Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 198: Wedding banquet

Chapter 198: Wedding banquet

After their wedding ceremony, the guests moved into another hall where the wedding banquet would be taking place. Rhea changed into another set of beautiful light blue gown from one of the many dresses Draven filled in their walk in closet. She wore her hair down, and it split down her shoulders. She didn’t remove the pearls and diamond necklace that clasped around her neck, a gift Draven had given her before their wedding day.

When she stepped into the banquet hall with her arm linked with Draven’s, Rhea felt like a princess in the shimmering gown, the clicking weight of pearls around her neck, the heeled satin shoes on her feet, everything was like a dream to her, but anchored only by the affectionate grip of Draven’s hands and the blue intensity of his eyes whenever he gaze at her.

She was married, Rhea thought with a smile. She had a home of her own now, she would no longer feel like she didn’t belong anywhere, because now she belonged with her husband.

Strong Dragon wines flowed freely at the wedding banquet, an eight-course feast that was followed by a lavish ball dance.

Rhea was introduced to hundreds of people, and before long she was tired of smiling and her ears were ringing from the loud music and fake acquaintances. It was even impossible for her to remember more than a few of the multitude of new faces introduced to her. Everyone was treating her with respect and lavishing her with countless expensive gifts.

Some people did stand out in her memory, one of them being the court Minister’s daughter, who Rhea had met with Aria when they were shopping for jewelry. Having already known what kind of person the young woman was, who she just realized was named Sophia, Rhea did not bother to fake a smile.

Sophia walked towards Rhea with her partner, who Rhea noticed was a handsome young man with blueish hair and gray eyes. Sophia was also one of the most spectacularly beautiful women Rhea had ever seen, with a voluptuous figure, a profusion of vivid red hair.

Draven had been pulled away by Prince Zachary earlier, while Rhea was left to socialize with the guests.

"So you finally got married to him," the red-haired woman said sneeringly, "Congratulations Lady El-Dezeus, no words can express how thrilled we are to have another plain human girl in our realm. We will look forward to the day your fragile body will perish, and we shall celebrate your death just like we are celebrating your wedding."

Sophia did not hide her dislike for Rhea like the other guests did, and Rhea also didn’t hold back her tongue, because she knew that was the thought in everyone’s mind, they believe she was a plain human with no immortality and would die just like king Henry’s wife had died.

"Then I assure you, Miss Sophia, you shall wait forever to celebrate my death."

Rhea looked at the pair in front of her with a calm expression, then she excused herself and walked to Aria.

Sophia glared at Rhea’s retreating back. "I don’t like this human girl one bit."

"I like her, she is fierce and beautiful for a plain human girl." Remarked the blue haired man beside Sophia while he looked at Rhea’s back with interest.

"Don’t even think about hitting on that human girl, Fabian. I can over look your flirtatious words with other female dragons, but not a human. And you know she’s the wife of a mighty Dragon, If you dare_"

"Mighty dragon?" Fabian laughed as if he’d heard something funny, "An ex mighty dragon, darling. That man has lost his powers the day he got betrayed by his former lover. I heard he can’t even heal by himself without using a healing pool like a weakling. Even if I hit on his fragile human wife, he can’t do anything." He said arrogantly, then added, "You will always be my love even if I hit on other women," he leaned down and shamelessly sealed her lips in a heated kiss without caring about the fact that they were in public.

Rhea conversed with Aria and Prince Zade, who had his wife beside him. "Consider yourself one of our family, Rhea. You will always be welcomed in the palace." Said the Prince. His blue eyes twinkling warmly. He seemed far different from when Rhea had first met him, and she observed that he basked in the presence of his wife as a cat would in sunshine.

"Thank you, your highness."

"I have never seen Draven this happy before, not even when he was with Alina. He visits our clan once in awhile in the past for meetings, but he always had a grim expression, he never smiled nor laughed like he did now in public. I think you brought this side of him out, Rhea." Said prince Zade’s wife, Lyra, who had also become close to Rhea.

Rhea was stunned to hear that Draven wasn’t a smiley man even when he was with Alina. She had pictured his past self in a different light, but it turned out he was a stone expression man. However, now he’d smile and laugh freely with people. For some reasons, Rhea felt immensely pleased to know that she was the one who brought this side of him out.

