In Elythera, Aphrodite had never gone anywhere beyond Ellariele. She had grown up there from childhood into adulthood. But today, she was no longer in Ellariele, the world of the Fairies. She had entered Dravaryn, the city of the Dragons, and was walking through it.
Aphrodite stepped into her room, followed by nearly ten ladies-in-waiting who had been waiting for her.
As soon as the door closed, Aphrodite stopped and turned around.
“What do you want?”
The ladies-in-waiting exchanged glances before the woman who appeared to be the most senior stepped forward.
“Our princess, we’re here to help you wash and put on your nightgown for your wedding night.”
Aphrodite fell silent.
“Wash?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Aphrodite frowned.
Since when did washing oneself require someone else’s help?
“I can do it myself.”
“We know, Your Highness.”
“Then you can leave.”
The ladies-in-waiting exchanged glances again.
“We’re sorry, Your Highness. We can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s part of the royal protocol of Valtharion.”
Aphrodite sighed.
Even something as simple as getting ready for bed was governed by rules in the Dragon Kingdom.
In the end, she had no choice but to let the ladies-in-waiting carry out their duties.
When they were finished, Aphrodite put on her bridal nightgown.
The soft white fabric wrapped simply around her body, adorned with delicate embroidery that kept her looking elegant even though the garment was meant only for sleeping.
The ladies-in-waiting tidied her hair one last time before bowing their heads.
“Good night, Your Highness.”
“Good night.”
One by one, they left the room.
The door finally closed.
Aphrodite let out a sigh of relief.
For the first time since morning, she was truly alone.
She slowly walked toward the window.
The curtains hadn’t been drawn yet.
From there, Valtharion looked completely different at night.
The sky was vast and clear.
The moon hung high among clusters of stars.
The towers of Dragon Palace rose like enormous shadows beneath the moonlight. In the distance, several points of light could be seen moving through the sky.
Dragons.
Aphrodite smiled faintly.
She had never seen a view like this before.
Her former home had beautiful forests, wildflowers growing freely, and rivers flowing between the trees.
But Valtharion had something different.
Power.
Grandeur.
And a wild sense of freedom beneath its sky.
Aphrodite was still absorbed in the view when her bedroom door suddenly opened.
A gust of wind swept inside.
Several rose petals decorating the bed scattered into the air.
Aphrodite turned around.
Kaelum stood in the doorway.
The Crown Prince smiled at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Aphrodite stared at him.
“For what?”
Kaelum stepped inside a few paces, then stopped.
“I can’t sleep in this room tonight.”
Aphrodite fell silent.
Only then did she look around again.
The large bed decorated with rose petals.
Candles burning in several corners of the room.
Two crystal glasses that had already been prepared.
And the atmosphere in the room, which she hadn’t paid much attention to until now.
This was their wedding night.
For a moment, Aphrodite didn’t know what to say.
Kaelum gave a faint smile.
“I drank too much tonight.”
Aphrodite studied him.
Kaelum did look a little tired. Though he was still trying to appear fine, it was clear that the alcohol from the celebration earlier was beginning to affect him.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
His voice sounded gentler.
“So I’ll sleep in another room tonight.”
Aphrodite nodded slowly.
“All right.”
Kaelum looked at her for a few moments.
“Aphrodite.”
“Yes?”
“I want you to remember something.”
Aphrodite waited.
“I will never force you to do anything you don’t like.”
Kaelum’s gaze was utterly calm.
“As long as you’re my wife and you’re staying in Valtharion Palace, you don’t need to be afraid of me.”
Aphrodite fell silent.
Kaelum continued,
“This wedding may have happened suddenly. You didn’t even have time to choose what kind of life you would lead here.”
He gave a faint smile.
“At the very least, I want to give you one thing you can choose.”
“What?”
“Your own boundaries.”
Aphrodite didn’t answer right away.
For some reason, those simple words felt incredibly comforting.
“Thank you, Kaelum.”
Kaelum nodded.
“Go to sleep.”
“You too.”
Kaelum turned toward the door.
But before leaving, he looked back one more time.
“Good night, Aphrodite.”
“Good night.”
The door closed again.
Aphrodite stood still where she was.
She thought about every word Kaelum had said.
He wouldn’t force her.
He wouldn’t make her afraid.
He would give her room to set her own boundaries.
This wedding certainly wasn’t something she had planned.
But perhaps, at least, her husband wouldn’t make life in Valtharion any more difficult.
Aphrodite smiled faintly.
Then she walked back toward the window.
Her gaze returned to the night sky.
But only a few seconds after she began enjoying the tranquility, a large shadow passed before her.
Aphrodite looked up.
Her eyes widened.
A dragon flew across the sky over Valtharion.
Its body was so enormous that it briefly blocked out the moonlight.
Its wings stretched wide, as though the creature were challenging the sky and the moon hanging high above the kingdom.
Aphrodite was transfixed.
Then a smile slowly appeared on her lips.
“It’s so beautiful.”
She had never seen a creature like that from so close before.
Valtharion was truly different from her former home.
Here, dragons were part of the sky.
The palace stood among the clouds.
And the night felt as though it held stories that would never end.
Aphrodite finally closed the window.
She walked to the bed and lay down.
The rose petals that had scattered earlier slowly fell back onto the sheets.
Aphrodite closed her eyes.
The night grew late.
And without realizing it, her consciousness slowly sank into sleep.
But that night, for the first time, a man appeared in her dream.
Atherion.
He stood far in front of Aphrodite.
His face was as calm as ever, but his eyes were far more serious.
“Aphrodite.”
Aphrodite tried to approach him.
“Atherion?”
The man didn’t move.
“Don’t go to the Eastern Palace Gate.”
Aphrodite furrowed her brow.
“Why?”
Atherion only stared at her.
“Don’t.”
The atmosphere around them suddenly changed.
The sky grew dark.
The sound of a dragon echoed in the distance.
Aphrodite tried to ask again.
But Atherion’s voice grew fainter and fainter.
“Don’t go there...”
Aphrodite opened her eyes.
Her breathing was slightly ragged.
The room was still dark.
Only moonlight entered through a gap in the curtains.
She slowly sat up in bed.
The dream had felt so real.
Aphrodite stared toward her bedroom door.
Then, without realizing it, she remembered one thing.
The Eastern Garden.
And for a reason she couldn’t explain...
the message from Atherion in her dream felt far more real than a mere dream.
Don’t go there.