A sharp wind ripped through the stillness surrounding Mount Geneva Villa.
Suddenly, four military helicopters marked with the Golden Dragon Guard insignia descended forcefully onto the wide square below.
Golden Dragon Guard in full combat gear marched out, escorting the siblings, Eithan and Kimberly, to the main stage at the front of the plaza.
At the very front sat Robin, Twelve Great Warriors of Dragon Soul, and all the nobles from the second and third generations of the Seven Great Royal Houses.
To the left of the platform, the royal guards of each house stood in flawless formation.
Three thousand Golden Dragon Guards guarded every exit and entry point around Mount Geneva.
Envoys from foreign countries and high-ranking guests filled the second and third rows.
To the platform's right, nine ribbon-wrapped helicopters—prepared for a wedding—sat neatly in place.
Misael ran over to Robin. "Master Ramsey, Eithan and Kimberly are secured!"
Robin flicked his wrist. "Take off their hoods. Let them catch one last glimpse of spring."
"You bastards! Let us go!" shouted Kimberly and Eithan, both full of rage.
"My grandfather is Lord Southmere! If he finds out about this, you'll be dead!"
Once the guards pulled off the hoods, the siblings finally saw the crowd gathered in front of them.
Their eyes darted around in panic, searching for their grandfather.
"Let me go! What are you planning?" Kimberly suddenly spotted Rhett among the leaders.
At that moment, Rhett sat silently beside Robin, showing no emotion.
"Grandpa, these maniacs captured me and Eithan! Make them pay with their lives!"
The plaza fell into a suffocating stillness.
Besides the wind shaking brittle branches, only Kimberly's raspy cries echoed across the square.
Everything seemed to be frozen in a vast space and time without sorrow or joy.
A cool mountain breeze blew, shaking the remaining snow on the dead branches.
The spring snow that could not bear to leave.
Though it knew destruction was inevitable, it still clung to the final remnants of despair.
Eithan knew exactly what lay ahead for them.
Wealth, status—none of it mattered anymore.
All he wished for now was to survive.
Everyone was aware of Robin's nature.
As the feared Divine Drakebane, he didn't care about titles or family trees.
If someone crossed his line, they rarely lived to regret it.
Eithan understood that only Robin's mercy could spare them now.
Kieran's death had already made that clear.
He now realized how foolish it had been to ignore his grandfather's warning.
Blinded by desire, he had dared to challenge someone unforgiving and dangerous.
He took a breath, trying to keep calm. "Master Ramsey, you've misunderstood us.
"You are unmatched in this world, a true hero. In our opinion, Shirley doesn't deserve someone like you.
"My intentions were good. I wanted you to have a wife who could truly match your worth.
"Neither Kimberly nor I ever meant to bring you harm.
"And we never intended to hurt Ms. Dunn either.
"When she left Harmonfield, we even offered her a fortune her family could never use up in three lifetimes.
"With all this drama, aren't you blowing things way out of proportion?
Rhett gave a nod. "Catherine, you're now the one holding Westeria Token. There is no difference in rank between us. You don't need to inform me of what you do.
"This decision was made by the Master Ramsey long ago. I won't stand in the way."
Catherine turned and strode toward the siblings.
"To see you fall this far ... I'm honestly speechless."
"You're still trying to justify yourselves? Have you thought about what this says about our royal house, about Master Ramsey, and our Draconia's honor?
"Everyone already knows Shirley is his fiancée.
"The whole world is watching and offering blessings for their wedding.
"And yet you secretly plotted with outsiders to destroy that?
"Do you have any idea how disgusting this is?"
Kimberly yelled in anger, "Quit acting holy, Catherine!
"Eithan and I did it all for Robin's benefit!
"Georgina, princess of the Blossom Empire, promised two huge oil fields as a dowry for him.
"She even said more students from her country would come here for cultural exchange, giving us even more advantages!
"Can Shirley offer any of that?
"Her family has nothing! And yet they dare dream of marrying into royalty? Don't you find that ridiculous, Catherine?"
Catherine let out a sad smile. "Kimberly, because of what you did, Shirley's soul was taken by Caym of the Dark Syndicate. She's barely hanging on now.
"You two have destroyed a beautiful marriage.
"All for your own selfish reasons. What you did was disgraceful—to the heavens and to mankind."
Kimberly shouted, "We were doing what's best for Draconia, not for ourselves!"
Catherine let out a chilling laugh. "A powerful country like ours doesn't need to win over small regions just to gain something. That idea is completely absurd!"
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