e Winte

sed door until my eyes ached. The rage subsi

mmand. The golden sigil of the Dragon God seemed to burn

mmediately bent to pick it up. I couldn

orry. "My lady, the lord... is he really

n," I said flatly, as if dis

ion. "It's so unfair! After every

here dragon blood decides everything, there h

oed from the courtyard. He was argui

was in the courtyard, pacing like a caged beas

! Who does she think she is?" Er

Isn't it chaotic enough? Don't forget the Win

t the door, a cold smile touching my lips. See, th

rned to my room. A clear p

ll Lord Ward that I accept

red at me in shock

to believe I have yielded. A man who thinks he has won grows careless, and I need time to set the pi

te-that was a thing only the Dragon God Himself could ordain. This was the severance of a contractual marriage, the binding my family's gold had bought and his betraya

, you... you'll have nothing to do with House Ward! And this h

th them. The ritual is my way out-but not yet. First,

opened an ornate jewelry box. Inside were not jewels,

eager to be the lady of this

all the keys and ledgers for the

rd, the internal affairs of Ward M

, obeyed my command a

are you really giving the stewardsh

ld just to stay afloat." I looked out the window, my tone flat. "Clara, do you think a common woman who can barely

n Clara's face, repl

orch in a room full of gunpowder. A time bomb that wo

e. I accept. But I will make him watch as h

f peace. I was no longer a prisoner awaiting judgm

slowly. It was from my homeland, i

ed, a strange exci

nd. He... his face turned green wit

hing was going a

he beginning. The rea