>>Amber

"I'm sorry again," Serena apologized and I shook my head at her

"It's fine," I looked at her, "You should leave now, you said you have somewhere to be,"

"Yea," She gave me a tight hug, "Take care," she whispered.

"You too," I said and then we parted ways.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself before making my way towards the royal library. The palace corridors were grand and expansive, offering glimpses of the lush gardens outside. The air was filled with the faint scent of blooming flowers and the distant sound of a fountain.

As I walked towards the library, I heard footsteps behind me, followed by someone calling out to me, "Excuse me,"

I turned around to see a girl with striking red hair.

"Oh!" I recognized her immediately – the same girl I met in the palace courtyard not too long ago. I stopped and let her approach me, "It's you." She came to the cafe too, "Enya, right?"

"Yes," She said with a warm smile, "It's me. Again,"

I returned her smile. "Hello again. It's nice to see you." I hesitate for a moment before speaking. "Thank you for your advice about Ahin." When we first met at the palace we couldn't talk, so she came to the cafe to have the discussion. "I did as you suggested and made my intentions clear to him. I didn't want to lead him on."

She was the one who told me not to drag my decision about Ahin.

Her smile widens, a hint of relief in her eyes. "I'm glad to hear that." I feel like I know her from somewhere but I can't quite put my finger on it, "I'm really glad you made a decision." She came and gave me a hug.

"Well, now that I'm out of the way, I hope you can win his heart." I replied.

She chuckled, "Me too," There was a sadness in his voice, "I hope he wants me again."

Again?

She broke the hug, "It was really nice meeting you Saint Amber. You being here changed a lot of things but I know you are here for good reasons."

"Yes?" I felt like there was a hidden meaning behind those words.

"To help with the miasma," She passed me an innocent bright smile. She stepped aside, "I have to leave since I'm in a hurry," She began to walk away, "I hope we meet again." She waved at me as she began to run away and I awkwardly waved back at her.

"Bye..." As I watched her, a question struck my mind.

Wait,

How did a commoner get inside the palace? Does she work here? But she wasn't wearing the maid's clothes.

I brought my hand down as she disappeared.

Hmmm

***

>>Hael

I flipped through the pages of the book quietly as I stood in a row of bookshelves. I never thought about something like this

I never knew it would be possible.

The soft rustle of paper was the only sound in the quiet library. As I flipped through the pages, my eyes scanned the intricate illustrations and flowing script.

"Master Hael," Only when someone called out to me did I snap out of it and looked to my side. There stood a person there. I closed the book, and he noticed the book cover, "Ah, 'The Bond of Hearts'" He smiled softly, "I read that book when I had a crush on a teacher when I was a boy."

"..."

I placed the book back in the bookshelf and then looked at him again. "Your Highness, Nevan, to what do I owe a pleasure of meeting you?"

"Oh, I just wanted to talk." He looked back at the main entrance where he didn't come in from, "Saint Amber is on her way here. I just have something to say to you both." And soon enough I heard the sound of footsteps which were shortly met by her coming into view.

My Lady made her way in and spotted us after scanning the place once.

"Is it alright if we go and sit there?" He pointed at the seats reserved for the royals.

I nodded at him

***

>>Amber

The three of us sat diagonal to each other. Prince Nevan had something to say, so Hael and I had our focus on him.

"There's no need to be tense, I simply want to talk to you both to thank you." He said

"Thank us?" I asked.

"Especially you," Nevan's smile was very soft, "Saint Amber."

"Hmm?" I still wasn't sure what was going on.

"The thing is, I came back from the border in a very unique condition."

"What Unique condition?" I asked

"While returning we encountered miasma out of nowhere. It was like it just flew past us," He looked at Hael, "Like how you explained." He let out a sigh, "A cloud of it engulfed everything when we were making our way through the forest and everyone escorting me got caught in it. I was only able to escape because of my magic. I didn't let it come near me."

Right

Prince Nevan is a light magic user. And if anything other than Holy Power works against Miasma, it's light magic. It can fend it off but it can't fight it.

"Since I was the only one left. I ran through the place alone but some of the miasma caught onto my body. I did make it back one way or another but unfortunately the miasma began to consume me. It was corrupting my insides. I was doing all I could to keep it inside. I was sure that when I'd come back, the saint could heal me. So I kept using my magic on myself in order to not let it spread."

"Then, why didn't you come to us?"

"I came back the day of your competition with Saint Illaris and I was on the verge of getting miasma consumed. Since Saint Illaris came back before you, she was called into my room to heal me. Yet when she tried, she couldn't do much."

"What?" I frowned.

"According to her words, the miasma was too deep rooted into my organs and she couldn't manage to get more of her power out. In fact when she tried, she got so sick she fell."

"Why?" I was confused. She should be able to handle one person without any problem.

"None of us knew why but Mother deduced that it might be because she had exerted her mana too much. We decided to let her go and rest and she was to be called again in the morning after she had replenished her health. But it didn't happen."

Ah

Right

So this is why Illaris was coming back to her room so late. And she looked drained

"You could have called me," I said, "I may have come back late but still,"

"It was my mother's call really. She didn't want to risk anyone finding out I was in such a vulnerable condition. Anyone could take the opportunity for an assassination."

"Ah,"

"I had used all of my strength and mana to keep the miasma from consuming me. After me, my mother kept using her power to keep me steady but I was pretty sure I was done for," His smile widened, "But when you showed your power the next day, every person who was present on the first floor of the palace felt it. And I was lucky enough to be in a room on the first floor." His gaze was soft, "All the pain eased so smoothly, it was like a warm gentle blanket wrapping around me, cradling me." He bowed, "I owe it to you, Saint Amber. You saved my life."

"Oh!" I got flustered, "Your Highness , you don't need to bow to me!"

He straightened up, "I thought with Saint Illaris gone, I was done for as well. But I'm glad you were there."

"It wasn't even on purpose." I said,

"It matters not. What matters is that you saved my life and if there is anything I can do for you, please let me know." He passed me a blinding smile.

Oh Holy!

"Um," I nodded, "Sure, I'll let you know."

***

I walked alongside Hael through the palace corridors, each step echoing softly in the quietness of the night. The torches flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls, but my attention was on him—on the way he walked with that familiar stride, yet tonight, there was a distance in his demeanor that mirrored the growing ache in my chest.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, hoping to catch his gaze, but he was lost in his own thoughts, staring ahead with a seriousness I couldn't penetrate.

The silence between us felt heavy

Just what is he thinking about so intently?! He was quiet most of the time when we were talking with Prince Nevan too! Something feels off!

"Say," I started, "What are you thinking about?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

He finally turned to look at me but he didn't answer me immediately. Before he said anything, his gaze lingered on me, as if he was searching for something.

"I'm wondering about something," He replied

"What?" We kept walking.

"I can't stop thinking about it."

"What?" I asked, "What is it?" I was curious.

...

A moment of silence where only our footsteps echoed, followed by a question that made my heart drop to the pit of my stomach.

"Where did you learn to dance like that?" His gaze grew sharper, "The way you danced for me in the Elf Kingdom."

I froze and he stopped walking as well. His sharp gaze refused to leave me, baring me with the intensity.

Oh shit

He's talking about the lap dance!! I thought he forgot about that!!