Chapter 3
That young god was to be my future husband, of course he had things to discuss with me, but I couldn’t be bothered to explain any of that to Aether.
I simply said coldly, “If you have time to concern yourself with such things, you’d be better off preparing for the Trial five days from now.”
The Trial held five days later was one that occurred only once every five hundred years.
All those who wished to contend for the throne would attend and undergo the Trial of Sacred Flame to awaken their true divine power through the holy fire.
The Sacred Flame was unimaginably powerful. One misstep and the participant would get burned, or worse–reduced to ashes.
That was why most g
gods chose to approach the trial in multiple stages.
Some took three or four thousand years, others tens of thousands, to awaken their divine power.
In my past life, it was with the shelter of my Heartflame Core and fire magle that Aether became the first in millennia to pass the Trial in a single attempt.
He awakened his divine power all at once, and his name resounded throughout the realm.
As soon as I mentioned the trial, his attention shifted, just as I had expected.
He replied with confidence, “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m the most gifted of all the Dravons. That flatne is nothing. Even if you don’t help me, I’ll awaken my divine power just fine!”
Five days from now, just wait for me to marry you
I said nothing. But out of the corner of my eye, I caught the flicker of jealousy that crossed Shael’s face.
1 ignored the two of them and turned to the young man beside me.
“Ethan, has the King told you everything?”
He looked up at me, and there was something possessive in his gaze, something stubborn and intense.
Then he knelt solemnly before me and said, “Goddess, please rest assured. I, Ethan, swear upon the Heavenly Law: if I ever betray you in this life, may I be left without a grave, without a soul.
Flames surged in the skies above, then disappeared
He had invoked an Oath binding Spell, meaning if he broke that wow, he would suffer divine retribution and soul corruption.
1 felt something stir in my heart
I took the amber pendant–the symbol of the Starfire family’s heir’s betrothed and hung it around his neck
“I believe you,” I said.
I returned to the palace the King had built for me.
But before I even reached the door, one of the fairy maids serving me came running over, her voice trembling with pank “Goddess! They’re about to cut down the cedar you planted!”
I froze, my heart lurching, and looked in disbelief toward the main courtyard.
I rushed inside, only to find that the cedar I had spent a hundred years nurturing had already been cut down at the base.
That tree had been a parting gift from my mother when I left the Starfire family-
She had told me, The cedar was the symbol of Starfire family. Wherever you see it, you’ll know you’ve found your way home. When I first planted it, it was just a tiny green shoot.
Thad tended to it day by day until it grew tall and lush, its branches spreading like a
And now, all that care–all those years had been destroyed in an instant.
Eyes rod, I glared at Arther. “What gave you the right to cut down my cedar?”
a canopy.
He looked completely indifferent. “It was just a worthless tree, I cut it down, so what?” Chapter 3
“Shael likes dandelions. From now on, only dandelions are to be planted here.”
I laughed coldly. “This is my palace. I’ll plant whatever I wish. Or don’t tell me you’re so incompetent that you can’t even give her a place of her own?”
A flash of embarrassment passed over Aether’s face.
After all, he was only one of several candidates within the Dravon family. Until the heir was chosen, all contenders were forced to live together in the shared divine palace, crowded and under scrutiny.
He scowled at me and spat, “What’s yours is mine, isn’t it? I’m just making arrangements ahead of time. And if you keep testing my patience, Serin, I might just decide not to marry you. Even if you begged me on your knees, I wouldn’t give you a second glance!”
He stared at me, clearly hoping to see fear or desperation. But when my expression remained icy, he quickly changed his tone, speaking with feigned gentleness.
“I’m only doing this for your own good. If you behave, I’ll favor you first and let you bear the Dravon family’s heir.”
At that moment, I finally lost all patience.
I pushed him away, “Aether, stop flattering yourself. You will never be my fiancé.”
He didn’t believe me, of course. He thought I was just speaking in anger.
“If you don’t marry me, who else could you marry? Even the King said it himself that he’s preparing our wedding!”
looked at the
gconfidence on his face and laughed coldly in my heart
What he didn’t know was that the wedding wasn’t meant for me at all-
but rather for some little wild thing that wasn’t even worth mentioning.
Five days later, the Trial of Sacred Flame was held on the volcanic mountain where all the divine candidates had gathered.
To my surprise, Shael had come along as well
The moment we arrived, all eyes turned to us.
The moment Arther saw me, he strode over quickly, “Serin, I’ll be counting on you for this trial.”
His voice softened unexpectedly as he added, “Now that Shael is by my side, I’ll make sure you’re looked after too.”
I didn’t respond, and he didn’t seem to care.
He merely continued surveying the other gods nearby with that same prideful, self–assured gaze.
Suddenly, Aether’s expression darkened.
Without warning, he stormed toward Ethan, his face twisted in fury.
“How is the amber pendant of the Starfire heir’s betrothed in your hands?!”
His gaze was locked on the pendant hanging from Ethan’s neck, seething with disbelief and rage.
