Victory was within my grasp.

The blade, gleaming under the dim moonlight, was mere inches from Zephirion's throat. Just one more swing, and-

SHNK!

A sharp, searing pain exploded in my stomach. My breath hitched, and my vision blurred for a moment.

I looked down.

A dagger. Buried deep into my flesh.

What...?

Slowly, I turned my gaze to Aeris.

She was the one holding it.

My mind reeled. This wasn't possible.

She was mine. Under my control. She was supposed to be mine!

But then-she smirked.

Not the dazed, obedient girl I had twisted to my will.

No.

This was her.

The sarcastic, fiery woman who never submitted to anyone.

And she laughed.

Behind her, Zephirion, Valerion, and Caelum all stood, watching with pure amusement.

Valerion let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Ohhh, this is priceless! You should see your face right now!"

Caelum, ever the silent one, let out a small, amused hum. "Pathetic."

Zephirion simply smirked down at me.

I gritted my teeth, pain surging through me as I staggered back, barely keeping my balance. "W-What...?"

Aeris leaned in, her face inches from mine.

"You thought I was yours?" she whispered.

Then, she twisted the dagger deeper.

I gasped, falling to my knees, clutching my stomach as blood seeped through my clothes.

She stepped back and tilted her head, looking down at me as if I were nothing.

"I never belonged to you," she said coldly.

My body trembled. This isn't right.

She was supposed to be mine. Mine!

I turned my furious gaze to Zephirion, who was watching me with an almost bored expression.

And then-he spoke.

"It's over, Uncle Kieran."

My heart stopped.

I froze.

Zephirion grinned, crimson eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"Oh? Surprised? Did you really think I wouldn't recognize you?"

Valerion chuckled, crossing his arms. "Wow, the mighty Kieran was beaten by a tiny human girl. How embarrassing."

Caelum simply sighed. "Pathetic."

I couldn't breathe.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

I was supposed to win.

I was supposed to take everything from him.

But now-

I was kneeling. Bleeding. Helpless.

As they all laughed.

And Aeris-

She just watched with satisfaction.

Then, she took a step forward and crossed her arms, looking at me like I was nothing more than a mere bug under her shoe.

"Let me guess," she said mockingly, "you're wondering how this happened, right? How your little mind-control trick suddenly didn't work?"

I clenched my jaw, the pain unbearable, but I refused to answer.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Tch. Figures. Well, since you're about to lose, I might as well tell you."

She crouched down in front of me, a wicked smirk on her lips.

"You were never in control, Kieran."

My blood turned cold.

"What...?"

She tilted her head. "You thought I was under your spell? Please. I was faking it from the very beginning."

Aeris smirked. "Let me tell you a little secret, Uncle Keiran."

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"I was never yours to begin with."

Keiran's breath hitched, but Aeris only continued, her voice like poison laced with honey.

"Yes, your spell worked," she admitted. "But not completely. I never submitted to you."

Keiran narrowed his eyes. "Impossible."

Aeris chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, but it's true."

She turned slightly, her gaze flickering to Zephirion.

"That night, when I woke up still under your influence, I was already fighting it," she revealed. "But Zephirion... he wouldn't even look at me after the breakfast. He thought I was lost."

Zephirion's expression darkened at the memory.

"But then..." Aeris smirked. "I lost my balance. I fell on the bed with him. And when our faces were so close, your spell shattered."

Keiran stiffened.

That was the moment?

Aeris's smirk widened as she mockingly tapped his chest with her finger.

"Your magic broke because of him," she whispered, her voice filled with triumph.

Keiran's breathing turned ragged.

The Black Dragon King had undone his spell with nothing but his presence.

Before Keiran could lash out, Zephirion turned toward their shared chamber, his crimson eyes scanning the room until-

His gaze landed on the note.

The same note that had been left for him the night Aeris regained control.

His fingers curled around the parchment, reading the words.

And as he read, everything became clear.

The truth was already written.

---

The Night Before: The Hidden Truth

The moment they entered their shared chamber, his instincts screamed.

Something felt off.

His gaze landed on the table, where a neatly folded parchment rested.

Frowning, Zephirion picked it up, his crimson eyes scanning the elegant, familiar handwriting.

As his eyes moved across the words, his body tensed.

---

"Zephirion, if you're reading this, then I have already broken free from Keiran's control. But I cannot let him know that yet.

I need him to believe that I am still his obedient little puppet.

This is my only chance to trap him.

Do not trust my actions. I will act like I am under his control, but I am not. Trust only my words.

Tell Valerion and Caelum. We will finish this together.

Wait for the perfect moment."

-Aeris."

---

Zephirion's breath hitched.

He slowly turned his head toward Aeris, who stood across the room, she smiled but it was her usual evil grin when she has a plan.

She had been faking it all along.

Everything.

The smiles, the clinging, the strange softness.

She had played Keiran flawlessly.

And now... it was time to end it.

Zephirion's lips curled into a dark, satisfied smirk as he crushed the note in his hand.

Keiran had no idea what was coming for him.

---

Present: The Final Revelation

Zephirion's crimson eyes burned as he stared at Aeris.

Keiran was still frozen, his mind struggling to process the depth of her betrayal.

Aeris tilted her head, her voice filled with mock pity.

"Did you really think you could control me, Keiran?" she whispered.

Keiran's fury snapped.

With a growl, he lunged toward her-

Only for Zephirion to step forward, his claws igniting with black flames.

"You lost the moment you tried to take what's mine,yet again " he said coldly. "It's over, Uncle Keiran."

And for the first time-

Keiran felt fear.