Naelia’s heart pounded wildly in her chest.
She could hear it — like the steady thump of war drums in her ears.
Her lips pressed into a thin, determined line as she clutched Azel’s hand tighter, dragging him through the ornate castle halls with surprising strength for soone of her stature.
Her mother’s words echoed in her head like a sacred battle mantra.
"If you want to catch his attention today, Naelia, you must dress cutely. Boys your age are still simple-minded — just give them sothing to look at."
It had taken almost an hour for her maids to dig through the countless rows of dresses in her enormous wardrobe.
They debated lace trims, pastel colors, ribbons — things Naelia hadn’t given much thought to before.
But when she finally settled on the pale blue dress with the bow around the waist, she rembered how Azel’s silver eyes lingered on her when they t earlier.
The mont replayed in her mind like a sweet poison, heating her cheeks until they glowed crimson.
She tightened her grip on his hand without even realizing it.
She had to hold herself together.
She was the First Princess of the Starbloom Empire.
If she couldn’t conquer this kind of challenge... did she even deserve her title?
"Princess, are you—"
"Don’t talk," she whispered sharply, voice shaking ever so slightly.
"...Alright," Azel said with a faintly amused smile, letting her drag him along without protest.
Naelia practically yanked him through a pair of tall ivory doors, erging onto one of the countless wide balconies of the castle.
The open air hit them imdiately — the breeze was cool and fragrant, carrying the scent of blooming flowers from the royal gardens below.
It danced through their hair, gentle yet invigorating.
"Ah, Mister Azel," ca the smooth, lodious voice of the Second Empress, who sat elegantly at a round table.
Her silken gown shimred faintly in the sunlight, her presence effortlessly commanding the space.
"I’m glad you could join us today. We hardly had the chance to talk properly over dinner last night."
She gestured gracefully to one of the empty seats across from her.
Azel bowed slightly, ever polite, before sitting down.
Naelia slipped into the chair beside him, though she looked far less composed than her mother — her gaze darted around the balcony nervously, fingers fidgeting in her lap.
The table before them was laden with delicacies: neatly arranged plates of pastries, biscuits, cakes, and fruit, accompanied by gleaming pitchers of juice and finely brewed tea.
The palace, as always, spared no expense.
"Thank you for inviting , my lady," Azel said respectfully. "It’s an honor."
The Empress chuckled lightly, twirling a biscuit between her slender fingers.
"No need to be so formal with ." Her smile curved mischievously. "How about calling mother-in-law?"
The world shattered for Naelia.
Her face ignited instantly, blooming crimson as though the sun itself had descended upon her cheeks.
Her hands slamd onto the table and she buried her face in them with a muffled squeak, only the tips of her red ears poking out visibly like betrayed little flags.
"M-M-Mother! Stop teasing ~!" she mumbled helplessly into the tablecloth.
"...Eh?" Azel blinked.
"How about it?" The Empress smirked slyly, clearly enjoying herself.
She took a bite of her biscuit with infuriating elegance, her expression calm even as Naelia nearly lted beside him.
Azel chewed slowly on a biscuit of his own, as if processing it all.
"Well," he said lightly, swallowing before continuing, "marrying a mber of the royal family is no easy feat."
He reached for another biscuit casually, his crimson eyes calm as ever. "Especially since I’m not of noble birth, nor do I belong to a house with much political power."
The Empress’s brows raised slightly. For soone so young, he spoke with a startling degree of political awareness.
"Oh my," she humd. "You know your stuff, don’t you?"
"I read a few books at the city library," Azel replied simply, taking a sip of his tea. "It’s common knowledge, really."
The Empress chuckled softly, intrigued. "Well, as her mother, I could decide who she marries, you know."
Azel smiled faintly at that. "I think the princess should pick soone she’s comfortable with," he said. "Soone who loves her — not because she’s a princess, but because she deserves to be loved."
Naelia froze beside him, her head still buried in her arms, but her ears turned even redder if that was possible.
The Empress blinked, genuinely caught off guard for a mont, then let out a quiet, almost wistful laugh.
"You certainly are... refreshing," she murmured.
Azel smiled faintly, but his mind drifted.
For a fleeting mont, he thought of the ga... of the heroines who were dood to suffer, their fleeting monts of happiness always cut short by tragedy.
He rembered how Reinhardt, the protagonist, remained detached, unfeeling.
It had always been "for the mission." Sacrifice after sacrifice, their deaths piled up until —
"Azel?"
The Empress’s voice pulled him back.
"Ah," he said quickly, "my apologies."
The Empress smiled knowingly, then glanced toward her daughter. "Naelia, dear, why don’t you bring sothing from downstairs—"
The princess bolted up so fast it startled even Azel.
"O-okay!" she squeaked before practically sprinting out the balcony doors, slamming them shut behind her.
Silence lingered for a beat.
"...She’s quick," Azel remarked dryly.
The Empress’s gentle laughter soon faded, replaced by sothing softer — her lodious voice sounded very fragile in that mont. "Thank you."
Azel blinked. "Huh?"
"Thank you," she repeated, her voice trembling slightly.
"For rescuing Naelia. You don’t understand how... how precious she is to ." Her hands clasped together tightly atop the table. "When I heard she was kidnapped... I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. The thought of her... sowhere dark, sowhere dangerous—"
Her voice cracked faintly.
"The guards searched for days. I begged them to let leave the castle and help, but they refused. I felt helpless."
Azel watched her quietly, his expression softening.
"But then... you ca," she whispered. "With my daughter smiling again, safe... and even with a new friend. I cannot express my gratitude enough. If there’s anything you want, Azel — anything — just say it."
For a mont, Azel was silent.
He looked at her — really looked at her. The way her violet eyes shimred with restrained tears, the weight she carried alone as an Empress and a mother.
Before she could speak again, Azel rose from his chair and stepped closer.
"My lady," he said gently. She turned to him, startled — only to find herself pulled into a soft, unexpected hug.
"Your smile," Azel murmured, his voice low and steady, "is enough for ."
The Empress’s breath hitched. And then, for the first ti in years...
The Second Empress of the Starbloom Empire...
Cried.
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