Voltaire's POV
I returned to my hut to find Aurein still sleeping soundly, his breathing slow and even, untouched by the weight of the world. But I carried with me a burden far heavier than exhaustion—one that threatened not only the whole of Ardentia, but the fragile space the two of us shared.
From this moment on, I had to be more vigilant than ever. More ruthless. More protective. The ones who wished us dead were no longer distant enemies lurking in the shadows beyond our borders. They were close—too close—hiding behind familiar smiles, cloaked in the guise of loyalty and friendship.
We could no longer afford trust.
The fragments of information I had gathered from those whispering of rebellion were few, but they were enough to set my instincts ablaze. I had not confronted them when I had the chance. Charging in blindly would have been foolish. I needed clarity. I needed names. Faces. Motives. And I would uncover all of it—through Dante.
That was the part that burned the deepest.
Of all the people I could have suspected, of all the hardened warriors and cunning strategists around us, it was the one who appeared most harmless, most sincere, who had turned his back on us. On me.
"General Voltaire... I'm cold," Aurein said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper as he hugged himself in his sleep.
I lay down beside him once more. The moment he sensed my presence, he shifted instinctively, pressing closer, fitting himself against me as if I were the safest place in the world. His arms curled around my body, trusting, unguarded.
My chest tightened.
I could not tell him what I had discovered—not yet. If he knew, he would act on emotion, not caution. He would rush headfirst into danger without thinking of the cost. For now, I would carry this alone. I would keep the truths I had uncovered buried in silence until I understood their true intentions—until I knew why they were so desperate to ignite rebellion.
"I will protect you, no matter what, Aurein," I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "From now on, it will be you and me against everyone else."
My hand moved gently through his hair, slow and deliberate, as if memorizing the feel of him—proof that this moment was real, that he was still here.
Then I lowered my head and pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, sealing a vow I intended to keep, even if it cost me everything.
* * *
Aurein's POV
"Ahh!" I exclaimed as I woke up, stretching my arms wide. "That was such a good sleep," I added with a grin, rubbing the remnants of drowsiness from my eyes.
"It certainly looked like it," the General said.
I turned to see General Voltaire standing nearby, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
That was when awareness rushed in all at once. My eyes swept across the hut.
"Wait— is it already dawn?" I asked, a sudden spike of panic tightening my chest.
"It's time for training," he replied calmly.
"I'm dead," I muttered, pressing a hand to my face. "We didn't make it back to the palace. My parents are probably worried sick!"
"I went to the palace while you were asleep," General Voltaire said. "I informed the King that we rested here for the night."
"Oh. Thank goodness," I said, releasing a long breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
Relief washed over me—until my gaze drifted back to him.
And then... 'there'.
Yes. There.
The memory struck me without mercy.
What I had done.
What I had tasted.
The recollection was far too vivid, lingering shamelessly on my tongue as if it had happened only moments ago.
I must have been staring too long, because General Voltaire suddenly waved a hand in front of my face. I flinched, jolted back to reality.
"Why do you look like you've spaced out?" he asked.
"General," I said hesitantly, "did you... feel anything moving while we were resting during the rain?"
"Hm," he uttered thoughtfully, as if genuinely considering it. "Not really. I slept quite well."
I nearly sagged in relief.
So he hadn't noticed.
Thank the heavens. If he had, I don't think I would have been able to look him in the eye ever again.
"Or perhaps," he added lazily, "you were fantasizing about me while I slept?"
"No!" I blurted out. "Why would I? I wouldn't dare!" I huffed, turning away with an exaggerated scowl.
"Is that so?" he said, the smirk returning, sharper this time.
"Yes! Why would I ever take advantage of you? Never!" I snapped, flustered beyond reason.
He didn't respond.
He only smiled.
And that smile— infuriatingly calm, dangerously amused— told me everything. He was enjoying this far too much.
"Come on," I said irritably. "Let's train already. It's better if we just focus on the competition."
"Yes," he said smoothly. "You focus on the competition. I'll focus on you."
"You're impossible!" I snapped. "Do whatever you want! I'm going to see where Ton-Ton and the others are. I don't want to talk to you!"
I stormed out of the hut—only to stop right in front of the curtain.
I looked down at my hand.
And smiled.
"I hope I can touch it again," I whispered to myself.
"Which part do you want to touch?" he murmured suddenly, his voice right behind me.
"Get away from me!" I shouted, bolting forward before he could say anything else.
