Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 178: Burdened heart

Chapter 178: Burdened heart

Rhea stepped outside the king’s palace expecting to find Ethan outside so she could pass time taking a stroll with him, but to her disappointment he wasn’t outside, nor was the carriage that had brought them to the king’s palace. She decided not to head to Prince Zachary’s palace as there was nothing for her to do there at this time of the day.

Furthermore, she couldn’t go to her friend as Aria had told her a few days ago that she would be busy these days, and Rhea wouldn’t want to impose on her. Thus she decided to walk around the entire palace grounds until she could no longer think of what Draven and king Henry were talking about in there.

Rhea strolled through the palace grounds, her footsteps echoing softly on the snowy ground. Her chest still throbbed from her wounds, a constant reminder of her recent fight with Oriana. But she needed a respite from her own thoughts, especially the tone Draven had used on her earlier.

As she wandered, she came across a beautiful winter scene: three young princesses with Lilac, were playing merrily in the snow. Their laughter rang out in the crisp air, harmonizing with the pristine surroundings.

The children had created a magnificent snow palace with their magic, their skillful fingers sculpting intricate spires and bridges. Their eyes sparkled with youthful cheerfulness as they reveled in their imaginative play, they were occasionally laughing from Lilac’s broken words while they corrected her.

Rhea couldn’t help but be captivated by their joy. She watched as they giggled and tumbled in the snow, completely engrossed in their wintery wonderland. It was a stark contrast to the worries that weighed on her own heart.

"My savior! Come to join us in our play!" Lilac called out as she caught sight of Rhea standing there watching them. The Princesses also invited her to come and play with them.

Rhea was captivated by their happiness, the carefree play that allowed them to escape the harsh reality of their responsibilities as royalty. They had no idea about what was going on in the world.

For a brief moment, Rhea’s lips curved into a faint smile. She longed to forget her own troubles as well and join in their playful world. Yet, her thoughts kept drifting back to Draven and what he wasn’t telling her. She declined their offer and turned away from them, her heart heavy, and continued her walk through the snow-covered palace grounds.

Rhea remembered king Henry’s question; ’Have you found all your body parts?’ he had asked Draven.

’Draven, you are the offspring of the most powerful Dragon on earth. A thousand year old creature, you could finish the whole of Birhhan with a breath, and yet you could only kill a little of them? You should be ashamed of yourself.’

Rhea had seen how Draven had fought those fire controllers alone, and she had been amazed by his powers, but from what the king had said, it seemed Draven was supposed to be more powerful than that. He had said Draven could kill the entire Birhhan with his breath.

Was Draven supposed to be more powerful than he was now, was he missing some part of his body? But aside from the core in her body, what else could possibly turn him into his mighty self?

Could it be that the core in her body was absolutely necessary for his body in order to become that mighty dragon the king spoke of?

Rhea thought through everything, but she came to no conclusion as she had no idea what was missing in Draven, and also had no idea what he was like in the past. But no matter how much she thought about it, she was sure of one thing; Draven would never harm her, he might not love her, but he cared about her enough to get worried at the thought that he had lost her in the ruins yesterday.

Furthermore, when king Henry had asked if he was complete, Draven had said; ’Yes, I am complete now.’ he hadn’t mentioned anything about the core in her body. And from that, she knew he had no intentions of taking it from her and ending her life.

As Rhea thought about everything and kept wandering to wherever her feet took her to, she stumbled upon a beautiful building not too far from the king’s palace.

Rhea glanced at the building in surprise as it looked similar to the buildings in the human realm. Rhea had seen all the palaces on the grounds, but she hadn’t seen this one before.

Rhea stood at the building’s open gate, admiring the modest yet inviting residence. The snow-covered grounds and the stone structure, with its warm, lit windows, created a serene and cozy scene. Icicles hung from the roof, and a faint scent of pine filled the air. From her vantage point, Rhea appreciated the unassuming charm of the building that looked detached from the rest, perfectly in harmony with the quiet beauty of the season.

"You can’t enter, miss." Said the guards by the gate’s entrance when Rhea attempted to walk through the gates. She glanced at the bulky men with a questioning look, and he said, "It’s the late princess’s residence. His Majesty has forbidden anyone from entering without his permission."

Rhea was stunned at the realization that this residence belonged to princess Aurora. Apparently the king really did like his youngest daughter enough to make her residence look like the ones In the human realm.

