Transmigrated Into a Cannon Fodder Phoenix, Stuck With the Ice Dragon-Chapter 135: Wanted Bride

"Both of you should stay and rest here," Vaylen said gently. "It’s already very late."

Lucian glanced down at me.

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. After everything that had happened, the idea of moving again felt exhausting.

"That might be best," Lucian replied.

Vaylen gave a small nod, relieved.

"I’ll have a room prepared."

Celeste smiled softly at us.

"You must be tired."

I was.

Not just in my body but in a way that sank deeper than bones.

As we followed them down the quiet corridor, the manor felt different than before.

Calmer.

But not entirely peaceful because even as the night settled around us,

I couldn’t shake the feeling that some doors—once opened—never truly closed.

We lay side by side on the bed, the room dim and quiet, the curtains barely stirring in the night air.

Lucian broke the silence first.

"Thalor and his wife have been arranged to be married since they were children," he said slowly. "But about thirty years ago... on the very day of the wedding, she disappeared."

I turned slightly to face him.

"Disappeared?" I echoed.

Lucian nodded.

"Vanished completely. No trace. No location. Nothing."

He paused, staring up at the ceiling.

"They only met once," he continued. "When they were kids. That was it."

My chest tightened.

"The only thing he knows about her," Lucian added quietly, "is that she’s a mermaid."

I swallowed, "That’s... tragic," I murmured.

Lucian let out a slow breath.

"Yeah. His story is kind of tragic," he said. "Imagine having to go through the entire marriage arrangement alone because if that marriage didn’t happen, the mermaid clan wouldn’t support his family in the next water election."

I turned slightly toward him.

"So even if she was gone..." I whispered, "the bond still mattered."

Lucian nodded. "For him," he said softly, "it always did."

I wrapped an arm around his waist. "So being an heir isn’t always special, right?"

Lucian smiled faintly at that. "Well... no. It comes with burdens."

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"Imagine being married for thirty years," he continued, "but never once meeting your wife. And you can’t even consider divorce or being a widower because she was never officially declared dead."

My brows are knitted.

"So there’s no hint at all?" I asked quietly.

Lucian shook his head.

"None," he said. "No body. No signal. No trace in any sea."

The room felt heavier.

"Which means," he added softly, "as long as there’s no proof... he keeps waiting."

I tightened my hold on him.

"He should’ve just gone and asked for a divorce."

Lucian shook his head lightly. "You know what’s interesting?" he said. "He did. He tried."

I looked up at him.

"He tried to use the law to end the marriage arrangement as soon as possible," Lucian continued. "But the mermaid clan refused."

His voice lowered.

"They were selfish back then," he said plainly. "As long as she wasn’t declared dead, they insisted the bond still stood."

I frowned. "So he was trapped."

Lucian nodded, then pulled me closer against his chest.

"And do you know what makes Thalor’s marriage even more complicated?" he asked quietly.

I looked up at him.

"The bride was a mixed blood," Lucian continued. "Part mermaid... and part something else. I’m not even sure which clan."

My brows drew together.

"She was dragged into the arrangement simply because she was the second daughter," he said. "Born to another wife of the Mermaid Clan’s head."

I exhaled slowly.

"So she was expendable," I murmured.

Lucian didn’t deny it. "In their eyes," he said softly, "yes."

The room fell quiet again.

Two people bound together—Not by love, but by politics that never cared who it crushed.

I shifted slightly in his arms, eyes still wide.

"Continue, please..." I murmured. "I can’t sleep with all this curiosity."

Lucian let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh.

"That’s all," he said. "There’s nothing more to it."

"That’s all?" I lifted my head, clearly unsatisfied. "But—but I’m still interested in this marriage story..."

He glanced down at me, then shook his head.

"What else can I tell you?"

Then he hesitated.

After a moment, he leaned closer, his voice dropping.

"There is a rumor," he said.

My ears perked up instantly.

"I heard the bride was half fairy."

I froze. "Half... fairy?" I whispered.

Lucian nodded once. "Just a rumor," he added. "Unconfirmed. Buried. Never spoken aloud in the sea courts."

My heart started to race. "Lucian..." I paused, looking straight into his eyes, "Do you think Thalor asked that question earlier because he also heard about that rumour...?"

Lucian held my gaze for a long moment. "Yes," he said quietly.

My chest tightened.

"I think he heard it long ago," Lucian continued. "And I think he never stopped wondering."

I swallowed. "So when he asked about Vivian... about timelines..."

"He wasn’t being curious," Lucian said. "He was checking possibilities."

The room felt suddenly smaller.

"But that doesn’t mean anything for sure," he added quickly. "Rumors in the sea courts are dangerous things. They grow teeth."

I nodded, but my mind was already racing.

Half fairy.

Lost bride.

Another world.

Different timelines.

I let out a slow breath and buried my face lightly against his chest.

"I really won’t be able to sleep now," I muttered.

Lucian’s arm tightened around me.

"Then don’t," he said softly. "Just stay awake with me."

I squinted at him suspiciously. "What are you thinking?"

"I’m not thinking about anything," he replied calmly.

Then he pinched my nose lightly, "Dirty mind."

I gasped in offense. "Excuse you! Who wouldn’t misunderstand words like that?"

He chuckled under his breath, pulling me closer.

"Only you."

I huffed and buried my face against his chest.

But despite my mock annoyance, his heartbeat was steady beneath my ear.

"Good night, my sweet little bird," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

"I said... I can’t sleep," I pouted, clearly dissatisfied.

"Ah," he murmured, his tone turning dangerously gentle. "Then I suppose... I’ll have to help."

Before I could question what he meant, his arm slid around my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.

"Lucian!"