Chapter 4

The next day, Damien and I were invited to Lucian's coronation. He had assumed Adrian's identity and was now recognized by Henry as the heir apparent.

Though the formal approval of the Dragon's Divine Law was still required to complete the coronation and secure the succession, everyone—including Lucian himself—believed it was a done deal.

Now, Lucian was dressed in gleaming silver armor, his arm around Rowena—both of them looking flawless and radiant as they greeted everyone, beaming with pride.

Watching him, my mind drifted back to the previous life.

Henry had once asked Lucian, when Adrian was named crown prince, whether as a twin he would harbor resentment.

At the time, Lucian had answered with perfect sincerity, "Adrian is upright, clever, and way more competent than I am. It is only right that he should stand as Crown Prince."

Yet now, his actions contradicted every word he had sworn.

I shook my head with bitter amusement. Such a hypocrite—and in my last life, I had never seen it.

Soon, Lucian, with Rowena at his side, came to stand before me. He cast a sidelong glance at Damien, a flicker of jealousy crossing his eyes. He mocked, "Seraphina, I know you still think of Lucian, but you were the one who chose to remarry. You should make peace with it."

Before I could respond, Damien's voice cut through, calm and unbothered. "Your Highness needn't trouble yourself. Seraphina has been good to me."

A warmth spread through me at Damien's words. Watching Lucian and Rowena exchange triumphant smiles, I couldn't resist a teasing warning. "Your Highness, are you really certain you can take the throne today?"

Rowena frowned at once. "What's that supposed to mean? Seraphina, are you trying to jinx us?"

Lucian's gaze burned with resentment. But with so many eyes upon them, he merely stopped Rowena and said softly, "Don't waste your words on her. Come—we're leaving."

I let out a quiet sigh and leaned into Damien's arms and fell silent.

*****

The coronation soon began.

Lucian ascended the steps one by one, stopping before the Dragon King, his eyes fixed greedily on the crown—the symbol of power held in the king's hands.

At his side, the High Priest of the Dragon Clan started his ritual and called out in a ringing voice, "We call upon the Divine Law to grant its sanction!"

Thunder rolled across the sky.

As the Phoenix Clan's leader was required to endure the Rite of Rebirth, every Dragon King was bound to face the Trial of Thunder. If the rite was accepted, both king and queen would emerge unscathed.

Lucian held Rowena's hand, and together they stood at the center of the altar.

"Boom!" The first bolt of lightning struck.

I saw it all—the moment the lightning struck, Lucian and Rowena's faces twisted in shock.

Then came the second. The third.

Rowena suddenly spat blood and collapsed to her knees, unable to rise. Lucian's face turned ashen.

Henry and Yelena leapt to their feet in shock.

Whispers rippled through the crowd below.

"The former Dragon King didn't suffer like this during his rite."

"Could it be that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are not recognized by the Divine Law?"

There were 81 bolts in total. What should have been a blessing had become a punishment.

By the tenth strike, Lucian could no longer stand and fell to his knees beside Rowena.

In desperation, Henry raised a barrier of power, barely shielding them from further harm. But with that, the coronation lost all its meaning.

Silence fell over the hall. Every gaze fixed on Lucian and Rowena, waiting for an explanation.

Lucian forced himself to his feet and looked toward Henry. "Father... perhaps something went wrong. I am willing to attempt the rite again."

Henry hesitated.

I sighed and cut in, saying, "It's pointless. Struggle as you might, the Divine Law will not accept impostors."