Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 38: Get drunk

Chapter 38: Get drunk

Sila remained seated on the chilly floor without making any effort to change her position for a considerable amount of time. Meanwhile, Rhea had ceased her crying and simply stared at Sila’s solitary figure, unable to provide any words of comfort.

However, it was the cold-hearted Draven who unexpectedly shattered the somber silence, uttering, "I apologize, I was unaware it would result in his death..." His voice was soft and tinged with regret, yet his expression remained devoid of any emotions, displaying an unwavering indifference.

Sila remained silent for an extended period before she moved, lowering her head and running her hands over the spot where Rinus had laid a while ago. She picked up the sole item he had left behind: his black wristband. Clutching it tightly, she could feel the residual warmth enveloping her palm.

"I don’t hold you responsible; it wasn’t your fault," Sila whispered, her grip on the wristband causing her hand to turn pale. "It was my own fault." Her jaw tightened, her voice seeming to struggle to escape her throat as she uttered, "If I hadn’t insisted on curing him, he would still be alive." Tears streamed down her face, her body trembling as she sobbed, "It was all my fault!"

Rhea heard her words and clenched her fists tightly. She looked down on her hands, her mind endlessly repeating her cousin’s words. He wanted her to stop them in the capital? But who was she going to stop?

Rinus had died from a flame spell, and aside from Azure, no one else could cast such a spell. No one but him. Could it be that the man she’d looked up to all these years could really be this cruel enough to harm his own close friend? But why?

Rinus’ death couldn’t be blamed on Draven nor Sila, but...

"Why?!" Sila suddenly yelled jolting Rhea out of her thoughts, their eyes locked together.

"Why did Azure kill Rinus?!" She snapped angrily. But Rhea’s face paled for a moment, she couldn’t get a single word out and only stared back at the serpent.

Rhea eventually shook her head, Whispering softly, "I...I don’t know."

Nevertheless, the woman seemed infuriated by her response. Suddenly, dark scales emerged on her face as she swiftly seized Rhea’s shoulders and forcefully shook her, demanding, "You trusted him so much, why do you think he’d take his life? Tell me!"

Enduring the discomfort of Sila’s claws penetrating her skin, Rhea winced, fearing that her shoulders would be torn apart. Nonetheless, before the woman could unleash further harm, Draven intervened, swiftly extracting Rhea from Sila’s grasp and shielding her protectively behind him. With assertiveness, he addressed the enraged serpent,

"I understand that you’re upset, but I won’t allow you to hurt her like that. Let’s handle this calmly."

Sila gritted her teeth, "Calmly? How can I stay calm when your wife is not telling me what she knows? Rinus is dead because of Azure, and you want me to stay calm?!"

Rhea, who was blocked from Sila’s veiw by Draven’s broad back, saw as he took charge, defending her, and a mix of emotions washed over her face. This dragon was unpredictable, he hurt her, but now he was trying to protect her from getting hurt.

What a strange person, she thought.

However, Rhea looked on in confusion. She recalled all the times Azure stood by Rinus despite his arrogance, they were like brothers. Azure was the kind of person who would do anything for the people he cared about. What reason would he have for harming his fellow fire controller?

Rhea subconsciously muttered softly, "Azure is not the culprit, there must be a misunderstanding."

Sila sneered, "There is no misunderstanding, he is the culprit, he killed my Rinus!"

"I don’t know...but I believe he wouldn’t do something like that to my cousin."

Draven’s gaze moved onto Rhea, his expression shifted slightly, a mix of surprise and pain crossing his face, but he maintained his silence.

Sila remained motionless in the same spot, gripping the wristband tightly. She refrained from speaking for some time, her eyes rimmed with redness and swelling from her tears. After a few moments, she spoke with clenched teeth, declaring, "I swear on my existence that I will seek revenge for Rinus’ death. I will uncover the truth and identify the person responsible..." Her gaze locked onto Rhea’s, as she continued, "I will consume him alive, and make sure that his demise is filled with painful torment."

After saying that, Sila didn’t spare the couple another glance and turned around to leave the remote house. Rhea watched as her lonely figure disappeared from view without even turning back.

Rhea sank to the ground in anguish, wrapping her arms around her knees and burying her head within them. Her appearance was pitiful, torn between whom to confide in and who to consider a true friend. The weight of her cousin’s untimely demise, with no trace of his body, still burdened her heart.

Moreover, Sila was now consumed by a burning desire for revenge. Rhea didn’t know what to do now, everything just seemed to weigh on her heart like a heavy stone.

