Chapter 2

"There are many exceptional young talents among our Dragonkin."

King Theron's voice, thick with authority, boomed in my ears.

I looked up to see Father pointing behind me, his tone grave. "So, Lyra, are you truly going to forsake your own kind for this mere black snake as your consort?"

I followed Father's gaze and turned, meeting a pair of cold, indifferent eyes.

A shiver ran through me. The agonizing pain of Dorian’s sword piercing my chest in my previous life washed over me.

In a split second, I shoved Dorian directly into Celeste's arms.

"Father, this black snake, Dorian, is dignified and composed. He's exactly Celeste's type. I was choosing him for her."

My actions, so completely different from my past life, stunned both Celeste and Dorian.

After the initial shock, Celeste's face twisted into utter bewilderment.

My heart sank.

Celeste must have been reborn too!

I remembered the sorrow and resentment in Celeste’s eyes when she killed me in my past life. Though anger still simmered within me, it was largely overshadowed by a profound sense of melancholy.

Mother had passed away early, and we sisters had supported each other through childhood.

If only she had told me earlier that she coveted the title of Crown Princess, I would have gladly handed it over. Why would it ever have come to sisters betraying each other so cruelly?

I swallowed down the bitter lump in my throat and unclasped the dragon-crested pendant from my waist, the symbol of the Crown Princess, pressing it into Celeste's hand.

"My powers are... adequate, my spirit is free, and I loathe being bound by rules."

"Celeste, with her sharp mind and unyielding spirit, is far more capable than me of shouldering the future of the Dragonkin."

"Today, I, Lyra, willingly relinquish my title as Crown Princess. From this moment on, Celeste shall be the future ruler of the Dragonkin!"