Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 166: Rheanna!

Chapter 166: Rheanna!

After Rhea left Aria and returned to her room, she changed into her night dress and headed towards the healing pool as she was aware she wouldn’t be able to sleep after what she’d talked about with Aria.

Rhea arrived at the pool and didn’t step into the water, she knelt down beside it and stared at her clear reflection in the milky water that was reflected by the golden lights of the lamps around the pool. Her mind swirled with what Aria said about Azure. She had said that Azure had his reasons for doing what he had done to her.

However, the fact that her mind was going to Azure after she’d declared to kill him only made her even more angry with herself. No matter what, she didn’t want to consider his reasons for doing what he had done. He had hurt a lot of innocent creatures and heartlessly whipped her with flames!

There was no forgiving even if he tried to clear her name from Cal’s death!

In a surge of anger, Rhea disrupted her reflection in the water with her hand. Without removing her nightgown or robe, she plunged into the pool. While the edges of the water were shallow, the center was deep enough to submerge her entirely. She dived deep, letting herself touch the bottom, holding her breath all the while.

Memories of Azure swirled in her mind: from the times he’d rescued her to the promises of protection he’d whispered to her when she was unconscious the day he rescued her from execution. But in the end, he had proven to be deceitful and cruel. Her feelings towards him were a mix of deep-seethed hatred and a lingering need for answers. Why had he both shielded and betrayed her? Yet she despised herself for still wanting those answers, even entertaining the thought of confronting him.

As the memories persisted, Rhea closed her eyes tightly, remaining submerged until the lack of air became painful. Gasping, she emerged from the water, taking a long, desperate breath.

The sudden rush of fresh air made her vision turn slightly blank for a split second.

Rhea’s head was now above water, and then she let herself relax the rest of her body above the water until she was floating atop it like a dead body.

She gazed at the wooden roof of the fence that had a small opening that made her see the moon through the hole. Rhea closed her eyes and tried hard to clear her mind of any unwanted thought.

Instead of thinking of Azure, she let herself think about the happiness she had felt while dancing with Draven today. She had finally attended an event where she was invited and treated as an important guest; that would have been a dream come true for her past self, who would do anything to be among the elites and enjoy the food. But now...

As Rhea thought about everything, she let her mind drift into emptiness. She blocked out everything outside her mind and closed her eyes, but not long she was suddenly jerked back to reality by a splash and a voice filled with panic.

"Rheanna!"

Before she could process what was happening, she found herself pulled into a firm embrace. She quickly opened her eyes. Blinking, she met Draven’s alarmed blue eyes looking down at her.

His fear evident, Draven’s face shifted from terror to relief as he saw her eyes opened and he tightened his grip around her body. "You scared the devil out of me, you fool!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of relief and frustration.

Rhea, taken by surprise, whispered, "What happened?"

"I thought you... I thought you were dead!" he blurted, his voice betraying his fear. Noticing his own trembling hands and the tone of his outburst, he quickly released his grip around her body, and wore a grim expression.

Rhea caught the worry in his eyes, she then looked down at the water and glanced up at him again. She had been lost in her thoughts and didn’t hear Draven’s footsteps when he entered the fence. Furthermore, she had been floating atop the water...

Rhea immediately understood his misinterpretation when he saw her floating atop the water. "Did you think I... took my own life?" she inquired, a touch of astonishment in her voice.

Draven didn’t reply, he clenched his teeth in anger as he could still feel his own heart beating in his chest from the fear that had clutched him when he saw her floating atop the water. He decided not to reply and turned to leave the pool instead.

Before Draven could leave, Rhea’s voice halted him. "I would never do that, Draven," she declared firmly. Even as he attempted to walk away, she persisted, "I survived when my family and Azure betrayed me. I held on after you rescued me from Birhhan. I didn’t give up then, and I won’t now. I’m determined to avenge Cal and get back at those who hurt me. I’ll also keep my word and retrieve your scales."

At that, Draven’s steps faltered. He angled his head to glance at Rhea, her face aglow from the lamplights around the pool edges. But what caught him off guard was the smile playing on her lips. Teasingly, she quipped, "Planning on a nightly soak, are you?"

Despite the teasing in her voice, Draven’s tone was even, "I intended to, but I won’t intrude. I’ll come back when you’ve finished." He began to retreat again, but Rhea’s voice lured him back. "There’s no intrusion. This pool’s vast. And look, I’m dressed today. Join me, we can soak together."

