PHANTOM RULER'S THRONE I:

The Golden Proposal

———————

"Are you sure you want to continue the night, child?"

After one hell of a shocking gift unboxing, Avy was quietly escorted into an empty room by his younger brother, while Ashton was left to remediate the situation and ensure that none of the attendees witnessed whatever it was that transpired. It took a lot of convincing for Avy to reassure her grandfather that she was still in her right mind and was not taken over by shock or some kind of exaggerated expectation.

"I was just surprised by the rotting smell, I promise," she replied for the nth time ever since the old lord entered the room where she was brought. She stubbornly refused to cut the party short because of the incident because the people would surely inquire about the reason they were sent home early.

Besides, it was the first party that the Arkwright family hosted after a long time of silence due to the passing of the duchess. Avy did not want to be the talk of the town; hence, she stood her ground to let the celebration continue until the end, even though she wanted to end it as soon as possible for different reasons.

"I have told you multiple times, father. Avy should not be allowed to receive anything from that woman. She has never been right in the head even then," Alistair commented in distress. He trailed behind Lord Alcasser when he arrived in the room, his sword strapped to his waist even though he was out of his knightly uniform. He did not look at his usual calm exterior. It was a surprise given that Avy has often seen him wearing a neutral-leaning-to-friendly look whenever she was around.

"You will refrain from saying such words, Alistair. Stella is still Sabrina's blood, and she will not be disrespected in our presence. I suggest you gather your thoughts and help Ashton outside." Alistair calmed down and lowered his head in defeat. He cast an apologetic look at Avy before vacating the room. Lord Alcasser frowned, although he quickly slipped into his calm expression to once again look at his granddaughter.

"A word of discomfort from you, dear child, and the night shall end. Do you hear? "He stated, his tone serious yet still exuding concern beyond anything.

Avy nodded her head, a faint smile decorating her lips. "Yes, thank you, grandpa. You look decades younger tonight, have I told you? "

The lord laughed heartily, receiving the praise with such endearment that his former seriousness vanished as if it were never there in the first place.

"And they say you are yet to be ready to enter society. Your flattery says otherwise. I am certain you will have the socialites under your heel someday, my darling." Lord Alcasser's blood-red eyes were soft and warm. He looked at Avy as if she were precious. She wondered if the real Avy tried hard enough to see through her self-created reality to appreciate how loved she was.

Avy knew she should not rely on how the novel's point of view perceived the Arkwrights, yet it still baffled her how they were described as though they were heartless monsters to emphasize that the villainess came from such a hateful family. They valued the men in their family over the women, they said. However, Avy was no less important than Ashton or Ciel. She did not have fewer things than they do or was treated worse than they were. She was part of the family. She was loved, cared for, and treasured—more than a person could ask for. It was just that they did not broadcast their love for the whole world to see.

They did not parade Avy like an item to show off to other nobles; they kept her privacy as she wished. They supplied her with things to occupy her mind and provided her with servants and talented teachers. They made time for her whenever she needed them. One might say that the Arkwrights did not know how to raise her, but they raised her with love and care and everything they could provide and thought it was still lacking. It is not as if Avy was a particularly easy kid to raise.

"What if I don't want to drink tea and indulge in fakery with noble ladies? ," she asked, a playful twinkle in her eyes. She really did not intend to play politics once she turned 18. She was never one for psychological warfare, even in her previous life, in which she spent her school days holed up in the club rooms or in her own apartment tinkering on garbage she picked up from the streets or some broken machinery her uncle brought home from somewhere.

Lord Alcasser huffed with a smile. "Then you shall find what you feel suits you best." The same twinkle decorated his eyes, making the crow's feet visible next to them. "Who would dare tell you otherwise, my little snake? "

Avy's brows raised in intrigue before she opened her mouth to speak once more. "I'm not a little raven? "She thought the Arkwrights were called ravens due to their family insignia.

"I am afraid I must admit that you do take after your mother more than you do my own son. I can say that I am glad that you have Sabrina's cunning," the old man replied, his gaze turning soft. Perhaps Duchess Sabrina was more than a capable woman after all. To be cherished by not only her husband but also her in-laws who were known to be distant.

