.jpg)
Eliza had a widespread reputation as a benevolent Empress, but Ayla knew her true nature well.
'She's being nice because I'm useful right now.'
Eliza in the original story was the same.
With a kind face, she held Ayla's hand at their first meeting and said,
"I think you will be a great strength to our Prince Darian. You have a truly remarkable talent."
The original Ayla was deeply moved by her reaction.
Because someone as noble as the Empress had recognized her talent.
Moreover, as time passed and she fell in love with Darian, Eliza did not strongly oppose them and blessed them.
"Ayla has been a great help to our Darian, so I understand."
"Even though I'm a commoner?"
"Of course, it doesn't matter at all."
She didn't know it then.
Eliza's kindness was only displayed when she was useful.
Darian, despite being a member of the Imperial Family, had inherited very little of the Dragon's power.
Therefore, some ministers pointed this out and opposed Darian inheriting the throne.
They said he lacked legitimacy.
So Eliza devoted all her efforts to recruiting numerous talents.
Fortunately, Darian was exceptionally good at recognizing people.
The talents he recruited eventually brought him to the closest position to the throne.
And when it became almost certain that Darian would inherit the throne, Eliza's attitude towards Ayla also changed.
She constantly harassed her and urged her to break up.
Then, on the day Darian finally abandoned her and agreed to marry Freya,
Eliza came to her and coldly said,
"Don't be too upset about this. It's just that Darian has finally realized his position. You also felt rewarded that our Darian is doing well, didn't you?"
Eliza smiled mockingly after saying that.
"You should have known your place from the beginning. How dare you think of stepping into the Imperial Palace without anything to your name?"
"Your Majesty the Empress."
"People should know their place. How dare a commoner aim for the Prince?"
She laughed and conveyed what Darian had said.
"Darian says the only value you have is making Magical potions. Well, he's right. There's nothing else left besides that."
Even when she was abandoned by Darian, her heart felt like it was being torn apart, but the Empress's words completely devastated her.
As she said, there was nothing left for her now.
No family, no status, no beloved lover.
'Did Darian really love me?'
Knowing her situation of being abandoned by her family, how could he abandon her so heartlessly again?
She couldn't understand how someone who always said they should help those in need could use her and then abandon her.
That's how the original Ayla developed a mental illness and died of grief.
"Piyo."
Ayla, finishing her thoughts, hugged the Dragon squirming in her arms. She felt a warm warmth.
She stared at the Dragon for a moment, then slowly raised her gaze.
Eliza and Darian were staring blankly at the Dragon in her arms.
But Peony was different.
As if worried about the future, she was gazing at Ayla with concerned eyes.
She was worried that various attentions would be poured on her as the owner of the Divine Beast.
But Ayla gave her a light smile as if to say it was okay.
Then Peony burst into an awkward laugh.
Watching that, Ayla thought to herself.
'It's okay, now I just need to focus on the people who value me.'
She just needs to avoid Eliza and Darian as much as possible.
Rather than worrying about trivial matters, it was more important to protect the people who sincerely treated her.
Ayla firmly resolved and hugged the Dragon tightly in her arms.
The vacation, which should have been a peaceful time, felt long and frustrating for Freya.
Ever since returning to the Count Arma's estate, the matter of Ayla had been constantly brought up.
'How can she be so lucky?'
Just before the vacation, when she saw Ayla being dragged away by the soldiers, she thought she would no longer be involved with her.
But the ominous egg that Ayla was raising turned out to be a Black Dragon.
Not only was she released without any punishment because of that, but she might soon receive a medal from His Majesty the Emperor.
'Annoying. What is this?'
Now that things had turned out this way, Darian would surely show even more interest in Ayla.
'He stared at Ayla intently at the ballroom too.'
Freya was extremely displeased with the situation itself, where Darian, whom she had marked as her future husband, had turned his eyes to another woman.
Thanks to that, she couldn't concentrate on tea time with her parents at all.
Just as the Countess Arma was about to ask her daughter, who had a troubled expression, if she was okay,
The Count, who was sipping his tea, suddenly frowned and opened his mouth.
"By the way, has everyone heard the news?"
"What news are you talking about?"
At his wife's question, the Count glanced at his eldest daughter and continued.
"Well, that Ayla Blanche—no, the commoner Ayla who hatched that Black Dragon. I heard it finally chose its owner."
At those words, Freya raised her head sharply.
The choice of the Divine Beast was a very curious topic for her as well.
"Surely it chose Prince Darian, right?"
Anxiety was evident on her face.
'Prince Darian must be chosen by the Divine Beast in order to ascend to the throne without any problems.'
But her father's expression wasn't very good.
Seeing that, Freya felt great unease.
Could it be that the Divine Beast chose someone else? Who could it be?
Adolf? Peony?
No matter which of the two received the Dragon's choice, it wouldn't be good news for Darian.
Freya quickly urged her father.
"Tell me. Which member of the Imperial Family received the Dragon's choice?"
Seeing his daughter, who naturally assumed that one of the Imperial Family members had received the Dragon's choice, the Count wore a heavy expression.
"The person who received the Dragon's choice is not a member of the Imperial Family."
"Yes? Then who is it? Could it be..."
An absurd assumption suddenly flashed through her mind.
Ayla, who had picked up the egg and cared for it until just before it hatched.
Could she have received the Dragon's choice before the Imperial Family members?
As if confirming her imagination, the Count opened his mouth with a displeased expression.
"Yes, that Ayla who used to be your friend is said to have become the owner. I don't know what's going on..."
Freya's eyes widened in shock.
Even though she had guessed it, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
'The Divine Beast really chose Ayla?'
A Black Dragon chose someone other than a member of the Imperial Family?
No, more than that, how can someone be so lucky?
If Ayla continues to be lucky, can we still call it luck?
Freya's lips hardened menacingly.
Count Arma continued in a scolding tone.
"What's important now is not that. The bigger problem is that Her Majesty the Empress is showing great interest in Ayla right now."
Freya's fingertips trembled.
"Why, why is she showing interest in Ayla?"
"If you get Ayla, it's the same as having the Dragon, which is a Divine Beast."
At those words, Freya's face turned pale.
"Of course, she wouldn't immediately make that commoner the fiancée of the noble Prince, but..."
The Count tapped the table with an anxious face.
He was afraid that if he stayed still like this, he would lose his daughter's groom like a dog chasing a chicken.
.jpg)