The people in the hall watched the Dragon King, wondering why he was considerate towards a sickly foreign princess. The purple-haired young man, who'd been grinning this whole time, raised an eyebrow.
King Gerart's pale yellow brows rose in the inner corners when he recognised Tama, but whether it was from pity or something else, Tama couldn't tell. Even though she discovered he was Draki, it didn't ease her fears. Draki was the very person who told her Princess Amida was destined to die! – And he was smiling when he revealed that gruesome truth… A man like him couldn't be trusted, no matter what her dragon Ronna said about them being "destined partners".
The silence didn't last long. King Gerart von Drachenwelt recovered his composure. His commanding voice echoed throughout the hall.
"It doesn't befit my people to greet my little bride of weak health, who's just had a tiresome journey, with such lack of respect!" He glared at the statesmen about the hall and shot a particularly fierce look at the purple-haired man, who flinched but didn't lower his eyes. He returned a frown to Gerart, but the king didn't mind. He looked at Tama again and gave her a warm, humble smile. "In the name of my people, I bring Your Highness my deepest apologies for such a harsh welcome!" He clasped her petite hand into his clawed fingers and delivered a gentle kiss on it. "Allow me to rectify this misunderstanding by inviting Your Highness to ride on my palanquin to the Dragon Temple!"
The people gasped. The dragons grunted, surprised like everyone else. Tama noticed the purple-haired man's frown deepening. She couldn't understand why the king suggested that she ride on his palanquin. Theresa Dienschein mentioned that, usually, the bride and the king should ride on separate palanquins to the main gates of the Dragon Temple. There, they would rejoin, entering the wedding hall while holding hands.
"Your Majesty can't be suggesting that you take this sickly princess as a noble consort?" cried one of the Dragon Councillors, an old man in an orange robe. He seemed the oldest among the thirteen. "The people of Hasurei said she's only got two years left to live and she's a barren woman!"
"I won't hear any objections!" King Gerart cut him short. He smiled at Tama and beckoned her to the doors opposite the main entrance. "Come, Princess Amida! Our palanquin must be waiting in the inner gardens."
"Oh, o-okay!" Tama muttered, following him. Why is he promoting me so fast? That old councillor was correct, Princess Amida's curse implies that she's a barren woman and will only live until her twenty-first year!
King Gerart guided her through crimson corridors while the Drahs tailed after them. The ten dragons minimised themselves by magic and sat on the shoulders of ten statesmen with whom they were bonded. A particularly scary-looking dragon landed on the purple-haired man's head. He was black with glowing purple patterns, covered in black cogs and horns all over his body, even his wings. Purple venom dripped off his sharp fangs. Tama thought it natural that such a bitter-tongued young man should be bonded with that venomous dragon. The purple-haired man tagged right behind her and King Gerart, leading the Dragon Councillors. He seemed rather discontent, his glare piercing Tama's back.
A noble consort? Tama looked at Gerart again. I hear it's a title one step below the Queen!
Since Drahvelt was the home of dragons, Tama had read much about their history and customs. Unlike the Hasurei monarchs, who were equal to their partners, the Drahian kings were allowed to give their consort several ranks before promoting them to their queen, and the consort remained below them in the court hierarchy. It was nigh unfathomable for a foreign princess to be named a noble consort right away, more so a sickly one like Amida! There had to be a serious reason behind Gerart's decision, but Tama couldn't figure out what.
They emerged in the inner gardens near the volcano crater. Here, the granite floor was covered in volcanic rocks and leafless trees. At the opposite end were golden gates with dragon engravings, opening up on the stone path to the lava crater. In the centre of the crater, towered the golden-roofed Dragon Temple, which Tama had seen in Dreamscape. Near the gates was a scarlet palanquin with silken curtains. The carriers were four red humanoid dragons with yellow bellies, their wings folded. Tama recognised them as the Dragonmen race - a species one step above Lizardmen in strength and rivalling humans in intelligence. In Drahvelt, people believed that Dragonmen descended from exceptional humans blessed by the Sun Dragon God. However, in other countries like Hasurei, it was believed that Dragonmen spawned from cursed humans who touched the Sun Dragon's forbidden gold. Tama didn't know which of these versions was true, but Dragonmen trusted in the Drahian version, considering themselves equal to the Drahs and superior to other humans.