Rhea’s gaze searched the hall until it found Draven’s imposing form as he stood in a separate receiving line with Prince Zachary. He was laughing at something said by the man beside them.

Prince Zade also followed her line of sight, "I’ve never seen him look so well. In fact, this may be the first time I’ve ever seen him laugh like that."

"Zade, look at your son at the wine table!" his wife exclaimed as she noticed their young son attempting to drink the strong Dragon wine. Prince Zade’s expression turned stern as he yelled out his son’s name and drew his wife away.

Rhea couldn’t help but laugh as she watched the pair scold the little boy. She also caught sight of Prince Ethan, who she’d noticed had been avoiding her like she’d done something wrong to him.

"My savior, prideful prince is still heartbroken, let him heal." Lilac remarked from the side.

Rhea frowned, "Who broke his heart?" She asked curiously.

"You, of course. You is not love him back."

***

As the music continued to play in the hall and few guests were dancing, Rhea searched the crowd for a glimpse of Draven. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen now. The sweet melody provided by strings and a transverse flute made her feel wistful.

Glancing at the glittering skirts of her gown, Rhea smoothed them with her hands. She imagined the pleasure her mother might have felt if she had been alive and witnessed her marriage to a man like Draven. And she had no doubt of the grief her mother would have suffered to learn what her husband had done to her daughter. He had left her to die on the ground...

Suddenly feeling very much alone, Rhea wished that her mother’s ghost could have attended her wedding, although that was obviously impossible. Since her mother had died for too long, her ghost had cross over from the living world.

"Lady El-Dezeus." A voice intruded on her thoughts, and she was confronted with the blue haired man, who’s gray eyes had a hint of gold in them and they bored down at her like a predator.

Rhea didn’t bother to fake a smile, she raised a curious brow at the man, "How may I help you?"

He laughed, "My name is Fabian, and we’ve met once before but our first encounter was very unpleasant, I would like to redo it."

Rhea was taken aback, she had no recollection of meeting this strange man before. "I am sorry, but I don’t remember ever meeting you."

"Oh, how could you have forgotten? Though I am sorry I tried to attack you in the forest, I was driven by the red moon’s effect. I am here to apologise to you for that night."

Realization dawned on Rhea as she saw the hint of gold in his gray eyes. She remembered this man, he was the man who tried to attack her on the night she went looking for Draven in the forest. He would have killed her if Draven hadn’t came to her rescue. She suddenly became wary of the man, she didn’t want anything to do with a person like him.

"Apology accepted." She said, "If you will excuse me, I would like to go and search for my husband." She tried to excuse herself to get away from the man, but then it seemed he had another thought in mind, he stopped her by grabbing her elbow before she could walk past him.

"There is no need to look for your husband, he is with the prince on the balcony." He said, "But meanwhile, how about we get to know each other well enough? Perhaps we can become acquaintances and even go out for some_"

"I am not interested in making any acquaintances with you, Mister." She jerked away from his grip.

"Women," he replied, clearly amused. "You are all the same. Regardless of your race, you always say the opposite of what you mean." He laughed.

"Take it as you will. But stay away from me, or you will have to deal with my husband." She threatened as she knew she wasn’t a match for any Dragon male.

"I don’t think so," Fabian murmured with an insolent smile. "Draven might be a dragon, but he has no strength to fight another dragon. The night of the red moon is a proof of his weakness, he couldn’t even hold himself in the sky. He is just a cold fish. His kind will always looks the other way when another strong male is hitting on his wife."

If Rhea had not been so outraged, she would have laughed scornfully at the notion that Draven would look another way when his wife was being harassed by a Casanova. "Stay away from me," she repeated, her voice unsteady with disgust and rage despite the tight control she maintained over herself.

"You intrigue me, little one," Fabian remarked in amusement. "You are far more spirited and worldly-wise than any human girl I have seen. I like that fierceness in your eyes, they are quite lovely. And you make the urge to taste you strong in me."

