My Husband Gave Me to the Dragon God—So I Became His Bride

I had finally brewed a potion that could restore my sight. Unfortunately, the effects would last no more than 5 days. When I heard Lance Stanford had been summoned to the royal palace by Henry Morgan, my father, I couldn't wait any longer. I sneaked in, eager to see my family for the first time in months. But just as I reached for the door, I heard a familiar voice from inside. "Lance, only you can help me!" My body went stiff. My fingers froze in midair. Through the c***k in the door, I saw someone who was supposed to be serving the Dragon God in the frozen North—Bella Morgan, my stepsister. The woman my husband had always wanted but could never have. She was back. Bella was clinging to Lance, sobbing into his chest. "The Dragon God's territory is freezing! And Nova barely pays any attention to me. I can hardly eat or sleep properly. If this keeps up, I'm going to die!" She had actually fled the Dragon God's territory. How could she possibly be this reckless? Everyone knew the stories about Nova, the Dragon God. They said one sneeze from him could wipe an entire kingdom off the map. No one dared imagine the consequences of making him angry. A year ago, Nova had sent down a divine decree demanding that my father offer him the most beautiful princess in the kingdom. No one had ever been personally chosen by Nova before. Bella was thrilled. As the kingdom's most celebrated beauty, Bella had grown up being adored and spoiled by everyone around her. She climbed into the carriage bound for the North, fully convinced that winning Nova's heart would be easy. But a year later, she came crawling back, looking like she'd been dragged through hell. The girl who had spent her entire life being treated like a princess had been ignored, neglected, and humiliated by Nova. I watched Lance look at Bella with obvious pain in his eyes. "I want you to stay too," he said softly. "But what about the Dragon God?" Then Henry spoke from his seat above them, "There is another princess in this kingdom. Annie can go in Bella's place and serve the Dragon God." I froze. Slowly, I turned my head toward Henry, unable to believe what I had just heard. Ever since Mary Woods had married into our family with Bella, Henry had favored Bella in everything. And now that Bella couldn't stand the hardship anymore and wanted to come home, Henry was willing to risk Nova's wrath just to send me to the North in her place to suffer for her. I was his biological daughter. Bella was just Henry's stepdaughter. So why? Why had everyone favored Bella for all these years while treating me like trash? Wasn't this my palace? Wasn't that my father? Wasn't Lance my husband? Then why was no one speaking up for me? I waited for Lance to turn Henry down. Instead, I watched him gently wipe away Bella's tears. It felt like someone had driven a knife straight through my chest. Then Lance spoke, "The Dragon God's eyesight hasn't been very good these past 6 months. If we make Annie drink a transformation potion, the Dragon God probably won't notice the difference." Tears poured down my face. My whole body shook as I leaned against the wall. Mary's eyes immediately lit up. "I can find someone to make that potion. But you'll have to convince Annie yourself. She only listens to you." Everyone knew how deeply I loved Lance. And everyone seemed to assume that I would compromise for him again. Bella looked at Lance with tears still clinging to her lashes, then kissed his cheek. "Lance, I knew you wouldn't want to watch me suffer. Without the warmth of the sun, I'll wither away and die!" Lance's expression hardened. "Annie pushed you into the water. You've been sick ever since. She owes you this, Bella." When we were 12, Bella killed my rabbit. During our argument, she fell into the lake. No one believed me when I said I hadn't pushed her. Lance didn't believe me either. He thought I was just making excuses. He shouted at me. "After Bella fell into the water, she started getting sick all the time. What, are you saying she deliberately ruined her own health just to frame you? The royal physician examined her. How could she possibly be faking it? And Bella has always told me to be nicer to you. Annie, you've really disappointed me!" Back then, I had opened my mouth, but no words came out. Physician Jones, who had examined me, worked for Mary. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes. I clamped a hand over my mouth, desperately trying not to make a sound. Then Lance continued, "Besides, Annie can't see anyway. The dark won't bother her." At that moment, it felt like my heart had been ripped apart. A cold chill spread through my entire body. 6 months ago, Lance had been gravely wounded and was on the verge of death. To save him, I had traded my eyes to a witch in exchange for a life-saving potion. And from that day on, I had never seen the light again. Had he really forgotten I lost my eyes because of him?