“I meant it,” he continued. “I’m sorry. And I’m not mad at you. ...Can we talk? Not here, but...”

Cessilia turned her head, just enough that he could see her eye glaring at him between her drenched locks.

“We’ll t-talk when you’re d-done feeling sorry j-just for yourself.”

Those words took Ashen by surprise, and he didn’t react to it fast enough to prevent her from leaving again. He wanted to call her again and quickly tried to think of something to say.

“Your scales.”

Cessilia stopped again, just a couple of steps away from the door. This time, though, she didn’t look back. Ashen took a deep breath.

“...They weren’t black before. Cece’s scales weren’t dark. ...Cessilia, what happened to your dragon?”

He saw her shoulders quickly rise from her breathing, but it might have been due to the storm and the wind blowing against her body. She was hesitating, but before Cessilia could answer, the door she was trying to get to slowly opened.

Jisel’s appearance cut their conversation short. His mistress stood there, carrying an umbrella and a towel, glancing at the two of them. Despite Cessilia glaring at her, the redhead kept her usual mischievous smile on, unphased. Then, Cessilia directed her glare at Ashen and stormed off, angrily walking past his mistress.

Cessilia walked back into the hall drenched, upset, and very disturbed.

Luckily, another number was going on in the middle of the banquet, and despite the storm raging, no one seemed to notice her but Yassim, who hurried to her from a few steps away, visibly worried.

“My lady!” he whispered. “You’re completely drenched! Are you alright?”

“Cessi, what the heck?” Tessa appeared behind him. “You were outside in that storm?”

For a few seconds, she couldn’t speak, completely disoriented. Her head felt a bit dizzy, and she just shook it, her voice too tight to speak. During that time, Yassim’s eye fell on the fur cloak on her shoulders, and he glanced toward the throne, where the King was also coming back to his seat. Just like the Princess, he was drenched and sat quietly with a sullen expression.

“Yassim, is there a room where we can take a break?” Tessa muttered. “I think Cessi could use a break... and a dry towel or two.”

“No.”

Cessilia pushed her cousin’s hand away and directed her eyes to the center of the banquet hall, where another one of the candidates was bowing to the crowd.

“Yassim, p-please introduce me. I want t-to do my p-performance now.”

“Are you sure, my lady?” Yassim asked, a bit worried. “You’re completely drenched.”

“Yes. N-now.”

Yassim and Tessa exchanged a look, but they could tell the Princess was set on her decision. Not only that, but she was wearing the King’s fur cape he had on previously, and they could roughly guess something had happened between the two. Despite the entertainment provided by another one of the candidates in the middle of the room, it was clear the King’s absence hadn’t gone unnoticed, and now, more glances were going their way, trying to make sense out of the drenched Princess’ short absence. Some were whispering and not even trying to conceal their suspicious stares, even when Tessa glared back. Perhaps it was indeed better for her cousin to take a stance now.

“...Fine,” muttered Tessa. “I was getting bored of this shitshow anyway. We might as well provide the entertainment ourselves...”

Above them, the sounds of thunder got louder, and a few worried glances went to the windows, the rain pelting against the glass. The storm was getting worse outside, and some servants quietly went to check the doors to the balcony, the same ones Cessilia had just come back from, to make sure they would hold. It was clear no one could go outside now.

Nobody in the room would have considered it anyway. Instead, they were all absorbed in the foreigner’s strange appearance, and the way her body slowly moved toward the center of the banquet hall. Despite being drenched, Cessilia had lost none of her beauty, and if anything, the droplets running down her dress made it even shinier. The fur cloak she had kept on was also gathering some attention, with some people glancing the King’s way before going back to her.

Cessilia wasn’t looking at any of them, though. Instead, she had her eyes on the floor, as if she deliberately avoided staring at anyone, and kept walking until she found herself in the center of the room. Only then did she finally raise her head to glance at the audience.

“Introducing Lady Cessilia, Imperial Princess of the Dragon Empire,” said Yassim’s voice behind her, loud enough for all to hear. “First daughter of the War God and Water Goddess.”

“...M-most of you already kn-know who I am,” said Cessilia.

“A stutterer!” shouted one of the candidates with a smirk.

Cessilia immediately glared back, her green eyes glowing with a fire this time. The woman who had spoken tried not to act scared, crossing her arms with a smirk on, but she still took a couple of steps back. She was the one who had performed just before, but Cessilia hadn’t met this one yet. Perhaps she was related to one of the other girls. This was their first time seeing each other, so this woman had simply decided to insult her in the open, showing that Cessilia was not welcome there. She wasn’t alone. Several chuckles and whispers were heard throughout the room, showing their unspoken support. However, this wasn’t enough to intimidate Cessilia. Even Tessandra behind her smirked.

