Lena walked behind him, her hand enclosed safely in his warm one, as if he didn't want to risk letting go.
Dylan had barely said anything after that sudden call. He just took her with him, hurried and distracted, bringing her straight to the Al'Xander mansion without giving her a chance to change out of the floral dress he had asked her to try on earlier. It had only been a fit check to him;or that's what she believed,until she realized something quietly strange. He had chosen the exact dress she had been planning to buy for her birthday.
She wore it anyway, smiling to herself as she walked downstairs, only to find Dylan standing there, completely mesmerized. His expression softened, almost stunned, and Lena couldn't help letting out a small laugh at the way he looked at her.
His lips lifted into a gentle smile as he stepped toward her and reached out his hand. Thinking he wanted to pull her into his arms, Lena leaned forward, but his fingers rose instead to her ear. His touch was warm, careful, and then the cool weight of earrings settled softly against her skin.
"Dylan,"
she whispered, breath catching somewhere in her chest.
"Let's go,"
he murmured, meeting her eyes before lifting her hand to his mouth. The kiss he placed there was light but grounding, and Lena stood frozen for a moment, stunned by the tenderness of it. He only smiled at her reaction and guided her outside.
The cold air rushed over her the moment they stepped out, breaking the little magic around her. She shivered.
"Where?"
"Somewhere,"
he answered playfully as he wrapped a warm woolen scarf around her shoulders. He helped her into the car first, making sure she was comfortable, before taking his seat at the wheel.
Lena didn't ask any more questions. Somehow, the silence felt like part of the journey.
***
Dylan stopped in front of a closed door. The Al'Xander mansion was unusually dark, quiet in a way that made it feel empty; like every inhabitant had vanished into the night. Lena, lost in her own thoughts, walked straight into his back.
"Here you are, Lena,"
he said as he steadied her, his voice carrying a teasing warmth.
"Why are we here? Mom and Dad aren't home,"
she murmured, fingers slipping around his hand without thinking.
Dylan didn't answer. He simply pushed the door open.
Light burst out instantly,bright, warm, overwhelming, and before Lena could even blink, something exploded in the distance. Colorful confetti spun through the air like tiny stars falling just for her.
A voice echoed across the room, loud and grand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the star of our evening has arrived! Miss Lena Ayaburg—the heir to the Heisenberg duchy and the only child of our beloved Duke and Duchess Heisenberg!"someone announce
Lena froze. Dylan stood just behind her, letting her take in the moment. She could barely breathe. Never in her wildest, nor in her most impossible dreams, had she imagined this. The identity her parents had hidden her whole life was suddenly out in the open. Official. Real. Perhaps their death was the reason of it.
From the front of the grand hall, James Al'Xander; the lawmaker of the Kingdom of Arizone, stepped forward holding her father's ceremonial sword. Behind him came Layla Al'Xander, Dylan's mother and the kingdom's first princess. She carried the Heisenberg heirlooms: the powerful black-stone necklace, her mother's floral-engraved ring, and a set of sealed documents.
Dylan's hand found hers again. He guided her slowly toward the center of the banquet hall, extravagantly decorated for the occasion. Standing at the heart of it all were the King and Queen of the kingdom, his uncle and aunt, waiting for her.
He positioned Lena before them with deliberate gentleness and stepped to her side.
His shoulder brushed hers, and he leaned in just enough for only her to hear.
"I'm right here,"
he whispered, making sure she didn't face any of it alone.
***
As per the Kingdom's tradition, the heir ceremony began with a solemn reverence. Lena AyaBurg stood in the center of the grand banquet hall, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest.
The hall shimmered with golden chandeliers, and the aroma of fresh flowers mingled with the faint scent of polished marble.
One by one, the family members and close friends stepped forward to formally acknowledge her as the official heir to the Heisenberg Duchy.
Each bow, each gesture of respect made her feel both the weight of her legacy and the warmth of the home she had known with Dylan's family.
The Duke's sword was placed gently in her hands, a symbol of honor and responsibility, while the Heisenberg heirlooms; Lome's black stone necklace, her mother's floral ring, and the official documents,were presented to her with care.
Gasps of admiration filled the hall as the significance of the moment sank in. Lena's eyes met Dylan's, and in that glance, she felt the silent promise of protection and support.
The celebration unfolded like a dream. Music swirled around them, laughter echoed through the walls, and Lena found herself surrounded by warmth she had never fully realized she had been missing.
Robotic servants offered delicate sweets and sparkling drinks, while close friends and family danced, applauded, and whispered their congratulations.
Dylan never left her side; his protective presence was a constant shield, ensuring that every moment, however dazzling, remained safe and gentle.
At one point, Lena was swept into a dance, laughter spilling from her lips as she twirled, realizing that this wasn't just a ceremony, it was a homecoming.