* * *
By the time I reached the training field, the other warriors were already there. The three of them stood together, chatting as if the world were perfectly ordinary.
"Guys! Good morning!" I greeted brightly as I approached.
"Prince Aurein," Asper said with a grin, "you seem unusually cheerful today."
"I'm fine," I replied awkwardly. "Perfectly fine."
"I wonder what kind of training the General has planned for us today," I said. "I hope it's something fun for once, not something maddening."
"I hope it's food-eating training!" Ton-Ton declared, patting his stomach enthusiastically.
"All you ever think about is food," Asper shot back. "The sun hasn't even risen yet and that's already on your mind!"
That was when I noticed Dante— standing slightly apart, staring blankly into the distance.
"You seem quiet today, Dante," I said, half-teasing.
"Huh?" he said, startled, snapping back to attention. "Ah— I think I'm still sleepy, Prince Aurein," he added, scratching the back of his head.
"Maybe you were up to something strange last night and didn't sleep well," General Voltaire said coolly as he joined us.
"G-General..." Dante stammered, visibly startled. "M-Maybe."
General Voltaire let out a slow breath.
And suddenly, his mood shifted.
Just moments ago, he had been relaxed, teasing— but now, his expression was sharp, serious, unreadable.
If there were a competition for the fastest mood changes, General Voltaire would easily place second.
First place, of course, would still belong to Serena.
No contest there.
"No time to waste," the General said. "We start our morning routine now. Forty laps for everyone." His gaze shifted to me. "Aurein, how many do you want?"
"I can do seventy today," I said with a bright smile.
"Seventy?" Asper exclaimed. "You look unusually energetic today, Prince Aurein. Did you eat some kind of superfood to be able to run that many laps?"
"I want to eat that superfood too!" Ton-Ton said eagerly, patting his stomach.
"U-Um... I think it would be best if you didn't!" I blurted out, waving my hands frantically.
If only they knew what that so-called superfood really was... they would be utterly disgusted.
"Whatever that superfood may be," General Voltaire said calmly, "I believe it should only be for Aurein."
"Right! You might not like the taste of it!" I added awkwardly. "Anyway—let's run!"
We were just about to start when General Voltaire spoke again.
"Dante," he said, his voice suddenly stern. "One hundred laps for you."
"One hundred?" Ton-Ton and Asper exclaimed in unison.
"Wait—why one hundred?" I asked, stunned. "And why only Dante? Did he do something wrong? Is this a punishment?"
General Voltaire let out a slow breath.
"To wake him up," he said coolly. "He said he was still sleepy."
"I'll run with you, Dante," I offered with a smile. "I think I can do a hundred too."
"No, Aurein," General Voltaire said firmly. "Only Dante will do it. You don't need to accompany him."
The tone in his voice left no room for argument.
"Yes, General," Dante said quietly, letting out a deep sigh.
"What are you four waiting for?" the General continued sharply. "Others have already started. We still have more training to finish today."
And so, we began to run.
"I wonder what got into his head," I said as we jogged. "One hundred laps just to wake you up feels excessive."
"Leave it be, Prince Aurein," Dante replied with a gentle smile. "It's fine. This will be good endurance training for me as well."
"Can you really handle a hundred laps?" Asper asked. "You can split some of them with us if it gets too hard."
"As long as you treat me to food at the city market later," Ton-Ton added cheerfully.
"No need," Dante said shyly, smiling. "I don't want to involve you."
I glanced toward General Voltaire, who stood off to the side, his full attention fixed on us.
Normally, during our morning routine, he would be doing something else—sword drills, push-ups, sit-ups. But this time, he wasn't training at all.
He was watching us.
No—watching the four of us closely.
"Look at the General," I murmured. "He's really focused on us."
When they followed my gaze and saw his expression, both Asper and Ton-Ton went pale and quickly looked forward again.
"Did any of you do something to upset him?" I whispered. "Especially you, Dante. You're the one running a hundred laps."
"I can't think of anything we did wrong," Asper said, confused. "Except being sleepy before training started."
"Me neither," Ton-Ton said. "Maybe he's watching because he's jealous you're spending more time with us?"
"You're ridiculous, Ton-Ton," Asper snapped. "Do you really think General Voltaire would be jealous of us? Use your head!"
I turned to Dante, who seemed strangely distant as he ran, his expression blank.
"Dante," I said, narrowing my eyes slightly, "I feel like you're hiding something from us."
"M-Me?" he stammered. "N-Nothing!"
