"I have chosen whom I will marry."
He said, smiling brightly.
"And she is right in this place."
The hall held its breath for a mont longer than necessary.
A royal engagent, especially that of the future king, was no small announcent.
It had the power to shift the political landscape and shape the kingdom’s future.
Murmurs spread through the gathered nobles, and Akamir could hear them clearly.
’Most are guessing it would be from a duke house.’
He thought, glancing around the place, hearing them.
Even Zaina looked curious about the topic, standing close to him.
"Kyuu~."
Ella leapt into her arms, the void fox settling comfortably as Zaina caught her.
Lucien cleared his throat.
"Alright, my choice may seem absurd," he said, drawing everyone’s attention again. "But trust , I know what I’m doing."
"No one’s judging you, Prince," a voice called from the back. "We don’t deserve to."
Akamir turned.
He didn’t recognize the boy who spoke, but standing beside him was Arthur... who, for so reason, was glaring at him.
’Hm?’
"How can you say that?" Lucien replied, giving him a fake smile. "I won’t mind criticism."
"No, I an it," the boy replied. "We really don’t des—"
"Are you going to let him announce?" Akamir cut in his words. "Or would you be satisfied only after sucking his cock?"
"..."
"Pfft."
A silence filled the place before soone muffled their laugh.
The effect was contagious, as more began to laugh.
Akamir didn’t even look at the boy again. His eyes stayed on Lucien.
Zaina leaned in. "Why would you embarrass yourself like that?"
"Can you be quiet, lady?" Akamir replied, irritated. "I’m not in the mood."
Zaina opened her mouth but then thought better of it.
Lucien stepped forward. "Alright, enough. I’ll announce my fiancée now."
The place turned silent once again.
With a growing smile, Lucien raised his hand.
"I’ve decided," he said, "to take Lady Zaina as my future bride."
Gasps rang out across the garden, loud and imdiate.
Zaina’s breath caught, her fingers curling slightly around the hem of her scarf.
Her body stiff, as though bracing for sothing she hadn’t prepared for.
No one had expected the prince to forsake a political alliance for a baron’s daughter.
’Just like Nayomi said,’ Akamir thought. ’He really did beco obsessed with her.’
Akamir didn’t hesitate as he stepped forward, drawing attention as easily as the prince had.
"Let remind you, Prince Lucien," he said evenly, "she’s already engaged to ."
Lucien tilted his head, as if trying to make sense of a joke.
"I know that, Asher," he said calmly. "And that’s why you’re going to break the engagent."
The murmurs returned, this ti louder and more pointed.
Nobles leaned closer, so whispering, others staring between the two young n.
Akamir frowned. "Why would I do that?"
Lucien narrowed his eyes. "You’re engaged to my sister. Is she not enough?"
"Don’t try to sha , Lucien. That won’t work."
Lucien scoffed. "You can’t be serious. Do you really think it’s acceptable to marry two won?"
"No," Akamir said, still calm. "But I don’t think my marriage is your business either."
Lucien’s lips twitched, as if he were holding back a sneer.
"I suggest you reconsider which engagent you plan to keep."
Akamir didn’t answer imdiately.
Nayomi floated closer to him, staring at Lucien as well.
"Don’t say anything rash," she warned. "This is exactly where things start to split. Say one thing wrong and he will win."
’What a pain,’ he thought. ’I should really consider just killing him.’
Akamir ground his teeth slightly but gave no outward sign of frustration.
Lucien, even bolder by Akamir’s silence, turned toward Zaina.
"Then let her decide," he said, gesturing toward her.
"Let her choose between an engagent to a nobody or a future as queen."
Every eye turned to Zaina.
She stood frozen, her mind clearly struggling to catch up to the mont.
Her hands trembled slightly, her gaze shifting between Lucien and Akamir.
Lucien stepped down from the platform, walking toward her.
"I’m sincere," he said gently. "If you choose , Zaina, you’ll be a queen. You won’t be just another noble’s daughter passed around for alliances."
Zaina opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Lucien gave her a soft smile, coaxing like one would a nervous animal.
