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The Iron Dragonwing Palace was always so quiet at night. Since it was the red dragon's domain, almost no creature dared to approach, not even his most loyal followers, who lingered only at the periphery.

In this profound silence, Olivia could hear her own faint breathing.

Only the soft moonlight spilled down, pouring into her blue-gray eyes and casting a silvery glow across her smooth scales.

She had no idea how many days and nights had passed. Olivia felt she was constantly drifting between wakefulness and dreams. She was on the verge of despair, but some stubborn part of her held on, refusing to submit.

She didn't know when she might finally yield to her fate.

But it wouldn't be today.

Olivia thought this, over and over again.

"Mm..."

The silver dragon tried to twist her head, easing the stiffness in her bones caused by lying on her side for too long. The shimmering chains of magic burned into her flesh without mercy, but she had learned to endure the pain, almost getting used to it.

Rustling sounds echoed from the distance, making Olivia curious, as it was quite unusual.

"Could it be the guard bringing food?"

"No, it's midnight; it's clearly not time yet."

Olivia mused to herself.

The soft sounds continued down the corridor leading to the hall.

In her bewildered gaze, a shadowy figure appeared at the far end of the hallway, resembling a silhouette cloaked in mist.

As the figure drew closer, she finally saw it clearly—

Black hair, radiant golden eyes with slit pupils, a face that could only be described as handsome, a noble robe trimmed with gold, and faint golden scales shimmering on the edges. He walked towards the bound silver dragon.

"How is this possible?"

Olivia could hardly believe her eyes.

Wasn't this the very kin who had haunted her dreams night after night—the gold dragon Angel, the one who had entrusted her with his dying wish?

In that moment, countless thoughts filled her mind.

Olivia felt a rush of genuine relief at seeing him alive, yet countless questions also clouded her heart. Why had following his guidance led her to imprisonment here? Why hadn't he appeared before now?

Could this Angel be fake too?

Was this all just another ploy from the red dragon?

Olivia's eyes initially glowed with joy, but soon they shifted to anxiety, conflict, and finally settled into a complex mix of emotions—as though a thousand words were stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

Unexpectedly, it was he who spoke first, breaking the silence.

"I'm sorry, Olivia."

His voice was low, and his golden eyes were full of guilt.

Almost the instant he spoke, Olivia knew for sure—this was Angel, the real Angel—and her heart filled with immense relief.

Whenever she was around this golden dragon, Olivia always felt drawn to his charisma. Her emotions would sway with his, and it felt entirely genuine. What she didn't realize was that this was literal "supernatural charm" at work.

Instantly overjoyed, she felt as though she had found a final refuge.

And in that brief respite, Olivia could no longer maintain her facade of strength. The injustices of her recent experiences overwhelmed her.

Tears began to well up in her blue-gray eyes, overflowing like a flooded stream down her cheeks. With a voice tinged with sobs, she finally let out her pent-up questions.

"Where have you been all this time?"

"Why did that red dragon say you were dead?"

"Why... why am I trapped here when I was following your instructions?"

"Why..."

Perhaps due to her intense emotions, Olivia's words were becoming incoherent.

Angel, or rather Cassius, let out a deep sigh.

"Four years ago, this palace was still unfinished—just barren land. I had found the only way to defeat the red dragon—this so-called Dragon Binding Array, capable of trapping any dragon below the rank of an ancient."

"So, I set up the array here, fearing failure and leaving behind my final message."

He looked into the silver dragon's eyes, his expression growing heavier.

"But the 'Ember King' was far craftier and stronger than I imagined. He saw through my plans, and ruthlessly killed all my companions and righteous allies."

"I should've died in that battle, but thanks to the blessing of the ancient golden dragon Paralandusk, I entered a semi-ethereal state, rendering the red dragon powerless against me. It was a narrow escape."

"But in this form, my ability to interfere in the material plane is limited.

I can only appear to you like this. Though the red dragon couldn't destroy me, he used my array as a trap to lure you here, isolating my influence with his strange domain.

Luckily, his power waned just enough for me to reach you. "

"My reckless actions have implicated you, and I'm truly sorry for that."

"Angel" apologized sincerely once more.

Olivia held no blame; she accepted everything in silence, locking eyes with him. She recalled the moment of unease she'd felt upon first entering the palace—perhaps that was his attempt to warn her, one she had missed.

At least now, both she and Angel were alive, having narrowly escaped from the clutches of the terrifying red dragon. This outcome, for all its pain, was a blessing.

After a long pause, Olivia spoke softly.

"Angel, what should I do now?"

There was a hint of confusion in her eyes, but it was far better than the despair she'd felt before. Angel's arrival had given her something to hold onto—a final lifeline.

"Olivia, my current power is insufficient to face the red dragon. He is far too strong. I may need... more resources."

"Money, spell scrolls, perhaps the aid of other metallic dragons..."

"But no matter what, even if I exhaust everything, every piece of my treasure, I swear I will save you from here. That's my promise to you."

To Olivia, his words sounded deeply earnest.

Angel stepped closer, as if trying to gently caress the silver dragon's slender neck. But it was merely an illusion, and Olivia felt no physical touch.

For some reason, she did not reject this overstepping of metallic dragon etiquette; instead, she felt immense comfort and an inner sense of fulfillment. Such a promise, in the ears of a dragon, was nothing short of romantic.

"A Promise Scale."

Suddenly, Olivia remembered an epic tale told by the elders when she was still a wyrmling—a silver dragon standing vigil at the entrance to its lair for a thousand years, inscribing a promise upon its breast scales until it became an ancient. The dedication had moved her deeply.

Courtship among silver dragons was always a civilized and elegant affair, with many choosing lifelong partners.

Thus, without hesitation, Olivia chose to believe Angel, sharing everything she knew and had, hoping that someday, he would be able to rescue her...

Perhaps to ease her emotions, Angel stayed in the palace for a long while.

They discussed poetry, tales from across the continent, and exchanged knowledge of spells. Angel even teasingly called her "teacher" due to her broader knowledge of magic, which eased the tension within her.

When the palace eventually returned to silence, the silver dragon was still bound to the ground. But her blue-gray eyes no longer held despair or confusion—instead, they shone with warmth and determination.