"Hm?" I pressed. "Come on, tell us. We're friends, right? If you have a problem, say it. Maybe I can help. Don't be shy."
"There's really nothing, Prince Aurein," he said with a light laugh.
"Maybe you like a girl and she turned you down?" I teased.
"Oh please," Asper said. "He'd be the one turning girls down. Dante's like a second General Voltaire—women probably chase him."
"Then what are you thinking about, Dante?" I asked.
"Probably what he's going to eat after training," Ton-Ton said.
Asper shot Ton-Ton a flat, unimpressed look.
"Don't worry about me, Prince Aurein," Dante said gently. "I just didn't sleep well. There's nothing else."
"If you say so," I replied. "But if you're carrying something heavy, don't hesitate to talk to me. I'll listen."
I smiled at him.
For a moment, his expression faltered—troubled, conflicted—yet he smiled back.
"If there is something," he said softly, "I'll tell you. Don't worry. Thank you for caring."
I smiled widely and reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder, silently letting him know I was there.
"And the same goes for you, Asper and Ton-Ton. If any of you ever needed someone to talk to, I will be ready to listen."
* * *
Ton-Ton, Asper, and I finished our laps and moved aside to rest, while Dante continued running, breathing heavily. He wasn't even running anymore—he had slowed to a painful shuffle.
After a while, he stopped completely, bending over with his hands on his knees.
"Hurry up, Dante!" General Voltaire barked. "You're only at seventy laps. We still have training waiting!"
My chest tightened as I watched him.
Something had definitely happened. There was no way the General would push him like this without reason.
And Dante—Dante was kind. Innocent. Pure. I couldn't imagine what he could have done to deserve this.
Dante straightened and forced himself to run again, though his exhaustion was obvious.
"Why is he running alone?" Serena asked as she arrived, drawing our attention.
"You're here again?" I said in surprise.
"I'm bored," she replied teasingly. "So I came." She turned to the General and smiled sweetly. "Good morning, General Voltaire. It's nice to see you."
"Morning," General Voltaire said curtly, not even looking at her, his eyes fixed on Dante.
"Oh?" Serena said lightly. "Is the General in a bad mood today?"
I nodded, pouting.
"I wonder why," she said with a smirk.
Shouldn't she be concerned? Instead, she looked almost amused.
She glanced at Dante and sighed.
"Poor Dante," she murmured, folding her arms—almost as if she wanted this to happen. "He must have done something really bad."
"Why do you look like you're enjoying his suffering?" I hissed.
"Did I say that?" she asked innocently. "Did you hear me say that?"
"No," I replied. "But I can see it on your face."
She didn't answer—she just grinned.
"What is wrong with her?" I muttered, scratching my head.
"Dante, keep going. Don't stop!" the General shouted again as Dante faltered once more.
"General, that's enough!" I said anxiously. "He can't handle it anymore!"
"He can," General Voltaire replied coldly. "He needs to prove he is a true warrior. If you can run that much, Aurein, then he should too."
"But Dante is Dante, and I'm different," I argued. "We don't have the same endurance. What I can do, others might not."
"He will finish," the General snapped. "End of discussion."
"Oh no," Serena whispered beside me. "I can really smell that something is wrong."
"I feel it too," I murmured.
Thud.
"Dante!" Ton-Ton shouted as Dante collapsed onto the ground.
Asper and Ton-Ton rushed to him, and I followed immediately.
He wasn't unconscious—but he was gasping for air.
They lifted him up, supporting him on both sides.
His lips were pale. His eyes were half-closed. He was fighting to stay conscious.
"Don't help him!" General Voltaire shouted. "Dante, continue your laps!"
Dante couldn't even respond. He could only breathe.
"General, stop!" I cried, anger and fear crashing together. "He can't do this anymore! Can't you see he can barely speak?"
"No one defies my command," General Voltaire said firmly. "Dante will run until he completes one hundred laps. That is final."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Why are you punishing him?" I demanded. "What did he do?"
"This is not punishment," the General said. "This is discipline training. If your mind wanders, you die. If your legs fail, the people you need to protect dies. One hundred laps. Prove you can go on when your body begs you to stop."
"Then why only him?" I pressed. "Why not include us?"
"Prince Aurein..." Dante whispered weakly. "Let it go. I'll finish this. Don't argue with the General— you'll just fight again."
"Dante..." I said softly, my heart aching.
"I can do this," he said, forcing a smile. "Go on. Ton-Ton, Asper, Prince Aurein—go back."