"A raven soars high and is known for being knowledgeable, but snakes are feared for their venom and revered for their charisma. The House of Arkwright does not possess the ambition that your mother's family has. Only the world has a stage big enough for a woman of your caliber to truly shine," the old lord explained, brushing a strand of hair blocking Avy's view. He smiled. Soft, longing, sad? Avy had a knack for reading body language; it was one thing that she learned from her mom, a socialite. However, the members of the Arkwright family wore their expression like a precious gift; they only touched it on rare occasions. They displayed too little for the common eye to catch.

"Your grandmother conquered wars. She is the most ambitious woman I have ever laid eyes on. However, people criticized her for being a warrior instead of a wife. Wearing armor instead of luxurious gowns. She carried the stench of enemy blood instead of blooming flowers. And everyone scorned her for being herself." Lord Alcasser reached out for Avy's hand, which she gave without any question. The old man enveloped them in his as they sat side by side.

At that moment, the former duke did not embody the image of a war hero who was feared by people throughout and outside the empire. Instead, he looked like a believer, praying for a greater being. His face, touched by time, was unyielding and wise.

"You have estranged yourself from us for far too long, my child. I acknowledge that we have had our failings, and perhaps you have already felt compelled to distance yourself from the family. Nevertheless, I implore you to stay. I shall never permit anyone to hinder you from pursuing that which brings you happiness. You may wield swords in place of needles. You shall remain unmarried if you so desire; I will make it happen, dear child. I simply ask of you to be safe."

The old lord brought her hand closer to him, the warmth of his power embracing Avy as if she were an infant the world could ruin. Avy watched as the old man spoke, almost pleading. Not an act befitting of the monster he was known to be, but perhaps an act any caring grandfather would show their grandchild.

How clouded the original Avy's mind must have been to never understand how precious she was?

Would her death have been avoided if she only accepted the affection that continuously knocked on her door?

Unknowingly, her eyes slowly started to feel warm. Once again, it was like her body acted on its own, and she was not in control of it anymore. Her eyes welled with tears, and her vision blurred.

She missed her mom. She missed her dad. She missed her uncle. She missed Lucy.

"What do you mean, Grandfather? Where else would I go? "

–––

After talking for a few more minutes, Avy was escorted by Lord Alcasser out of the comfort of the quiet room to rejoin the party. She walked alongside the old man, her hand resting on his arm. They were greeted by the emperor and the crown prince, who seemed to be having a conversation with Duke Arkwright.

"I have heard about the situation. I do hope you are feeling better, Lady Avy," the emperor stated, a small smile decorating his jaded face. He looked so much like his two sons, especially the crown prince. The only thing that could differentiate them was the emperor's charming expressions, which he never forgot to wear around people. It made him look trustworthy.

Emperors usually had a look of intimidation on their faces, but Emperor Lucian was more than formidable to be granted respect without looking like he would order death over something that upset him. Prince Lucifer, on the other hand, wore coldness as if it were his second skin. Perhaps it was to appear threatening enough to discourage any unnecessary interaction with people.

Avy curtsied respectfully to acknowledge the man's presence as well as her fiance's. "I apologize for the commotion, Your Majesty. I am feeling better after a little breather. My brothers reacted well, you see," she replied, her eyes unconsciously searching for the faces of the two young masters.

"Yes, yes. So I've heard. It really is reassuring to have capable children, don't you agree, Alton?" The emperor glanced at the duke, smiling good-naturedly.

"They are simply aware of their responsibilities, Your Majesty," the duke answered, his usual professionalism never leaving his tone. The emperor laughed at this as if he were already accustomed to the stoic man's way of speaking.

"My father is perhaps flattered by your humility, Your Majesty. After all, you have capable sons as well. Especially His Highness Prince Lucifer," Avy commented, glancing at the prince, who stood quietly at the side. Prince Lucifer, who clearly heard the praise coming from his fiancée, lowered his head in acknowledgement, not giving away any kind of expression.

"Indeed, he is." The emperor let out a small laugh, and the conversation flowed easily. To be surrounded by people not known to be fans of having lively talks, Emperor Lucian had the talent to make the exchange of words interesting, finding ways to include even the unmoving duke in the conversation.

Avy politely listened to them; she really did not have many choices other than to act like herself. A noble lady.

Her and the crown prince did not openly greet each other; however, she made sure to stand next to him while they waited for the adults to finish talking. She felt less fatigued with him around, even if she did not touch his skin directly. She quietly watched as the nobles who attended her party mingled with each other, content to be close to her source of energy.