Her gaze softened when she saw Dylan's parents observing her with pride, the same love they had always shown her when her own parents passed. She realized then that they weren't just guardians; they had become her family in every sense, and she vowed silently to protect them as fiercely as they had protected her.
By the time the night drew to a midnight , Lena felt a sense of belonging and strength she had never known.
The heir of Heisenberg, she thought, wasn't just a title, it was a promise, a bond, and a life she would embrace fully, alongside Dylan and the family who had become hers.
***
"Lena… I don't want to burden you with all this, but it had to be done. I promised your father,"
Father Al'Xander said quietly, holding her close.
He had always loved her as his own. From the moment Lord Heisenberg had visisted with his newborn baby girl and his wife. He has proudly showed him his daughter,The Lawmaker James Al'Xander has felt his heart had belonged to her. He had even once asked for her hand for his son, and Lord Heisenberg had simply smiled. But as Dylan and Lena grew, it became clear the children would choose their own paths.
"It's okay, Dad. It was going to happen one day,"
Lena said softly, her hand brushing against his.
"Ah, darling Lena, you're far too good… unlike the brat of our family,"
teased Dylan's uncle, the King, with a playful grin.
"Don't mock my son like that, brother!" Dylan's mother, said quickly, stepping forward with gentle authority, her eyes warm but firm.
"Refrain yourself, Your Highness,"
his aunt, the Queen, added softly, a smile tugging at her lips.
Laughter and warmth filled the room. The teasing, the gentle chidings, the shared glances, all of it made the space feel like home. Dylan was siting quietly by Lena's side, his hand brushing hers from time to time, protective but unobtrusive.
From a corner, the King's right-hand and Richard D., the lawmaker's aide, observed the scene, subtle smiles on their faces. No words were needed; they understood the love in the room, the bond that had been built over years.
It was a moment of simple joy, a rare pause in the weight of titles and expectations, a family, whole and unguarded, wrapped in laughter, warmth, and quiet pride.
***
Amidst the conversation, Lena had fallen asleep, though no one noticed at first. It wasn't until her head gently tipped onto Father Al'Xander's shoulder that they realized, and quietly, they called it a night.
Dylan carefully lifted her in his arms, carrying her to her room. He laid her on the bed with deliberate gentleness, adjusting the blankets around her. For a few moments, he simply stood there, watching her sleep, her peaceful face softening the edges of the day.
A voice, soft yet unmistakable, whispered to him, as if emerging from the quiet of the room.
"What now, Dylan? You haven't yet found her a cure… haven't found a way for all this to stop," it said, calm but insistent.
Dylan's fingers closed over hers under the covers. "It was bound to happen today. I was prepared for it… mentally," he murmured, brushing a lock of hair from her forehead.
"And all the more reason to hide it from her," the voice replied, a tinge of urgency in its tone.
Dylan placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, warm and protective. "I know," he whispered back, letting the weight of it settle in silence before turning back to the lounge, leaving her to rest undisturbed. Before he could reach the lounge. His mother hugged him and whispers assurance to him.
"Night Mother " he said.
"Let us send our precious baby to sleep. "
His mother said, taking his arm in her hands.
Father Al'Xander joined them.
Standing before his room, Dylan offered them a small nod, and with one last glance at Lena, he finally allowed himself to rest, the soft glow of the room and her calm presence lingering in his mind.
***
A prayer travel high in air, finding the way to high heaven, Travels by the constellation of martyr, reaching for a place known and also unknown to bestow upon the wisher a heard prayer.
***
"Capaldi....Dear Capaldi.. "
The air whirling around the city called for an old friend.
"Hmm"
the city woke up and held on for news.
"I have seen it all... "
the air announce happily.
"What? "
even though the city knew, it feigned ignorance.
" The ceremony for the heir to Heisenberg and the star that shines brightly. " the air whispered a stolen legends to the Capaldi.
***
Ahh..... The stolen legend....
A voice speaks, dancing in the sparkling stardust, Beyound the constellation of martyr.
"How long has it been, since anyone remember the stolen legen of history."
Something was happening in the stardust, a image was being formed.
No.. It was a person....
No... It has gone now but a voice lingers.
"Long ago, there was a boy who met a girl under peach blossom. "
***
Next Day
The news of Lena AyaBurg's recognition traveled quickly, quietly, and efficiently among the trusted noble families of Capaldi. Private messages, encrypted calls, and discreet emails ensured only those meant to know were informed. Photos from the celebration and brief notes of the announcement circulated among them, sparking soft murmurs of curiosity and admiration. Conversations unfolded in drawing rooms, over dinner tables, and during private gatherings, each noble sharing the news with a sense of respect and discretion. By the end of the day, every trusted household knew her name, her recognition confirmed, yet the details of her daily life remained untouched, safe, and undisturbed.