Gerart took Tama into the palanquin. The inside was as richly decorated as the dragon-drawn carriage in which Tama arrived. Gerart placed her beside him and waved his hand, signalling the Dragonmen to move. They lifted the palanquin and proceeded through the open gates onto the stone path. The crowd of Dragon Councillors and statesmen followed them on foot, their dragons perched on their shoulders or heads in their minimised forms.
This is all so messed up! Tama thought, stealing glances at the king, whose face betrayed no emotions. What does he want from Princess Amida and my homeland? What does he want from me?
Tama figured that some of it wasn't about Princess Amida anymore. It was her Gerart met in Dreamscape, not Amida. He remembered her real name too. He believed she and Amida were the same person, just like she wanted, but that didn't change the fact that he decided to make her his noble consort after discovering she was Tama, his "soulmate". Tama thought knowing a man from Drahvelt was no big deal, that she could fool Draki – a statesman or a vizier – with a false narrative as though she concealed her royal identity when they met in Dreamscape. But now, discovering he was the king, she felt scared. What if he realised he'd been fooled? – It would end in blood for both her and Hasurei!
It was stupid of me to come here! She thought. Queen Eclaire was right, I might be discovered! I never suspected I met the Dragon King in Dreamscape… Oh, how naive I've been!
She strove not to break down again and give King Gerart any suspicions. She clutched her shivering hands in her lap and stared at the scarlet wall before her, trying to keep her cool.
"By the way, the thing I told you in Dreamscape…" Gerart whispered in her ear. "I take it back! I didn't figure you were referring to yourself as your 'friend'… I'll have to change my plans now that I know. I can't kill my soulmate."
"What?" Tama looked at him, shocked. Does he buy all that 'soulmate' stuff?!
"I didn't have anything personal against you, Princess." Gerart rubbed her head with his clawed hand. "I'll explain it all when we're alone. For now, let's get on with the engagement!"
Tama sensed how the palanquin was placed on the ground. Gerart got off and extended his hand to her. Tama took it and went after him. She discovered they were at the entrance of the Dragon Temple in the centre of the crater. The temple looked much bigger than she imagined – it could fit about fifty dragons of Ronna's size. However, since many people attended the wedding, the ten dragons preferred to remain in their minimised forms, sitting on their humans' shoulders or heads. The procession entered the temple.
The hall was golden. At the end was erected the dragon altar – a fountain with golden and blue dragon statues, the representations of the Sun and Sea Dragon Gods. An old priest dressed in golden robes stood before it, waiting for the groom and the bride to approach. A red-scaled Dragonman beside him was holding a little cushion with two rings. One ring was golden and the other – silver, both engraved with depictions of floating Lung dragons.
Tama and Gerart stopped before the priest and the ceremony began. Tama mumbled her vow after Gerart finished his. At the priest's instruction, she took the golden ring and put it on Gerart's clawed finger. Gerart took the silver one and put it on hers. Tama awoke from her thoughts when the old priest's gravelly voice said: "You may now kiss the bride!".
Gerart's clawed fingers gently removed Tama's veil and tossed it onto the cushion where the rings had lain. He pushed the red shawl off her head and bent down to her. As his lips came closer, Tama shut her eyes to "endure" the kiss, but a blissful moment followed. The young man's lips wetted hers, his honey breath pouring into her mouth. Tama's nostrils flared with ecstasy. She returned the kiss, exchanging the cherry flavour of her lipstick with him. Only when they parted, did Tama realise what she'd just done. She enjoyed the kiss of an enemy king who threatened her friend's life! Her heart filled with self-loathing.
