The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 73

CASSIAN

"A husband?!" Saphira repeated incredulously.

I nodded once, slowly, as the words left my mouth and settled between us.

“I’ll find you a husband.”

Lady Saphira stared at me like she hadn’t heard correctly.

“A… husband?” she repeated.

“Yes,” I said. “A good one. Not some old lord or some questionable degenerate.”

Her lips parted. Then, to my surprise, she laughedx softly at first, then with a brittle edge that made my chest tighten.

“You say that as if such men grow on trees. What nobleman would marry me after such horrible rumours? I'm ruined!"

“They don’t,” I admitted. “But I know of one.”

Her laughter faded. “You do.”

“I do,” I said. “An old friend. We were raised together, trained together. He’s a noble in his own right, and now serves as an ambassador to the southern coalition.”

Saphira narrowed her eyes. “Rich?”

“Obscenely,” I said dryly.

“Respected?”

“Unquestionably.”

She leaned back against the settee, studying me. “Then something must be wrong with him. He's not handicapped or ugly is he?"

I huffed a breath of amusement despite myself. “You’re not wrong.”

She lifted a brow. “Ah. So what is wrong with him?"

“He doesn’t fancy women,” I said plainly.

Her eyes widened.

“Not in the way society expects,” I clarified. “He’s not cruel. Or cold. He simply… prefers his own company. And men.”

Saphira blinked once. Twice.

Then she exhaled, long and slow, as if something inside her had finally unclenched.

“So I won't have children?” she asked quietly.

“Likely not,” I replied. “Unless you both chose otherwise.”

She looked down at her hands. When she spoke again, her voice was steadier.

“That would be… acceptable.”

I studied her carefully. “You wouldn’t feel cheated?”

She shook her head. “Better that than being married off to a man old enough to be my grandfather. Better than whispers following me for the rest of my life."

She looked up. “Better than being punished for falling in love."

The words struck deeper than she knew.

“I’ll speak to him,” I said. “Immediately. If he agrees, and I know he will, you could be married within days. Quietly. Respectably.”

Saphira nodded. “I’ll inform my parents. They’ll accept anything that salvages our name.”

She hesitated, then stepped closer. “Your highness… thank you.”

Her voice trembled despite her effort to control it.

“But why?” she asked softly. “Why help me?”

I met her gaze. “Because I failed you.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but I shook my head.

“I shouldn’t have let things become what they did. I should have protected you.”

Her jaw tightened.

“Your mother insisted I wanted to trap you,” she said. “But I did care for you, I truly did. I wanted to be your queen. I dreamed of it. I would have never done anything to hurt you."

“I know,” I said quietly.

“And that’s why I won’t let you be destroyed for it.”

I straightened. “This is my responsibility. And I intend to see it through.”

She swallowed hard. “Then I’ll accept. And I’ll be ready.”

I bowed my head. “I’ll send word with an answer before the end of tomorrow."

I left quietly.

............

I was lucky William was still in Aurelia, when I heard from his guards that he was home I was greatly relieved. To send word to the southern coalition would have taken at least two full days by pigeon.

My friend didn’t hesitate.

“Marry her?” he repeated, lounging against the balcony rail of his residence in the capital. “If that's what your highness wants of me, I'll gladly do it.”

“You’re certain?” I asked.

He smiled faintly. “As long as shs understands the arrangement, I see no issue. We won't have kids but she'll have freedom. Respect. Wealth. And peace.”

“That’s all I want for her.”

“Then consider it done, Cassian," he said. “I'll go see her parents immediately."

...................

By the time I returned to the palace, exhaustion weighed heavy in my limbs.

I barely made it to my chambers before my mother’s summons arrived.

“She insists,” the courtier said stiffly.

Of course she did.

I entered her drawing room to find Dragon Queen Seraphina seated elegantly beside Lady Calista. They were having tea.

Calista rose immediately, smiling brightly. “Your Highness.”

I inclined my head. “Lady Calista.”

My mother’s gaze was sharp. Appraising. Calculating.

"Lady Calista knows everything now,” she said without preamble.

I stiffened. “Know what?”

“That she is the obvious choice,” she said smoothly. “Your father agrees. I agree. She has the pedigree, the temperament, and the blood for it.”

Calista flushed with pride, a small smile on her face.

I clenched my jaw. “And the rest of the girls?”

My mother waved a dismissive hand. “Formalities. Of course the Dragon Queen Selection will proceed as planned. The other girls wouldn't know that Calista is the obvious choice. The selection merely exists to placate the people and court.”

“That’s unfair,” I snapped. “You’re playing with their lives.”

She smiled thinly. “Don’t be dramatic. More than half of the girls here know they don't truly stand a chance against Lady Calista. They just want to get ahead far enough in the Selection to find a good and respectable match."

Calista laughed softly. “Truly, Your Majesty. I don’t know why anyone would think you’d choose someone like… that Vale girl.”

My blood went cold.

“That low-born granddaughter of a man who was barely ever relevant,” my mother added lightly. “Her mother was a lowborn, some servant whom Lord Eaton's son fell in love with. That was when the court ostracized the Vale family. They have no influence. No value.”

"We merely sent an invitation as a courtesy. We didn't actually expect Lord Eaton to send her here."

My mother said cruelly.

Lady Calista chuckled lightly. "Poor Lady Lira. I think she actually believes that she stands a chance."

I stepped forward. “Enough.”

They both turned to me.

“You will not speak of her that way," I said, voice shaking with restrained fury.

My mother’s eyes narrowed. “And why shouldn't I?"

“She is just like the other girls, even better than most of them. She should be treated with respect,” I said.

Calista’s smile faltered.

“So? It still doesn't change the fact that she will never be your Queen,” my mother said icily.

“That's not up to you to decide,” I replied. “I will choose my Queen and I intend to give every one of the girls a fair chance."

I turned and left before either could respond.

.....................,

Later, alone in my bed, sleep refused to come.

My thoughts betrayed me, drifting back to the garden, to Lira’s warmth, to the way her breath had hitched when I kissed her.

It had been impulse.

Pure, reckless impulse.

And I didn’t regret it. I hoped she didn't either.

But fear coiled tight in my chest.

I had seen what my mother did to women who threatened her plans.

Saphira. Cassandra.

I wouldn’t let Lira become another casualty.

I would protect her.

And I would find a way out of the future my parents had chosen.