Rhea gave a subtle nod at the guards and cast a final glance at the imposing building before she planned to make her departure. However, just as she turned, her attention was abruptly seized by the sight of a man emerging from the entrance, donned in winter fur coat and clutching a broom and a cleaning clothe in his hand. As their eyes locked upon each other, instant recognition dawned upon Rhea.

It was Enzo!

She couldn’t contain her astonishment and blurted out, "How did you end up inside the Princess’s residence?"

Enzo, equally taken aback by her unexpected presence at the gate, advanced toward her, inclining his head in a respectful bow. "My lady," he began, his gaze briefly tracing her chest, "How is your wound? You appeared quite injured when I last saw you," he inquired with an air of calm and a deep, mellifluous tone. Enzo was a man of lean stature, tall, with auburn-blond hair, eyes as rich as chocolate, and strikingly handsome features.

Rhea promptly responded, "My injuries weren’t as severe as they seemed; I’m fully recovered now."

Enzo acknowledged her statement with a nod and offered a warm smile. "That’s reassuring. Anyway I’ve heard that Dragons have a swifter healing process than humans."

"I’m not a dragon, at least not yet," Rhea clarified. She continued with a playful tone as she noted Enzo’s surprised brown eyes, "A few months ago, I was still the Duke’s disgraceful daughter in Birhhan."

Enzo stood stunned, having assumed her to be a dragon yesterday, given her striking resemblance to them.

Observing his astonishment, Rhea added, "However, that’s not the crux of it; I now identify myself as a dragon. Like you, I’d rather reside in the Dragon realm than in Birhhan." She gestured toward the building behind him and inquired, "Did the king grant you permission to live in there?"

Enzo awkwardly scratched the back of his head and began, "Well, at first, the king didn’t grant me permission to reside here. It took quite a bit of pleading on my part, reminding him of how much his daughter cared for him, even after she married me in the human world. Eventually, I volunteered to maintain this place’s cleanliness and preserve Aurora’s memory within its walls."

A bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he continued, "Aurora had once called this place home. It’s where she laughed and shed tears. I have an unwavering desire to remain here and never leave. When we first met, she would often speak of her longing to plant flowers, but the harsh weather thwarted her efforts. She dreamt of a fountain with water in the heart of her home, but year-round winter made it impossible. She’d express how much she wished for me to visit her home, and now that I finally am here, she’s not here with me. It would have been wonderful if we could be here with our child..."

Enzo’s voice wavered, and his brown eyes glistened with moisture.

Rhea, attentive to his heartfelt words, sensed the depth of his love for his late wife. The pain of losing his wife and child was palpable, and she could empathize with the immense suffering he must have endured due to Alina’s actions. Alina’s betrayal had not only hurt Draven but also this innocent man who she claimed to love beyond measure.

Rhea offered him a warm, understanding smile. "Wherever Princess Aurora is, I’m certain she must be pleased to see you in her home. I’m truly sorry for your loss."

Enzo wiped away his tears and managed a sad smile. "Thank you. I truly wish to express my gratitude to that dragon for bringing me here. If it weren’t for his assistance, I might never have reached this place. Strangely, he didn’t want to see me for some reason. Please convey my thanks to him."

Rhea knew the reason Draven didn’t want to meet him, and she wasn’t going to tell him that. He was already in so much pain for the loss of his wife, telling him that Alina had hurt Draven for his sake would hurt him even more.

A solemn hush hung in the air for a moment before Rhea spoke again, "You’re in an unstable position, as a hostage until the dragons seize Alina. King Henry won’t continue to turn a blind eye to your presence here, maintaining Princess Aurora’s residence."

Enzo nodded, his fingers absently twisting the cleaning cloth in his hands. "I understand," he replied, his voice tinged with determination, "As a hostage, I’m not eagerly awaiting rescue. My sole anticipation is for Alina to face justice. Ever since she callously took the lives of my child and wife..." He paused, the memory of that tragic day casting a dark shadow over his brown eyes. Then he continued with resolute conviction,

"The Enzo I once was perished in the basement where she ended the lives of my loved ones. I’ve endured all the pain of being forced to see her face all the time, consumed by a relentless desire for vengeance but lacking the means. Now, here in the Dragon realm, even as a hostage, I feel like I’ve finally seized control of my life and identified my purpose. I want to confront her. I’m willing to give my life, if need be, for her to meet a gruesome end, as long as Alina faces the justice she deserves."