Third POV

Calista look at the mirror and smiled while reflecting her beautiful dress for the celebration, that is a pale yellow and white fabric covered in colorful stars with a large gem-like crescent moon in the middle. Covered in pastel stars with the same fabric at the navel in the shape of four points. And wears white gloves with ornamental design and a feathery cuff, along with a feathery choker with a gem necklace.

"Perfect!" she give herself a thumbs up and thanked the maids who helped her. She walk towards the door and exit the room to be greeted by Brandon that wears a formal attire for the celebration. "How do I look?" she asked to Brandon with a wide smile.

Brandon widened his eyes in surprised and is loss for words, he blink multiple times in case he's dreaming. "..Y-you look very beautiful today Milady......! I-I mean, you're always beautiful, but t-today you're more beautiful than beautiful than you're always been....Uh...." he blushed deeply while in loss for words as he gets himself dizzy.

Calista chuckled as she look at him. "You are handsome as well." she smiled as she complimented him. Brandon's face only turned redder than red. "Brandon!?" she seems to notice his red face. "Are you sick!?" she asked worriedly as Brandon quickly shakes his head.

"I-I'm fine.." he said hesitantly.

"...Tell me if you're not feeling well, alright?" Calista said as he nodded with his tomato face.

-

Multiple guards on standby, the luxurious Palace, and banquet. Every high society nobles are gathered there, enjoying their time for the celebration.

"Where is Lady Calista!???" Drake asked while looking around the big hall from the second floor.

"Oy Drake, keep your voice down. This is not a festival." Lance warned him.

"His highness is also nowhere to be seen." Nathan sighed as he finished looking around. The four of them just look at the nobles, talking to each other.

"The Marquess and Marchioness of the Ward Houshold, Gray Ward and Lilanna Ward!"

"The first child, son of the Ward Household, Vincent Ward!"

"The second child, daughter of the Ward Household, Aliza Ward!"

"Someone makes an entrance again!" Drake said excitedly while looking at the entrance from the second floor.

"But it's not Lady Calista." Nathan said while looking at the ones who entered the hall. Then another one makes an entrance and another one.

"The Duke and Duchess already here, so where is she?" Oliver thought as he look around.

"The daughter of the Tresor Dukedom, Crown Princess of the Eclat Empire, Calista Tresor!"

Their eyes widened as they focused on the entrance to be greeted by Calista's breathtaking aura.

"Crown Princess!?" Nathan asked, surprised while covering his mouth with widen eyes.

"Yeah, she's his highness fiancee. You forgot?" Lance asked with a crossed arms.

"N-no, I'm just surprised."

They're fascinated by her. Not only them, almost everyone inside the hall. Now that even if they look at her countless time, she can still amazes them.

Meanwhile, everyone stares makes Calista nerveous, she sigh of relief as soon as Axel approach her. She bow politely. "Congratulations for your early return, your highness." she smiled.

"I know, it's because I'm skilled." he whispered to her with a smirk as Calista frown. "It's a pleasure to meet you again," he take her hand gently. "Lady Tresor." he bowed and kiss her hand as the young ladies that present squealed over him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you again as well, Prince Axelion." Calista said with a smile, slightly irritated.

"Would you share the first dance with me?" Axel smiled while handed out his hand for them to dance.

Calista bowed as she take his hand. The music starts to play and they started to dance. "Everyone's staring... I'm so nervous." she said to him while dancing.

"You didn't practice enough right?" he asked bluntly while looking at her.

"How did you know....!?" she gasped silently.

"It's obvious, dimwit. Just look at how you dance."

"Geez, I haven't heard that for the past 4 years or less." she frowned.

"Why? You missed it?" he teased.

"Don't try me."

"You're bad at this." he smirked.

"You too."

"No, not me."

As soon as they finish dancing, the other aristocrats started to dance as well and enjoy the banquet. Axel and Calista walk towards the place where they went when they were 12 and it makes them nostalgic.

"I remember that you take all the sweets and ate here without a care." he chuckled as Calista blushed crazily in embarrassment.

"He remebered..." she thought with a smile. "I guess he's a bit nice-"

"And that's stupid."

Her eyes widened in surprised and glared him. "I take that back!" she thought angrily.

"Come closer." he said indicating that she should come closer.

She look at him questioningly and walk closer to him. Without any warning, he leans towards her as he kiss her cheek making Calista's eyes widened in surprised. He grab her hand as their forehead touch each other.

"This is my other gift for you." he smiled playfully while looking at her.

"H-huh!?? W-w-what gift!?" she asked completely losing her mind. "D-did you just....!" she look at him with wide eyes. "The ML just kissed the Villainess's cheek! Me! The Villainess!" she thought crazily.

