Rose Reborn: The Thorn Road of Revenge

A strong sense of crisis lingered around me.

The dragon brothers, Max and Martin, cared only for their sister who could give birth to a four-clawed golden dragon.

From the very beginning, they had been acting, trying to lure me to the Dragon Palace.

All to satisfy Sofia's pleasure in humiliating me.

At that moment, Max walked in, holding Sofia.

Martin quickly approached them.

He flattered, "I can wait."

"If you two fail to give birth to a four-clawed golden dragon, I hope you can give me a chance."

Max, having snatched the dragon bride that rightfully belonged to his brother, nodded reluctantly.

Sofia pointed at me and laughed heartily, "My dear sister, you are truly foolishly adorable, so lowly yet unaware."

"Just wait to give birth to another loach and become a huge joke."

With red eyes, I remained silent.

I couldn't provoke them. I had to find a way to escape.

But Max gave me no chance. He raised his hand and bound me with dragon might.

They dragged me to a well deep within the Dragon Palace.

Max pressed me against the well's mouth and sneered, "Gloria, don't you love giving birth to loaches?"

"This well is home to an ancient loach spirit. I want to see what lowly species you will give birth to after coupling with him."

Martin chimed in, "I heard this loach spirit is fierce and murderous. Gloria, you better seduce him well, or you might get eaten right away."

Looking at these two dragon princes, I did not beg for mercy.

Though of noble status, their hearts were so vile.

Even if I truly had to mate with a loach, I didn't want my child to share any bloodline with them.

Before they could push me in, I jumped into the deep well voluntarily.

Sofia's triumphant voice rang in my ears.

"My dear sister, you must survive."

"I'm waiting for your loach baby to be a toy for my golden dragon baby."

My body fell rapidly, soon plunging into the icy water of the well.

When I woke up, I found myself at the dark bottom of the well.

I did not see the fierce loach spirit they spoke of. Instead, I saw a young man lying not far away.

He was sprawled on the ground, his body bound by nine iron chains.

Seeing those chains covered in runes left me stunned.

He was clearly just a loach spirit.

How could he be bound by dragon locks that even the current Dragon King would find difficult to bear?

I cautiously approached him and paused by his side.

He was heavily injured, his body marred and bruised.

Just as he seemed unconscious, he suddenly opened his eyes—his gaze was exceptionally clear.

With all his strength, he pushed me away from him.

Before losing consciousness again, he said, "Don't come near me. I'm toxic."

Such a simple action made me feel warmth I had never experienced in the Dragon Palace.

He didn't seem as fierce as Martin described. He looked more like an innocent boy harmless to humans and animals alike.

I decided to save him.

Even if he truly was toxic, I wasn't afraid. I had already died once.

For several days, I used the Koi Spirit Pearl every day to help him clean his wounds.

He was indeed gravely injured. Even after waking from pain several times, he remained disoriented.

Each time he woke up, he instinctively pushed me away and told me to keep my distance because he was toxic.

I persisted in caring for him, watching as his wounds scabbed over and he gradually healed day by day.

At first, he resisted me. Despite having an innocent face, he pretended to be indifferent and aloof.

As we spent more time together, he accepted me.

He told me his name was Herman—a name as warm as himself.

He would tell me where there were spiritual herbs at the bottom of the well and where there were celestial flowers.

Whenever I joyfully brought them back after picking them, he would quietly watch with a serene smile on his face.

I never asked him if he was a loach spirit. He also tacitly never asked why I ended up at the bottom of the well.

However, this tranquility was soon shattered.

Occasionally someone would throw aphrodisiac potions down from the well's mouth. It must have been arranged by Sofia.

She wouldn't allow her plan any mistakes. She had to see me give birth to a loach.

The effects of the drugs became increasingly potent, yet the boy never touched me once.

Eventually, unable to withstand the effects of the intoxicating potion, I lost control.

My face flushed red. My body felt hot as I took the initiative to embrace Herman.

He became shy and dared not look into my eyes.

Blocking me with his body, he whispered, "Gloria, you are a noble golden koi while I am just a loach. I cannot touch you."

I kissed his neck and replied dreamily, "There is no distinction between high and low. I once gave birth to a loach. He is my child."

He smiled—a pure smile that was so innocent.

He leaned forward into my kiss and held me tightly in his arms.

Gently he said, "Gloria, I'm going to reveal my true form now. Don't be afraid."

As soon as he said this, his body began to change—scales sprouted from him and powerful tail fins emerged.

Staring at his true form left me stunned.

This was not what I imagined a loach would look like at all.

He stood tall like a mountain covered in seven-colored scales.

His pressure far surpassed Max's. He might even be above the Dragon King himself!

Suddenly I recalled something from our family tree. "The footless dragon opens its eyes for day and closes them for night. This is Candling Dragon—the deity."

So Herman wasn't just a loach spirit at all!

He wasn't even merely a dragon anymore.

He was a god!

After transforming back into his true form, there was a burning intensity in his eyes.

With one swift motion, he stripped away my clothes and held my earlobe gently saying, "Gloria, what you give birth to is not just a loach. Those lowly dragons are blind."

"Gloria, I'm coming now. I will let you have that child again."

I tried to understand what he meant but soon lost myself under his assault because he was simply too powerful.