Chapter 1

I'm a daughter of the Rayne family, part of the Black Dragon Clan, and I have a twin sister.

Our family is about to hold an investiture ceremony for my sister Cecilia and me.

We would each receive our own title and domain.

The Elders argued for an equal split, but my brother insisted on giving all the domains, mines, and guards to Cecilia, leaving me with nothing but an empty title stripped of land and power.

Lorne, the boy I'd grown up with, was the first to agree.

My parents went along with it.

All because Cecilia was prettier than me, better at charming everyone. In their eyes, she deserved everything.

What they didn't know was that although my dragon soul had awakened later than Cecilia's, I carried the oldest bloodline of all!

This time, I would never be Cecilia's stepping stone again.

Chapter 1

A month ago, I had secretly entered the Northern Court's Knight Selection.

Only seven would be chosen, each appointed as a Guardian Knight.

The acceptance contract had arrived only that morning, its terms spelled out in black and white.

[Elaia Rayne. Bloodline: Ancient Starfrost. Purity: S-Class.]

I never expected my bloodline purity to be S-Class. Yet for eighteen years, I had never been able to transform.

"Elaia, drink your bloodline elixir."

My mother's voice came from behind me. I slipped the contract into a drawer before turning around.

She handed me a cheap-looking bottle. "You should put some effort into your appearance when you get the chance," she said, her tone critical.

I took the elixir without a word.

Bloodline elixirs were meant to help dragons awaken, but mine had never produced a single reaction.

"You're the one I worry about the most."

My mother sighed. "You're plain, and you never know how to charm anyone. I worry about your future."

A small ache bloomed in my chest. I tipped my head back and drained the elixir in one gulp.

It tasted like cheap mud, so harsh it brought tears to my eyes.

"Oh well, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

She softened her tone. "Even if you can't transform, and no one wants to bond with you, the family can still afford to keep you."

I was about to argue when a burst of cheering erupted from the main hall.

I walked into the hall and saw Cecilia standing in the center of the carpet, a pair of crimson dragon wings unfurled behind her.

"You were already the most beautiful child in the Rayne family, and now you have wings."

My father studied Cecilia's face, his smile widening. "Having a daughter like you brings honor to the whole family."

My brother Dorian circled her, pride written all over his face. "Black Dragon Lord Cassian Vale is already smitten with Cecilia. Once she completes her transformation, the marriage alliance will be sealed."

My mother produced a gold-trimmed bottle of activation elixir and held it to Cecilia's lips herself, reminding her gently, "Drink slowly. Don't spill any on your gown. I only bought it yesterday."

That single bottle cost more than a hundred times as much as the one I had just choked down.

Cecilia nestled into our mother's arms.

And there I stood in a three-year-old gown, a shadow forgotten in the corner.

The taste of cheap mud still coated my tongue.

My father smiled and announced, "The Sky Hunting Grounds are open today. You and your sister can each pick a fully grown war beast as a coming-of-age gift from the family."

I looked up at my father.

War beasts fought beside their dragon masters for the rest of their lives. They were the most important companions a dragon could have.

Since I was seven, almost everything I received had been Cecilia's leftovers.

This was the first time my father had ever said I could choose for myself.

"Okay."

I ran back to my room and changed into my best dress.

The dark-haired girl in the mirror was pale, but a flicker of hope shone in her eyes.

Maybe they still remembered I was family, too.

But when I pushed open my door, there was no one outside.

The entire house was silent as a tomb.

I took a deep breath and activated the communication crystal.

My mother's face appeared on the crystal. "Elaia? What is it?"

Laughter echoed through the crystal.

"You... left?"

My voice was barely audible.

My mother paused, then gave a dismissive laugh.

"You were in your room for so long. Cecilia was afraid she'd miss the golden griffin release, so we went ahead.

"We'll take you next time. There'll be plenty of chances."

Always like this.

They hadn't even asked. They had already decided for me.

Cecilia's face popped up beside our mother, her voice playfully petulant. "I'm picking the golden griffin!"

"Of course. Whichever one you like."

My mother pinched her cheek with a doting smile, then said to me in a rush, "I have to go."

The crystal went dark.

The black surface reflected my face.

I was alone in the dark.

Chapter 2

I put the crystal away and returned to the sitting room alone.

When I was nine, during the winter hunt, they had left me behind just like this.

That year, Cecilia had wandered into a snow wolf den, and the wolves trapped us inside.

My brother and Lorne shielded her and called for our parents.

My father shouted in a panic, "Elaia, lure the wolves the other way so your brother can get Cecilia out!"

When I stood there trembling, my mother yelled, "Cecilia is too pretty to be scarred by wolves! Go protect your sister!"

Before Cecilia was born, they had loved me, too. My brother used to carry me on his shoulders, and my parents remembered every birthday. But after she arrived, all eyes turned to the pretty, sweet-natured child who knew how to charm everyone. Little by little, I became the only person in the family no one saw.

In the end, I lured the wolves away alone. I survived three days in an ice cave, swallowing snow to stay alive, before my parents finally came back for me.

Footsteps broke through my thoughts.

