I was paying all my attention to Arvid, focusing completely on him. We both blushed intensely like awkward teenagers—clearly new to all of this, to navigating romantic intimacy. He cleared his throat nervously several times, and we both looked like ripe tomatoes, our faces burning with embarrassment.
"So… after I kissed your forehead— you kind of went completely crazy," he began, his voice unsteady. "I was suddenly grabbed by my shirt, dragged forcefully into the bedroom—before I even knew what was happening or could process it, you ripped my shirt apart with your bare hands, tearing the fabric. I was genuinely worried you might hurt yourself doing that, injure your hands on the material, but before I could say anything to stop you—you, um, pushed me down onto the bed, climbed on top of me, straddling me, and started kissing me passionately. All over my face, my neck, everywhere."
His voice trembled noticeably as he recounted the events. It was as if he was reliving the whole intense moment again in vivid detail, experiencing it freshly.
But I, for one, absolutely couldn't believe what I was hearing. I did all that? Really? Sure, I could be naturally dominant in romantic situations—I had initiated both kisses with Salime back when we were together, and I genuinely liked leading, liked having power and control over the person receiving my affection. But still—not to this extreme extent. Never this aggressively. And I was furious, genuinely angry with myself that I couldn't remember any of it. He must have been completely flustered, probably teary-eyed and blushing beautifully underneath me, vulnerable and wanting, and yet… I remembered absolutely nothing. What a terrible pity. I smacked my lips together in frustration at the lost memory.
I honestly didn't know how to respond appropriately to this confession. What should I even ask? What could I say?
Oh Gods—maybe he hadn't liked it at all? Had I done something horrible to him without his proper consent? The thought made me feel sick.
"Were you uncomfortable with what I did? I'm so sorry I did that to you without asking permission first, without your consent," I said sincerely, genuinely apologetic and concerned.
But he immediately shook his head in vigorous denial, blushing even harder if that was possible, his face practically glowing.
"I… I liked that," he mumbled quietly. I couldn't hear him properly over the wind, so I asked again, leaning closer, "What did you say?"
"I liked it," he repeated, this time more clearly and distinctly—though he only risked glancing directly at me for a single heartbeat before turning away shyly again, unable to maintain eye contact.
"I liked it a lot, actually. I was in heaven for a second there—it felt incredible."
My eyes widened in shock at his honest confession.
Had I somehow corrupted this pure, innocent soul? Turned him into something he wasn't before?
My Gods, please forgive me for my sins.
"But… it felt really weird and wrong when one of your eyes suddenly transformed into your Dragon eye—the way it does when you use the Dragon Command on people," he continued, his expression growing more serious. "The pupil became a vertical slit and scales appeared. Then you said something strange about making a hatchling, about needing to create offspring."
I froze completely, my entire body going rigid.
The world around me went utterly silent, all sound disappearing.
It wasn't me who said that.
I wanted to scream the truth.
It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it wasn't me.
But I kept myself calm on the surface, maintaining my composure through sheer willpower. Without revealing the absolute whirlwind of panic and terror tearing through me internally, I asked as casually as I could manage:
"What happened next? After I said that?"
"Uhm… I told you that we needed to get properly married in the South first in order to do that, to consummate our marriage," he explained. "That it was too early and that we should just cuddle together first, take things slowly. You made an annoyed tsking sound but then patted my head affectionately and called me smart—and then we just went to sleep in each other's arms."
Arvid's ash-gray eyes searched mine intently, clearly confused by my strange reaction and intense focus.
I see now.
That's what happened.
Dragons were law-binders by their very nature—it was fundamental to what they were.
If a specific condition was set and agreed upon, they had to obey it absolutely, unable to break the terms.
Until the official wedding ceremony in the South, Arvid was completely safe from her clutches, protected by his own clever words.
Until both conditions were properly met, she couldn't fully return and take control.
I exhaled slowly and carefully, deliberately deciding to keep Arvid completely in the dark about the true nature of what was happening—for now, at least. He didn't need to know yet.
But this raised terrifying questions: Had the curse actually activated early, before its time?
Even before we had consummated the marriage physically?
This wasn't good at all. This was dangerous.
"I hurt you when I said I didn't remember what happened, didn't I?" I asked gently, reaching up to ruffle his soft hair affectionately. My smile was well-practiced and convincing, carefully hiding my inner panic and terror.
"I'm truly sorry for that," I told him sincerely.
