Transmigrated Into a Cannon Fodder Phoenix, Stuck With the Ice Dragon-Chapter 124: The Past

Lucian had been holding Seraphina tightly in his arms.

She had fallen asleep only after crying until her whole body trembled, until her voice gave out, until exhaustion finally pulled her under.

He let out a weak sigh.

Now that she could cry, she really cried. Every emotion she’d muted for months flooded out all at once. His shirt was soaked through, clinging cold against his skin, but he didn’t dare move her.

He just kept his arms around her and stroked her hair slowly, carefully, as if even in sleep she might break.

His gaze softened as it lingered on her sleeping face.

"I promised you..." he murmured, brushing a stray tear from her cheek with his thumb.

"Even though you’re not my first love..." His breath hitched faintly.

"You will be my last."

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

For a moment, the world felt quiet.

"Lucian..."

His entire body went rigid.

He slowly lowered his gaze to her, breath caught in his chest.

But Seraphina’s eyes were still closed, her lashes unmoving, her face relaxed in sleep.

She hadn’t woken. Yet she had spoken.

Her fingers were still limp against him.

Her breathing is steady.

But her lips had definitely moved.

"Seraphina?" he whispered, barely audible, afraid to disturb whatever this was.

No response. Only the quiet rise and fall of her chest.

Lucian’s throat tightened before he finally let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Relief washed through him.

It didn’t last.

She mumbled again, barely parting her lips. "What’s her name...?"

Lucian stiffened.

He leaned closer, bringing his ear near her mouth.

"Who?" he whispered.

"Your first love... What’s her name?"

And at that moment, Seraphina’s eyes fluttered open.

Lucian pulled back instantly, searching her face as if trying to confirm she was truly awake before he dared answer.

"Luna," he said quietly. "Her name is Luna."

Seraphina swallowed hard.

"Then... What is she?" Her voice was hoarse from crying, but steady enough to cut. "Siren? Mermaid?"

Lucian’s jaw tensed.

"Ninetail fox..." he replied.

He bit his lip the second the words left him, already praying this conversation wouldn’t explode into another argument.

His eyes flicked over her expression... every microshift, every flicker of emotion, every tremor in her lashes.

He braced himself.

She suddenly pouted, "Then she must be crazily pretty..."

"No!" he blurted out immediately. "She is pretty, but I’m not lying... no one comes close to you."

Seraphina froze.

Not a word came out of her mouth.

But her cheeks turned red so fast Lucian actually blinked, confused by the sudden shift in mood.

Her lips pressed into a tiny, stubborn line as she looked away, the tips of her ears turning pink.

"Seraphina...?" Lucian murmured carefully, unsure if he had stepped into another emotional minefield or... something else entirely.

She refused to look at him.

The blush only deepened.

"Hey... is something wrong?" Lucian gently turned her face toward him. "Tell me. Ask me anything. I’ll answer."

"You’re obviously lying..." she muttered, pouting. "Even the siren is far more beautiful than me..."

Her brows knitted, not angrily, but in a cute, sulky way.

"She is?" Lucian tilted his head, scratching his neck as he actually took a few seconds to think. "No... I’m sure you’re far more beautiful."

"Aaaa—!" Seraphina smacked his shoulder. "You’ve become the top dragon with the sweetest tongue. Liar!"

Lucian blinked at her, genuinely offended.

"I never lie about beauty."

"You just did!"

"No, I didn’t."

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I—Seraphina, I swear I didn’t!"

She glared at him... but it was a soft glare, one that didn’t carry anger anymore.

And Lucian finally noticed something.

Her tears had dried.

The trembling in her hands had stopped.

Her voice, still shakily soft, held warmth again.

She was still hurting, still fragile... but she was also embarrassed, flustered, and alive in a way she wasn’t an hour ago.

Lucian’s shoulders loosened.

Then he reached out and pinched her cheek gently.

Seraphina’s eyes widened. "Ow—! Hey!"

"You’re cute when you sulk," he murmured.

Her blush exploded again, but after a few quiet moments, she spoke up.

"Then... how about the siren? What is she to you?"

Lucian blinked. His breath almost stopped. He had genuinely believed the topic was over.

But apparently, today was determined to drag every buried history out of him.

"Hm..." Lucian shifted, straightened his posture, and gently pulled Seraphina upright so she sat comfortably in his embrace.

"Lyra was just another political marriage arrangement my father pushed," he said slowly. "He tried to set me up with her, thinking I might forget Luna."

Seraphina’s brows rose slightly.

Lucian continued, voice low and honest:

"He thought a siren’s charm could distract me... or replace what I lost. He believed it didn’t matter who I married as long as it benefitted the clan."

Seraphina watched him carefully.

"And did it?" she asked. "Did you forget?"

Lucian huffed out a humorless breath.

"No—why bother asking," he said without hesitation. "Of course not. We were just engaged, then broke up not long after... and not long after that, the Phoenix Clan sent their marriage proposal. And just like fate, you appeared out of nowhere in front of me..."

Seraphina blinked a few times.

"Did you know that was the first day I arrived in this world?"

Lucian’s eyes widened a fraction, "What?"

She nodded slowly. "The very first day."

Lucian stared at her, stunned.

"The first... Seraphina, you mean you literally just fell into this world and the first thing you did was bump into me?"

Seraphina pursed her lips.

"Yes. Lucky you. But unfortunately for me, I got thrown onto the street and fooled by a fairy pretending to be a system..."

Lucian winced immediately. "Elyndra..."

Seraphina rolled her eyes so hard it was almost impressive.

"Yes. Her. Imagine being confused, homeless, clueless, and the only guide you get is a glitching fairy with a fake customer-service voice."

Lucian lowered his gaze, guilt flickering across his expression.

"I’m sorry you went through that."

She snorted lightly. "It’s not like you planned for Elyndra to ruin my life. Oh—oh! But I really am curious..."

Lucian chuckled softly.

"What is it? Go on, ask. I’ll answer everything you want today."

Seraphina leaned back slightly, studying him.

"Elyndra told me... when she was pretending to be a system, she couldn’t get near you. Every time you came close, she would glitch and disappear. Why?"