The crown prince, too, was relieved that she voluntarily stayed next to him as he had been feeling restless the whole night. For some reason, he noticed that his mana did not seem to be rampant when he was in the presence of the Arkwright princess. It has been two months since the academy resumed operation after being stopped shortly because of the summit. Avy's birthday celebration permitted him and the other pillars' heirs to be excused from their academics in order to attend.

The emperor and the Arkwrights' conversation was stopped by the arrival of another attendee of the party. The young ruler, King Cartal Deronos of the Kingdom of Auxiviel, presented himself graciously in front of Kriseon's powerful force.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Lucian," he greeted, to which the emperor replied with his own greeting. King Cartal then did not waste another minute and turned to Avy, whose expression was subtly brighter than it was the whole night.

"I am honored to be one of your chosen guests tonight, my lady. I hope the night has been treating you well." The young ruler held Avy's hand, kissing her knuckles like a trained gentleman. He wore differently tailored clothes, signifying his affiliation with a different country; the color cream, adorned with golds and diamonds, complimented his ash brown hair with mauve streaks.

"Thank you, I am well. Your business went nicely, I presume? "Avy questioned; a lighter expression could be seen in her ruby-red eyes, devoid of its usual hostility. She did not have the same slight grimace she had whenever she had the back of her hand kissed. This detail did not go unnoticed by the prince and her blood relatives standing near, watching the exchange unfold before their eyes.

"Ah, yes. The business involved His Grace, Duke Arkwright, you see. Furthermore, His Majesty was kind enough to provide me and my envoys with a comfortable place we can rest in after the ng journey from our kingdom." King Cartal's eyes traveled from the duke to the emperor, expressing gratitude with the utmost respect in his tone. For someone said to be only managing his country's affairs for only a short period of time, the young king sounded experienced.

The emperor hummed with a smile. "Nonsense," he said. "It is our responsibility to take care of a distinguished guest and ensure that your stay is pleasant," the older monarch added.

Lucifer observed, contributing to their discussion only when necessary. He noticed how Avy's eyes seldom left the young ruler, as if her eyes were trained solely on him. The softness of her gaze, which appeared for a couple of seconds every now and then, also did not escape the prince's watch.

Ah.

The realization dawned on him faster than expected. Avy did not display her expressions openly, unlike other people who wore emotions on their faces proudly. However, Lucifer, being engaged to her for years that passed, memorized every twitch of her facial muscles. He listened to her heartbeat more often than he could count; he knew when it slowed down or when it beat faster. That moment was not an exception. Avy's heartbeat pounded irregularly, representing the fondness she feels that her physical reactions dare not show.

It was not a surprise, considering how the Auxiviel royal threw himself in danger in order to protect Avy. Lucifer heard how the young king endured a knife to his side in place of the girl, causing him to almost bleed to his death.

Avy was his friend, his first friend. And although their engagement was not to be declared official yet, he still respected her as she deserved. Lucifer respected her enough to understand her decision.

"...hence, I would like to offer the lady to be one of the first ambassadors to enter Auxiviel. I am certain her presence as the only daughter of Kriseon's treasured shield will create a positive impact that will greatly benefit both of our country's diplomatic relationship." King Cartal's word brought an unsettling silence. Duke Arkwright's expression could not be interpreted well, and Lord Alcasser sported a slight frown.

"King Deronos, inviting an unmarried lady as an ambassador would not be a great idea as it would spike rumors in the noble society. I cannot let this lady's reputation be dragged through filth, yes?" Emperor Lucian remained calm, although it was not a sure indication that he was still viewing their chat positively.

"Of course not, Your Majesty. Lady Avana will be accompanied by her family members during her stay in Auxiviel. A foreign noble's presence will surely bring relief to my country, considering we have been a closed country for decades. My goal is to reassure my citizens that our system will soon be different from the harsh rules my uncle ordained during his reign. In exchange..." King Cartal explained before his kind eyes slowly turned from those of prey into those of strong predators.

"Auxiviel will provide all the mana stones that Kriseon shall request. Our country is rich with pure mana stones, as we have not participated in trade for decades. That being said, we can satisfy both countries's needs with this trade." His demeanor sharpened.

Lucifer glanced at the girl, who was an important figure in the king's proposal. Avy's eyes were bright, and her body language could be interpreted as nothing but willing.

