In my previous life, I saved a fallen dragon prince on the day my sister and I were to choose our mates.

In gratitude, he took me back to his clan and made me his concubine.

A year later, I birthed a golden egg, producing a dragon heir.

Overjoyed, the prince crowned me Dragon Queen on his Ascension Day, revered by all clans. Meanwhile, my sister wed a burly beastman, only to become his least favored concubine.

Consumed with jealousy, she pushed me off a cliff during a ritual, ending my life.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw my sister rushing toward the prince's hiding place, her intentions clear from our past life.

I realized she had been reborn, too. But she didn't know that while saving the prince was simple, bearing his heir was a trial beyond measure.

Serpent blood ran hot, as an old saying put it.

Once serpent women came of age, loneliness gnawed at us, making sleepless nights unbearable.

The elders, fearing we'd stir trouble with reckless affairs, ordered us to choose our mates right after adulthood to forge alliances with other clans.

That day, we arrived at the temple, barely glancing at the array of beastmen before us.

A girl beside me nudged me, whispering, "I saw Marina on the way here, bolting toward the back hills. She ignored everyone. Is she ditching this?"

Her words hit me like a stone. It looked like my dear sister, Marina Hughes, was back from our past life, too.

She was racing to the hills, likely to chase her dream of becoming a queen.

Before I could respond, thunder rumbled outside, dark clouds swallowing the sky. The world dimmed, and red-robed figures descended.

My heart skipped a beat as I recognized them from my past life. These were dragon clan envoys, here to offer wedding gifts.

By now, Prince Horace Montgomery must have regained his power, ready to claim Marina in gratitude.

In my previous life, Marina, on a cruel whim, had sent me to the hills to pick flowers for her. There, I stumbled upon a man lying wounded and unconscious.

I meant to heal him to sate my serpent urges, but when he woke up, he handed me a relic, revealing himself as the Dragon Prince.

He sent word to his clan, declaring me his concubine.

The serpent clan, never high nor low in status, had never known such honor.

I had no choice. My fate was sealed in moments.

Though dragons ruled the realms, they hid a dark secret: birthing a dragon heir required the mother's life force.

Dragon blood was fierce. Most females couldn't endure it. Many died mid-pregnancy, both mother and child lost.

By some stroke of luck, I had survived and birthed the only dragon heir. Horace had been ecstatic, naming me his princess consort.

Centuries later, he was crowned Dragon King, and I became Queen.

I lived in splendor beyond imagining, while Marina, married to a beastman with a dozen concubines, was miserable.

He didn't favor her, visiting her once a month. That could never satisfy her.

She wept daily, consumed by envy. Finally, at a ritual, she lured me to a cliff and shoved me to my death.

That despair still haunted me.

Back in the present, amid the elders' procession, Horace appeared, hand in hand with Marina.

"Marina's heart is pure," he declared proudly. "She saved me in the hills, and I'll make her my concubine."

I knelt as custom demanded, while Marina held her head high in front of the crowd, unaware of what was coming.

I hid a smirk. If she were so eager to try, I'd help her discover its costs.

The Dragon Prince's wedding outshone our mate-choosing ritual a hundredfold.

Marina and I were brought to the Dragon Palace, forbidden to wander outside.

I prepared for her wedding meticulously, touching the gem Horace had given me in my past life. It stirred nothing in me. Beautiful as it was, to me, it was a cursed trinket and a harbinger of doom.

My glory had far outstripped Marina's. My every word and deed had been copied by women across the realms.

But only I knew the agony of birthing that child.

Before I could dwell on it, a maid rushed to me. "Miss, Lady Marina requests your presence."

I was puzzled.

Marina should have been busy with her wedding gown. I didn't get why she suddenly wanted to see me, an insignificant person in her mind.

Doubts swirled, but as the Dragon Prince's concubine, her word was law. I couldn't refuse.

Arriving at the chamber, I saw Horace striding out. His shirt hung open, exuding smug satisfaction.

I quickly bowed my head, but he didn't spare me a glance.

The dragon musk, thick after passion, lingered, proof Marina had already lain with him.

Serpent women, once of age, couldn't resist a man's touch. It was our merit and curse as well.

Marina lounged on her bed, a thin sheet barely covering her flawless figure. Her smile vanished when she saw me.

She pointed lazily at an embroidered cloth on the table. "You made this? It's not bad."

I paused, sensing a trap.

Marina never praised me. Her usual temper was all slaps and curses. The memory of her pushing me off that cliff was still vivid.

When I didn't move, she sat up, grabbing a jade scepter and smashing it against my head.

Blood blurred my vision, but I stifled my rage and knelt.

Pleased with my humbleness, she spoke lazily. "I called you here to show you how I'll climb to that throne. Don't get any ideas about cozying up to the prince, or else..."

I looked up at her. "I wouldn't dare defy your order, Your Highness."

Something in my eyes startled her.

She stepped forward, yanking my hair. "Don't play dumb. You're reborn too, aren't you?"

My eyes darkened at her words.

She sneered, throwing the embroidery at my face. "A serpent girl like you, stitching a dragon queen's pattern? You think you can fool me?"

I sighed, standing slowly. "I've never wanted to compete with you. I'll stay clear of him."

She scoffed, her fingers brushing my cheek. "You think I'd lose to an ugly thing like you? Even if you tried, you'd never win."

I didn't argue with her.

Some things weren't worth fighting for, not at the cost of my life. Only a fool would chase such trash.

The dragon clan spared no expense, even for a concubine's wedding.

Rare beasts attended, offering priceless treasures. They gave Marina every honor.

In a crimson gown, she walked hand in hand with Horace, glowing with joy.

She'd finally won the role she craved. Her happiness was undeniable. When she saw me, she tilted her head, mouthing, "Loser!"

She was right. I had lost.

But she was stepping into a nightmare, and I pitied her.

Horace handed her a goblet. "Drink this, and you're my concubine, fair and square."

Marina took it, but a sharp scent hit her. She recoiled, tossing the goblet away. "Juniper berries?"

Juniper berries were poisonous to serpents. Even those ancient beasts among us couldn't withstand a single sip.

It wouldn't kill, but it'd leave us bedridden for months, in agony.

In my past life, I had faced the same test and hadn't even dared refuse.

My life was just nothing compared to the dragon clan's pride. Defying Horace in public would have ruined me.

I had drunk it, and my head had spun through the ceremony.

Horace hadn't cared. To him, I was just a tool and a toy that had no feelings.

Unaware, Marina pouted and threw herself into Horace's arms. "I'm not drinking that stuff."

She missed his darkening expression, but with so many guests watching, he had to coax her. "Come on, it's tradition. Don't make a scene in front of everyone."

Normally, that plea would have been enough. Marina should have backed down.

But that day, she pushed her luck. "I hate this stupid tradition. Serpents can't stand juniper berries, and I don't want them around me ever."

Her words offended the dragons. Juniper berries were their sacred symbol, and she had just slapped their pride.

The nobles began whispering, calling her insolent and Horace a fool.

The murmurs reached Horace's ears, and his patience finally snapped. "Drink it, or you're done!"

His angry voice startled her. She hadn't expected that side of him.

Scrambling, she downed the wine, but it was too late.

The crowd's mood had soured.

Horace stormed off after the rites, not sparing her a glance. Marina stood there, lost.

They had been all lovey-dovey just yesterday, but today, a cup of wine had ruined everything.

I smirked at her naivety.

Dragon pride trumped everything. In their minds, a concubine was just a glorified broodmare.

Marina was foolish enough to think she'd become someone noble, having no idea that this was just the beginning. The real troubles were yet to come.