Friend? Rhea was taken aback. How could he be friends with Draven?
Draven’s smile was faint as he replied, using a tone Rhea had never heard him use with others before, "Life hasn’t been easy for me, Zack, and I can tell it hasn’t been for you either."
Prince Zachary chuckled softly, "You’re right, I have a lot to discuss with you about that." He turned to Ethan, who was standing by his side, and said, "Ethan, please go ahead. I would like to speak to my friend privately. And once again, inform our father to postpone his meeting with Draven until tomorrow. I have matters to discuss with him."
Ethan nodded and said, "Alright, I will convey your message to father." With that, Ethan left the room and the other servants followed suit.
When Rhea didn’t move to go with them and remained standing beside Draven, Prince Zachary’s eyes turned murderous as he glared at her with unspoken hatred. "You should leave us alone as well." He said sternly.
Rhea could tell from his expression and tone that the prince disliked her, possibly because she was human. However, she didn’t leave until Draven looked down at her, indicating that she should go. It seemed that he also didn’t want her there. With a nod, she exited the room.
As Rhea walked alone through the bright corridor, she couldn’t help but still wonder why the prince had looked at her in such a way. However, she didn’t have time to dwell on it when Ethan ran towards her after delivering his brother’s message to the king. He informed her that the king had agreed to meet them tomorrow and had also suggested that both of them move into Prince Zachary’s palace, as his doctor, Gail, would be treating her injuries.
Rhea breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that she wouldn’t have to see the king again today. As they continued walking in silence, Ethan cleared his throat. "Ahem, it appears that my brother and Draven have a lot of catching up to do. How about I show you around Prince Zachary’s palace so you can choose a room for yourself?" he proposed.
Rhea saw no issue with his offer, considering she had nothing to do there while Draven was with the prince. "Alright, let’s go find a room!"
***
In the room sat Draven and Zachary. Despite Zachary’s offer of fine dragon wine to discuss, Draven’s expression remained serious as he listened to his friend’s recent revelation, declining the wine.
"Zack, I truly owe you. But I don’t even know where to begin with my apologies. I’m sorry," Draven confessed, his face filled with regret.
Zachary faintly smiled and reassured him, "You have no need to apologize, Draven. It’s not your fault that I am in this state." However, Draven knew deep down that it was his fault for Zachary’s weakened dragon.
Zachary had been Draven’s friend for over a century. Although Draven rarely visited the east clan unless duty called, meanwhile Zachary frequently ventured into Draven’s realm. They had met one fateful night at a festival, where they became intoxicated and engaged in various reckless acts that were unbecoming of royalty.
Since then, Draven had formed a bond with Zachary, realizing they shared many similarities. Zachary was also one of the people who opposed Draven’s relationship with Alina a hundred years ago. At that time, Draven had nearly fought his friends due to his immense love for Alina, defending her against their suspicions.
Draven had insisted on keeping Alina by his side despite any objections. She was the woman he loved and the woman who he’d sworn would bear his children. His love for her was so strong that he disregarded what others said. He chose to ignore any signs that Alina may have been acting suspiciously before their wedding.
At that time, Zack accepted Draven’s decision to marry Alina because their friendship was more important to him than his dislike for her. He never spoke against her again.
Unfortunately, on the day of the wedding, when Alina used her magic to seal Draven’s realm and stabbed him. Zack had witnessed everything, using all his strength, he had tried to confront Alina that night. However, he was no match for her and she ended up weaking his dragon form with a spell. Since then, Zack had never been the same again and was unable to become the next king of the east clan due to his weakened state. He now relied on medicine to sustain his dragon form.
Hearing all of this only intensified Draven’s self-blame. If only he had listened to his friends and expelled Alina from his realm, none of this would have happened. His friend would not have suffered like this.
At this moment, Draven’s guilt only made him hate himself. He was responsible for a lot of deaths, and responsible for his friend condition. Although, Zack had tried to reassure him that it wasn’t his fault, Draven still blamed himself. He felt disgusted with himself to the point he wished he had never been king back then.
Draven’s eyes burned with tears, but he didn’t shed them. His fists clenched tightly to the point they trembled.
"Draven, it’s not your fault. As you can see I’m still alive." He said jokingly, but then when he recalled Rhea, who had came with Draven to their realm, Zack’s expression twitched. "But I hope you are not making the same mistake like you did a century ago by trusting another human."
Draven’s eyes snapped up to Zack, and without hesitation he blurted out, "She’s different, Rheanna is nothing like Alina." He defended.
However, his words only made Zack’s expression darken. "Defending her again?" He scoffed. Years ago, Draven had defended Alina when they tried to tell him she was not to be trusted and now again, he was defending another one.
"You don’t intend to make history repeat itself again, do you?" He asked.
That question made Draven feel a jab to his chest. How could history repeat itself when Rhea was nothing like Alina? For some reasons, he trusted that she’d never do anything to betray him, she had no reason to betray him. Though, he had only known her for five months, it was like he’d known her for hundred years.
"Zack... she’s not like her, I know it." He defended again. "She’s Rheanna, not Alina. And I’d appreciate it if you don’t scare her with your glares."
Zachary was surprised by Draven’s words. "I can’t believe you, Draven. You said the same thing to me when you introduced Alina to me. Are you really in love with another human after what happened to you?"
Draven was frozen by that question. His expression turned serious and cold. Love? That was something he never wanted to experience or let happen again. It was forbidden to him. He could never love someone again. What he felt for Rhea was not love, but rather fondness. His heart died the day Alina stabbed him. She killed him then.
Although he had felt desire when he saw Rhea earlier, he would never consider it love, but rather a normal feeling between opposite sexes.
Draven didn’t immediately respond to Zack. Instead, he grabbed the wine bottle and drank it all. It was impossible for him to love. He wasn’t in love with Rhea, he told himself. He dropped the bottle and said to Zack,
"I am not in love with her. I brought her here because she has something of mine. I have to keep her around until I take back what is mine. I have my reasons for bringing her here, and once that is done, she will naturally die without me having to kill her. I will never love again, never, Zack!"