Married To The Dragon Prince Against My Will-Chapter 256: REALIZATION

Lumina stood barefoot on cold stone, the air heavy with the scent of ash and wilted flowers.

The world around her felt wrong, twisted, as though it had been peeled away from reality and stitched back together by grief. She could not hear her own breathing, yet her chest ached as if it might split open.

"Mother?" Her voice echoed, thin and afraid, this word she hasn’t said for decades yet the first thing she was calling was mother.

A pale light flickered ahead, glowing like moonlight trapped beneath water.

As Lumina moved toward it, the ground beneath her feet began to crack, black veins spreading like rot through marble.

Every step felt heavier, as though the earth itself wished to drag her down.

Then she saw her, just like she had called out to her.

Her mother stood at the center of the light, dressed in the white robes she used to wear when she prayed at dawn.

Her face was beautiful as Lumina remembered, gentle and sorrowful, but her eyes were no longer warm. They were dim, clouded, filled with a grief so deep it hollowed Lumina’s chest.

"Mother," Lumina whispered again, tears stinging her eyes. She tried to wipe her eyes to be sure she was not seeing something wrong.

"Mother... you are the one." Her mother did not move closer.

Instead, she lifted her hand, and the light around her began to darken, staining itself red like blood diluted in water.

"You promised me," her mother said softly.

The sound of her voice was enough to make Lumina’s knees weaken. It was not angry, yet it carried a weight far heavier than fury.

"I know," Lumina said, desperately wanting to run into her mother’s embrace. "I tried. I truly tried."

Her mother’s gaze dropped, lingering on Lumina’s hands.

Lumina followed her eyes and froze.

Her palms were stained black, shadows clinging to her skin like living ink.

When she tried to wipe them clean, the darkness only spread further, crawling up her wrists and into her sleeves.

"You swore you would live gently," her mother continued. "You swore you would carry your name with light, not with hatred."

"I was forced," Lumina cried. "They pushed me. They broke me. They took everything from us... they killed you in front of me."

With every word, the shadows around Lumina thickened. Faces began to form within them, twisted expressions of pain and fear.

Her mother stepped back at this, the distance between them stretched unnaturally, the ground splitting wide enough to reveal a chasm beneath. From its depths rose whispers, cruel and seductive.

"Revenge! Justice! Power."

"I only wanted them to pay," Lumina sobbed. "I did not want to become this... they planned to kill me, mother! If I don’t act fast they will."

Her mother’s expression finally changed, sorrow deepening into something wounded.

"But you are becoming it," she said. "You stand at the edge, Lumina. One step further, and you will no longer recognize your own soul." The ground shook violently.

The shadows surged upward, wrapping around Lumina’s legs, her waist, her chest.

They were warm and cold at once, whispering promises of strength, of control, of a world bent to her will.

"Mother, please," Lumina begged, reaching across the widening chasm. "Do not turn away from me." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Her mother’s eyes glistened, though no tears fell.

"I am not at ease," she said quietly. "Not while my daughter walks a path soaked in darkness. Not while revenge whispers in her heart louder than mercy." The light around her flickered, fading.

"I wanted you to live," her mother said. "Not to burn."

As the final word left her lips, the shadows surged violently, dragging Lumina backward.

The chasm opened wider, swallowing the light, swallowing her mother’s form until she vanished entirely.

"Mother!" Lumina screamed. Her cry shattered the dream.

********

Lumina jolted awake, gasping, her hands clutching her chest as though to ensure her heart was still there.

Her bed was soaked with cold sweat, her vision blurred with tears she did not remember shedding.

Lumina pressed her trembling hands together, as though in prayer, fear and resolve twisting painfully within her.

"Ashen!"

The scream tore out of her throat, sharp with desperation.

Lumina bolted upright on the bed, her breath coming in shallow gasps as her hands clawed at the sheets. Her chest burned. Her body felt wrong, weak, heavy, as if it no longer fully belonged to her.

"Ashen..." she cried again, her voice breaking.

She needed him.

She needed him now.

The door burst open.

"My lady!" Stella rushed in first, her skirts gathered in her hands, eyes wide with relief. Ero followed closely behind her.

"You are awake," Stella breathed. "You are finally awake."

Lumina’s trembling hand pressed against her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.

"Where is he?" she demanded hoarsely. "I want him."

