Home / Fantasy / Birth of The Dragon Archon / The Hidden Clause

The Hidden Clause

Author: Nova

2026-05-18 21:14:03

The wine glass in his hand shattered.

Crack!

Everyone at the party turned their attention to him, and red wine dripped slowly between Emrys' fingers like blood.

The contract in his hand trembled ever so slightly as fragments of another life clawed through his head.

His father's execution…

His sister’s eyes as she perished in the burning building.

The Dragons of House Valin are turning their backs on him.

His last allies were dying trying to protect him.

Luther…

He dropped the contract, rubbing his hand on his forehead as he tried to collect his thoughts.

“Emrys?”

A voice cooed through the air, and his mind shot into disarray when he heard that voice.

For some reason, even after three centuries, the voice that spearheaded the slow and devastating decline of House Valin felt eerily familiar; maybe it was the god’s way of letting him suffer.

“Emrys, what are you doing?”

He turned to the side and saw the person who had been the catalyst for everything that had happened.

Diane Croft…

Dressed in the ceremonial robe, well decorated with jewelry and fragrances that would make even the common man run mad in lust.

She stared at Emrys, surprised that he wasn't signing the contract yet.

“Emrys, please pick up the contract and sign it…” She had a fake smile plastered on her face.

Everyone else at the venue might be fooled by her well-displayed allure, but Emrys—he could read through it like a fiend.

Shaking his head, he pushed himself up from the table. And was about to walk out.

Everyone at the party was confused, and there was something about the way Emrys was acting.

“Why is he suddenly acting this way?”

“Wasnt he the one who made the toast? He was happy to announce the alliance of both houses.”

Emrys was about to walk away when a hand held his robe. He turned back to see Diane holding him like a child who wanted to take something from her mother.

“Emrys, come on.” Her fake smile covered her real motive, holding Emrys down.

“You promised to sign this today, dont you want to help our families come together?”

Emrys looked down on her, seeing her quivering lips and subtle breaths.

Promised?

Coming together?

This was all a ruse; it was the beacon for what was bound to come.

In the past, he didn't even skim the contract; he just signed it…

Not knowing that there was a hidden clause, it would become a vassal agreement.

Turning House Valin into errand boys, for House Croft and Felnior.

Emrys didn't think about anything else, trying to keep his head in order.

“I wish not to sign it anymore,” he said, his voice as calm as it can be. “It is not in my interest anymore.”

Emrys was about to move away, but like an anchor holding down a ship.

Diane clung to him; there wasn't anything that would have made anyone imagine that Emrys would stand up and leave.

“You…can't…” she spoke, her words breaking like a child.

“....you can't do this, you have to sign it, I told you—”

Diane clung to Emrys, moving close to his shoulder, and Emrys moved his head away.

“I will be yours, all yours if you sign the contract…my unwavering, undying love will be yours.” Her whispers were calm and alluring enough to make the hearts of great lords melt.

But it was an irritating cry of desperation to Emrys, staring at Diane. He looked down at her hand holding his robe, and he slowly shook it off.

“I will not sign it, because I need not your love or the shadow of House Croft or any other hovering over the Valins…”

He said, this time, his words were straight to the point.

Every elder tied to House Croft grasped that they were all in shock, seeing how Emrys was acting.

They knew he was obsessed with the Heiress of House Croft, and he was ready to bring their families together, even though House Croft was a struggling lesser House that stole crumbs from the Noble and Great houses.

Emrys turned and was about to walk away from the party. Diane watched him leave.

“This…this is foolishness!” Diane roared, her voice so pitched it almost shattered the glasses in the hall.

“...you are going to be the downfall of House Valin, this contract is the best way to hold on to the last bit of hope the Sovereign House had!”

Emrys paused, his fingers cracked, looking down.

He could hear the loud muttering of people within the hall.

‘Is he foolish?’

‘House Croft is only doing what's best for House Valin, and he doesn't see it.’

‘He will lead to the fall of his legacy.’

‘The downfall of my legacy? If I don't sign that trap!?’

Emrys had wanted to walk out of the banquet; he wanted to be done with House Croft faster than anything.

But now…

He was going to make sure they knew their place.

“You say that contract is in my best interest, am I right?” Emrys walked over to the table where the contract was placed.

Diane was looking at him, surprised that they were looking at Emrys change his mind.

“Lord Emrys, I can assure you that House Croft made sure the alliance contract is a pact that both houses will forever be in good partnership with each other.”

Simon Croft, a viscount in House Croft, was an aristocrat who was fond of weapons, women, and food. The crumbs stuck under his chin showed his shallow mind of etiquette.

Emrys picked up the contract and skimmed through it. He noticed how it was hidden in plain sight; there was nothing about ties with Felnior or even the way they were going to take all of House Valin's material.

“You see,” Emrys turned, looking at Simon, a nasty look on his face. Walking over to a burning candle, he placed the contract over it.

“He's burning the contract…!”

“He has lost it!”

Simon got up from his seat, his eyes glaring at Emrys.

“You know, burning something like that is a crime, and we can have you stripped of your titles!” He barked, looking at Emrys holding the contract over the candle. His hands are not moving.

“Do you have any idea what this makes House Valin look like?!”

Emrys chuckled at Simon's retorts, ignoring the words of onlookers and guests, he kept at what he was doing.

“I might read this and see that you wish me all well and good, but then…”

The paper on the contract sizzled, the top peeled off like a snake shedding its skin.

“One would never account for the hidden ember paper hidden under.”

The crowd gasped. They watched as Emrys lifted the papers into the air.

