The Third Prince Of Darkness

Chapter 157: Valthera

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When I opened my eyes, I was met with a vast, beautiful scene. At the top of the far wall opposite me, colorful stained glass windows, like those found in ancient churches, depicted dragons. Directly in front of me, at eye level, was a wide window through which the horizon was literally the sky. Clouds drifted slowly in the distance, and the distinct blue hue of the sky stood clear before me. The endless clouds were jagged and rugged, resembling fields on the earth below.

As my last memories came back to me, I realized the dragon princess had captured me, and we were likely on the High Islands belonging to the dragons. This was the Dragon Realm, located thousands of meters above the ground, and there was almost no information about this place. I was probably the only human to ever come here in human history… Not that it was something to be proud of for now.

Meanwhile, my hands were chained to the wall. Though they didn't suspend me from the ground, my arms had gone numb. I had tried to break the chains a few times, but it was futile. Considering it was the dragon princess who bound me, these were likely super-strong chains. Thus, my range of motion was extremely limited, and there was nothing nearby I could use. I could still put on my dark armor and enter the dark realm, but since I didn't yet know why I was here, I preferred to wait and see what would happen.

Luckily, it wasn't long before I heard the sound of a door opening. When I looked toward the door, I saw her. She was looking at me with her gray eyes, and horns emerged from her wavy, turquoise hair right at the top of her head. The horns gave her an intimidating aura, though there was a smile on her face.

"Hello, princess… Valthera," I said to the approaching princess.

"… You already seem to be getting submissive. I like that."

I tried to calm myself as much as possible when her words reached me. There could be no room for error here. "First of all, did you cause any harm to Avanne or, rather, the place from where you abducted me?" I asked.

Valthera, the proud princess of the dragons, laughed before answering my question. "Haha, no. Even though that bug by your side tried to attack me, I spared her life… I did well, didn't I? Didn't I? Now, do you love me? Tell me you love me! Come on, say it!"

"..."

… Oh, really? Another woman with unstable mental health? I guess I'm no longer surprised. At least her behavior confirmed something I'd only suspected before, allowing me to form a plan for escaping here without any harm… unless this crazy woman did something unexpected.

"Princess Valthera… With all due respect, could you explain why you brought me here and why I am bound with chains?" I asked as politely as possible.

"Hmm? Oh, that? Well, I realized that I enjoy chaining up my spouse… As for why I brought you here… Isn't it obvious? You're my husband."

… Husband? Hah… Stay calm, Ethan, stay calm.

"Are you saying your dragon spirit responded to me?" I asked, forcing myself to remain courteous despite the difficulty.

"Hmm, yes. So?"

I took a deep breath to suppress my unease as her gray eyes scrutinized me with an inquisitive gaze. Even the cold weight of the chains and the numbness in my arms couldn't quell the discomfort Valthera's words stirred within me. I tried to maintain my composure as I looked her in the eye. Here, every wrong word, every wrong look, could pull me deeper into a complicated situation. I had realized that the Dragon Princess seemed obsessive, but her open claim that I was "her husband" had caught me off guard.

"Alright… Let's say your dragon soul reacted to me," I said slowly, carefully choosing my words. "Are you saying that this implies… some kind of bond?" With this question, I was trying to clarify her intentions. Since I knew little about her, even the smallest detail could be crucial to my escape.

A smile briefly widened across Valthera's face, with a hint of mockery. "Of course there's a bond, and it's not just any ordinary bond!" she said excitedly. "Your soul resonated with mine… This is a rare connection among dragons, human!" She paused for a moment, an unexpected seriousness settling on her face. "You've captured not only my soul, but my heart as well. Do you realize how rare it is to win the heart of a dragon princess?"

I had to choose my words carefully from here on. "I'm sorry, princess, but I have my own dreams… Not because I don't want to be with you, but because I have things I want to accomplish on my own. So, could we perhaps annul this marriage before we're even wed?"

The excitement faded from Valthera's face for a moment; in her gray eyes, I saw a hint of hidden disappointment. But her expression quickly hardened into a fierce determination. With a faint smile, she leaned closer, pulling me toward her by the chains, which bit painfully into my wrists.

"It's not that simple, human," she said slowly, her voice laced with a mocking sweetness. "You've won my heart once. This is a truth that not even the universe can change." Her voice didn't waver, but there was an underlying threat; a possessiveness that lay beneath the pride of a dragon.

I had to maintain my composure, but the obsessive look on Valthera's face signaled that things were about to get more complicated. It wouldn't be easy to dissuade or persuade a being as powerful as her. Hiding my thoughts behind a slight smile, I took another step forward.

"I understand, Princess Valthera," I said slowly. "It is truly an honor to have impacted you; however, I have certain responsibilities in life, and until I fulfill them, I can't say my soul truly belongs to you."

A moment of hesitation flashed in her eyes, as if she were trying to understand my words. Then she burst into a sharp laugh.

"Responsibilities, huh?" she said mockingly. "I am a dragon princess, Ethan. Your human duties are nothing but obstacles to me. But I will remove each and every one of those obstacles. Letting you go isn't an option, because wanting you isn't a luxury for me; I have to have you!"

My unease deepened, but I had no luxury of retreat or despair. I took a deep breath to steady myself and looked directly into Valthera's eyes.

"… Princess, I'm sure you're aware of how terrible the relationship between your father and mother was—" I began, my words carefully chosen. My aim was to divert Valthera's obsessive interest, to remind her of some reality. But before I could finish, I noticed a shadow darkening her gaze.

In an instant, Valthera lunged at me. Her eyes blazed with anger, and a menacing energy radiated from her entire being. With a sharp look like cold steel, she grasped my throat, her firm fingers tightening around my neck, making it difficult to breathe. The chains bound my arms, making it impossible to move, and the darkness in Valthera's gaze told me there was no escape.

"Never mention my family again, human!" she snarled, her voice low and full of threat. As fear surged through me, I sensed a hidden anguish beneath Valthera's wrath. "I am not someone you can mock, human! Watch your words."

Breathing grew increasingly difficult, the pressure on my throat intensifying with each word. Amid the pain of the chains and Valthera's cold grip around my neck, I tried to find a way out, but for now, all I could do was stay calm.

Even without a deep breath, I slowly replied, "Princess Valthera… it wasn't my intention to hurt you… I only want to establish a happy marriage with you…"

Thankfully, she released her grip on my throat. "What do you mean by that?!" she demanded.

"Ah, what I mean is that I assume you wouldn't want our marriage to be like that of your parents, right? I mean, I imagine your mother was miserable… and you, too. You had a father without a soul, someone who didn't respond to anything… That must have been truly heartbreaking… Do you really want our childs to experience what you did? To have a father with no sign of life in his eyes, who eventually dies in a pitiable way… Is that what you want to inflict on our childs?!" I raised my voice with emotion.

… And when I looked at the princess's tear-filled eyes, I realized I had succeeded, and I inwardly smiled… Just because she was the daughter of the world's strongest being didn't mean I couldn't manipulate her.

"Why are you talking like this?! I- of course I don't want that!!!"

As the princess's angry words reached me, I slowly opened my mouth to make my final move to escape. "I don't want that either, princess… So let's make a deal… A marriage agreement."