It's all because of that "soulmate" rubbish! She thought. I can't believe I subconsciously fell for it! How can I be attracted to this brute, who threatened Princess Amida and wants to conquer my homeland? These foolish bodily fluids, I hate them!
The crowd's whoops and applause deafened her ears. They shouted "Long live His Majesty King Gerart von Drachenwelt!" without a word about her. The Drahs didn't even try to hide that the power dynamic in this marriage was one-sided!
Much to her relief, the wedding feast wasn't to be held that day. It was set for after tomorrow. Tama claimed weariness from the long journey and asked to be guided to her bedchamber to prepare for her nighttime duties (although she dreaded that moment and wished it'd never come; she just wanted to be left alone). Her request was fulfilled.
In King Gerart's room, glass doors led onto the golden balcony Tama recognised from Dreamscape. Near them, stood a bed fit for a giant, roofed by a crimson canopy. Tama's luggage was already there, near a bedside table. Opposite the bed, stood a golden-handled mahogany wardrobe and folding screens painted with a golden dragon chasing a sun disk. In the middle of the room, was a coffee table with a crimson sofa and fluffy armchairs.
Tama opened her suitcase and took out Amida's blue night dress and towel. She removed her bridal robes and went into the bathroom. The walls here contained the painting of a serpentine blue dragon lying on the ocean floor. Tama eyed her powdered face in the mirror, her lipstick all smudged now that she'd shared the kiss with the Dragon King. Reminded of her shameful passion, she snarled and began washing off the makeup. Each time she cleaned her face, the silver ring on her finger reminded her of her captivity.
Having gotten rid of the loathsome makeup and lipstick, Tama took off the ring. Temporarily freed from the shackles of her marriage, she climbed into the dark blue bathtub. The cascading water sprinkled onto her body, cleansing it throughout and soothing her mind. She remained there for a while, trying to prolong her ephemeral freedom.
Alas, this respite had an end. Tama climbed out of the tub, dried herself and put on Amida's night dress. Embraced in the soft cotton that was once worn by her friend, she felt as though Amida was hugging her. She closed her eyes, savouring the moment. Then, she put on the silver ring, regaining her "shackles". She emerged from the bathroom and sat down on the bed, sinking into thoughts.
She was now the Dragon King's consort – a hostage in the enemy land. What was worse, she remained in danger as an impostor, and the king was her creepy acquaintance from Dreamscape! He was shrewd enough to conceal his identity back then, introducing himself as "Draki", while she openly told him her name! What if he looked into Princess Amida's background and learned that Tama Raveene was a healer assigned to her by the Lotus Priestess? – That would be enough to make him realise Tama was an impostor! After all, it was natural for the Lotus Priestess' daughter to have access to Dreamscape, while for a cursed princess, it was impossible. Tama covered her face with her hands. Travelling to Drahvelt with Ronna was the worst mistake she'd made! Mom and Yannou were right, she should've been more wary around dragons!
The doors creaked. Tama flinched and looked at them. King Gerart had entered, dressed in a crimson nightrobe and black silken trousers, his feet left bare. His sturdy chest was visible in his night coat, fresh water drops sprinkling down his muscles. He seemed to have just taken a hot bath. He shut the doors and advanced towards Tama.
Tama shuffled back, but there was nowhere to run. With Ishgal in the woods all those years ago, the search party arrived on time and forced the Prince to retreat. But here, she was alone in the hands of this omnipotent king, whom she must serve as a consort. With Ishgal in the woods, she was a free woman, while here, she was a property bound by the wedding ring.
Her stomach churned and her eyes swelled with tears. Any moment now, she'd be forced to perform her nighttime duties for this man! She stared at his robust chest as he stopped before her nose. She dreaded to look at his face lest she see the same predatory glare Ishgal had. Whimpering, she shut her eyes.