The prince then shifted his attention to his father, who still looked neutral. However, Lucifer knew that the emperor was contemplating. The Kriseon Empire is a big territory. They are a powerful nation with a large number of talented mages, knights, scholars, and political forces. They can confidently declare that they are powerful enough not to be taken lightly by other countries. In spite of that, they lacked mana stones that were fundamental to the people's daily activities.

Mana stones are too precious to be refused, and Kriseon does not have a lot to provide for the whole empire that they had to import from smaller kingdoms. They have power and influence, but they do not have natural magical resources. On the other hand, Auxiviel lacked what they had and was overflowing with mana stones. It was a trade in which both would surely come out happy.

"I will go." The silence was broken by the lady's voice. She did not let herself sound as eager, but she still spoke up nonetheless.

"Avy, you do not need to decide so early," Lord Alcasser interjected. His voice was resolute, clearly not in favor of his granddaughter's decision.

Avy shook her head. "I want to be useful to our empire. And did His Majesty not say I would be accompanied by a family member? "She threw a look in the emperor's direction, waiting for his response.

Emperor Lucian composed himself before speaking. "If the lady is confident in her decision, I shall permit her to go."

–––

"Perhaps you should depart for the imperial palace on your own, Ashton. Avy's fever is not going down, and the travel will only make her condition worse."

Fifteen-year-old Ashton stood in front of his uncle, Alistair, after a healer who took a look at his sister's condition exited the room. That day was scheduled to be a meeting between the children of the pillars, including those who were not named heirs. However, Avy caught a cold the day before and became feverish overnight, making their father call for a healing mage.

Magical healing was said to be disruptive for a child's developing core, which is why parents avoided having their children healed by magical means as much as possible. That was the reason why Avy had to recover naturally every time she got sick.

"No! No! I want to go see is His Highness! I want to go! "Avy screamed, although her voice was considerably less loud than normal due to her fever. She tried to thrash around her bed but eventually groaned in pain, her body protesting with the sudden movements.

"I'm sorry, Avy. You cannot leave the mansion like this. You might collapse," their Uncle Alistair told her apologetically. The duke was not in the estate due to work, and the lord was traveling to another country to finish a diplomatic deal for the empire; hence, their uncle was the only adult present at the moment.

Even though their uncle was more than willing to tend to the three of them, having no children himself, he had dedicated his whole life to knighthood, giving him no solid experience when it came to handling kids. He did not have to break a sweat whenever he had to look after Ciel; he was as well-behaved as any child could be. However, Avy was a different case.

Still, Alistair remained patient when it came to her.

"I hate you! I hate you so much, Uncle! "Avy shouted before crying loudly. This made their uncle falter, hurting him more than any physical blow could. Ashton knew how Alistair treasured his sister, being the only girl in their family and all. It became even more evident after the duchess passed and Avy stopped being as bright as she was before.

"I shall stay home, Uncle. You can go back to the headquarters," Ashton stated, reclaiming his seat on the empty chair next to Avy's bed.

"Father clearly instructed me to stay with the three of you until he comes back, Ashton. I cannot leave you here alone," Alistair reasoned. Ashton simply picked up the book he put down on the small lamp table next to him, opening it to the page where he put a bookmark that morning.

"Grandfather wanted you to stay for Avy, not for the three of us. Ciel is no longer a toddler, and he is with an aide. I assure you, I am more than capable of looking after the two of them without an adult present," he answered. Even though their Uncle Alistair is known to be a knight feared by many, everyone inside their estate is aware of how soft he is when it comes to Avy. Another word from the girl stating that she despises him, he might crumble with no hopes of repair.

After much more persuasion, the knight finally gave in. "Alright, I will leave your siblings in your care," he sighed and bade Avy his goodbyes, who fell asleep after a couple of minutes of crying before leaving.

Ashton remained by the girl's side, quietly reading a book. For other nobles, the heirs are not allowed to stay inside a room with a sick person, being precious as they were called. They cannot catch any kind of disease that might lead to something serious, lest they become incapable of taking over their family title.

However, Avy hated being alone with servants. It was the reason why she did not have a nanny or a lady-in-waiting, even though their family was prestigious enough to have such a luxury. Their father was often busy due to the nature of his work, being a duke and the named commander of their knights and order. Their grandfather is a war veteran who helped oversee borders and handled matters in place of the duke. Their uncle was the imperial knight's commander and was often in the palace for his duties.

