The tension in the garden had become unbearable.
Mana subtly shifted.
Pride flared.
And noble hostility sharpened dangerously.
Diana Elysium.
Seraphine Veyrin.
Two future forces of immense magical genius—
standing on the verge of tearing into one another.
And Azriah—
already burdened by fractured destiny—
had absolutely no patience for this.
"Enough."
His voice was calm.
Not loud.
Yet sharp enough to cut through both of them instantly.
Silence followed.
Diana paused.
Seraphine blinked.
Even Sham seemed impressed.
'…Well done.'
Azriah exhaled slowly.
"The Empire would likely frown upon bloodshed over garden conversations."
A pause.
Then—
"And I would greatly appreciate not becoming tonight's scandal."
Seraphine studied him for a moment.
Then—
laughed softly.
Graceful.
Playful.
"Very well."
A pause.
"No need to worry, Azriah."
Another pause.
"We shall meet again."
Her smile lingered—
dangerously promising.
Then—
she retreated.
Elegant as moonlight.
As Seraphine departed toward her carriage—
her internal space stirred.
Ena immediately squealed.
"Oh my divine self—"
A pause.
"He became handsome."
Seraphine's expression visibly twitched.
'Please stop acting like an obsessive degenerate.'
Ena gasped dramatically.
"I am a goddess!"
Seraphine sneered internally.
'You are currently behaving like a desperate admirer.'
Ena's voice became deeply offended.
"He has presence!"
A pause.
"And shoulders!"
Seraphine pinched the bridge of her nose mentally.
'Control yourself.'
Ena huffed.
"You are no fun."
Meanwhile—
Seraphine exited the Imperial grounds early.
Returning to Veyrin estate.
Though not before one final glance backward and blowing a kiss.
Back in the gardens—
only Diana remained.
Moonlight illuminated her pink hair softly.
Imperial beauty.
Royal authority.
Yet beneath it—
careful calculation.
Diana folded her arms.
"For public purposes…"
A pause.
"Until matters are finalized…"
Another pause.
"We should behave appropriately."
Azriah tilted his head slightly.
"…Appropriately."
Diana nodded.
"As though we are betrothed."
Silence.
Azriah immediately responded—
"We are not."
Diana visibly flinched.
Just slightly.
Enough to notice.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"Not yet."
Another.
"But I cannot disregard my father's wishes."
Her tone remained measured.
Controlled.
"I will respect your boundaries."
A pause.
"Provided you respect mine."
Azriah nodded once.
"Reasonable."
Then—
Diana's expression sharpened.
"However…"
A pause.
"You will not act in ways that tarnish the Imperial Family."
Azriah almost smiled.
"Do not worry."
A pause.
Then—
"I do not think with my lower half."
Silence.
Diana blinked.
Then—
for perhaps the first time—
she nearly laughed.
"…That is unexpectedly reassuring."
Azriah's smirk was faint.
'Standards are low among noble heirs.'
Silence settled more naturally now.
Until—
Azriah asked—
"How is your mother?"
Diana froze.
Completely.
"…What."
Her tone shifted instantly.
Guarded.
"How do you know about my mother?"
Azriah simply smiled faintly.
"The privileges of Antioch."
A vague answer.
A deliberate one.
Diana remained silent.
Then—
her composure softened slightly.
"…She is worsening."
A pause.
"Her seizures continue."
Another.
"No healer has succeeded."
Azriah's thoughts sharpened immediately.
This confirmed it.
The timeline remained unstable—
but exploitable.
He turned toward her fully.
"I can cure her."
Silence.
Absolute.
Diana stared.
"…You."
A pause.
"Can cure my mother?"
Azriah's tone never wavered.
"Yes."
Diana's disbelief was immediate.
"…I don't believe you."
Azriah remained calm.
"Fair enough."
A pause.
Then—
"But I propose a deal."
Diana's gaze narrowed.
"…What do you want?"
Azriah answered instantly.
"The Whisper of Spirit."
Diana visibly stiffened.
A treasured imperial technique.
Rare.
Powerful.
Dangerous.
"You would trade my mother's cure…"
A pause.
"For a royal treasure?"
Azriah nodded.
"Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Diana's voice lowered.
"If you lie…"
Azriah interrupted smoothly.
"I swear upon my name."
A pause.
Then—
"If you uphold your end…"
Another pause.
"I will cure her."
The gravity of that statement was immense.
An Antioch heir's sworn word carried weight.
After a long silence—
Diana finally nodded.
"…Agreed."
Mana surged.
Ancient.
Binding.
A Mana Oath formed.
Silver-blue divine script circling both of them.
Diana offered contractual intent.
Azriah—
offered something greater.
His life.
The moment that clause formed—
Diana's eyes widened.
"…You—"
She was genuinely stunned.
Collateral of life itself.
Absolute certainty.
Absolute conviction.
The oath sealed.
Silence followed.
Only moonlight.
Only breath.
Only fate shifting.
Slowly—
Diana looked upward.
And truly saw him.
Blindfolded.
Silver moonlight cascading over his features.
That faint smirk.
Dangerous.
Gentle.
Beautiful.
Not cruel.
Not kind.
Something stranger.
Like a devil—
offering salvation.
Or an angel—
making dangerous bargains.
For the first time—
Diana Elysium could not determine—
whether Azriah Antioch was her greatest fortune—
or her greatest catastrophe.