"Apology accepted… but that requires a proper hug as payment," he said shyly, a small smile forming.
I immediately opened my arms wide in invitation, and he dove into them eagerly, wrapping his arms around me. He rested his head comfortably on my shoulder—thankfully, we were nearly the same height, so it wasn't awkward. Otherwise it would have been uncomfortable. I patted his back soothingly in slow circles, and his body gradually relaxed completely under my gentle touch, all tension leaving him.
We stayed like that for a long time, holding each other under the vast carpet of stars above us, finding comfort in the embrace.
---
But my inner battle, my real struggle, had only just begun in earnest.
After sending Arvid to sleep peacefully in his own separate quarters, ensuring he was settled, I sent a trusted maid to fetch Katherine for me urgently—along with a sharp knife.
When Katherine arrived at my room looking understandably confused, I let her in quickly and closed the door behind her.
"My queen, why do you need a knife?" she asked with clear concern in her voice, her eyes darting between me and the blade.
I didn't answer her question at first. Instead, I gestured for her to sit down on the comfortable couch near the fireplace.
"I need a witness for something important," I said simply, my tone serious.
She looked even more confused and worried now.
"A witness… for what exactly, my queen?"
I didn't miss the slight trembling of her hands in her lap.
"For a dangerous ritual I'm about to perform," I explained. "In ancient Rothiya, it's called Alecki Dragon—the Summoning of the Dragon. It requires blood from a knife and fire to work."
I walked purposefully toward the large fireplace that warmed the entire room with its crackling flames.
"Summoning the Dragon? My queen— that's absolutely taboo, forbidden!" Katherine said urgently, standing up quickly in panic. "You mustn't do this!"
"That's precisely why you're here," I said calmly. "You'll be the witness to what happens. If I give in completely to the overwhelming influence of the dragon, if I lose myself, you will kill me immediately with the knife you brought. Then you'll tell everyone I went mad, lost my mind. Blame it on madness."
I paused, letting that sink in.
"Or you can help me in a different way—by carefully documenting everything that comes out of the Dragon's mouth, every word it says. Will you do that for me? Will you help me?"
She was shaking like a leaf in a storm, her whole body trembling, but after a long moment she nodded hesitantly in agreement.
I extended my hand for the knife, and she gave it to me obediently, placing the handle in my palm.
"The ink and paper are over there on the desk," I instructed, pointing. "Remember—no matter what happens, the dragon cannot physically harm you because of the binding rules, so don't be afraid. You're safe."
She nodded quickly, moving to prepare the writing materials.
I approached the fire carefully and opened the metal safety frame that protected the room. The flames immediately burst upward dramatically, leaping higher as if sensing what was coming, what I was about to do. I pressed the sharp knife to my finger and slit it open, watching blood well up. I let a single drop of my blood fall directly into the fire. It sizzled sharply and loudly when it touched the flame, the sound echoing.
Then it happened, just as I knew it would.
A massive fireball rose suddenly from the fireplace, swelling rapidly in size as it manifested into something ancient and terrible—something that should not exist in this world. Slowly, deliberately, it shaped itself into a full dragon: four-footed and reptilian, covered completely in blazing scales and crowned with curved horns, its entire body made of living fire. It breathed out a powerful wave of flame in clear annoyance at being summoned.
"Why have you summoned me, mortal?" it demanded, its voice echoing unnaturally.
---
Katherine was visibly still shaken when we finally left Ferne behind and continued our journey to the South the next day.
Well, last night had certainly been eventful and traumatic for her.
After saying her tearful farewells to her devastated family, watching them cry and beg one last time, Katherine climbed reluctantly into the carriage with me. Arvid chose to ride beside us on his powerful horseback instead of joining us inside, hovering protectively around me like a shy, loyal shadow. Every now and then he would glance at me through the window, his cheeks slightly pink, his eyes constantly searching for mine and lighting up when our gazes met. I loved the attention and devotion.
When he eventually got caught up in an animated conversation with his soldiers, discussing military matters, Katherine leaned toward me conspiratorially.
"He should know the truth, my queen," she whispered urgently. "About what's happening to you."
I looked at her directly and smiled—but it was not a warm smile.
"Do you not trust your Queen's judgment? Will you let an old, stupid dragon decide your fate and mine?"
She opened her mouth immediately in protest, but I pressed a finger firmly to my lips to silence her.
"No one should know about this, Katherine.
No one," I told her with absolute finality.