Ashton was the oldest family member left to take care of his siblings, and although Avy did not get sick often, he was always the one staying with her. Ciel always begged to tend to her, of course, but he was too young. He was only eleven this year.

"Do you hate me, Ashton? "

Ashton paused while reading his book, but he did not put it down and simply listened. Avy woke up after a two-hour nap.

"No, I do not," he answered. It was starting again.

"But I killed our mother." It was the same words over and over again. The same questions, the same everything. Always, every time Avy ran a fever harsh enough that her sense of reality became distorted, she starts spouting things that might have lingered in her mind every day. Things that she never told anyone.

"You did not kill our mother. I do not blame you for her death. I would never." Ashton used to tremble whenever he heard Avy crying softly because of their mother's death. He could handle his emotions well now, but not well enough to watch her with his eyes. Hearing her is enough, so he did not put down the book.

"Can you read out loud? The voices are quieter when you read to me," Avy requested. She is only like this when she's sick; she does not remember anything after she calms down, anyway.

"The Prince and the Duck?" he asked. It was the short story that Avy loved hearing even after she turned fourteen.

"Yes and–"

"Do the voices, yes. I will," he cut her off, knowing what she would say. Avy hummed in satisfaction, and Ashton did not regret not going to the imperial palace to meet with the other pillars' children.

He was not one for gatherings, anyway.

"Are you sure you are not hungry, my lady? Should I ask Sir Raux to prepare a meal for the journey? "

Ashton watched as Avy's personal maid fussed over her for the first time that day. It was the day that they were set to depart for Auxiviel, almost a month after the celebration. It was because Auxiviel is a closed country surrounded by dangerous seas inhabited by magical sea beasts that the means of entering and traveling out is by teleportation. Being rare, teleportation points only open once after refreshing for a whole month, as it requires a lot of natural magic.

Ashton was the one who was tasked by the duke to accompany Avy, along with capable knights, including Avy's personal guard, Sir Clerivan Warde, and her maid. That also meant that they would have to stay out of the country for at least a month before they would be able to teleport back to Kriseon.

"Ashton."

His attention was quickly grabbed by the voice of his father calling his name. He turned around and was greeted by the sight of the duke descending down the stairs that connect the front of the estate's main building with the vast space dedicated to carriages. He was followed by his close aide, Count Luviene Sival. The duke wore the usual stoic expression he had most of the time; his eyes looked more exhausted than they were the last time they spoke in person.

"Father," Ashton received the presence of the duke by dipping his head almost slightly. It was a habit that has been engraved in his person ever since he was taught social etiquette at the ripe age of five, earlier than most nobles, as he developed an interest in higher education younger than average. He often heard comments about how it was a trait he certainly got from the Arkwrights.

"I assume there were no problems with the preparations?" the duke asked as soon as he was close enough for a conversation. It was more of a confirmation that everything was in the right place. He was a meticulous man, valuing rationality and logic at all times. Sir Luviene bowed his head as a greeting, which Ashton returned with an acknowledging nod.

"As far as I am aware, yes. Everything is aligned as Your Grace instructed," Ashton answered. It was so formal that a passerby would never assume that the two of them shared a drop of blood. However, it has been that way since Ashton entered the academy. It was he who insisted on building a habit of formality befitting his responsibilities.

Ashton looked at his father, but the duke's eyes were trained in another direction. He followed his gaze quietly and was not surprised to see his sister at the end of it. Avy still stood with her personal maid and knight close; however, there was another person in the picture that Ashton was certain was not there before.

The crown prince.

"His Majesty insisted on sending the crown prince to accompany our envoys to the teleportation gate," Ashton heard his father state. They quietly watched as the white-haired mage conversed with their family's lady. It was a rare sight, considering how the two of them seldom interacted without Avy fussing over the crown prince excessively.

"His Highness and the princess seem to be in a closer relationship than they were before," Sir Luviene commented. His voice was as friendly as always, giving the impression that the man was someone not to be feared. Ashton knew not to be deceived by this façade, as he was one of the few who had witnessed the monster firsthand. Knight Captain Luviene Sival.

The duke ignored his aide's comment, not hiding his distaste for a member of the imperial family. He shifted his gaze at Ashton once more before speaking. "You know your responsibilities, Ashton," he told him before proceeding to the knights appointed to be sent along with the duchy's young master and young lady.

