"Ahem, Mr.Frost. You can put me down now"

Angelica tapped on Edward's arm, who was carrying her in his arms like a princess through the Ivory Palace, with Adelaide and Alexander trailing them by a step as they made their way toward the entrance.

The people they came across on the way stopped and stared with awe, for this was the first time they were seeing the rumored ducal couple in real life.

After Helen had appeared and managed to pacify the Archmage, Alexander took it upon himself to mediate, and the dispute was peacefully resolved, at least to some extent.

Despite having stopped attacking each other, the whole time they were in the service hallway, Angelica and Richard continued glaring at each other as if they were mortal enemies for numerous lifetimes. Their intense glares seemed to portray a deep-seated enmity that transcended time itself.

Shortly after returning to the palace, Angelica, feeling a little lightheaded, accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress and stumbled forward. Edward caught her before she fell to the floor and has been carrying her in his arms ever since, ignoring her protests.

"This feels oddly reminiscent," Angelica sighed, throwing her head back.

The entire ordeal reminded her of the time when Sir Luther, one of the Frost Head Knights, carried her in his arms after the third murder attempt on her by the Third Eye assassin failed.

Now, after Archmage Richard Stein, one of the male leads of the novel, attacked her for no reason, Edward was carrying her instead.

Suddenly, Edward stopped and tightened his arms around her.

"?"

Confused by the sudden halt, Angelica looked up to find Edward's fiery crimson eyes staring right into hers.

"Who?" Edward asked, his voice reverberating menacingly low.

He had seen Raeden carrying Angelica in the tavern, but he could tell that this was someone different, as she would have mentioned Raeden's name if that were the case.

Angelica blinked her eyes at Edward. Judging by the dark expression on Edward's face, revealing the identity of the person in question would not be a wise decision.

'Sir Luther will be dead meat if this lunatic finds out'

Angelica gulped, thinking how a mere slip of her tongue could have ended an innocent man's life. So she did what she usually did on such occasions and snubbed the subject completely.

"Poltergeist. That or I just happened to float in the air. Now let me down!"

Angelica flailed her legs in the air, demanding to be released.

When Edward reluctantly set her down, Angelica straightened her clothes and glared at him. She was about to start another argument with Edward when she heard muffled laughter from the side.

To her surprise, Alexander and Adelaide were blissfully chatting with each other in their own world, with the latter bashfully smiling at his words.

'I don't like what's going on here' Angelica frowned, sensing the weird atmosphere between the two.

Feeling the weight of someone's questioning gaze on him, Alexander glanced up.

"Might I help you, Duchess Frost?"

"Yes. Who're you again?"

Angelica's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Alexander, unable to recollect encountering him anywhere before today's event.

From his attire and mannerisms, it was evident that he was a Knight of the Imperial Order. The medals on his chest further indicated that he held a higher rank. Not to mention, he had arrived with Edward and mediated their fight as if he were used to dispelling conflicts.

"Ah! Our introductions were delayed, Duchess Frost. We have not formally met before, although I have seen you from afar during the late Countess's funeral"

Alexander placed a hand on his chest and introduced himself formally.

"I am Alexander Herrmann of the Herrman Marquisite. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance"

'Herrman? He's from the city we trashed. Oh, wait... shit'

Angelica's eyes widened as recognition dawned on her as to the identity of the person standing before her.

"The Captain of the Royal Guards?" She blurted out her mind without realizing it.

"It is the Commander of the Imperial Knights. They are two different positions but I can see how you got confused" Alexander gently pointed out the error in her comment and then lightened the mood with a playful joke,

"The Captain of the Royal Guards will not be pleased to hear I have stolen his position"

'Yup. That's definitely the arrow-diving, sunny male lead' Angelica squinted her eyes at the rays of sunshine he was emanating.

She couldn't help but wonder about her luck. In just a matter of hours, she had crossed paths with not one but three of the protagonists, with the only exception being the crown prince. Considering that she was still in the Imperial Palace, there was a fair chance of running into him too.

Regardless, that did not explain the strange vibe Angelica sensed between the two. Not only did they engage in comfortable conversation, but they also appeared so familiar that they exchanged jokes while walking alongside each other.

Being the daughter of Count Darius Norton, the Commander of the Silver Knights, Adelaide was a high-ranking noble lady with impeccable lineage and social standing. Continuing the legacy of her mother, Countess Caroline Norton, she also played a significant role in the high society of the capital.

Aside from her father and brother, Adelaide always kept a certain reserve when interacting with men. Therefore, it was unusual to witness her engaging in casual conversation with a man who was not a part of her family.

"Do you know each other?" Angelica pointed between Alexander and Adelaide.

Her questioning gaze rested on Adelaide, urging her to speak. However, before Adelaide had the chance to reply, Alexander intervened.

"Of course, the Duchess didn't know."

"Didn't know what?"

Angelica felt an ominous sensation come upon her. Her intuition, which had been dormant for a while, was now screaming at her with full force.

"I must have done something incredibly worthy in my past life" Alexander beamed at Adelaide, then turned back to Angelica.

"I consider myself extremely fortunate to be engaged to the incredibly kind, intelligent, and beautiful Lady Norton."

In sheer disbelief, Angelica watched Adelaide blush at Alexander's flattering words. She was uncertain, questioning whether she had misunderstood his words and perhaps even imagined the entire exchange.

"I'm sorry. I think I heard you wrong. You're enraged?"

Alexander's face broke into a grin as if he found Angelica's reactions to be hilarious. He extended his hand to Adelaide, who in turn placed her hand in his without any hesitation.

"We are engaged to be married."

"What!?" Angelica yelled out, her mouth gaping open in shock.

