"Capture him. He dared fool the Dragon Kingdom."
The guards didn't hesitate. Their armored footsteps echoed across the marble floor as they surrounded me, their spears pointed right at my chest. I didn't resist. I couldn't. Not when my legs barely held me up.
I swallowed hard, eyes locked onto the throne.
She was sitting there. Cold. Silent. Regal.
Her silver hair, once messy from sleeping beside me in a tiny apartment, now braided into perfection. Her eyes—those golden, piercing eyes—looked at me like I was a stranger.
"…Erza," I said, voice shaking as I stepped forward. "Please. Try to remember… I'm not your enemy."
The hall fell quiet.
Then—crack.
A fist slammed into my jaw. I stumbled back, blood trailing down my lip.
"How dare you call the Dragon Queen by name!" one of the guards barked.
I didn't fight back. I didn't even flinch.
Because I saw her eyes.
For just a second, they wavered.
Then, like a door slamming shut, her voice rang out—calm and ruthless.
"Take him. Put him in a cell. We'll execute him at dawn."
"Wait—!"
"Papa!!"
A small voice screamed from the back of the room. Tiny footsteps pattered across the floor.
"Elena…" I gasped.
Our daughter rushed toward me, tears spilling down her cheeks. Two guards blocked her path, but she didn't stop.
"Don't hurt my papa! Mama, please! Please remember!"
Erza didn't even look at her.
She stood, turned her back to us, and walked away.
And just like that… I was dragged from the throne room in chains.
---
Later, in the dungeon…
The air was damp. Cold stone walls surrounded me, and the only light came from a flickering torch outside the cell door.
Across from me sat a few others—dragonkin. Some had scales on their necks. Others had faint horns or sharp eyes. All of them half-human, like Elena.
One of them, a guy with crimson hair and dragon-like claws, raised an eyebrow.
"You don't look like a warrior or a rebel," he said.
"You're human," one said. "Why are you even here?"
I chuckled, bitterly. My jaw still ached.
"I'm here to meet my wife," I said, my voice low.
They exchanged glances.
"…You're joking."
"I wish I was."
They leaned closer.
"Wait… don't tell me… the Queen?"
I nodded.
They looked at each other, intrigued now.
"…And how's that going?"
"Bad," I replied. "Turns out she doesn't remember me at all. Pain in my voice is still there.
"Execution by morning," I added. "Guess it wasn't a happy reunion."
Silence.
Then someone muttered, "Damn. That's rough."
The crimson-haired guy leaned forward, interest sparked in his eyes.
"Alright then, human. If we're spending the night together, tell us your story.
"Well, since none of us are sleeping tonight… tell us. How the hell did you meet the Dragon Queen and end up here?"
I sighed and looked up at the cracks in the ceiling.
"It's a long story. But fine… if you're really curious…"
I smiled, bitterly.
"It all started with a dream and my Tiny apartments"