Ashton bowed as a polite reply, waiting for the duke to leave before raising his head. He looked at Avy and the crown prince again, having no other things to do. It was the exact moment that the two seemed to finish their own conversation. By the looks of it, it must have been quite important, as Sir Clerivan and Mariel stood a couple of feet farther than necessary. Ashton trained his attention on the white-haired prince; the change in his demeanor over the past few months was not something that escaped Ashton's observation.

Prince Lucifer seemed to have gotten less cold towards his supposed fiancée, and as Sir Luviene commented, they did look closer than before. Perhaps it was due to Avy's change in behavior. She no longer made herself a prisoner of her own room and began to go out often based on the servants' words. She also appeared to be brighter, and although she had the same fiery temperament, she was more open to their people. It was the reason why she agreed to celebrate her birthday when she used to hate anything that involved crowds before. Also...

She was comfortable around him again. Enough to push him around like before, like when they were children. He would tell her to keep it down, and she would simply stick her tongue out and run to their mother for protection. There was a certain hint of uncertainty in her actions, as if contemplating her next move. Still, she began to comfortably call Ashton's name.

The scene before him no longer showed Avy at her current age, but Avy used to run around the garden while Ashton held Ciel's hand so that they could follow her. He never would have expected time to turn things back the way they were before.

–––

After a few more checks through all the things they needed for the journey, it was finally time to depart. Avy wore a comfortable set of clothes, and although she could never escape the heavy dresses that a standard noble should be wearing, she at least did not have to wear itchy accessories along with them.

"How long are we going to be stuck inside that thing?" Avy asked her maid with a frown, staring at the fancy carriage that they would be riding as a form of transportation. It was not as fancy as the carriages she saw during the summit that were decorated with almost every existing gold in the world and dangling bright rocks that would blind a passing dog in an instant, but it still looked expensive with the intricate but not over-the-top design. It was black in color, with a few tones of really dark red that complimented its whole look.

Well, at least it matched the Arkwright family's aesthetic. She could not imagine the duke coming out of a golden carriage. She simply pushed the thought away.

"At least three hours by carriage until the teleportation gate, my lady," Mariel answered, ushering her towards the carriage she was supposed to be locked in for at least three hours. Good for her; she thought forward enough to bring a couple of books.

"Do you have any discomfort, my lady? Please do not hesitate to inform the knight designated to stand by your carriage if you feel nauseous or if you need something," her maid explained, making Avy raise her brow in confusion.

She was already seated inside the carriage and was waiting for Mariel to climb up as well, but hearing her statement, it seemed like the maid did not have any plans of doing so.

"Where are you going? ," she asked, her brows furrowed, waiting for answers.

Mariel, who seemed to have understood the reason for the question, paused as she was fixing Avy's gown to look at the lady. "In another carriage, my lady. I will travel with the healers and other servants."

"I'll be traveling alone, then?" she said, barely affected by the realization that she would have to spend all three hours on her own. It was not an issue since she did prefer her quiet, and Mariel is not exactly quiet. Not that she had any problems staying with her, though. She grew accustomed to the maid's occasional yapping. Besides, Lucy used to yap harder than her.

"Young Master Ashton will be with you, my lady." Mariel smiled.

That. That was not something she preferred at all.

"With Ashton?" she repeated, not wanting to accept that she would have to be stuck with her brother for three hours.

"Is that a problem? "

Speaking of the devil, Ashton appeared as soon as she said his name, as if summoning a devil or something like that. He looked like a noble, like always, with the wave of his hair tamed immaculately, framing his face nicely.

Avy scrunched her nose and sighed in acceptance. "Not really, just surprised." She shrugged and leaned back on her seat.

Ashton no longer minded her behavior and turned to Mariel. "You may go," he said, before entering the carriage to sit across from his sister.

After a few moments, the carriage began to move, signaling their departure. Avy was not in the mood to bother Ashton like she usually did during the past months whenever they had the chance to interact with one another. Back in her world, she would have slammed her head on the pavement if she did something like being too familiar with someone to the point of goofing around their presence. However, Ashton's presence urged her to feel childish for some reason. As if Ashton was born to be on the unfortunate end of her bother. It was out of character for her, but Ashton was a walking ball of patience when it came to her. It was a surprise that he never set her on fire for being a nuisance. Perhaps the real Avy was indeed influencing her actions.