'No! This can't be happening'

Angelica's mind started to reel. The train wasn't just going off the tracks, it was heading out of the entire station.

In every story, there exists a crucial point of conflict that the protagonists must navigate in order to achieve a happy ending. Just as cannon fodders serve to pave the way for them, certain characters are instrumental in shaping the circumstances that necessitate the existence of the protagonists.

In the novel 'The Hero of Orion', there were two such characters. One being the primary antagonist, Anduin Tezlar Velven, the Crown Prince of Velven, and the other being the sub-villain, a typical villainous of the genre.

Embodying the quintessential traits of a character in the genre, the villainess in the novel gets ousted by the male leads and stripped of her title before being thrown out of her household.

She was described as a haughty and indulged noblewoman who, at the time of her banishment, happened to be betrothed to Alexander. And as to be expected, for her crimes against the heroine Helen, she was publicly humiliated and the engagement was dissolved.

Another character destined to a fate that was not much different from her own.

Unlike the Crown Prince of Velven, Angelica had no clue about Alexander's fiancée. Given her precarious situation at the time, she had not given much thought to it.

In truth, she couldn't have been more wrong.

Because never in her wildest dreams would she have ever guessed that the clichéd villainous of the most clichéd novel would turn out to be her best friend, the friend she grew up with, Adelaide Norton.

'That's Addie!?'

Angelica felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She was so astonished by the revelation that she failed to notice Edward's supportive arm around her waist as she leaned her back against his chest.

"You? You? You? You!? Engaged!?"

Angelica repeatedly pointed back and forth between a puzzled Alexander and Adelaide, trying to make sense of what she had just learned.

Even when she had read the fabricated report from the Third Eye Guild, where it was mentioned that Alexander was engaged, the noble lady's name he was betrothed to was not included. Not that it could have made any difference.

'But... Why did it have to be Adelaide of all people?' Angelica stared at Adelaide, unable to muster any words from her lips as she pleaded to the universe.

On the other hand, Adelaide was taken aback by Angelica's intense reaction to the news of her engagement.

"Angelica"

As a matter of fact, Adelaide had stayed behind after the tea party because of a prior arrangement with Alexander, whom she had planned to spend the rest of the day with. A decision that would eventually lead her to run into Angelica in the most unexpected of places.

"Angelica" Adelaide called out again to get her attention.

But an overwhelmed Angelica was in no position to respond. Her face, devoid of expression, held a look of emptiness as she gaped at the pair blankly.

"That will be enough"

Edward gently turned Angelica to his side, enveloping her shoulders with a protective arm. Then he addressed a concerned Adelaide.

"My wife is tired. We would like to return home now"

Adelaide hesitated but ultimately took a step back.

"Yes. Your Grace"

With that, the group parted ways. Edward escorted Angelica out to the carriage waiting for them while Adelaide and Alexander stayed behind.

As she watched them walk away, Adelaide closed her eyes and whispered a fervent prayer to the goddess, an unsettling feeling of unease gripping her heart.

"Goddess Eir, take care of her. Please"

"It will be alright."

It was only after Alexander placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder that she opened her eyes.

"I hope so."

Thus, after a series of unexpected run-ins and shocking revelations shook her to the core, Angelica's inaugural visit to the Imperial Palace came to a close.











Back in the Mage tower, the apprentice mages had finally managed to clean the place after the Archmage had wrecked it in his wake.

"Phew. That ought to do it."

An apprentice mage picked up the final scrap of paper from the littered floor and placed it atop the growing pile while another mage organized the bookshelves.

"Are you done, Creslin?"

"Yes, I'm done. I'll help you with the shelves."

The apprentice mage wiped the sweat off her brows and went to help her friend with the books that the Archmage had knocked off before teleporting out of the tower.

The rest of the mages went back to their daily tasks that were disrupted by the Archmage's sudden outburst. Thankfully, whenever the Archmage left the tower on business, it would take him at least a few hours to return, and in the meantime, they would be able to spend their time in peace.

At that moment, the doors swung open, and Richard stormed into his chambers, his face twisted with unmistakable fury.

Almost immediately, the air in the room grew tense as everyone held onto their breaths. It was only after Helen followed him a few moments later that a collective sigh of relief swept through the chamber.

'The Lady's here!'

'She's here!'

'We're saved!'

Still, they noticed that something was off. Although they had only caught a brief glimpse of him, the Archmage appeared to be walking differently than before. His gait now resembled that of the waddling creatures residing in the far southern planes.

Shaking off idle thoughts, they returned to their duties completely unaware of the injuries their master had sustained, both physical and emotional.

"Richard, tell me whatever's bothering you. Let me help."

"You don't know Helen." Richard groaned, running a hand over his face.

The aftermath of his assault still lingered in his body, causing a blur in his judgment. Hence, when Helen urged him to speak, he revealed critical information without considering the consequences that would entail.

"Then tell me, Richard"

Helen clenched his hands in hers.

"The destruction of Parthellam. That was her. She caused it"

"!" Helen gasped, her hands inherently flying to cover her mouth.

The news of the attack on the unsuspecting city by a group of terrorists was widespread among the people. Newspapers provided daily updates, and even the Imperial Palace issued a statement regarding the incident.

However, to discover that the narrative she had believed so far was not the truth, Helen was left speechless. Nevertheless, she was determined to uncover the truth and pushed,

"What do you mean? Was it not the terrorists?"

"I was there. The mana was chaotic, unlike anything I have seen before. It cannot be controlled. If not contained, it will annihilate everything in its path"

"Do you mean there is a chance it will happen again?" Helen asked with a look of fear on her pale face, to which Richard replied with an ominous premonition.

"I know it will."