The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 97

CASSIAN

The words fell into the dining hall like a stone into still water.

The Queen was the first to recover.

“You want to do what?” she said, her voice cutting clean through the silence.

Evander remained standing, perfectly calm.

“I said I intend to marry Lady Lira.”

“That is not what I asked,” the Queen replied sharply. “What I asked is whether you have lost your mind."

Evander did not waver.

“I’ve made my decision.”

The Queen’s gaze turned cold.

“You do not simply decide to marry anyone, Evander. Not when you are the prince of Aurelia.”

My father, the King, sat beside her, slowly cutting into his meat as if nothing particularly interesting was happening.

Typical.

My sister Aveline, however, leaned forward eagerly.

“Oh this is wonderful,” she said brightly.

Evander glanced at her.

“You think so?”

“I think it’s entertaining,” she replied. “Which is far more than I can say for most dinners.”

I leaned back in my chair, watching the entire exchange with growing anger.

“You’re serious?” I said finally.

Evander turned toward me.

“Yes.”

“You want to marry her.”

“Yes.”

I tapped my fingers against the table.

“And did you bother asking her?”

Evander smiled faintly.

“Yes.”

My jaw tightened.

“And?”

“She agreed.”

The words hit me like a punch.

“And when did this conversation happen?”

“Recently.”

“And you expect us to believe she said yes without hesitation? To such a grand question?”

Evander’s expression hardened slightly.

“She has given it much thought.”

I laughed once under my breath.

“Did she?”

“Yes.”

The Queen slammed her hand onto the table.

“This is absurd."

Evander turned toward her.

“Mother...”

“No.”

Her voice was sharp enough to cut stone.

“You will not marry a girl from a declining house simply because you find her charming.”

My father grunted softly, still eating.

Evander frowned.

“House Vale is still noble.”

“It is barely standing,” the Queen replied.

The words made my stomach twist.

Because I had already learned how true that was.

“You will not marry her,” she continued.

Evander crossed his arms.

“I will.”

“Not while I still sit on this throne.”

A tense silence fell over the table.

Aveline looked between them with open amusement.

“Oh this is getting interesting,” she murmured.

I barely heard her. Because my mind was racing. Lira had agreed

Hadn’t she?

But why?

Three nights ago she had been in my bed.

Three nights ago she had looked at me like...

No.

Something wasn’t right.

I leaned forward slightly.

“I don’t believe you.”

Evander frowned.

“You don’t believe what?”

“That she agreed to marry you.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“I’m saying you’re very good at hearing what you want to hear.”

His jaw tightened.

“She said yes to my proposal. That is all that matters.”

The Queen sighed sharply.

“This conversation is pointless.”

Evander turned back toward her.

“I'm not the Crown Prince, I should be able to marry whoever I want. And she is from a noble housed clearly important enough to be in the Dagon Queen Selection. What more do you want?!"

The room went very quiet.

Even my father paused mid-bite.

“She was only invited as a courtesy. We had no idea House Vale would honour the invitation,” the Queen said carefully.

Evander stood straighter.

“I wasn't asking for permission. I’m informing you.”

The Queen studied him for several seconds.

Then something shifted in her expression.

“Very well,” she said slowly.

Evander blinked.

“…What?”

“You may court her.”

The entire table froze again.

Even I was caught off guard.

“You’re allowing it?” I asked.

The Queen’s gaze flicked toward me briefly.

“For now.”

Evander looked cautiously hopeful.

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” she said calmly, “You can court her but Lady Lira will remain in the Selection.”

Evander frowned.

“But...”

“You may court her during that time. If we pull her out of the Selection to make her your wife, people will talk.”

He hesitated.

“So she continued in the selection? What happens after? Or when she loses?”

“Then,” the Queen said, “you may marry her."

My father finally spoke.

"I agree with your mother. You can court her discretely while she remains a part of the Selection. If your feeling remain unchanged after the end of her time in the selection, you will be allowed to marry her."

That was apparently his entire contribution to the matter.

Evander looked between them.

“And if she wins?”

The Queen smiled thinly.

"There's no way she is winning. Lady Calista will be the future Dragon Queen of Aurelia.”

Evander considered the arrangement.

Then nodded slowly.

“Fine.”

The Queen leaned back slightly.

“Good.”

I stared at her. Something about this entire exchange didn’t make sense.

"You hated the idea a moment ago,” I said.

Her eyes flicked toward me.

“Yes."

“And now you’re encouraging it.”

“I am allowing it, in a way that won't be scandalous.”

“Why?”

Her expression didn’t change.

“Because Lady Lira may prove… useful.”

I frowned.

“Useful?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

The Queen folded her hands neatly in her lap.

“She sees visions.”

My stomach dropped.

“Visions?”

“Yes.”

“And you believe her?”

“She told me some of them and I believe they are worth investigating.”

“And suddenly she’s important?”

“She may be.”

I studied her carefully.

“You never cared about House Vale before or Lady Lira.”

“I still don't.”

The Queen met my gaze calmly.

“I just learned new information.”

I leaned back slowly.

“Speaking of information,” she continued, “did your delegates reach the Vale estate?”

My father turned toward me.

For a moment I considered telling the truth.

That the estate was collapsing. That the staff were dwindling.

That Lord Eaton Vale was hidden away like a secret no one wanted uncovered.

Instead I said calmly,

“They haven’t arrived yet.”

The Queen raised a brow.

“No?”

“The Vale estate is quite far from the city.”

“I see.”

“I’ll report once they return.”

She nodded once.

“Very well.”

Dinner ended shortly after.

The King rose first, followed by the Queen.

“Good evening,” she said coolly before leaving.

The moment the doors closed behind them....

Evander exhaled.

“Well,” he said.

“That went better than expected.”

“Better?” I snapped.

He looked at me.

“You heard mother.”

“She called Lira an asset.”

“Yes.”

“That’s not exactly a compliment.”

Aveline stretched lazily in her chair.

“Oh don’t start.”

Evander frowned.

“What’s your problem?”

“My problem?” I laughed harshly.

“You’re rushing into something you barely understand.”

“I understand perfectly.”

“You met her a few weeks ago.”

“And?”

“And now you want to marry her.”

“Yes. In a few weeks you'd be doing the same thing.”

“That is barely the same thing. Why do you want to

marry her?”

He shrugged.

“Because I like her.”

“That’s not enough.”

“It is for me.”

I leaned closer.

“You forced her into this.”

Evander’s eyes flashed.

“I did not.”

“You pressured her.”

“She agreed willingly.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Why?”

The question came out sharper than expected.

“Why do you care so much?”

I didn’t answer.

Because I couldn’t.

Aveline looked between us with growing curiosity.

“Oh this is fascinating.”

Evander stood suddenly.

“If you have a problem with my decisions...”

“I do.”

“Then deal with it.”

I pushed back my chair.

“You’re making a mistake.”

Evander scoffed.

“We’ll see.”