She let the older raven mind his own business, buried in a book that did not have a written title on the cover. She simply focused her attention on the book she had in her own hands, letting the words sink into her brain.

However, as she was reading, the exchange before they got in the carriage replayed inside her mind. It was her conversation with Ridge, the crown prince.

"Are you coming as well?" she asked, seeing the white-haired prince all dressed up. She gestured for her personal maid and knight to step back to give them some privacy; she knew that Lucifer preferred speaking to her alone.

"No," the prince answered, and she glanced at the brown horse that she thought he would be using.

"Just until the teleportation gate, then?" Avy confirmed, to which the prince replied with a nod. He was still as quiet as usual, but he must have had something in mind that he wanted to say if he approached her. He did not push into Avy's space until Avy initiated the interaction first; it was something that she appreciated, although his presence would have been welcomed either way. With their circumstances and all, she did not dislike replenishing her energy.

Noticing how the prince still hesitated to speak, she looked at her servants and made them step back even further, saying that it would be impossible for them to hear even a tiny bit of anything the crown prince would say.

"What is it?" dhe asked once again, expecting an answer this time. And at last, the prince spoke.

"I respect you, Avy," he said, making Avy furrow her brows in question. What does he mean by that? She stayed silent, hoping to hear more from the white-haired mage.

"No matter what decision you choose to make, I will accept it with your well-being in mind. Do not hesitate, as our marriage is yet to be officially announced. I hope you will not feel burdened by our arrangement and feel free to give your heart to the person you desire," the prince told her carefully, his words holding meaning in each of them. His voice was not different from his usual tone, and he did not seem hateful or anything that gave off negative feelings.

"You are my first friend, my lady," he added before dipping his head as a goodbye and walking away.

Avy raised her brows in silent surprise, watching her fiancé's retreating back.

It was the most she had heard the crown prince speak, as they usually simply sit in silence whenever they are with each other before the academy resumed. They spent their time alone with only the two of them, mostly inside the library, where Avy allowed Lucifer to drift into sleep for a couple of hours while she read a book; hence, they never had any long conversation. At first, Lucifer refused to indulge himself and fought to stay awake, which he obviously failed to win. After two or three times, he conceded and let himself rest in Avy's presence. The silence between them was the kind of quiet that Avy welcomed. She appreciated the prince's short responses whenever she asked something.

They were friends. She has grown to accept that fact.

"Oomf—"

After a few hours of being submerged in her own head, the sudden halt of the carriage pulled Avy out of her thoughts as she was thrown by the force of stopping forward, causing her to crash into Ashton, who was quick to catch her, preventing her from face-planting into the carriage's floor.

"What was that?" she asked, collecting herself with her brother's help. Ashton waited until she was seated before fixing his own clothes with a frown.

"There should not be any magical beasts on this route," he said to himself, although loud enough for Avy to hear. Not more than a second later, a couple of knocks came on the door of their carriage before Ashton responded for it to be opened.

It was a knight. "Young master, a number of unknown assailants attacked the carriage where the King of Auxiviel is riding. They seem to be coming from behind the envoys as well," he reported.

Ashton clicked his tongue, turned to Avy, and spoke. "Stay here, Sir Warde will be stationed outside the carriage for your safety," he said before exiting the carriage.

–––

Ashton knew not to expect a smooth journey traveling with another country's royal. There will always be some kind of ambush in hopes of harming a nation's well-being, even though there have been many agreements in the past to not openly show hostility to one another. However, a situation being expected does not mean it was not a nuisance.

He stepped out of the carriage and was quick to call Avy's personal knight, who was riding a horse not too far away from them. Sir Clerivan was a capable fighter. He was even recognized by Marquis Alistair, who was said to be the greatest swordsman in the empire. There was a reason why the duke chose him to be the one guarding Avy with his life.

"Do not leave her side, no matter the circumstances," he commanded, to which the knight responded with a bow.

It was enough for Ashton to leave his sister to him. Besides, their knights would not have informed him had the situation seemed mild enough for them to handle without his help. The only reason for the knight's calmness was because Avy was present. They need not the lady be alarmed.

Clerivan watched as the young master climbed a horse given to him by the knight, who informed him of the situation. According to the smoke signal given by those riding up front and at the back, the number of assailants must have been greater than their own.

"Should I be worried?" he heard the lady speak from inside the carriage as the door was not closed all the way. Clerivan looked at the bottom of the door and saw how the lady's foot stopped it from closing after the young master stepped out.