"Are you sure?" Asper asked worriedly.
"Yes," Dante replied. "This is my training."
"Fine," Ton-Ton said. "But if you're hungry later, I'll treat you to eat."
"Thank you," Dante said sincerely.
Then Ton-Ton and Asper slowly let go of him—and Dante stood alone once more.
He tried to start running again.
No matter how battered his body already was, he forced himself forward, stubborn to the very end. We had no choice but to let him continue—he insisted on finishing it, even if it meant dragging his exhaustion behind him like a chain.
I returned to my position, jaw tight, then turned back to General Voltaire.
"Tell me," I said quietly but firmly. "What is really going on?"
He looked at me with that familiar, unreadable expression—his face carved from discipline and restraint.
"Nothing," he said. "Don't worry about it."
I scoffed, irritation flaring hot in my chest.
"Don't worry? How about I make you run a hundred laps? Oh—wait. That would be easy for you."
"Aurein..." he said, exhaling slowly, clearly trying to temper his own emotions. "I'm doing this for my warriors. This is part of our brutal training. I know when I'm going too far. Just trust me on this. Okay?"
I clenched my fists.
"I'm telling you this now, General Voltaire—if anything bad happens to Dante, I will be the first one to punch you. You are seriously testing my patience," I snapped.
He reached out and placed his hand on top of my head.
I swatted it away instantly.
"I hate you," I hissed.
* * *
When Dante finally completed his hundred laps, barely standing but still upright through sheer will, the General gave his next command without hesitation.
"We will proceed to the next training," he said. "Return to the training grounds."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Wait—what? Dante just finished. He hasn't even had time to breathe, and you're throwing him straight back into training?"
"There's no time to waste," General Voltaire said. "We need to proceed."
My eyes narrowed as I studied him.
"Ton-Ton, Asper, Dante," I said deliberately, lifting my chin as I locked eyes with the General, my gaze sharp and defiant. "After training, we're going for a drink. General Voltaire is not invited."
"Aurein, don't be difficult," he hissed.
"You can't stop me," I said with a smirk.
I turned to Ton-Ton and the others.
"We're going later, okay? We'll enjoy ourselves. My treat—eat and drink whatever you want."
They stared at me, stunned into silence.
"Silence means yes," I added smugly.
"Okay! I get it! Stop pressuring me!" Serena suddenly blurted out. "I don't want to go! I'm busy, and I don't have time for that nonsense drinking session."
I blinked.
...What?
I wasn't even asking her to come. And more importantly—I wasn't pressuring her at all. What was her problem?
"Aurein," General Voltaire said coldly, "you are not drinking."
"And what exactly are you going to do?" I asked, smirking openly now, wearing my defiance without shame.
"Aurein, listen to me," he hissed.
"You didn't listen to me earlier when I told you to stop Dante," I replied with a smile. "So I won't listen to you either. That's fair."
He glared at me, trying to intimidate me.
It didn't work.
He shifted his gaze to the trio instead.
Immediately, Ton-Ton, Asper, and Dante turned away, suddenly very interested in literally anything else.
"Don't worry," I said brightly. "I've got you, guys. If the General does anything to us, I'll report him to my father and mother."
"You are not a child anymore, Aurein," he said sharply. "Stop being stubborn. If I say you are not drinking, then you are not drinking. Do you understand?"
"Hmph. Fine," I said sarcastically. "Whatever makes you sleep at night. We won't drink. Happy now?"
"Good," he said. "Obey me if you wish to keep your life out of danger."
I rolled my eyes.
What he didn't know—what he couldn't possibly anticipate—was that I was already planning my escape later.
Ha.
Don't test me, General Voltaire.
* * *
We had just finished training—and to my absolute irritation, no matter where I went, General Voltaire followed me everywhere.
And I mean everywhere.
The kind of everywhere where I would walk into his hut just to place my sword on the rack, and he would already be standing there beside me, arms crossed, staring. The moment I stepped back out, he followed again—like a very tall, very intimidating shadow.
When I headed toward the dense forest too pee, there he was again. When I merely approached a boulder—just a boulder—he was still there, watching me like I was about to commit a crime against nature itself.
"General Voltaire! Are you ever going to leave me alone?" I snapped in irritation.
"You are well aware that it is still my responsibility to guard you, are you not?" he said calmly. "Training may be over, but it is only proper that I follow you wherever you go."
"Ugh," I muttered, grinding my teeth.
How exactly was I supposed to escape him now so I could drink with Ton-Ton?