“Oh, now you see, I felt that you were crooks and I wanted to believe that maybe I was only being paranoid when I imagined that you stoop so low,” he moved closer to Diane, leaning in as he whispered, his voice rising in volume.

“Just to help your wretched house siphon riches from House Valin, oh how very daring of you…”

Diane swallowed, unsure if what was happening was even real.

“Emrys, I—”

She looked up, trying to see if she would spot the bright emerald eyes that always adored her.

But when she looked into his eyes, what she saw were different pairs of emerald eyes…they were dark and void of any emotion…

They looked like dead eyes.

“Now, Diane, care to explain why you and your ‘Noble’ house would want to deceive me?

Continue to read this book for free

Scan the code to download the app

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Blades of the Riftborn!
In the Year 2147…House Valin was expecting a child; Lady Ellara was due to give birth, but the child didn't come as planned. During delivery, the child drained all the blood in its mother's womb and almost didn't come out alive. House Valin almost lost their lady; Kane Valin didn't know what to do. Confused and lost, he searched for answers but got none. But then… In the Hall of Dragons, the statues of two great divine dragons began glowing. The statues of Argrona, Singularity King of the West, and Nefirti, Rift Queen of the Southern Hemisphere. Both of them contested who would have the child; neither won. So they both blessed the child from birth with the ability to control gravity and tear rifts in space and time. Making the child's hair have two colors, white showing Nefirti’s blessing and black showing Argrona’s hand! That child was Sel Valin! “Ao's Roar!” Sel slashed her blade down, sending Hardley crashing back. Hardley was shocked that the girl in front of him wasn'
Windy Foe
In the building at the top of the Eastern Side, a man sitting on a throne could be seen with four women close by. They were massaging him, from the hip up. Hardley Wade, the cruel leader of the Hardly Gang, was as ruthless as their name made them look. Monsters who didn't care if someone was part of a noble house or even a Sovereign House; they would do anything in their power to make sure that they would get their hands on the person. He was an enforcer Diane Croft hired and placed in charge of the company she took from Emrys through illicit means. “Lord Hardley, I heard you're the one in charge of all these places now the Crofts aren't doing anything.” “Ahh, he has to be one of the few people allowed to own something like this without the King and his princes trying to butt in. Lord Hardley is truly special!” The women were rubbing themselves on Hardley, trying to get him to speak. Opening his eyes, Hardley had a smile on his face, looking at the ladies around him. “You kno
The Violet Dragon Arrives
Emrys and Kai stood right outside the Valin Manor; Kai was getting ready to depart.“I will be heading back to the house to see if I will be able to awaken my vestige and be ready to help you. I have sent out word for the other heirs to get ready for the upcoming horrors.” Emrys nodded, looking at the young man in front of him, and there was something about the way he stood that caught his eye. “Kai, you need not worry about what is going to happen…” Emrys spoke, his voice clear that he had no fear, and it was going to be one of the oddest things if he were held down by anything else. “Keep your eyes on acquiring the vestige; we have something brewing in the shadows, and I can’t fight it all alone…” Emrys stretched out his hand and looked at Kai. He realized that there was one thing he did in his former life that made it even harder: it took him time to find allies. And when he did find one, he never let Luther get close enough. It was almost like he was pushing him away with ev
Divine Vestiges?
“So you mean that there are demons in the realm already, and we know nothing of it?” Kai was looking at Emrys; they sat at the table, thinking about what would help them with what was going on and how far it would take their heads, deep into the trouble right in front of them. “The chances are there, and we have not been trying to fish them out. So there is a good chance that we are dealing with something that lies deep in the heart of the realm.” Reed spoke, his eyes on the newly drawn map of the realm in front of them, on what it showed and what it meant. “We aren't dealing with something small, unlike what you wish or hope; this is far more sinister, and from what I can feel, it is more precise and straight to the point.” Kai stared at him, nodding, knowing there were far deeper issues to handle, and that the way it had shown itself was more disturbing than anything they had hoped for. “So what you are saying is that there is a good chance we have been dealing with them all t
Change of Course
Thorin House…Since the day House Valin cut ties with Croft by refusing the contract in front of everyone. Kyle Thorin, in front of everyone, was made fun of. He stood right in front of Emrys, and not even a word could come out when Emrys stared him cold in the eyes. Jason Thorin, the head of House Thorin, a man who couldn't take weakness for an answer. Standing by the balcony of his house, eyes down as he watched the people move around. He wasn't part of the high-ranking nobles, stuck in a class of nobles who picked the crumbs left by those at the top, and he managed to develop an uncanny hate for members of House Valin. Then he had the child, Kyle, the one they said would be a prodigy and would wipe away his tears, knowing that he would be strong enough to take down House Valin. If he was given enough resources, he believed the truth fed to him by the Paragons. Kyle was strong, yes, but he wasn't strong enough to kill Emrys Valin, and that day he had seen it himself. There w
Sparks of Destruction and Trails of Snow
The fight with the demon raged on, Emrys controlling his aether and movements, trying to make sure that he wouldn't destroy the buildings or lives close to them. Kai moved efficiently across the battlefield; there was something about the demon that left him void of words. ‘This thing…’ He thought to himself; soon he and Emrys were standing side by side. “The demon is taunting us; it hasn't used a powerful move yet because it believes that there is a chance for it to defeat us.” Emrys said what was on Kai’s mind; there was something rather fascinating about the attacks that made them feel even more threatening. Kai had a smile on his face, looking at the demon, knowing that there wasnt anything that would prepare anyone for the next battle. “Emrys, if we keep facing this demon here, then it would eventually spread out…” He pulled his spear down, staring at the monster right in front of him, and there was something about the way it held it up. The hands cracked, as if it were a