal family. It gleamed under the torchlight, but what gave it power was the blood of kings that flowed in his veins. As he dragged his thumb along the edge, the sword absorbed the royal blood, its magic humming with lethal energy.

"Brother," the king's voice wavered, but the younger sibling only chuckled, stepping closer to the kneeling Selen. He was eager to see the dragon fall.

Selen raised his eyes for the first time, locking gazes with the man who would take his life. There was no fear in his expression, only acceptance and a deep, burning regret. He did not regret falling in love. That had been the one true thing in his life. No, his only sorrow was that he would not be able to protect her anymore, the woman who had changed everything for him.

"Where is your wife, Selen?" A minister dared to ask, breaking the tense silence.

"Silence!" the king barked, the command sharp. The court obeyed. Even in the face of such tragedy, no one dared defy the king's direct order.

The queen, standing beside the king, her hand resting on her swollen belly, flinched at the intensity in his voice. She was pregnant with their first child, the one who would inherit the throne and carry on the legacy of Umbraxia. Her face was pale, her eyes wide, but she said nothing, her hand gently resting over her unborn child, as if to shield it from the darkness of the court.

"Selen, this is your last chance," the king spoke, softer now. "Are you ready?"

Selen closed his eyes for a moment, and in that brief span, he saw her face—the woman he loved. Her laughter, her gentle touch, her fierce spirit. He had given up everything for her, and even now, he would give his life to protect her.

"I am ready, Your Majesty," Selen said, his voice resolute.

The younger brother stepped forward, lifting the sword high above his head. The air seemed to freeze in place, the world holding its breath as the blade gleamed with deadly intent.

"Goodbye, Selen," the king whispered, his heart breaking as the sword came down.

With a single, swift stroke, the blade pierced through Selen's chest. The dragon guard did not scream, did not falter. His body shimmered with the golden light of his life force, slowly fading as his bond to the royal blood was severed. His powerful wings twitched once before they dissolved into dust, and his once glowing eyes dimmed, fading into darkness.

The court remained silent, the only sound the soft clatter of the chains as Selen's body slumped to the ground. It was over. The most loyal guard of the royal family, the strongest dragon ever to exist, was gone.

The king stood frozen on his throne, his face pale, his eyes haunted. The queen, too, stood unmoving, her hand still pressed protectively to her belly. The court, once filled with whispers and judgment, was now shrouded in silence.

Yet even as the light of Selen's life faded from the hall, the shadows of darker plots stirred within the kingdom of Umbraxia. For with Selen's death, something far greater had been set into motion—something that would soon shake the very foundations of the empire.

The story was far from over.