I needed a plan. A diversion. Something—anything.
I glanced around, my mind racing.
"Do not bother thinking of a way to escape me, Aurein," he said suddenly, his eyes narrowing. "I know you wish to drink with Ton-Ton."
"What? No! Who said that?" I replied awkwardly.
"I know you," he said, his tone serious—yet unmistakably teasing. "You are already devising a diversion to trick me and slip out of my sight. But it will not work."
"You are completely mistaken," I said quickly.
How did he keep reading my thoughts?
Wait.
What if it was because I swallowed that white liquid of his earlier—what if we were somehow connected now, and he could actually read my mind?
Oh no.
It was just a little bit of his, and that's how potent it is already? Even that fluid of his is as strong as he is!
"General Voltaire," a voice called out.
I turned to see a messenger from my father, freshly arrived.
"What is your purpose?" General Voltaire asked.
"The king requests that you and all generals proceed to the palace for a meeting," the messenger said.
"Yes!" I blurted out.
Both of them snapped their heads toward me—especially the general, whose eyes narrowed so sharply that I immediately bowed my head and sealed my lips.
"A meeting about what?" General Voltaire asked, frowning.
"It concerns the upcoming competition between the seven armies. The king expects all generals to be present," the messenger replied.
"I cannot come along, can I?" I asked the messenger, praying fervently in my mind.
"Correct," the messenger said. "The king wishes only the generals to attend. He also asked me to remind you not to hide behind the meeting hall to eavesdrop. That message was specifically for you."
"Yes!" I exclaimed again.
General Voltaire stared at me.
"Oh—I mean, what a shame," I added quickly, forcing a bright, innocent smile. "Since I cannot come, I suppose I will just practice my sword drills for the upcoming competition."
I smiled like a model child. A very trustworthy one. One who definitely would not cause trouble.
"Aurein," he said sternly, "behave yourself. If I find out that you drank with Ton-Ton and the others, you will not like the punishment that's waiting for you."
"Drink? No! I told you, I will be practicing sword drills. Alone," I said, unable to meet his eyes.
He sighed deeply and shook his head.
"Will the meeting take long?" I asked the messenger.
"It is expected to last around two hours," he replied.
"Yes!" I said again.
General Voltaire shot me another glare—this time sharper.
"I mean—oh no," I corrected myself hurriedly. "That is quite long. After sword drills, I will probably practice balancing as well. Yes. That sounds appropriate." I muttered this loudly enough for him to hear.
"I will be back after two hours." General Voltaire said. "You must be here when I get back."
I grinned at him.
"Go now, you might get punished by the King for being late. Shoo!"
They began to walk away.
But he was not done.
He turned back once more, his eyes narrowing as he silently gestured—an unmistakable warning that he would still be watching me, even from afar.
As if that were possible.
Ha.
The moment they were completely gone, I immediately ran to where Ton-Ton and the others were.
"Let's go!" I said gleefully. "To the city market—we're drinking!"
"But what about General Voltaire?" Asper asked, alarmed.
"All the generals were summoned to the palace," I said, grinning. "He had no choice but to leave me behind—even though earlier he was glued to me like a shadow!"
"Wait," Ton-Ton said nervously. "What if General Voltaire catches us? He will punish us like he did with Dante."
"That won't happen," I said confidently. "I have it all planned. The meeting lasts two hours. We will time it. Once it is almost over, we come back here—like nothing ever happened."
"Are you sure?" Asper asked. "What if you lose control once you are drunk, Prince Aurein?"
"Relax," I said proudly. "I will act completely normal. Easy."
"Prince Aurein... maybe we should not drink at all," Dante said worriedly. "I do not want you—or us—to be punished."
"Dante," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "we are drinking so you can relax, all right? No more questions. Let's go."
"Wait," Dante said. "You will need this."
He handed me a black cloth.
"What is this for?" I asked.
"So people will not recognize you easily while drinking in public, without the general by our side, it will be hard to stop them if something unexpected is bound to happen." he said. "To protect your image. And prevent unnecessary rumors. He's not there to threaten them so this is a better plan."
"Thank you," I said brightly.
I wrapped the cloth around my head and shoulders, and together, we headed toward the city market.
I walked happily ahead of them—while they trailed behind, looking like they were marching toward execution.
Honestly.
I had never felt so alive.
* * *
Serena's POV
At this very moment, I was inside a pub at the city market—the exact same pub where Aurein and the others had already begun drinking.
