SPELLBOUND

"I understand where you're coming from, Queen Evielyn." The lord looked like he did not agree with what Evie had said. However, the man had so much respect in his eyes now compared to the way he had looked at Evie back then when they first entered into the tent. "But the dragon's rejection is too strong. It's true forcing anything is not always the best idea, but I honestly don't think that it is possible for us, non-dragon keepers, to get the dragons to obey us without using any force. That is only possible for you because you're a dragon keeper yourself. These dragons will never obey us willingly."

A small smile curved on Evie's lips.

"Never say never, Lord Cadmus. If one can't make a dragon obey him without using force, that only means one thing…" Evie touched the dragon and caressed it before she lifted her gaze back to look meaningfully at the Lord. "It only means that the person is never meant to be a dragon rider in the first place."

The Lord's eyes circled wide, and his jaws worked. Evie inwardly smiled again at his expression. He looked as though he would never accept the fact that he was not meant to be a dragon rider.

"If you're strong, it's easy to force your control over a dragon. But that is cheating and what's the point if you had to resort to that? No, doing that is simply idiotic. Do you know why?" Evie looked at the others and when everyone did not speak, she continued. "During a war, you will get exhausted – that is the undeniable truth. And your power will also eventually weaken, sooner or later because controlling a dragon requires an immense amount of magic – more so if you are doing it by force. Sooner or later, you will be put in a position where you could only let go of the dragon. Once that happen, when you no longer have enough power left in you, the dragon will leave you and that is it for you. Do you get what I mean, Lord Cadmus?"

The lord could not even speak now. On his face was an unsightly expression. "Everyone thinks that dragons are just tools to be used during war. But they are not. They are great comrades when working together. If they care for you, they will never leave you behind when you're in your weakest state and when you're in the greatest time of need. They will save you… and fight with you… fight for you… all these great things are what you'd get if a dragon becomes your friend and partner, not your tool or slave."

After another long while of silence, Lord Cadmus bowed his head low at Evie, surprising everyone. They would not have thought that this proud and arrogant lord would be willing to bow his head before a foreign queen before others. "Forgive me, Queen Evielyn for what I did. I was conceited and ridiculous to even think of using dark magic in the first place on your dragon and more so without your permission. You are right, a true dragon rider would never force a dragon to obey him. Please…" the lord lifted his face and Evie saw determination shining in his eyes, replacing the arrogant and rebellious look from earlier. "Please give me a second chance. I will do my best to become a true dragon rider."

The dark faes gasped when they heard Lord Cadmus admitting to that. Who would have thought they would see Lord Cadmus bowing to a woman? This was the most egotistical and stubborn lord among all the other lords that they knew! Did he want to be a dragon rider that much?!

"Wait a moment there, Lord Cadmus." The King's voice echoed from the side, his brows were raised as he looked at Lord Cadmus. "Whoever had given you the permission that you can now start your journey to become a dragon rider? As long as the decision is not made and we've yet to accept Queen Evielyn's proposal, there is no point for you to say anything on that matter." King Belial shrewdly brought this matter up as the lords were still in contention earlier about Evie's proposal.

Lord Cadmus' head flew towards Evie.

"The King is correct. I will only let the dark faes ride my dragons if… if you agree to my proposal. That is a given, is it not? Don't tell me you expect to make use of my resources without agreeing to the proposal of the owner of it all?" Evie flippantly commented as a small smirk curved at the sides of her lips.

"Well… then there is really no other reason for us to delay on deciding on this matter…" the lord stated as he looked towards his fellow lords.

"I agree!!!" Azrael immediately piped in, taking advantage of the current situation. They would be crazy not to agree to such a wonderful alliance with the light faes and the dragons added in. Kione followed suit and another three lords nodded their assent as well. The other lords were suddenly under pressure as all eyes around them were now trained on them, waiting for their verdict.

"Oh, come on Lord Argus. Don't you want to experience riding a dragon at least for once in your lifetime?" Cadmus began to persuade his comrades, putting an obvious pressure on them. "If you keep on being stubborn, I will stop my people from selling the Morganish wine to you." Lord Cadmus shamelessly threatened Lord Argus.

"I don't care about your wine." Lord Argus said through clenched teeth, clearly showing that he did care despite the words thrown out.

"Fine. Since you don't care about that, I'm cancelling the engagement between you and my sis –"

"D-don't you dare, you –" before Lord Cadmus could finish, Lord Argus shouted out, stopping him from completing his words.

"Then just say 'yes'. Stop playing hard to get." Lord Cadmus prodded blatantly.

"For goodness' sake. I can't believe a dragon is all it takes to make you bend!" Lord Argus was exasperated at how he was continuously pressured by Lord Cadmus.

"Well, the only difference between us is that… mine's a dragon. For you, it is my sister. Though I still think a dragon is far more worth I –"

"Ugh! Enough! Fine! Fine! It's not like the king will ever let me off so easily if I dare to keep on disagreeing." Lord Argus roared out agitatedly.

"Good call. I thought you still didn't get that." Lord Cadmus laughed out happily, not bothered at all that he had literally threatened his future brother-in-law.

"I'm not a fool."

And thus, just like that, the final decision is finally made, causing the king to laugh out lightly in disbelief. He did not think that these bunch of hard-headed lords could be persuaded without using extreme measures at all.

…

Meanwhile, in the small house in the middle of Monsters' Forest…

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