"I’ve seen the way people look at you. But I see soone who deserves more."
’If she chooses him, then he dies early.’
Knowing the future that Nayomi told him, Akamir wasn’t going to let the future be the sa.
But for now....
Akamir quietly looked at Zaina, letting her decide.
Zaina finally turned her head, eting Akamir’s gaze for a long, tense mont.
Then, quietly but clearly, she spoke.
"I choose Asher."
The words hung in the air, fragile and final.
It made nobles gasp, and Lucien’s smile faltered, just slightly.
"You’re sure?" he asked, trying to keep his tone level. "You’d rather be the second bride of a disgraced heir than a queen?"
Zaina stood straighter. "I am sorry, Prince, but that’s my choice."
"Do you even realize what you’re throwing away?"
Lucien’s voice rose, just enough to reveal the crack beneath his composure.
Zaina flinched slightly, but Akamir stepped forward before she could respond.
"That’s enough," he said, tone low but steady.
Lucien turned to him, walking closer.
"You think you can talk down to ?" he snapped. "Take what’s mine?"
"No," Akamir replied. "But I can stop you from threatening her."
"You’re defending her over the royal family?"
Akamir didn’t hesitate.
"I’m standing by soone who made a choice. If your pride can’t take that, then that’s on you."
The tension in the hall shifted again, now sharpened.
The crowd, though silent, leaned in closer.
Not even the guards moved, watching the confrontation with uncertain eyes.
Lucien’s fingers tightened around the goblet he still held, the wine inside trembling.
He looked at Zaina again, then back at Akamir.
Finally, with a forced chuckle, he walked closer to Akamir.
He leaned in until his lips were close to Akamir’s ear.
"Are you out of your mind?" he whispered. "You dare disobey ?"
Akamir’s expression hardened... The tone of his voice, he didn’t like one bit.
"End the engagent," Lucien threatened. "Or I’ll tell them you frad Morris."
Lucien then took a step back, waiting for him to speak.
Akamir looked at him for a long second before he leaned closer to his ear.
"Do it," he whispered. "Tell everyone what I did."
"Wha—?"
"Go ahead, tell them," he continued coldly.
"Then watch burn down everything you want. I’ll make sure there’s no kingdom left for you."
Akamir quietly moved back.
Though they were nearly the sa height, Akamir sohow looked down on him.
Lucien’s expression shifted—anger, then resentnt, then nothing at all.
With a short laugh, he placed the goblet on a nearby table.
"This was supposed to be a celebration," he said, raising his hands. "Let’s not ruin it with drama."
Akamir didn’t move.
Lucien’s smile returned, brittle and hollow. "You’ve made your choice, Lady Zaina. I hope you’ll live with it."
Zaina didn’t answer.
Lucien glanced at Akamir one last ti, then brushed past him without another word.
His entourage followed quickly, murmuring among themselves.
Once he was gone, the hall buzzed with new energy.
Conversations erupted again, this ti louder, more chaotic.
The prince’s announcent and rejection would ripple through every corner of the kingdom by dawn.
Zaina turned to Akamir, unsure of what to say.
But he beat her to it.
"Looks like you’re getting scolded by your father again," he said, heading toward a table.
Zaina swallowed hard. "W-will he... do sothing bad?"
"Don’t worry," Akamir replied. "Just tell if he does."
"But I rejected a prince," she muttered. "I will be bullied once again."
"Don’t think about it," Akamir said once again. "Just learn to stand up for yourself."
He poured two drinks and passed one to her. "You are my fiancée after all."
Zaina just nodded, taking the drink.
’Now, that’s settled,’ he thought. ’I can have so rest.’
Akamir glanced sideways, catching Camilla at the edge of the hall, her gaze locked on Ella again.
She hadn’t reacted much to the drama—but she was smiling.
Just as Nayomi predicted.
The bait had been set.
Now all that remained was the wait.
But....
How could life be so easy for him?
But of course, only after a few minutes passed of him talking with Zaina—
"Asher!"
A voice called from behind.
"I challenge you to a duel!"
Akamir sighed.
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