The Omega Dragon

Chapter 8

I stood frozen, uncertain about how to respond to the brothers' accusations. The notion that they believed I harbored ulterior motives for being here was preposterous, yet fear silenced my thoughts.

Zephyr's thunderous demand, "Answer my question," reverberated through the room, causing me to flinch. The weight of his words made me tremble in my own dress, amplifying the tension in the air.

His heavy breathing hinted at restrained frustration, as though he was on the verge of unleashing something powerful upon me. The palpable tension hung in the air, making the room feel constricted.

Then, Arthur's disdainful voice cut through the silence, "You shouldn't be so worried about this mere commoner." Even without looking, I sensed the piercing intensity of their gazes fixed upon me, adding to the suffocating atmosphere.

Zephyr's contemptuous sneer followed, "I just don't know what is wrong with Kealan. Why would he bring a stranger into the kingdom?" His disapproving words echoed, leaving me standing in the midst of their judgment, unable to defend myself.

My mind raced, desperately searching for the right words to dispel their suspicions. The brothers’ accusations lingered, leaving me feeling defenseless against their scrutiny. I took a deep breath, attempting to steady myself before responding.

“I-I mean no harm,” I stammered, my voice quivering. “Kealan offered me shelter, and I had no intentions of causing any trouble. I am just a traveler passing through.”

Zephyr’s gaze remained stern, unmoved by my words. The room felt as if it were closing in on me, and I struggled to meet their eyes. Arthur’s spiteful tone cut through again, “A traveler, you say? What reason could Kealan possibly have for trusting a stranger like you?”

I hesitated, my mind grappling with the intricacies of Kealan’s decision to welcome me into the kingdom. The weight of their skepticism pressed down on me, making it difficult to articulate a convincing explanation.

Zephyr’s impatience flared, “Speak the truth! What are you really doing here?” His demand hung in the air, echoing the unease that enveloped the room.

I stood frozen, unsure of what to say or do. The belief of the brothers that I harbored a sinister motive for coming here seemed absurd, yet fear silenced my thoughts, preventing me from voicing my innocence and concerns about the consequences.

With a loud roar, Zephyr demanded, "Answer my question," making me flinch as I shivered in my dress. Zephyr's heavy breathing hinted at restrained frustration, as if he held back the urge to unleash something upon me.

Arthur chimed in with disdain, "You shouldn't be so worried about this mere commoner." Even without staring at them, I could feel the sharp gazes fixed on me, intensifying the discomfort.

Zephyr sneered, "I just don't know what is wrong with Kealan, why would he bring a stranger into the kingdom," shaking his head disapprovingly.

Sighing, I made my way to the exit, and Arthur's ominous muttering caught my attention, "You shouldn't be worried about that peasant, whether she has a motive or not, we are gonna destroy her before she destroys us." His emphasis on "destroy" echoed loudly, as if he intended for me to hear his bold declaration.

Increasing my pace, I reached for the heavy door, twisting the doorknob before exiting the hallway. Leaning against the door, I breathed heavily, questioning myself about the unfolding situation and feeling anxiety creeping in. Footsteps approached, prompting me to run toward my room—the only place in this kingdom where I felt safe.

I entered my room, hastily closing the door behind me. "What should I do? No one is ready to accept me here, and I don't even know what Kealan actually wants from me," I muttered to myself before breaking down into tears. The overwhelming loneliness and emptiness inside me seemed unbearable.

Tears streamed down my face as I realized how accustomed I had become to a life of torment, forgetting the sensation of happiness. The memory of my mother brought a fleeting smile to my face, and I found myself calling out to her, "Mom." My lips slightly parted as more salty tears rolled down my cheeks.

The room felt suffocating, closing in on my supposed sanctuary. My glossy teary eyes landed on a piece of red paper on my bed, sparking curiosity about what could be written on it.

I slowly stood up from the corner where I was sitting and made my way to the red piece of paper. Upon reaching it, I gently picked it up from my bed and proceeded to read what was written on it in pink ink.

It read, “Come to my chamber,” from Lord Kealan. I didn't understand the sudden surge of emotions, but an overwhelming urge to break things came over me. Crumbling the piece of paper, I threw it into the trash bin next to the door.

"Why does he want me to come to his chamber?" I uttered out loud, feeling irritated by everything surrounding me.

"Could it be that he wants to tell me why he announced our wedding suddenly without asking for my opinion?" Numerous assumptions crawled into my mind, leaving me unable to pinpoint the main reason for Kealan summoning me to his chambers.

I hesitated on whether to go or not. Although I had been here for a couple of weeks, I still didn't know my way around. The mansion was vast and spacious, capable of fitting millions of people, yet I got shouted at for entering the wrong places. The expectation that I should know every corner immediately added to my reluctance.

Even though I felt unsure and frustrated, I felt like I had to go to Lord Kealan's chamber. His request was important, even if I didn't know why. As I thought about what to do, deciding whether to find my way through the big mansion, anxiety got to me.

"I have to go," I said quietly, deciding to confront whatever was in Kealan's chamber. I took a deep breath, trying to get ready for whatever unknown thing awaited me.