And no, before anyone dares to misunderstand—
I was not here to hang out with them.
Absolutely not.
That would be barbaric. Utterly uncivilized. Completely incompatible with my angelic image as a princess—and a future queen, no less.
Which was precisely why I was wearing a pink veil, discreetly draped over my head and shoulders, concealing my identity so thoroughly that even my own reflection would not recognize me.
I came here for a reason.
A very strategic reason.
And certainly not because I wanted to mingle with drunk men who thought shouting was a form of communication.
Then I noticed it.
A vacant table. An empty chair.
Right beside Aurein's group.
Perfect.
I immediately hurried over and seated myself, positioning my chair so that my back faced them. Casual. Innocent. Completely untraceable.
Behind me, I could hear their voices.
"Dante" Aurein asked quietly, "why do you think General Voltaire is punishing you so harshly?"
I leaned back just slightly—just enough to eavesdrop without being obvious.
Behind me, Ton-Ton was seated, busy grilling their food. Our tables were close enough that their conversation carried clearly to my ears.
Then, unfortunately—
"My lady, do you require anything?" the server asked, suddenly appearing at my side. "Would you like some drinks?"
"Yes," I said smoothly. "I would like a royal hibiscus hippocras. Serve it chilled, in a polished goblet. And make sure there are visible dried hibiscus petals."
The server froze.
"W-we do not serve that here, my lady," he said nervously.
"Ugh! Useless," I snapped. "Fine. Just give me water. Plain and clean water. But it must be in a spotless glass. I want it so polished that the person beside me will be blinded if light reflects off it."
The poor man stared at me as if he had just witnessed a royal execution.
"Go," I ordered.
He fled immediately.
Perfect timing. Absolutely perfect.
Because now I had missed the most important part of Aurein's conversation about Dante.
Annoying.
Still, my curiosity only grew stronger. I grabbed my booklet of hundred secrets that I always bring with me, ready to write all the information that I will hear from this conversation.
Why was General Voltaire punishing Dante so severely?
Something was wrong. I could feel it.
The general had discovered something—something he was not sharing.
And I was convinced that my long-standing suspicion was correct.
Dante was the mole.
Aurein was far too emotional to see it. He prioritized feelings, loyalty, and friendship—blindly so.
I did not.
I removed emotions from the equation. That was why I could see people clearly.
From the very first moment I met Dante, something felt off. He was too innocent. Too kind. Too gentle. Too perfect for warrior-like image for General Voltaire's not-so-perfect army.
I did not feel sincerity.
I smelled performance.
After all, I practically invented the art of acting cute, innocent, and nice. I had mastered it.
So I knew exactly what it looked like when someone was pretending.
And the best way to uncover the truth?
Get him drunk.
Yes.
I leaned back again, carefully resuming my eavesdropping.
"So, Dante," Aurein said, "are you still not going to tell us?"
"I will tell it now," Dante said.
I leaned even farther back, my curiosity peaking—
* * *
Aurein's POV
"So, Dante," I asked again, watching him stare down at his beer, "are you still not going to speak?"
"I will tell it now," he said, letting out a long sigh.
But for a brief moment, my attention drifted.
Behind Ton-Ton, I noticed a woman wearing a pink veil. Her head was leaning so far backward that it looked like she was about to topple over.
For a second, I thought she might already be drunk—and possibly unconscious.
"Ton-Ton," I said, "help the woman behind you. Ask her if she is all right."
Ton-Ton turned and saw her head leaning dangerously close to his back.
"My lady, are you okay?" he asked.
The woman immediately snapped upright, turning toward us while covering her face.
"I am perfectly fine," she said—in an unusually deep voice for a woman. "Do not mind me."
I relaxed, assuming she was just another drunk customer.
We turned back to Dante.
"So?" I asked. "Tell us what happened."
"Um..." Dante hesitated.
"Oh, just say it already! You are taking forever!" the woman behind Ton-Ton suddenly blurted out.
All of us turned to look at her.
"Oh—sorry," she said quickly. "I was reading a book. I got too immersed."
She turned away immediately.
Reading a book. In a pub.
That was... strange.
This was not exactly a library.
But anyway—
"I think the general believed I was slacking off," Dante said. "That I was not taking training seriously. He caught me this morning when I was still a bit sleepy. He is very strict about things like that, so I think that is the reason."
"No," the woman behind Ton-Ton said sharply. "I do not believe that. There is another reason. Do not deceive them. You are hiding something."
We all turned toward her again.
She stiffened.
