She Belongs To The Devil

All the Princes and Princesses were given a special ride back to the Palace. Each of them rode on the back of a Wyvern and one by one, they all set towards their home. Though most of them were sad for failing the test, they were enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of riding those breathtaking creatures.

Adeline was the last one standing beside Azriel. The two of them were standing on top of a hill under the bright moonlight. This hill was where Azriel resided with all of his dragons. There was a Wyvern on standby to take Adeline back to the Palace.

Azriel was giving some advice and was saying some remaining bits of information to Adeline.

"I have already sent a scroll to Dragomir announcing that you have been selected as the future ruler. Go home and enjoy the last night of your freedom. After tomorrow, you are going to be very busy. Your life is going to change drastically.

But don't feel pressured by all the responsibilities, you will get used to them with time. Dragomir will teach you everything about the affairs of the Kingdom, and he will also give out the details about the agreement between me and Wyverndale."

Azriel hummed for a while and said, "I think that is all I have to say for now. Ride back safely."

But before Adeline mounted on the Wyvern, Azriel reminded her something, "And don't forget to visit me after 7 days. I will have the inscription spell ready by then."

Adeline bowed to Azriel and said, "I will visit you after 7 days then. Thank you for your advice, Dragon Immortal, and also for thinking about my safety."

Azriel frowned and then spoke inquisitively, "Dragon Immortal?"

Adeline smiled and corrected herself, "Thank you, Azriel. I will take my leave now."

"Sure. Hold onto Mimi tightly," Azriel warned Adeline before he disappeared from there.

Adeline took a deep breath and then went near Mimi, the Wyvern who was supposed to be Adeline's ride. Before climbing on her, Adeline gently stroked her and whispered, "It's nice to meet you, Mimi. I am now going to climb, okay?"

Mimi nodded her head. So Adeline got on the back of that gentle giant. Mimi got up and then spread out her wings. And in no time, the two of them were soaring high under the moonlit sky. Adeline felt very exhilarated when the cool breeze hit her on her face. Though it was Mimi who was flying, Adeline felt like she was the one who was flying alongside the clouds.

---

(Immediately after the test was over.)

"Adeline, I want to have a little chat with you. Why don't you come and sit here?" Azriel walked towards Adeline and offered her his hand.

Adeline slowly sat up and then took Azriel's hand. Azriel helped her up and then led her towards a chair.

Both of them sat down while facing each other. And before Azriel could say anything to her, Adeline apologized, "I am sorry, Dragon Immortal. I behaved rudely with you earlier. I shouldn't have gotten that angry with you."

Azriel smirked and replied, "It's fine because I was the one to provoke you."

Adeline was still looking down at the floor and was looking remorseful.

So in order to make her feel less guilty, Azriel took a different approach, "Adeline, you remember my name, right?"

Adeline glanced at Azriel and replied, "Yes, Dragon Immortal. I do."

"Good. I told you my name because I wanted you to address me by my name. Call me Azriel from now on. I love being called the Dragon Immortal but I don't want those boring formalities between us." Azriel's face beamed when he said that.

Adeline gazed into Azriel's eyes in surprise. She couldn't tell if he was being serious or he was greatly offended by her rudeness earlier. So she shook her head and said, "I wouldn't dare to call you by your name, Dragon Immortal. We have always been taught to worship you and respect you. Addressing you by your name is something I cannot do, please forgive me."

Azriel folded his arms and pouted childishly. And he started talking in a complaining tone, "What's wrong with addressing me by my name? I know you don't address Theodore as the Devil Prince but you call him by his name instead. So what's wrong in doing the same to his elder brother?"

Adeline was dumbfounded by Azriel's revelation. And she stuttered, "You are… you are Theodore's brother?"

Azriel lifted his head proudly and puffed his chest boastfully. And he said, "Yes, his elder brother. Thus, I am far powerful and stronger than him." Then he chuckled and said, "And I know my brother. He would not like his lover treating his rival brother like a God. That is why I am asking you to remove all the formalities between us."

Adeline knew that was true. She could see the hate in Theodore's eyes for her Deity. He didn't even tell her that Azriel was his brother. She wanted to know why the two of them were not on good terms but she kept quiet knowing it was not her place to poke her nose into.

"I will do as you ask then," Adeline gently smiled at Azriel.

"Good," Azriel was glad to see her smiling again and then got into the business. "Adeline, something that you said in the final scenario made me want to ask you something. Sorry in advance because I am going to get personal."

Azriel then asked her the question that had been bugging him, "Are you sure that you want the throne? Because you said that you would not trade Theodore even for the throne. And it made me wonder what is more important to you, Theodore or Wyverndale. If such day ever came, where you had to choose between the two, which one would you choose?"

Adeline let out a quiet sigh because somehow, she was again stuck with the same impossible choice. And she ended up giving a diplomatic answer, "I would try my best to make sure that such day would never arrive. Wyverndale is my home and Theodore is my heart, and I cannot live without any one of them. Yes, I would not kill Theodore for the throne but also yes, I want the throne. I don't want it just for the sake of power, I want it so that I can protect my people from those who want to hurt them."

Azriel could not help but smile at that clever answer from Adeline. But he didn't ask that to make her even more uncomfortable. He just wanted to be sure that he was making the right decision by choosing someone who actually wants to shoulder the responsibility of being a ruler.. He wanted to make sure that his enchanted necklace had found the right person.