Grand Duke Icemake surveyed everything with widening eyes—nothing here fit the image he'd imagined. Nothing aligned with the rumors. Nothing aligned with logic.
The mountain was fortified like a royal fortress, alive with power and wealth beyond comprehension.
But then—
"My lord… look!" his butler whispered sharply, pointing.
Icemake's gaze followed.
A large Naga woman attempted to slither into a carved opening in the mountainside… but the space was clearly too tight for her massive snake form. Instead of retreating or forcing her way, she simply exhaled—
—and transformed.
Her scales folded into skin.
Her serpent body straightened into long legs.
Her fangs shortened.
And within a heartbeat, a beautiful human woman stood where the serpent had been.
She dusted herself off and casually climbed into the tunnel like this was normal, everyday life.
Icemake froze.
"They can transform…?"
His voice cracked with disbelief.
This was impossible.