Ero and Stella exchanged a glance, both suddenly unable to speak.

"Where is my..." The door opened again.

Hope surged violently in her chest.

Lumina turned toward it, her heart pounding, her lips already parting to call his name.

But it wasn’t Ashen.

A man stepped inside, dressed in pale robes marked with ancient symbols. His presence felt strange, and unfamiliar. Power clung to him in a way that made her skin crawl.

Fear flooded her eyes, she couldn’t even find the strength to ask who he was.

"My lady," Ero said gently, "this is the spiritual medic who saved you." Her fingers clenched into the sheets.

"I don’t want him," she said immediately, panic rising. "Where is my husband? Why is he not here?" Her voice cracked.

"Why is he anywhere else? What has he done this time? How long has he been gone?"

The medic stepped forward calmly. "If you continue screaming with a body this weak, you may lose what strength you have left. The poison has not fully dissolved. You need rest and sleep."

Lumina shook her head fiercely.

"I want my husband," she insisted. "I don’t want anyone else. Only when he is here will I sleep."

"Then soothe yourself," the medic replied flatly about leaving.

Stella rushed to the bedside, panic flashing across her face.

"My lady!" she cried. "Please, stop being stubborn! Do what you need to do now. You can scold him later."

"Stella..."

"Luminiara!" Stella snapped, tears shining in her eyes. "If not for anyone else, think about your husband. Think about the man who did everything to bring this medic to you. Please... listen." Lumina froze, she had never heard Stella raise her voice like that before.

Her heart twisted painfully, she knew at this moment that whatever Ashen had done to save her this time around was dangerous.

Slowly, reluctantly, she lay back down, her body giving in at last. Her fingers felt cold, numb, barely responding.

"Promise..." she whispered weakly. "Promise my husband will be with me." The medic raised his hand.

A faint warmth brushed over her senses.

Before anyone could answer, her eyes fluttered closed, the sedative pulling her under almost instantly.

"Good," the medic said quietly. "Leave."

Stella and Ero stepped outside the chamber.

The moment the door shut, Stella’s knees nearly gave way. Ero caught her just in time, gripping her arm firmly.

"How will she feel," Stella whispered shakily, "when she finds out her husband had to take another woman to save her?"

Her voice broke.

"How will she survive that?"

******

Hours passed and the moon climbed high, pale and watchful, casting silver light over the palace as preparations were completed. Lanterns were lit curtains were drawn. Ritual decorations filled the halls.

At last, footsteps echoed.

Ashen entered the chamber.

Beside him walked a woman cloaked in a sheer veil that hid her face. Her figure was slender, graceful, her movements careful, measured.

Dark hair flowed down her back, adorned with delicate ornaments that caught the light. Her presence was calm, almost curious, as her eyes studied everything around her.

She was beautiful and one could see her timidness.

The sadness in Ashen’s eyes was unmistakable. It weighed heavily on his shoulders, bending him beneath it.

Ero and Stella bowed stiffly, their movements slow, unwilling.

"Welcome, Lady...."

"Briella," the woman said softly, her voice smooth, composed.

Ashen exhaled deeply, as if the name itself cost him something.

"Let’s go to the room," he said, his tone empty.

Briella smiled faintly, admiration flickering in her gaze as she looked around the decorated chamber.

They moved forward while Ero and Stella followed, assisting in silence. When the door finally closed behind them, both servants released shaky breaths.

But as they turned they froze seeing Lumina’s figure standing in the corridor.

Hair uncombed, her clothes rumpled. Bare feet against the cold floor.

Her eyes were uncovered, her crystal gaze dull with pain and disbelief. Her face was pale, drained of color, her body trembling as though held together by sheer will alone.

"My... my lady," Stella whispered, horror flooding her voice.

"How... what are you doing here?"

Lumina’s knees buckled with what she had just seen.

She barely caught herself, gripping the wall to stay upright. She said nothing.

Slowly, painfully, she turned and walked toward the chamber she shared with Ashen.

Ero and Stella snapped out of their shock and rushed after her.

"My lady, wait... "

But before they could reach her, the door slammed shut and got locked.

The sound echoed down the hall like a verdict. Stella covered her mouth, tears spilling freely now.

Ero stood frozen, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

Inside the room, Lumina leaned against the door, her breath ragged, her heart shattering piece by piece.