Married To The Dragon Prince Against My Will-Chapter 250: MAKING THE DECISION
The hall was suffocatingly quiet, Lumina couldn’t help but swallow seeing that the reason why a father and son was about to argue was because of her.
The throne loomed above them, carved from blackened stone and ancient bone, a symbol of power soaked in centuries of blood.
King Aden sat upon it, his body frail, shoulders hunched beneath layers of ceremonial robes.
His breathing was uneven, shallow. Yet his eyes were still brutal for a dying man.
"Drop me.." Lumina whispered to her husband, Ashwn hesitated but she touched his chest convincing him.
"Fine," he grumbled and let go of her as he dropped her on the ground.
Then Lumina took a slow step forward.
"Your Highness," she called out calmly, though her fingers trembled within Ashen’s grasp. "If I may speak." The sound of her voice alone drew King Aden’s full attention.
The hall seemed to tilt.
King Aden studied her the way a predator studies prey, with interest.
Even weakened, something was terrifying about the way his gaze lingered on her, as though he were trying to peel her apart layer by layer.
"Speak," he said slowly.
"Do you not think," Lumina continued, lifting her chin, "that forcing your son to do something he does not want is not the act of a just king, nor a loving father."
Ashen stiffened beside her. His grip tightened, if there was something she shouldn’t do right now it was to try to pissed King Aden off.
King Aden’s lips curved faintly at this, he had always had this feeling the moment she stepped in just that she was like someone he could take down easily.
"So," King Aden finally let out, "you are the one."
Lumina smiled slightly. "The one for what if I may ask Your Highness?"
"I hear," King Aden continued, "that you have been exhibiting... powers I cannot quite put my hands on."
Lumina tilted her head. "You heard that from your other son, didn’t you?"
Ashen’s head snapped toward her. "Lumina," he warned quietly, shaking his head. King Aden raised a hand.
"Little one," he said coldly. "I have tolerated many things from you. But do not forget your place when speaking to me."
"Your Highness," Ashen interjected quickly, stepping half a pace forward.
King Aden’s gaze flicked to him like a blade.
"I am your father," King Aden said sharply. "You will address me as such." Ashen clenched his jaw.
"Then tell me," Ashen said carefully, "why you summoned us."
King Aden leaned back, eyes never leaving Lumina.
"What if I want you to take a concubine," King Aden asked calmly. "Would you feel sorrow for it, or would you dare refuse me?"
"I would refuse," Ashen said without hesitation and King Aden smiled.
"But you cannot," he replied. "After all, your wife came into your life the same way. Without your consent."
"That is different," Ashen snapped.
"Ashen," King Aden called out slowly, rising from his throne with visible effort, "from the moment you were born, you carried the fate of this realm. Your life was never yours. You were born to fight for us. With flesh and blood."
Ashen stared at him for a long moment.
Then he smiled, a small, bitter smile.
"I am sorry," Ashen said softly, "but I do not intend to stand on that side anymore. I have been called a curse all my life. If that is what I am, then so be it. I will not..." Fire erupted from King Aden, it came without warning.
A blazing spear of flame tore through the air and slammed into Ashen’s shoulder.
Ashen was thrown backward, crashing to his knees as the smell of scorched fabric and burning flesh filled the hall.
"Ashen!" Lumina screamed, but he did not cry out.
He gritted his teeth, breath shuddering violently, pain ripping through his body like molten metal beneath his skin.
"You will never say no to me," King Aden roared.
Another blast of fire struck Ashen square in the chest.
He gasped, coughing, blood splattering the stone floor as his knees buckled further.
Lumina broke free from his grip.
"Your Highness!" she screamed. "He is your son!" King Aden turned to her
Fire gathered in his palm, darker this time. The moment it launched toward Lumina, Ashen moved.
With what strength he had left, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her and twisting his body.
The fire hit him instead and his back arched violently as the flames tore through him.
Lumina’s scream echoed through the hall. "Ashen! Ashen!"
He collapsed over her, shielding her completely, his body shaking uncontrollably as smoke rose from his skin.
"Father!" Ashen choked, barely able to breathe, yet still trying to push himself up to check her face. "Are you hurt?"
King Aden stood now, rage blazing through his frail frame like madness.
"You will obey me," he snarled. "Or I will strip you of what you treasure most." Another blast followed another.
Each one slammed into Ashen’s body as he curled around Lumina, his arms locked around her, refusing to let go.
His breath became ragged as his vision blurred.
Lumina sobbed helplessly beneath him, clutching his scorched robes, her entire body shaking. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
"Stop!" she cried. "Please stop!"
Ashen’s blood dripped onto the stone beside her face and he smiled weakly down at her.
"I told you," he whispered hoarsely. "I would protect you."
King Aden raised his hand again and Lumina screamed.
"Fine!" she cried desperately. "He will accept! He will accept the concubine! Please! Let him go! Please!"
The fire vanished instantly.
Ashen collapsed fully this time, his body limp, his breathing shallow.
The hall fell into a stunned silence.
King Aden lowered his hand slowly.
"Good," he said coldly. "Then the message will be sent across the realms."Guards moved forward.
"Prepare the chambers," King Aden continued. "She will arrive soon."
Lumina clung to Ashen’s unmoving form, tears soaking into his chest.
"I am sorry," she whispered over and over. "I am so sorry." Ashen stirred faintly.
His hand twitched, fingers curling weakly around hers, even though Lumina is broken completely with the choice she had just made, it’s still better than losing the one she lives with because of her selfish interest.
