Edward stepped out of his room in a hurry.
"5:20 already?" he muttered as he glanced at his wristwatch and quickened his steps.
He was wearing a loose white shirt and black pants.
His hair was still slightly wet, drops of water clinging to the ends as he moved fast through the hall.
"She told to be there exactly at six. If I’m late, she’ll throw a tantrum," he muttered.
Just thinking about it sent a small shiver down his spine, and his pace beca even faster.
After walking for a while, he reached the end of the corridor of the hall that had been given to him.
Servants stood along the sides, busy with their work.
When they saw the look on his face, none of them tried to stop him or greet him.
Edward passed through the corridor without any delay.
As soon as he stepped outside, he was about to break into a light run.
"My, my... Edward, where are you going in such a hurry?"
The sudden voice made him stop at once.
He froze for a brief mont, then slowly turned his head toward the direction of the voice, his expression stiff as if he already knew who it was.
"Aren’t you a bit too excited, Edward?"
The voice was playful.
Edward cursed his luck at once. He did not need to turn around to know who it was.
He was not worried about being late anymore.
He was worried because he had been caught by the one person he should have avoided right now.
With a bitter smile, he slowly turned around.
Just as he expected, she was standing there.
She had long red hair that flowed down her back and sharp red eyes.
Her face looked very similar to Charlotte’s, but where Charlotte carried pride, this woman carried clear mischief in her gaze.
She was the queen of the empire.
And also Charlotte’s mother.
Edward let out a quiet sigh and bowed his head. "I greet—"
Before he could finish, she waved her hand and interrupted him.
"How many tis have I told you not to call so formally? When no one is around, you can call aunt."
She spoke as she walked closer to him, her steps calm and relaxed.
Edward straightened up and gave an awkward smile. "Can I help you with anything?"
"No, no..." she said lightly. Then she paused and looked at him closely.
Edward turned his gaze away at once, trying his best to stay calm and not show anything on his face.
But she smiled.
"I heard that Salena has co to the capital..."
"Hic—"
It was a direct hit.
Edward let out a small sound before he could stop himself.
The queen noticed it at once and her smile grew wider.
"I thought I should tell you about her visit," she said slowly.
"But seeing you in such a hurry, you must be going sowhere very important, right?"
Edward swallowed and forced a calm expression.
"It’s nothing that important," he replied, though his stiff tone said otherwise.
"Oh?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Then why do you look like you’re running for your life?"
Edward stayed silent and avoided her gaze, but she continued in her usual playful voice.
"I thought you two had beco friends, no?"
"Well... yes," Edward replied, trying to co up with an excuse on the spot.
It had all started two years ago.
Two years ago, the queen’s niece had visited the royal palace.
She was the daughter of one of the most influential counts in the empire, and also a mber of the twelve chairn of the parliant.
His na was Count Zalan Harencross.
He was the stepbrother of the queen, and his status stood just below that of the dukes.
Salena Harencross was his only daughter, and also the queen’s niece.
At that ti, Salena had co to the royal palace for her alchemy studies.
She wanted guidance from the royal alchemists, since the empire’s top alchemists were gathered in the palace.
That was when Edward t her for the first ti.
Back then, Edward often spent ti around the research halls because of his magic studies.
One afternoon, while passing by the alchemy wing, he noticed a girl standing alone, staring at a table filled with tools and bottles, her brows tightly knit.
She looked frustrated.
Edward did not plan to interfere.
He had no interest in alchemy, nor did it have anything to do with him.
He was just
about to leave when—
Boom!
A small explosion went off, and thick smoke spread across the room.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Salena coughed several tis and waved her hand in front of her face.
"Damn it," she said in annoyance. "It failed again." Her voice was full of frustration.
"That makes it the tenth ti."
She continued to mutter to herself, clearly upset.
Edward glanced at her once, then turned to leave.
He had always believed one thing: if sothing did not bother him or his family, then there was no reason for him to interfere.
He took a step forward.
"Hey, are you leaving?"
Edward stopped but did not turn around.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" he replied calmly.
"Can’t you see I’m suffering here because of all this smoke?" she said, clearly throwing a tantrum.
She was only thirteen at the ti, so it was sowhat understandable.
Edward, however, was also the sa age, and he did not see it that way.
He turned his head slightly and said flatly, "What do you want to do? Blow away all the smoke?"
Salena froze for a mont.
Then she stared at him, clearly not expecting that answer.
"You’re rude," she said.
"And you’re loud," Edward replied without much thought.
Her eyes widened. No one had spoken to her like that before. "Do you know who I am?" she asked, lifting her chin.
"I don’t care," Edward said simply. "If you’re done exploding things, I’ll be on my way."
He turned again, ready to leave.
"H-Hey! Wait!" she called out quickly.
Edward stopped once more, clearly annoyed now. "What?"
Salena bit her lip, then spoke in a lower voice. "If you know so much, then help ."
Edward looked at her properly for the first ti.
Her clothes were stained with soot, her hair slightly ssy, and her eyes were burning with stubborn anger rather than tears.
He stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then he spoke in a flat voice. "My brother always says you should do your own work. So do it yourself."
With that, he turned and left, not even looking back.
Salena stood there, frozen in place.
It was the first ti soone had ignored her so completely.
It struck her pride hard. Soone like her, pretty, talented, and of high status, had just been brushed aside by a snot-nosed brat?
That day left a deep mark on her.
After that, Salena started bothering Edward whenever she could.
She showed up while he was learning magic, interrupted his sword training, and followed him around the palace with clear intent.
Edward ignored her at first.
Then he endured it. But as days passed, it beca unbearable.
One day, he finally lost his patience and shouted at her.
Salena froze, her eyes trembling, and then she started to cry.
After that, she stopped bothering him completely.
When things beca quiet, Edward felt uneasy.
Guilt slowly settled in his chest. He knew he had gone too far.
So he went to look for her and apologized.
And that was when everything truly began.
And right now, he was on his way to et her when the queen had caught him.
The queen was not soone who got angry easily, but even so, Edward felt it was wrong of him to hide things from her.
He had not told her about his etings with Salena, and that made him feel guilty.
Because of that, he could not et her gaze.
Seeing his reaction, the queen let out a soft sigh.
The mischievous smile on her face faded, replaced by a calm and gentle expression.
"You don’t have to hide it," she said.
"Huh?" Edward was startled by the sudden change in her tone, but he stayed silent and listened.
"I know," she continued. "She told that you two et. There is nothing to hide."
Edward blinked, clearly surprised.
"You are very capable," the queen said.
"No, "capable" is an understatent. In this entire empire, there is no one in your generation who is as hardworking and talented as you. I am proud of that."
Hearing her words, Edward nodded quietly but did not speak.
The queen went on, "You don’t need to hide anything. Didn’t you see how everyone knew about Vivian and Charlotte? So when you et her, don’t sneak around. Be a strong man."
She then stepped aside and waved her hand lightly.
"Go. She must be waiting."
Edward’s eyes shone brightly, gratitude clear in them. He bowed deeply. "Thank you... aunt."
The queen smiled warmly. "Now go."
Edward did not waste another second. He turned and hurried off, his steps lighter than before.
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