Then, he lean his head on her shoulder. "You have a very sweet fragrance." he said slowly as Calista blushed madly.

"Axel! What are you doing???" she asked him while hitting his back. "Let me gooooo..!" she whined but he stayed still. Calista could feel her heart beating very fast.

"Calista," he started and look at her in the eyes. She look at him as she gulp a bit, waiting for what he would say.

"....I love you."

He confessed honestly as Calista's eyes widened in surprised. "It's actually embarrassing but.." he thought as he look at her. "It's worth it."

"...What..?" she asked, surprised and loss for words. Maybe her heart is going to burst any moments.

Axel pulled her into a hug. "..I love you..." he confessed again. "....so much."

"....I'm going crazy..." she thought. "...You.. love me?" she asked again, just to make sure.

"Yeah."

Now her face is red all over. Her heart starts to beat faster as she look at him. She's on the verge of tears and cover her mouth.

"Calista? Are you alright?" he asked worriedly while looking at him.

"I..." she look at him and decided her decisions. "I know that someday you would fell for the Heroine. So, let me have this happiness, even for a while." she thought as she look at him lovingly. "...I love you too..." tears start to stream down her face. "I know that someday I would regret my words... I know it, yet..." she clench her fist. "...I do like him... I love him." she wipe of her tears. "It's true that I denied it for as long as I can imagine..."

Axel smiled as he kneel down and look at her. Calista look at him questioningly. Then, he take out a small white box from his pocket and open it to reveal a beautiful ring. He pull her hand gently as he place the ring on her ring finger.

"I want to promise you something." he started as Calista look at him. "I promise I would marry you exactly 100 days from now." he said as he look at the ring and at her. "Because I have to take care of something." he thought with a sad smile. "Calista... will you marry me?" he asked while looking at her, there's a hint of desperation in his eyes.

Calista hug him as fast as she could. "Yes, yes, yes!!!" she said loud and clear making Axel blushed red, happiness consumed him. Axel hugged her back as he patted her head. "It's a promise, alright!?" Calista asked again, just to make sure.

"Yes. It's a promise."

They pull each other off and look at one another. They lean themselves closer to kiss each other.

"Uh, and I-" before Calista could finish her lines, Axel beat her to it by kissing her again. "Axel, hear me out-" then he kiss her again to shut her mouth. He hug her, not giving her a chance to talk.

"You smell really nice.." he said while sniffing her neck.

"W-what are you doing...!?" she asked, embarrassed. And she felt a slight pain on her neck and pull off from him by force. She touch her neck. "What the heck are you doing in public..."!?" she whispered yelled.

He walk closer to her and smirk. "Then, my room?" he asked making Calista glared at him.

"Anyways, I'm going now." Calista sighed as she look at him with crossed arms. But her frown turn to a smile. She give him a quick kiss on the cheek making Axel blushed. "See you soon." she smiled widely at him as he returned the smile.

-

Calista focused on her ring as she look at it for as long as she could. She blushed deeply red and happy that he would accept her love. "I always like the ML, but I never thought to fall for him for real." she chuckled and touch the ring. "I love you." she whispered softly and smiled afterwards. Calista sigh of relief. "It's quiet and refreshing." she thought happily. But then, she heard a footsteps that is getting closer and closer.

"...Greetings, Lady Tresor." a voice greeted her as she turned around to find a nobleman.

"I never seen him before." she thought while looking at him. "May I ask for your name?" she asked politely.

"No, no. I'm just a passing noble who adores you." he joked.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "This man... A middle age? Around.. 30?" she thought while observing him. "If he's a noble.. who is he? I'm sure I memorized every nobles, but I don't know their faces." she look at him. "Really? Thank you." she thanked him, being polite. She sweat drop a bit. "This man..."

.

.

.

"...He's suspicious." but then, she smiled to cover the thoughts. "What do you need from me?" she asked politely.

"I don't need anything from you." he chuckled and continue, "I'm just curious of this Empire future Empress."

Calista gulp."What is his intention?" she thought confusedly with a slight fear.

"Then, it's a pleasure to meet you." he smiled, "Do you know," he narrowed his eyes and continue.

"The irony of chess is that the Queen holds more power than King." after he said that, he smiled as he turned around and start to walk away.

Calista's eyes widened in surprised at his statement. "Did he think I wouldn't understand the meaning of that statement....!?"

"By holds more power, it means weakness. Queen has more power because the King cherish the Queen."

Shiver run down her spine as she gulp.

"That means..."

.

.

.

"To kill the King, kill the Queen first."

___________________________________

Yo!

Comment down who is your favorite male character in this story so far!

If Calista were to break off her engagement and break up with Axel, who would you like for her to end up with? Still Axel or...???