I don’t know how long I stand there in the corridor, back pressed against cold stone, tears drying on my cheeks. Long enough for the laughter to fade. Long enough for the ache in my chest to dull into something hollow.

Then Father’s voice booms across the courtyard, cutting through the murmur of conversation.

“Gather, all of you! The Selection begins!”

The Selection. I’d almost forgotten why we were all summoned here in the first place.

Today isn’t just another gathering of Mintia’s future warriors and dragon riders—it’s the ceremony where Father will name his successor and grant them their first dragon egg.

The ultimate honor. The ultimate proof of worth.

I should leave. I should disappear back to my room and let them have their celebration without me. But my feet carry me toward the archway instead, drawn by something I can’t name.

Maybe it’s the last shred of hope I haven’t managed to kill yet.

I stay at the edge of the crowd, hands clenched at my sides, nails biting into my palms. The servants’ whispers from this morning echo in my mind—the way they avoided my eyes, the tension in Father’s jaw at breakfast.

I already know what’s coming. But some desperate, foolish part of me still clings to hope.

Father steps onto the raised platform, his voice booming with practiced authority.

“As you all know, we were blessed with two daughters. But only one can be a true warrior and inherit the mantle of leadership of Mintia’s High House of Blue Dragon.”

My breath catches. I feel like I’m drowning in open air, lungs refusing to work properly.

“Today, we are gathered to announce that Cassandra has been chosen as your future leader!” He pauses for effect. “And the beloved of Kael, our strongest warrior!”

The courtyard erupts in thunderous applause. Some even shout approving cheers that echo off the stone walls. My breath catches, sharp and painful, like swallowing glass.

It was supposed to be me.

My gaze falls on Cassandra, standing before Father with her hand intertwined with Kael’s. The triumph on her face cuts deeper than any blade.

“And today,” Father continues proudly, “Cassandra will officially receive her dragon egg!”

My heart stops completely. A servant approaches, carefully cradling something wrapped in dark silk. When the fabric falls away, I see it—green scales catching the sunlight like precious emeralds.

My dragon egg.

The one I found in the mountain caves two moons ago. The one that glowed beneath my touch and whispered to me in my head.

“Father, I don’t understand. I am the eldest daughter,” I call out, pushing forward through the crowd. “It’s my right to lead the army and become a chieftain.”

“Evelyn, Cassandra is better suited to lead. She’s stronger, more… respected. The choice is obvious.”

“I’ve trained just as hard, I’ve done everything! And that dragon egg is mine!”

“Enough, Evelyn!” Father’s expression hardens instantly, disappointment thick as smoke. “You will not disrupt this sacred ceremony with your lies.”

“They’re not lies!” My voice rises despite my trembling limbs. “I brought that egg back myself. Cassandra wasn’t even in the nest that day!”

Gasps ripple through the assembled crowd like wind through dry leaves. Father descends from the platform, his face thunderous.

“I said enough! Don’t disgrace yourself and this family any further. Have you forgotten what you did? You’re uncontrollable. A monster.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, my voice breaking. “I did everything right.”

“You tried to steal your sister’s egg,” he says, loud enough for everyone to hear. “The dragon chose Cassandra. You couldn’t accept it, so you schemed to take what wasn’t yours.”

“That’s not true! The egg responded to me!”

Mother steps forward, her tone cold as mountain stone. “It never responded to you. We all witnessed it ourselves.”

“Because you took it from me!” Tears burn my eyes. “You took it while I slept! I know you did!”

Cassandra shakes her head slowly, her voice dripping with false concern. “Listen to yourself, Evelyn. You sound completely unhinged, dear sister.”

The crowd murmurs in dark agreement. I search their faces desperately for any sign of support, but find only blank stares and skeptical glances.

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