"Sorry," she said quickly. "Was that too loud? I am feeling very emotional about what I am reading."
She held up a small book as proof.
We nodded slowly and returned our attention to Dante.
"One hundred laps without rest is still excessive," I joked. "It is a miracle you are alive."
"I honestly thought I would collapse earlier," Dante said, smiling. "But thank you—for being there."
"We have your back," Asper said, grinning. "We are friends. No one gets left behind."
"To many more drinking sessions for the four of us!" Ton-Ton said happily.
"To our squad," I said, raising my glass.
We looked at Dante, waiting.
He sighed, then smiled—relieved.
"To my friends," he said, "who always make me feel happy."
Ton-Ton raised his glass.
Clang.
We drank together, emptying our glasses in one go.
Slam.
"Ahhh! It is bitter—but it feels amazing!" I said loudly.
"You are becoming a real drinker, Prince Aurein," Asper said.
"That is because you trained me," I replied jokingly.
Dante refilled all our glasses again, as he always did whenever they ran empty.
After a while—after many drinks—
"We still have time, right?" I said. "General Voltaire probably is not looking for us yet."
"Not yet!" Asper said enthusiastically, slamming his bottle down. "Let's drink more! Dante—more beer!"
Dante happily poured beer into Asper's glass.
As he did, Asper narrowed his eyes.
"Are you even drinking?" Asper asked suspiciously. "I do not see you drinking at all. Are you cheating us?"
"I am drinking," Dante said with a calm smile. "You just are not paying attention."
"What else should we talk about?" I asked, my vision spinning slightly—but I was still conscious.
Well, maybe my body is about to dance if I hear a music suddenly being played.
* * *
Serena's POV
What is this?
I had been sitting here for far too long, and I had not gathered a single piece of useful information.
I was practically drowning in water. If I drank any more, I would start floating.
And all I heard from their conversations were about friendship, camaraderie, training, competition. All useless stuff!
Ugh!
Where is the drama?
Then—
"So, how are things between you and General Voltaire, Prince Aurein?" Dante asked suddenly.
My attention snapped awake.
Okay, now we are getting somewhere else.
What did he mean by that?
"We are fine," Aurein said with a laugh. His words were slightly slurred—he was definitely drunk. "Why do you ask?"
"Does Princess Serena know about your relationship with the general?" Dante asked again.
My ears rang.
I heard my name.
And did I hear that correctly? Aurein and the General are already...lovers?
"She does not know about General Voltaire and me," Aurein said. "And I do not plan to tell her. She might use it against me. You know that woman—when she wants something, she does everything to get it."
My chest tightened.
"I really thought Princess Serena was kind," Asper said. "She is always smiling, always gentle when she speaks. Turns out her tongue is sharp. Even when she does not say anything, the way she looks at you feels like being stabbed."
"That is true," Ton-Ton said quickly. "I am honestly scared of her when I see her. I used to want to see her before—but now I pray she does not show up during training. She keeps teasing me for being fat. I know it is true, but it still hurts—especially the way she says it, like there is something wrong with me."
"I will admit it too," Dante said quietly. "It hurts when she looks down on us. Sometimes, when she stares at me, she does not even need to speak—I can already feel that she thinks something is wrong with me. To be honest, I do not like her. She is beautiful, yes—but she is too arrogant. Not like you, Prince Aurein. You are humble."
I exhaled slowly.
That familiar feeling returned.
That feeling of being unwanted.
I thought I had grown used to it. I thought I had hardened myself after years of isolation—after choosing to stand alone, without friends.
But it still hurt.
Hearing Ton-Ton, Asper, and Dante speak about me like this—people who were not even close to me—hurt more than I expected.
This was why I stopped believing in friendships.
When I was not around, they spoke badly about me.
It had happened before. I once had friends. I truly believed they were real—until I disguised myself just like this and heard them laughing, whispering, tearing me apart behind my back.
I felt tears slide down my cheeks before I realized it.
I wiped them away quickly.
Good thing my head was covered. No one could see.
In all honesty, I wanted a real friend. Not a lot. Just one is enough.
Someone I could rely on. Someone who would stay when I was sad, who would celebrate with me when I was happy, who would simply be there.
But I never had that.
They always betrayed my heart.
That was why I told myself I no longer needed friends.
So why did it still hurt?
"Prince Aurein," Dante asked, "what do you think about Princess Serena?"
I held my breath.
Please—do not say the same thing.
I wanted to believe Aurein was different. He always tried to see people from another angle.