Rhea remained in that state for an extended period of time until Draven’s deep voice sounded in her ears,

"What makes you believe in Azure to this extent?" He asked softly.

Rhea slowly lifted her head up and met his piercing blue eyes. She probably needed someone to ask her this question right now. She dipped her head and looked off into the distance, she smiled faintly,

"It might be my obsession with him..." She murmured, then said, "In the capital, I was known as the city professional thief, the rebellious second daughter of the Villden household. Everytime something got lost and I happened to be around, I’d be accused of stealing it. I would be punished for something I didn’t do and no one would stand up for me, instead they’d all call me names.

"Yes, I admit, I do steal sometimes when I wasn’t given food at home..." She paused and chuckled softly.

But Draven just quietly listened without saying anything, however he could detect the hurt in her voice despite her laughter.

Rhea continued, "A day came when my step mother and sisters finally decided to take me out with them to an event for the fire controllers. Since I have never been to such events because I don’t possess flame, I was happy to go along with them on that day, however... something precious and valuable got stolen in event and I got accused of stealing it." Her expression darkened as if the memories weren’t something she wanted to remember, but despite that she resumed to speak,

"Oriana, the host of the event and also a close relative of the infamous Alina of the capital, stood before me and accused me of stealing her valuable item. I tried to defend myself, but the guests all ganged up on me and agreed I was the culprit. Oriana threatened to burn me alive if I don’t admit to my crime. But then why should I admit to something I didn’t do? My temper flared up, I couldn’t take her shitty accusion anymore, so..."

Draven raised an eyebrow, "So?"

Rhea smirked, "I punched her hard on the nose until she bled." She said with a straight face.

"..." Draven titled his head and glanced at Rhea with slight amusement, "That’s more like you. I wouldn’t have believed it if you didn’t raise your hand." He chuckled softly.

Hearing his soft chuckling, Rhea looked up at him from where she sat. She’d never heard him laugh in amusement like this.

She resumed, "But that got me into more trouble. I was taken to the middle of the city where I’d be executed for hitting a fire controller and for stealing..." Rhea paused as she recalled how none of her sisters or step mother stood up to defend her. Her two devilish sisters were even smirking at her misfortune.

"Everybody agreed for me to be executed. When everyone was against me, only one person stood up to protect me and defended me. Azure, because he believed I didn’t steal it. He saved me from being killed. He’d said,

"if anyone dares to lay a finger on her, then that person will have to go through me!"

Rhea met Draven’s gaze, "Anyone could do that to Rinus, but it wasn’t Azure. Call me blind, but I won’t believe he did it without a solid proof."

Their eyes locked together with neither of them speaking again. The pair just remained in the small living room with golden light of the sunset illuminating the room through the large opened windows.

After awhile, Rhea spoke, "Do you have plans to return to the Qieldan residence?" She asked. Rhea didn’t know why she asked, but for some reasons she just felt the need to know.

"I can’t...As Draven El-Dezeus, I don’t have a place to call home in Birhhan. My entire existence has been a charade, a lie. I’ve been running, hiding from the shadow stalkers, never having a chance to truly live. Only Jurian’s essence had made me live till now, but now it’s gone..." He remarked nonchalantly, but Rhea could sense his sadness.

Rhea’s expression softened, empathy radiating from her eyes. Her heart ached as she realized the gravity of his situation. She knew that he had been living a lie, and now that his disguise had faded, he wouldn’t be able to pretend to be the general. It would only be a matter of days before the shadow stalkers would detect his presence. Right now, nowhere was safe for him in Birhhan, unless he returned to his realm.

"Draven..." Rhea called softly as she stood up to her feet.

Draven slowly turned to face her, his blue eyes looking more alive, just like everytime she addressed him by his real name. She walked towards him and took his hand gently. He gave her a questioning look,

"Come with me." She said. And without any question he stood up from the chair and followed her. Rhea lead him towards another room.

She opened the door revealing a small, cozy study, adorned with bookshelves and a comfortable couch. She walked over to a cabinet, opening it to reveal an array of fine old wine bottles.

Rhea smiled, "Since we will soon be parting our ways. Let’s forget about our problems and grudges, at least for awhile."

Rhea selected a few bottles and placed them on a table. She found two glasses and poured wine into them, the aroma filling the small room, she handed him one glass, the liquid shimmering in the dim light.

Rhea had mistakingly came across this room when she was looking for Sila, and right now she needed something to help her clear her mind from repeating the scene of Rinus’ death. And what better way was it to do that if not drinking until she could no longer think?

She raised her glass towards Draven,"Let’s drink until we get drunk!"