Without objection, Draven walked back. He took off his shirt and shoes and causally discarded them at the pool side before stepping into the water to join Rhea again, her warm smile still directed at him.

"Why that smile?" His eyebrow arched in question.

With a nonchalant shrug, she replied, "It’s heart touching to realize you’re concerned enough to fear for my life."

Draven, a bit taken aback, chose to remain silent, not wishing to confess the dread he’d felt upon entering earlier and seeing her like that. Thus, when he didn’t reply, the atmosphere went silent, and they continued to soak in the water in a comfortable silence.

The water was shimmering under the warm glow of the lamps. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the water against the stone edges and the occasional wind outside the fence.

Rhea took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with the weight of her unspoken thoughts. But after awhile of silence, she decided to break it and asked the question she had been wanting to know for awhile now. "Draven," she began hesitantly, her eyes searching his when he turned towards her with a questioning look and hummed, "Hmm?"

"Once you’ve had your revenge... Do you intend to rebuild your kingdom and clan?" Rhea asked. She had seen how he was quiet when the court members of the east clan were discussing about their clan with the king in the banquet, and his nonchalant attitude and bored eyes had made her curious if he desired to rebuild his own clan again.

Draven looked taken aback, as if the question had thrown him into a whirlpool of memories. He recalled his life in the past as a king. Actually, he had never lived a life of his own as a king, he had been a curious person right from his childhood, but because of his duty as a king, he never got to spread his wings and soar across the world to see things beyond the dragon realm. Even though he was a ruler, he had to sneak out of the dragon realm to find happiness. Which had lead him to find Alina...

To be honest, he had never really wanted to be the ruler of his clan. But then he was the only son and the only offspring of the most powerful Dragons in existence. His parents were killed when he was still so little, and the responsibility of the entire clan fell on his head. His childhood was taken away from him and a huge responsibility was placed on his shoulders at such a young age. He knew nothing but to put his people first.

And now that Rhea asked him this question...

Draven stayed silent for a few heartbeats, letting the question sink in. "You know," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper, "I’ve always thought I wanted that. But now... now I realize I’ve never truly desired the life of a king. It’s a burden, one that’s stifling. Before all this chaos, even when I thought I was happy... I wasn’t."

Rhea absorbed his words, seeing a vulnerable side of Draven she had never noticed before. "So, what would you want then?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Draven exhaled deeply, his eyes fixed on the reflection of the lamps on the water. "A simple life," he replied, "free from the shackles of responsibility. I believe my clan will be better off in the east clan. I’m not fit to lead them anymore."

He had failed as a king once, and he knew what the feeling was like, he no longer desired to take on that role again. Most of his clan members had moved to this clan, they’d be better off staying here than rebuilding his ruined kingdom.

A moment of silence ensued, both lost in their thoughts. Then, with a hesitance that betrayed the depth of her feelings, Rhea asked another question that had been weighing on her heart. "Draven, once you find that simple life... would you... would you let me go? It’s clear you don’t love me. It’s not right for me to remain tethered to you forever..."

Draven turned to face her, his eyes intensed and searching. The weight of her words hanged in the air. The stillness of the night seemed to amplified the heaviness of Rhea’s question. Draven’s eyes, once fixed on her face, now drifted away, as if searching the wooden roof for an answer.

Though he didn’t reply, a storm of emotions raged within him. He could see their future unfolding in his mind’s eye – two paths diverging. One with Rhea by his side, an anchor to his chaotic life. The other, a lonely road where he grappled with his past and the ghosts of past memories that haunted him. He knew he needed her, but did he deserve her?

The image of Alina on their wedding day, with her triumphant smile and treacherous eyes, flashed before him. The wounds of betrayal was still raw, the scars still felt fresh in his heart. Could he risk his heart again? Could he risk Rhea’s? Because by keeping her by his side would mean he was ready to move on with her. He couldn’t have her staying by his side forever knowing how she felt about him...

As the seconds ticked by, Rhea’s anticipation grew to hear his answer to her question. But Draven, lost in his thoughts, struggled to find words. Finally, he broke the silence, "We should head back to our rooms. You need rest. Tomorrow, we start the process of the bone changing."

Rhea nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment in her heart. But she knew the depths of his wounds, and she realized that some questions, however simple they may seem, don’t have easy answers.

She watched him step out of the pool and picked up his discarded shirt and shoes. "I will walk you back to your room," He said and walked ahead so he could avoid seeing her drenched body.