The Night The dragon bowed
The ballroom smelled like roses, wine…
…and smoke.
Lady Evelina Devereux stood frozen beneath the crystal chandelier as flames climbed the velvet curtains of the imperial palace.
Screams echoed around her.
Nobles pushed each other toward the exits. Guards drew trembling swords. Musicians abandoned their instruments mid-song.
Outside the shattered ceiling dome, thunder roared across the night sky.
No.
Not thunder.
Wings.
Huge black wings.
The dragon circled above the palace like living darkness, its crimson eyes glowing through smoke and moonlight.
Evelina’s breath caught.
This scene…
Her hands trembled.
Silver-black hair spilled over her shoulders as fragmented memories slammed into her mind.
A novel.
An execution.
A villainess hated by everyone.
And death by dragon fire.
Her vision blurred.
“Lady Evelina!”
A maid grabbed her sleeve desperately.
“Please, we must run—”
The ballroom doors exploded open.
Imperial knights stormed inside.
At their center walked a man dressed in black military uniform trimmed with gold.
Cold silver eyes. Dark hair. Perfect posture.
Crown Prince Cassian.
The male lead.
The man who killed her in the original story.
The entire ballroom fell silent as he stopped before her.
Then—
SHING.
His sword pointed directly at her throat.
“Evelina Devereux,” he said, voice like winter ice, “you are under arrest for treason against the Empire of Aerivale.”
Gasps spread instantly.
Treason?
The crowd stared at her in horror.
Evelina’s mind spun wildly.
Wait. No. This is wrong.
This was supposed to happen five years later.
Why was the execution scene happening now?!
Her heartbeat thundered painfully.
Then another memory surfaced.
The original Evelina had attempted forbidden beast magic during tonight’s imperial celebration.
The spell went out of control.
A dragon appeared.
Hundreds died.
And that moment marked the beginning of her downfall.
“I…” Evelina whispered.
But no words came.
Because suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!!
The ceiling shattered completely.
Moonlight flooded the ballroom.
And the dragon descended.
Women screamed. Knights staggered backward. Even Cassian’s expression changed for the first time.
The beast was enormous.
Black scales gleamed like obsidian. Silver horns curved toward the heavens. Smoke curled from its jaws as ancient golden eyes fixed on Evelina alone.
The pressure of its presence crushed the room.
Several nobles collapsed instantly.
“Protect the prince!”
Knights rushed forward.
The dragon growled.
The sound shook the palace foundations.
And then—
Evelina heard a voice.
Inside her head.
Deep. Ancient. Lonely.
Found you at last.
Her eyes widened.
Wait… Did the dragon just talk to me?
The creature stepped closer.
Knights raised their weapons desperately.
Cassian moved in front of the crowd.
“Dragon,” he said coldly, “state your purpose.”
The beast ignored him completely.
Its enormous gaze never left Evelina.
And suddenly, memories not belonging to her flashed through her mind.
Chains.
Fire.
Dragons screaming.
A woman crowned in starlight.
The fall of an ancient kingdom.
Evelina staggered.
Pain exploded behind her eyes.
A glowing mark appeared on her hand.
The ballroom gasped.
Golden light spiraled around her fingers like burning threads.
The dragon’s pupils narrowed instantly.
Then—
The impossible happened.
The ancient dragon lowered its head.
And bowed.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
One knight dropped his sword with a clang.
A noblewoman fainted.
Cassian stared at the dragon in disbelief.
Because dragons never bowed to humans.
Never.
The dragon’s voice echoed once more inside Evelina’s mind.
Gentler this time.
My sovereign.
Her heart stopped.
The original novel never mentioned this.
Not once.
And judging from everyone’s horrified expressions…
Something had gone terribly wrong with the story.
Or perhaps—
It had finally begun.
