On one side of the forest, small branches crunched under the feet of the two princesses of Haynes.
Althea walked with a casual grace, while Katelyn kept stealing glances at her half-sister, unsure whether she was more afraid of the forest's dangers or Althea herself.
Althea had been trying to ignore it, but her patience finally snapped as she looked at the girl beside her. "Why do you keep looking at like that?"
Katelyn startled, then turned her face away. Her cheeks puffed in defiance. "I am not looking at you. I am just wondering why Vyan told to stick with you, of all people."
"That is because he wants you to be safe," Althea reasoned, leaning forward to catch a glimpse of Katelyn's expression.
"That is so dumb," Katelyn grumbled, her face still puffy. "How would I be safe with the person I feel the most unsafe with?"
"That's just how you feel; that's not the truth," Althea pointed out.
"Whatever." Katelyn crossed her arms over her chest. "We haven't seen a single monster so far. Maybe you are the bad luck charm."
Althea chuckled softly. "Perhaps."
"Why are you agreeing?" Katelyn scowled at her.
"Why not?" Althea replied with an innocent look, which only seed to infuriate Katelyn further.
"You patronize ," Katelyn spat out, her green eyes narrowed into suits.
Althea halted, a sting of hurt flashing in her eyes.
"Do you think you can fool with that nice act of yours?" Katelyn continued, her tone harsh. "Even if Mother and Vyan trust you, I don't believe you for a second. You are just a snake waiting to bite the ones closest to you."
The venom in Katelyn's voice was nothing new to Althea. Katelyn had never been one to please people. She often even ca off as rude. Especially with Althea.
anwhile Althea had no idea what she had done to earn such animosity from such a young girl. She couldn't rember a single ti she wasn't nice to her.
She already had no familial bond with Easton, nor did she have any desire to form any. But she had hoped to befriend her younger half-siblings, particularly Ronan and Katelyn.
However, Ronan was terrified of her and Katelyn's heart seed to be full of hatred. They never shared their reasons, neither did they allow her to get close.
Althea liked to believe that they were good at heart and would open up eventually. But… now that seed like an impossible mission.
Just then, a certain mory decided to flash in her mind.
"Did your sibling finally co around?" she had once asked Clyde.
"Nope," he had answered. "But that hasn't stopped . Not then, not now. I might be fighting a losing battle, but giving up isn't my style. And I bet you are just as stubborn."
Althea took a deep breath and confronted Katelyn without giving it a second thought, "Okay, fine, don't believe . That's alright. But you have to tell why. What have I done to make you hate so much? Is it just because we don't share the sa mother? Is that reason enough for you to loathe my existence?"
Katelyn flinched at the unexpected confrontation. Althea usually gave up at this point of their conversation and stopped talking, but today, she was determined.
"Why should I tell you?" Katelyn mumbled, quickening her pace to avoid looking at Althea.
"Because if you don't tell , how will I know what to work on?" Althea's voice was firm but gentle. "If there's sothing about that you don't like, you should let know. Otherwise, how am I supposed to improve?"
"You can't improve," Katelyn snapped, her voice getting an octave higher. "Even if you do, I don't care. I don't ever want to form any relationship with you!"
With that, Katelyn picked up her pace, almost running away from Althea.
But Katelyn's sprint ca to an abrupt halt as she collided with sothing solid, sending her sprawling backward.
"Ow!" she winced, feeling the sting of scraped palms against the rough ground.
"Watch where you are going," a chilly voice commanded.
Recognizing the voice, Katelyn look up eagerly. "Lady Iyana!" she exclaid, her eyes wide with surprise.
Iyana's cold gaze softened just a fraction as she looked down at her. "Oh, Your Imperial Highness," she said, offering a hand to help Katelyn up. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," Katelyn replied, her cheeks flushed with embarrassnt. "My apologies for bumping into you."
"It's alright," Iyana said, glancing up as Althea hurried towards them.
"Katelyn, are you hurt?" Althea asked, her voice filled with concern. She took her hand to examine her palm.
Katelyn snatched her hand back and shook her head. "I am fine," she replied in an aloof voice.
"Greetings, Your Imperial Highness," Iyana said, curtsying gracefully, without noticing the tension between the two sisters.
Althea turned her attention to Iyana and nodded, trying to let Katelyn's attitude bother her. "Greetings, Lady Iyana. Have you been hunting in this area?"