"Please rest assured, my lady. The crown prince and the young master are handling the matter," he answered calmly, lest he create unnecessary panic in the lady. Lady Avy, who had her head peeking through the gap of the carriage door, did not seem convinced enough but nevertheless took her foot back inside and let Clerivan close the door.

It was enchanted to not let the people inside hear the noise from the outside. It was specifically ordered by the duke to ensure the lady's comfort during the journey. Clerivan was grateful for this fact, as the assailants seemed to have pushed forward their forces with their numbers the moment that Lady Avy closed the door.

Shouts filled the air as their own knights and those the imperial family provided to travel with them took the lives of the attackers. Clerivan stepped down from his horse to be alert if someone were to attack the lady's carriage. Another horse came running from the front carriages, where the King of Auxiviel was. The knight who was riding the horse did not seem to be a knight of their own.

"His Highness has ordered the carriages to head towards the gate first while the knights subdue the assailants; I shall accompany the lady's carriage from here."

"No, I will stay with the lady. You can go back to your post." Clerivan did not let the knight finish his words, staring at him disapprovingly. It did not sound right, no matter how much he replayed it in his head.

The knight bowed his head, but Clerivan was sure he saw a hint of displeasure in his face before the horse galloped away. He looked at the two horses attached to the lady's carriage. It was a magical breed that did not need a coachman to run, as it followed anything upfront with care.

Looking back at the fight that was happening afar, he frowned, noticing how none of the knights from Auxiviel were present and that he was hearing no commotion from where they were supposed to be. It was quite far, as the horses are not allowed to be too close while traveling because they might not react fast enough to halt once the carriages arrive. The reason they were able to follow was because of the magical bond placed on them before the journey.

He was about to knock on the carriage door to inform the lady that they would be going first when his ears picked up a couple of footsteps approaching. His head immediately swerved in the direction where it came from.

But he saw nothing.

He put his hand on the handle of his sword, ready to unsheathe his blade, when the horses attached to the lady's carriage suddenly made a loud noise before galloping abruptly as if a coachman had hit them with a whip.

He was able to hear Lady Avy shouting from inside the carriage, and Clerivan cussed under his breath. He quickly hopped on his horse without looking back at the commotion behind them to follow the carriage.

It was odd; the horses were not bred to be this fast, but Clerivan's horse could hardly keep up. Within a minute of following the carriage, he was already able to spot the glowing gate where they would be passing through to travel to Auxiviel. It seems like the envoys from that country have already gone. If they enter the teleportation gate, they will not be able to go back until a month later.

Clerivan glanced behind him, expecting the carriages that they owned to be following, but he was surprised to see nothing on their trail. He frowned. Why was no one following their lady's carriage? He cannot leave her to inform the others that they will be going first, as the horses were not acting normally.

Clerivan bit the inside of his cheek in frustration and followed the lady without looking back again. The moment they passed through the gate, the magic immediately dispersed. He was able to catch a glimpse of the young master and the others, but the transportation gate closed before they even came near.

He looked around, to a foreign land where they do not have any force to fight if the king of Auxiviel decides to retaliate. He was the only citizen of the empire along with the lady, and he needs to keep her safe even if it costs him his life.

–––

HELLO GUYS!! I'M REALLY SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT, AGAIN

But heyyy I really tried to make the chapters twice as long to compensate for my absence. I've finished this chapter more than a week ago to be honest Haha! Thank you to my readers who follows my socials, for messaging me from time to time. I really appreciate all your encouraging words. Really, if you're one of my insta followers, you can message me in the middle of the night, and if I replied, I'm probably writing a new chapter lol

But anyways, I want to know your thoughts about this chapter. I kinda spoiled one reader that this made me tear up quite a bit, OR WAS IT JUST ME? I'm quite attached to my characters, especially to Ashton and Lucifer. They're kinda hateful because of their behavior, and I always get hurt seeing some readers talk shit about them T-T BUT IT'S OKAY, TO EACH THEIR OWN

I will leave a couple of questions to have some interactions with y'all. I really love reading comments, and I try my best to restrain myself from answering because I might accidentally slip some infos T-T

ANYWAY, here are the questions.

Which character would you want to meet in real life?

Which chapter or scene made you feel emotional?

Do you have anything that confuses you about the story?

What do you think of King Cartal?

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: @eliiskuuxen