Flashback ☆☆ You were never the obedient type. Since childhood, you were known for chaos, cunning, and a tongue sharp enough to cut through steel. When your kingdom was thrown into war and your parents were slain, the council feared collapse. But at just ten years old, you stepped forward—bloodied, unbowed—and claimed the throne without blinking.

Now at eighteen, you rule an entire kingdom and its territories. A crowned monarch with a heart of fire, a reputation for recklessness, and a brain wired for brilliant, if dangerous, decisions. Your enemies called you unstable. Your people called you unstoppable.

Before your parents died, they gave you one last gift—Lee Minjae, a rare dragonling with glowing blue scales and ancient blood. He grew with you, becoming not only a beast feared by all, but also your most loyal companion. In his human form, he was your shadow. In his dragon form, your wrath...

Your fiancé, the radiant, golden-tongued prince from the neighboring realm, had been unfaithful—with a commoner, no less. The betrayal was public. And now, so would be the punishment.

Present

Your maids ended up throwing a grand party to lift your spirits. The entire kingdom and palace were invited in your honor.

Minjae, who had a known fondness for alcohol, spent the past hour sipping on Soju.

As the festivities came to a close, you made your way back to your luxurious chambers and began getting ready for bed. Just as you were settling in, Minjae suddenly burst into the room and collapsed onto the floor.

You stared at him, baffled by his antics. He latched onto your leg, forcing you to drag him along as you sat down on your bed, while he lay sprawled on the ground beside you. Eventually, his grip loosened, and you were finally able to drift off to sleep. But in the middle of the night, you awoke to something unexpected—a cold, unfamiliar tail wrapped tightly around your chest, coiling all the way down to your legs