"Elaia, why are you just standing there?"

Lorne walked over, two crimson potion bottles swinging in his hand.

"I bought flame amplifiers for Cecilia, and the workshop threw in an extra bottle. Take it, so you can't say I play favorites."

Fire magic roiled inside the bottle. I didn't take it. Lorne knew my dragon core was frost-aligned. The flame amplifier could boost Cecilia's training, but it would burn my essence. He had forgotten even that.

He shoved the bottle into my hand. The scalding glass seared my palm.

"Why do you always act so ungrateful? You can't match Cecilia's looks, but you could at least learn to be charming."

I let go. The bottle dropped onto the stone table.

He didn't notice. He was already looking around. "Where's Cecilia?"

"She's at the Sky Hunting Grounds picking a war beast."

Lorne's eyes lit up.

"Perfect. Once she's done, I'll take her to the Black Dragon Territory."

He unrolled a contract. "Her academy seat, housing, and personal guard. I've arranged everything."

I stared at the contract, biting down on my lip.

"Upset? You thought I forgot about you, didn't you?"

Lorne smirked and unrolled a second contract. "I'm a Black Dragon Knight. I planned everything out for you, too."

I looked down.

The terms were clear.

If I signed it, I would enter Black Dragon Academy as Cecilia's attendant. No private quarters, no right to train, and no ability to refuse any request she made.

I looked up and stared straight at Lorne. "This is the future you chose for me?"

"Cecilia is so remarkable that plenty of people will be jealous of her. She needs someone trustworthy by her side to look after her."

Lorne pushed the attendant contract toward me. "You can't transform anyway. Staying with Cecilia suits you best. We're bonding next year. Would I ever do anything to hurt you?"

I gave a soundless laugh and fought back tears.

Three years ago, the first time Lorne saw Cecilia, he couldn't look away. After leaving my house, he had laughed and said, "No wonder you always complain that your family plays favorites. If I had a sister that pretty, I'd play favorites too." I'd thought he was joking at the time. But every choice he made after that, he chose Cecilia. That was when I realized he had meant every word.

Lorne didn't notice anything wrong. He was busy contacting Cecilia through his crystal.

"By the way, sign that attendant contract already."

He kept his eyes on the crystal without looking up. "After you sign, I'll take you to get some attendant uniforms."

The moment he finished speaking, Cecilia's radiant face appeared on the crystal.

Lorne immediately switched to a fawning grin. "Cecilia, look what I got you!"

I couldn't watch any longer. I picked up the humiliating contract and threw it in the trash.

Back in my room, I unrolled the Northern Court contract.

Fine frost crystallized across the parchment, forming a line of ancient script.

[In seven days, present this contract to board the Royal Vessel.]

Chapter 3

That evening, footsteps echoed outside the door.

Cecilia came bounding into the hall first, leading a golden griffin by its reins.

"Lorne, look at my griffin! Isn't it amazing?"

Lorne rushed to meet her, his eyes gleaming. "A beauty with a top-tier war beast. A perfect match."

My father and brother followed behind, carrying domain deeds and enchanted cases.

My mother casually shoved a dusty cloth bundle into my hands.

"Elaia, this is the free cloak that came with our purchase. I saved it especially for you."

I unfolded the cloak. The edges were frayed, and the protective enchantments on the inside were faded and incomplete.

A defective thing like this couldn't block dragon breath, let alone keep me warm.

"Thank you." I folded it calmly.

My father nodded approvingly. "That's our sensible Elaia. You're not going to get ahead on your looks, so your clothes only need to be serviceable."

I looked away.

Was I undemanding, or had they simply never given me a choice?

Cecilia noticed my silence. Her eyes welled with tears at once.

"You don't like the cloak, do you?"

She wiped a tear, looking guilty, and pushed the griffin toward me.

"Here, take the griffin. Father already gave me the three dragon crystal mines on the east side, and our brother sent me two chests of gold coins, so I don't need one more gift."

The hall went silent.

My father's smile faded.

I had never heard of those three mines.

Before the investiture, they had told me that the lord's heavy taxes this year meant they could only give me a single low-grade copper mine.

My father frowned. "Lord Vale has his eye on Cecilia. She's representing the family at the banquet, so of course she needs a few mines to look the part."

My brother tilted his chin up. "Those two chests of gold are for Cecilia's jewelry. You're plain-looking, so jewelry would be wasted on you."

My mother quickly chimed in, "Right, Elaia, don't overthink it. We'll make it up to you later."

"Later." Always "later." I had been waiting since I was seven. "Later" never came.

"Don't bother."

My voice was calm in a way that sounded foreign to me.

Cecilia kept pushing the griffin toward me, but her gaze had settled on the pendant at my neck, the Heartscale.

She clutched the reins tight, voice catching.

"Please don't be angry. I'll trade you the griffin for your pendant, okay?

"I don't mean anything by it. It's just that Lord Vale mentioned the pendant was beautiful and would suit me."

I took half a step back, my hand instinctively closing around the pendant.

The Heartscale was made from my grandmother's own dragon scale. It was the only thing she had left me.