"Yes, I just finished clearing it," Iyana casually responded, as if it was as easy as plucking a flower from the garden.
"That explains why we can't find any monsters around here," Althea said, smacking her forehead in realization.
"My bad," Iyana said with a chuckle. "I personally love hunting, so I might have gotten a bit too excited. Overkill, you know?"
Althea laughed, shaking her head. "No worries. I am sure His Grace took your enthusiasm into account. There should be plenty left for everyone."
At the ntion of Vyan, a light blush dusted Iyana's cheeks. "I hope so."
Althea grinned, noting Iyana's blush. She didn't often get to talk to Iyana directly, but it was fascinating to be face to face with the woman her brother was set on marrying, the sa woman Vyan used to—or maybe still did—love.
"Would you like to join us?" Althea asked with a welcoming smile.
Katelyn's eyes sparkled as she nodded eagerly.
"Sure, if you will have ," Iyana agreed readily.
Despite her love for hunting, it did get a bit lonely to go around all alone. No other noblewoman dared to accompany her, given her reputation.
Althea and Katelyn both smiled at her agreent, though for entirely different reasons.
Althea was happy that she would finally have a chance to get to know Iyana more. Although Katelyn's joy made her a little suspicious.
Normally so cautious around people, Katelyn showed no fear in Iyana's presence—the woman with one of the worst reputations among the nobility, or at least she used to have.
Since returning from the Ganlop war, Iyana's reputation had improved. Still, Althea couldn't help but wonder: why was Katelyn so happy?
"Oh, my gosh, that's such an adorable creature!" Iyana exclaid. Her voice brimd with so much excitent one would think she had discovered a fluffy rabbit.
But in reality, it was a sizable E-grade monster, grueso and downright heinous.
"That's… adorable?" Althea was flabbergasted. She even tilted her head and tried to find an angle from which this creature might look remotely cute. But nope, it was ugly from all angles.
"Your Imperial Highnesses, may I take this one down?" Iyana asked, her eyes pleading, despite her stoic expression. "I promise I will let you have the next kill!"
Aww, how could Althea resist those pleading eyes? Of course, she could have it.
But before she could respond, Katelyn chirped earnestly, "Please do! I want to see you in action!"
Iyana nodded eagerly, unsheathing her sword while Althea shot Katelyn a narrow-eyed glance, a new thought swirling in her head.
Was it possible that Katelyn admired Iyana?
She seed to have stars in her eyes since Iyana's arrival. So, that was the only logical explanation. But when did that happen?
Iyana wasn't known for being particularly friendly or fond of kids. Then it clicked—
Ah, the annual sword competition.
Every year, on Empire Foundation Day, a sword competition was held, and Iyana had been champion twice in a row. She would have claid the title last year too if she hadn't been at war.
Katelyn loved sword displays, and Iyana was the best at it. It made sense. Of course, Katelyn was a fan of Iyana.
Althea beca more sure of it as she observed Katelyn's admirable gaze.
Iyana leaped at the ugly monster, taking it by surprise, while Katelyn watched with intense focus, her fists clenched in anticipation.
With a smooth attack, Iyana severed the monster's hand and landed gracefully. She spun on her heels, imdiately slicing through its knees.
As the monster howled in agony, Iyana stabbed its heart, freezing it in place.
Once the monster's heart bled out, it slumped to the ground and vanished, teleported by the magical spell that tagged their bodies upon death.
Katelyn clapped the hardest at Iyana's seamless victory as she hollered, "That was so cool, Lady Iyana!"
Despite herself, Iyana flashed her a satisfied grin, and Katelyn looked almost like she had been struck by a thunder of love.
Suppressing a laugh, Althea thought, Vyan has so serious competition.
anwhile, on the other side of the forest, the person from Althea's thoughts was pinned brutally against a towering tree, the cold gleam of a sword pressed nacingly to his throat.
"Your Imperial Highness," Vyan sneered, his voice lacking fear even as he faced imminent death. "Do you not feel a pang of sha, holding a defenseless man at your rcy?"
Easton stood re inches from Vyan, and leaned in. He pressed the blade dangerously close to his skin, a thin line of blood beginning to appear. "Sha?" he growled, his eyes blazing with a fury that seed almost feral. "Not in the slightest. People like you deserve nothing less."
Vyan's lips curled into a defiant grin, a chuckle escaping him despite the danger. "Then, you leave no choice."
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