“...I d-do stutter,” Cessilia retorted, “b-but that’s not all th-there is to know about-t me.”

She took a step forward, staring at the audience as if she was daring anyone to speak up again. Despite her appearance, there was definitely an aura of power around her. Because she was taller than most women and also wearing heels, she easily dominated the room. Cessilia took the time to glance all around the room, as if she wanted to remember each face.

“It is t-true I am a d-daughter of the D-Dragon Empire. I am th-the Empress’ niece and the War G-God’s daughter, b-but here, I am only a foreigner who c-came to t-take the t-title of Qu-Queen.”

She stepped to the side to glance at the people who were behind her previously. No one dared to speak up anymore, they were all absorbed by her deep voice and the confidence that radiated through her. Cessilia slowly moved her shoulders, making the fur cape fall from its resting place and land at her feet. She was looking in the opposite direction of the King, but unlike her, many people stared toward their monarch.

“You asked the c-candidates to d-display their t-talents here. If your g-goal is to find someone who c-can be worthy of b-becoming this K-Kingdom’s Queen, th-then I will show you how serious I am about th-this.”

She stepped on the fur coat, and raised her hands, showing her scales for all to see. Several people gasped in awe or fear. Perhaps some of them hadn’t realized what was covering her skin or had mistaken it for fabric or makeup. Right now, though, it was impossible to be mistaken any longer. The dark scales were very visible under the lights, even more so whenever Cessilia moved. Each time she wiggled her fingers, the scales would move along to follow her movement, showing they were genuine. As if it wasn’t enough, she rubbed her palm against her stomach, where the thousands of little pieces of glass had been sewn into the fabric. Her thick scales against the glass generated a sharp, high-pitched sound that made many people grimace.

“J-just like everyone in my family, I was b-born with the D-Dragon’s B-Blood. My b-body is d-different from yours. I c-can heal faster. I am naturally stronger t-too.”

“...This is ridiculous,” scoffed the candidate from earlier. “So you have snake skin. Dragons may be real, but they have no power here, foreigner. You can’t show off if you have nothing to back up your claim. This is not a talent befitting a real queen!”

Cessilia immediately turned her head toward her.

“I have more p-power than you,” Cessilia retorted, glaring back at that woman. “I am getting t-tired of you underestimating me b-because you d-don’t know me. You th-think I am weak b-because I stutter. You th-think you’re b-better because you c-can sing or d-dance. You think you c-can hurt me and scare me int-to going b-back.”

Above their heads, the sky suddenly thundered as if to support her words. Many people turned their scared eyes toward the sky, but Cessilia and the candidate were still glaring at each other.

“You’re all show,” spat the other candidate. “You and your friend have been acting as if you are above everyone else, haven’t you? Do you think anyone would want a queen from a country that oppressed us?”

“You attacked the Dragon Empire,” scoffed Tessa. “You came looking for a fight, and against the Dragon Empire’s War God, no less. What, were you expecting to be sent home with gifts, perhaps?”

“You guys are nothing without your dragons!” the candidate shouted back. “It’s easy to win a war when you have the most dangerous predator in this world at your service!”

Cessilia’s eyes went beyond the candidate’s shoulder, glaring at Ashen. The King knew right away what she meant to say. He had mentioned the very same thing, just before. That with her father’s dragon, his war to claim back his Kingdom would have been over in a matter of days... Ironically, it was one of his own citizens that was speaking against that idea right now. Cessilia didn’t even have to do anything. She even faintly smiled, turning back to the brazen woman.

“...It’s t-true,” she said. “Th-things are easier when you have a d-dragon. Wars are easy t-to win. B-but some b-battles can’t be won on open g-ground, c-can they?”

Just as she said that, another loud noise from outside took the audience by surprise. This time, they weren’t so sure it was the thunder. Some strange noises were coming from all over the roof, sounds that didn’t seem to quite match the storm outside. Not only that, but after a few more seconds of sending worried glances all around, a few people noticed how some windows seemed now strangely shielded from the rain that was still pouring on others...

“I d-didn’t come here to p-play,” continued Cessilia, ignoring them. “I d-did not c-come to p-play p-petty games with other g-girls. I c-came here b-because this country needs a q-queen.”

“...You sound bloody arrogant to me,” hissed Safia this time, not far from the other candidate.  “Aren’t you the one parading around with all that gold? What happened, Princess? Ready to buy our Kingdom with all of your daddy’s gold?”

“It must sound familiar to you,” Tessandra retorted, “and unlike yours, the gold we wear, we own ourselves! I guess working and earning your own money must still be quite a strange concept for a damn lazy b–”

“T-Tessa,” Cessilia said, raising her hand to cut her off.