The announcement had come, as it always did, just as the warm days of spring started to fade into the promise of summer: the Dragon Queen Selection.
The most important event in all of Aurelia, where a new queen was chosen amongst thirteen founding families.
In the grand chambers of the palace, King Edric Valemont and Queen Seraphina stood before a massive marble table strewn with scrolls, maps, and letters. The royal couple, though accustomed to the weight of the kingdom on their shoulders, both knew that this year's selection would carry particular weight.
Not just because it was a serious affair, but because of the Crown Prince.
King Edric, a man whose presence commanded both respect and fear, his sharp eyes scanning the documents, spoke first. "The future of this kingdom rests on the Dragon Queen selection. Magic is dwindling in our kingdom, we need a queen strong enough to bond with the dragon Taheer chooses to mate with."
Queen Seraphina, graceful and composed, her dark hair flowing like a river of ink down her back, nodded slowly. "I am well aware, Edric. My only problem is that our son Cassian doesn't show any sign of settling down, nor is he displaying any interest in the Dragon Queen selection. I can only hope that for our sake he would take this more seriously." Her fingers grazed the edges of a letter, the seal of the founding noble houses of Aurelia evident on the wax. "These families have been waiting decades for this moment, and so have we."
"Indeed," King Edric murmured. "I know that our son is the one with the final say, but ultimately it'll come down to us too, such an important decision cannot be left at the hand of Cassian to decide. What use would the next queen be if she cannot bond with one of the dragons? You know how much we need more dragon riders. We should send word to the founding families at once."
"We should also have a talk with Cassian again, we must let him know just how important this is."
A quiet, almost imperceptible tension passed between them, the weight of the unspoken truth that hovered just beneath the surface. For all the precision of the royal marriage process, there was still a matter of the Crown Prince. Both Edric and Seraphina knew that the selection would be far from easy. Their son, the crown prince, was a man who coveted his freedom, whose love affairs were more legendary than any political engagement. He had shown little interest in the noble women they had introduced to him over the years, and even less interest in the idea of a politically driven marriage.
But the pressure to marry—was strong. The Valemont family was the only family magically strong enough to ride the dragons. And the Queen's selection was a careful way to ensure that the next queen would be able to become a dragon rider. After all—was something Edric would not allow his son to ignore. They needed more heirs too, more Valemonts to match the dragons they had.
And the Queen Selection was a revered tradition, one which had led to the selection of every queen Aurelia ever had, even his own mother.
........
The notices were dispatched, and like wildfire, the news of the Queen Selection spread throughout the kingdom. In every founding household, women hurriedly began to prepare, and anxious fathers wrote to their alliances, reminding them of their influence and importance.
In the marketplaces of Aurelia, whispers of the selection soon filled the air. The people—always hungry for the drama of the royal court—began to place bets. Which founding family would produce the next queen? Would it be the Harthwells, known for their elemental powers and brute political strength? Or perhaps the Dorne family, very well known for their influence over the soil, whose riches and sway over trade routes had earned them power beyond the borders? Everyone had a theory, and everyone was eager to see who would rise to the top.
Some people speculated that the crown prince might let his dragon, the ancient Taheer choose. After all, it was not unusual for them to let their dragons choose. Others speculated that the crown Prince would be swayed by one of the women and actually fall in love.
.........
From the grand halls of the Harthwell estate to the shadowed corners of the Dorne family's towering mansion, preparations for the Selection began in earnest. The notice had come, and with it, an unparalleled opportunity for the founding families to solidify their standing in the kingdom.
In the heart of the kingdom, the Harthwell family, led by the calculating Lord Gareth Harthwell, was already assembling his daughter, Lady Calista. The youngest of three sisters, she had long been seen as the most suitable candidate for the crown prince's affections. Unlike her sisters who had water magic, she was born with fire magic, a rare first in years. Her father had taken that to be a sign, she would be the next dragon queen. Her fire powers would perfectly complement the dragon's abilities. Calista, with her perfect posture, poised smile, and exceptional intellect, had been groomed her entire life for this moment. Her father, a man who dealt in political maneuvering as easily as he dealt in gold, had no doubt that his daughter would rise to the top.
"I cannot explain just how important this moment is Calista," her father had warned her that morning, as she studied her reflection in the ornate mirror. "You're not just there to look pretty—you're there to be the most valuable asset to the crown. You are there to become the next Dragon Queen of Aurelia."
......
The air inside the brothel was thick with smoke, perfumes, and the clink of goblets filled with wine. Velvet curtains hung in heavy swaths, casting a dim, seductive glow over the room. Music—a slow, intoxicating tune—drifted from somewhere deeper within, the sound punctuated by low laughter and the occasional moan of pleasure.
At the heart of it all sat Crown Prince Cassian Valemont, his dark eyes glinting with unrestrained amusement as he lounged on a plush divan, a goblet of wine held loosely in his hand. Around him, naked women draped themselves over his body, fingers tracing the fine cut of his clothes, their laughter like a drug luring him deeper into his hedonistic haze.
Cassian's face, impossibly handsome with its sharp jaw and tousled dark hair, bore the faintest trace of a smirk as his fingers brushed the soft skin of a woman beside him. He didn't care for the emptiness of it all—the fleeting pleasure, the short-lived satisfaction. To him, it was an escape, a way to forget the weight of a crown that he had no desire to wear.
"Another round!" Cassian called out, tossing a few golden coins onto the table as the women around him cheered, more eager than ever to please their royal guest.
It was the same scene that had played out countless times, an endless cycle of indulgence.
The door to the brothel swung open with a sudden crash, the sound of heavy boots on the floor echoing across the chamber. The laughter died down, and several heads turned as Prince Evander entered the room, his expression dark and unyielding.
"Cassian," Evander's voice was low, a mix of concern and frustration. He stood there, tall and regal in his formal attire, his eyes cutting through the haze of the brothel like a sharp blade. He'd come to find his older brother, but the sight before him made his stomach twist.
Cassian barely glanced up, his smile still lingering, unbothered by the intrusion. "Evander," he drawled, taking another languid sip from his goblet. "To what do I owe this pleasure? It's a bit early in the day for you to be here."
"Want a woman?"
"No thank you. Father has been looking for you all over the palace" Evander replied, stepping forward with purpose, his gaze flitting briefly over the women surrounding Cassian. "You've wasted enough time indulging yourself. The Dragon Queen Selection will begin soon. The whole kingdom is waiting for you to select the next dragon queen."
Cassian let out a low chuckle, his fingers lazily tracing the rim of his goblet. "Choose a queen?" he repeated, his voice dripping with mockery. "Why bother, Evander? And why so early? I wouldn't take control of the throne until the next few years, I think it's safe to wait."
Evander's jaw tightened, his frustration evident. "You know how important this is Cassian. We have more dragons than riders and you know how dangerous that could be. Father is only doing what is best for the kingdom."
Cassian's smirk widened, a glint of defiance flashing in his eyes. "Best for the kingdom? I don't understand why father is so paranoid. The dragons are fine. Taheer has the other dragons under his leash. They listen to him. No other kingdom would dare to threaten us. There is no reason to rush this. Besides, I have no interest in being tied down by a wife or the burden of ruling at least for the next few years. I'm not our father. Now come join us."
His words were a slap in the face to Evander, whose own sense of duty and responsibility ran deep. Unlike his older brother, Evander had never shied away from his future. He had always understood the weight of their legacy.
He had also always wanted the dragon Taheer, the most powerful and strongest dragon in all of history, but Taheer, the ancient and powerful dragon had not chosen him. Taheer had chosen his reckless brother Cassian.