"She is the same as you described," Aurein said. "She acts like she is above everyone. She is annoying, to be honest."
My heart cracked.
Hearing it from Aurein—of all people—hurt the most.
I had thought he might be the only one on my side.
I stood up quietly. My mission to learn more about Dante no longer mattered.
I felt so bad.
I was about to leave when—
"But," Aurein continued.
My steps froze.
"Behind all of that, I actually like her," he said. "She is my contrast. If I am weak, she is strong—and I admire that. I wish I had her kind of conviction. Even when she says she is not helping me, she is always there, trying in her own way. I can feel it. Even if she never admits it, I know she needs a friend. And I will be that friend—the one she can rely on when she feels like she is alone."
I did not expect that.
Tears welled up again as I stood there with my back turned to them.
Maybe I judged too quickly.
He was the only person who had ever said something good about me behind my back.
And it came from the same person I always spoke harshly to when he was in front of me.
You are infuriating, Aurein.
Your heart is too pure.
You are not my type as a lover, but, you are that one friend that I might be looking for.
But I still hate you for keeping your relationship with the general to me! I look like a fool trying to chase after him!
"My lady," Aurein said gently from behind me. "Are you all right? You look like you are crying."
"I am fine," I said softly. "Thank you."
He paused.
"Wait, I see that you are alone. Do you want to drink with us?"
"No thank you. I'm fine. Just go ahead and drink with your friends. Please don't mind me."
"Okay, just let me know if you need something."
And again, I sat back, wiping my tears as I felt something warm that I never had for a long time.
He simply walked away—not knowing it was me he was talking to.
* * *
Aurein's POV
"I think I heard Serena talking earlier—when I was speaking to that woman," I said to them, squinting as if the memory might sharpen if I stared hard enough.
"Oh no, Prince Aurein," Asper said with a laugh, shaking his head. "You're drunk. You probably just thought it was Princess Serena."
"Besides," Ton-Ton added, waving a dismissive hand, "why would Princess Serena even come here? She already said she didn't want to join us."
"That's true," I muttered, nodding to myself. "Maybe it was just someone who sounded like her."
Ton-Ton suddenly stood. "I need to pee. I'm going to the restroom," he said.
"I'll go with you," Asper said quickly. "Just a moment, Prince Aurein, Dante. We'll be fast."
"Take your time," Dante said with an easy smile.
Then Ton-Ton and Asper walked away.
The moment they disappeared into the crowd, something shifted.
Dante's hand remained on the jug, unmoving, as if time itself had slowed just for him. He didn't rush. He didn't look away. He simply waited.
"Prince Aurein..." he said softly.
"Yes?" I blinked, forcing my eyes to stay on his face and not on the beer—golden, shimmering, quietly tempting me to drink just a little more.
"Have you ever heard stories," he asked, his tone casual, "about another royal family in Ardentia... a bloodline that vanished?"
I frowned. "Another royal family?"
Dante smiled. It was small. Polite. Far too calm.
"Some people say," he continued, gently topping off my glass with beer, "that Ardentia buried that story on purpose."
"No," I said slowly. "No one ever told me anything like that."
"And if it were true," he asked, tilting his head, "what would you feel?"
"I... I don't know." I let out a light laugh, hoping it sounded convincing. "I suppose I'd be curious."
Dante nodded, as though he had been waiting for that exact answer all along.
He set the jug down, then leaned closer—not close enough to seem inappropriate, but close enough that his voice felt as though it belonged only to me.
"If someone with royal blood stood before you," he said quietly, "and claimed the throne was never meant for your family... what would you do?"
My stomach tightened.
For a brief moment, my gaze drifted to the woman I had spoken to earlier. She faced slightly to her right, her stillness too deliberate—like someone listening carefully while hoping not to be noticed.
Before I could respond, Dante lifted the glass and held it out to me.
"Drink first," he said politely. "Then answer."
I reached for it—
—but someone else took it faster.
The glass slipped cleanly from Dante's fingers.
I looked up.
"G-General Voltaire..." I whispered.
He stood beside the table, tall and immovable, his expression unreadable—so cold and solid it felt as though the air itself had turned to iron.
My throat went dry.
He didn't look at Dante.
He only looked at me.
"Hello, General. It's nice to see you again," I said nervously, swallowing hard.
"Get up. Now." he said, his voice sharp and absolute, "we're leaving."
He's not nice to see me.
I'm dead.
Aren't I?
End of Chapter 29