After the winter hunt when I was nine, it was my grandmother who stayed by my side while I lay critically injured, using the pendant to suppress the frost damage tearing through my body.

She had stroked my face gently and whispered, "My Elaia. Someone should be looking after you, too."

All these years, it had rested against my chest, a reminder that someone had once treasured me.

"No."

It was the first time I had ever outright refused Cecilia.

Cecilia cried harder.

My mother hurried to mediate. "It's not even worth much. Since your sister likes it, just give it to her."

"And don't take her griffin. I'll buy you a new enchanted necklace."

My brother stepped in front of Cecilia. "Stop being unreasonable. With your looks, do you even deserve a necklace like that?"

I backed away, clutching the pendant, until I bumped into someone.

Lorne.

He gave me a smile, and while I was off guard, unclasped the pendant and tossed it to Cecilia.

He pulled a playful face. "Relax. You're not giving it away. Just let Cecilia borrow it for a while."

Everyone assumed Lorne was just teasing me. No one stopped him.

I stared at Lorne's careless face, biting down hard on my lower lip.

The taste of iron filled my mouth.

He knew exactly what the pendant meant to me. He had once sworn he would protect me the way my grandmother had. Now it all seemed like a joke.

Cecilia put on the pendant and smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Lorne!"

Lorne gazed at her admiringly. "I knew it. This necklace suits you best."

Everyone gathered around Cecilia. No one saw my knuckles turning white.

I went back to my room and locked the door behind me.

I unclipped the Rayne family crest and threw it into the fireplace along with the ruined cloak.

I watched the flames swallow them both and burn them to ash.

Chapter 4

The night before the investiture, Rayne Castle blazed with light.

The ceremony roster for the next day hung high in the center of the hall.

Cecilia's name topped the list, followed by her domains, title, witnesses, and Lorne as her Sworn Knight.

I searched for a long time before I found my own name at the very bottom.

[Transformation Array Stabilizer: Elaia Rayne.]

No assigned seat. No dragon title.

In a ceremony held in both our names, I was nothing more than a footnote.

I stared at my name at the bottom, and even anger felt pointless. They had taken my title and my seat, yet expected me to use my frost essence to bear the risk for Cecilia.

I turned to look at the banquet hall.

Everyone was gathered around Cecilia, bustling with preparations.

My mother and her attendants adjusted Cecilia's gown. My brother directed servants as they set up the transformation array.

Lorne knelt on one knee before Cecilia and placed the oath corsage on her wrist himself.

"I will protect you tomorrow," Lorne said firmly. "I won't let anything interrupt your transformation."

Cecilia's cheeks flushed pink, and she nodded with a smile.

"Where is my seat?"

The hall went quiet for a moment.

My mother didn't even turn around. "It should be on the roster. Keep looking."

My brother crossed his arms. "You're not the star of the show, and you're responsible for maintaining the array. Why would you need a seat?"

Lorne added matter-of-factly, "Tomorrow, when Cecilia transforms, she'll release violent flames. You have to use your frost power to stabilize the array. No mistakes."

If it spiraled out of control, my frost essence would be completely destroyed.

But no one cared about the risk I was taking. They only cared whether Cecilia would transform successfully.

"What about the mine you promised me?"

My father was going over the guest list. He frowned.

"The mines have all been given to Cecilia. There aren't any left. Why do you sisters have to keep score like this?"

Dorian warned coldly, "Lord Vale will be there in person tomorrow. This involves the family's marriage alliance. Don't ruin things by trying to steal the spotlight."

I said nothing and went back to my room.

It wasn't until late that night that the noise from the banquet hall finally died down.

On the desk, a line of silver text materialized on the Northern Court contract.

[Elaia Rayne, please proceed to Boarding Platform Three. The Royal Vessel departs in three hours.]

I rolled up the contract and took one last look at the room I had lived in for eighteen years.

I pulled the bag I had already packed from beneath the desk.

The bag bumped the corner of the desk, and a dust-covered teleportation scroll rolled to my feet.

I paused.

Lorne had bought it for me with his entire reward from his very first mercenary mission. He hadn't been willing to replace his own worn-out sword, but he had pressed the most expensive teleportation scroll he could find into my hands.

He had placed the scroll in my hands and told me solemnly, "Just speak the incantation, and no matter where you are, I'll be brought straight to your side."

"Use it when you're in danger. I'll take the hit for you."

He had said it with such gravity, folding my fingers around the scroll one by one. I had thought I would remember that moment for the rest of my life. I had believed that no matter what happened, he would always choose me first.

Now, the memory of the look in his eyes had blurred.

I kicked the scroll back under the desk, grabbed my bag, and walked out.

The moment I stepped aboard the Royal Vessel, Lorne's call lit up my crystal.

I didn't answer.

A moment later, he sent a text message.

"Asleep? You worked hard today. Tomorrow's all on you."

"I've already booked two portal passes. After tomorrow, I'll take you to the Moran Plains to unwind."

I didn't reply. I tucked the crystal into my bag.

The ice-blue hull doors sealed shut behind me, closing off everything from my past.

This time, I was not turning back.