"Taste me?" Her voice held utter bewilderment. Rhea had dealt with a lot of men like this Fabian in the capital before, she had beaten them to near death and walked away unharmed. However, beating a strong male Dragon was something she dared not try to do.

"Not now, of course, as you’ve just been wed to our ex mighty Dragon. But sometime in the future, I may persuade you to my bed." His smile was taunting and arrogant. "I can be very persuasive, as you well observe."

Rhea inhaled sharply. "You must be high to think I will ever have an affair with you or anybody else."

Standing at the far end of the hall. Draven noticed from the balcony that his wife was conversing with a man who he somewhat recognized but didn’t know his identity. Although a casual observer could not have read the expression on Rhea’s carefully blank face, Draven knew her too well to know she didn’t like the man’s company.

"Zack," Draven asked casually, "who is that man?"

Zack followed his gaze. "The blue haired man speaking with your wife?"

"Yes."

"That man is Fabian Lyndhurst, the son of Eldric Lyndhurst, one of my father’s court members. You should warn Rhea to be wary of him, he is known for being a womanizer." Zack explained nonchalantly.

"Fabian Lyndhurst," Draven repeated, studying the tall musclar, blue-haired man. There was no doubt in his mind that he was the same Dragon who had tried to attack Rhea that night, but by chance the man had slipped away and Draven hadn’t been able to go after him because he had been weakened that night.

"The youngest of three sons," Zack informed him, "and perhaps the most accomplished of them all. Women crawl at his feet as they claimed he gave them chills."

Draven was far more interested in giving him chills. "Audacious bastard," he said beneath his breath. Whether Fabian was apologizing for what he did that night or, more likely, shamelessly hitting on Rhea in a public place, Draven was going to set him straight on a few points.

Zack frowned, "I don’t think your bride is enjoying his company. You should_" Zack turned only to find the spot beside him empty; Draven had left. Zack drank the rest of the wine in his glass and turned away from the activities going on in the hall, as he knew someone was about to get some beating.

***

After taking his leave from Rhea, Fabian Lyndhurst wandered away from the hall looking for another female to hit on. He paused at a massive gold-framed mirror at the entrance and preened himself. When he was satisfied that his appearance was wonderful, he strolled out to another balcony opposite the one Draven had been standing, to flirt with two women he had noticed from the hall.

The night was illuminated by the moonlight with snow flakes falling to the grounds, the air laced with the whistling sounds of the wind as well as the flexible strains of music from inside the hall.

Filled with anticipation, Fabian considered the unexpected liking he had on this plain human girl. He had never had such strong urge to taste a woman before, because they always crawl at his feets. And once he was finished with a woman, he had no further interest in her. But this one, he thought, he would enjoy her to the fullest. And strangely he had no interest with the women on the balcony anymore.

As Fabian stood on one side of the balcony, a shadow suddenly seemed to fly at him from nowhere. Fabian had no chance to make a sound before he was brutally slammed against the wall.

Consumed by the thought of who dared attack him, he wanted to move, but he felt something hard press against his throat_an unyielding muscular arm that threatened to crush the life from him. And when he looked up, he met a pair of piercing blue eyes.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing, El-Dezeus?!" He demanded furiously as he tried to free himself from Draven, but the arm pressing his throat was unyielding, he seemed to have all the restraint of a ravening animal.

Fabian attempted to transform to his Dragon form, but Draven had pressed down on his weak point that make it impossible for him to shift forms.

"I see your human form is just as weak as your Dragon," Draven growled. "You dared attacked her once, and now you even dare hit on her in public."

"You_"

"I know you think I am weak, Fabian, but I am sorry to break it to you, I am only weak to fire not ice. If you dare speak to my wife again, or even glance at her, I won’t hesitate to rip out your core."

"Draven..." Fabian tried to struggle. "I... am not hitting on her..."

"It better be that way, because I am nothing close to calm when it concerns Rheanna. I never want to see you again, understand?"

Somehow Fabian managed to nod, conveying acceptance in any way he could. Just as he thought Draven wouldn’t let him go, he was abruptly released.

He fell to the floor, gasping and choking, rolling onto his side. When he finally managed to recover himself, Draven’s brutal form had disappeared from the balcony.