Nine years passed in a flash. In all those years, Aaran barely had any contact with his parents back in Aurelia. After what Analeis told them, it didn't co as a surprise.
However, they couldn't do anything.
Not even a suicidal fool would dare fight the Emperor.
That's why it ca as a surprise when they received an invitation. It was about Aaran's coming-of-age ceremony. It should have been hosted in Aurelia, but the Emperor had stripped Amara and Lucien of that honor as well.
They were hurt, but they readily accepted the invitation. After all, it could be a way for them to connect with Aaran and maybe undo the Emperor's brainwashing.
***
anwhile, back in Velrune, a different battle was taking place.
A battle of wills.
Two stunningly beautiful ladies sat across from each other in a pristine bedroom, calmly sipping the tea they'd been served. On one side was Eleanor, and on the other was Seraphina.
It was uncommon for them to et each other, as their feelings toward one another were well known. However, special circumstances required them to et. Aaran's 18th birthday was one such occasion.
After all, the day after his birthday, he'd leave the capital to carry on his education in dibi, an academy hosted by the Runedral and Marki empires together. A place even more exclusive than the Excellence Academy they had attended.
But before he left, there were so things that needed to be settled.
"It seems you're not on good terms with my fiancé," Eleanor spoke first. "I get it. It must be difficult since you live so far away while I sleep next to him every night."
Seraphina didn't lose her cool like Eleanor expected and even smiled.
"Thank you for inviting today, Your Highness," she said. "But allow to clear your misconceptions."
With a snap of her fingers, a maid stepped up, placing a large box of letters before Eleanor.
"These are the daily letters our fiancé has sent over the years. There hasn't been a single week where he didn't send a letter to ."
Seraphina continued, "In these sa letters, he told how you've been sleeping next door because he didn't want to treat us differently."
Eleanor tried keeping her cool, but behind that impeccable smile was a wish to strangle Seraphina. But what could she do?
Eleanor's only redeeming qualities were her looks and the fact that she was the Emperor's daughter. Unlike her, Seraphina was a well-accomplished sorceress at nineteen. There were rumors she would soon inherit the magic tower from her mother, now that she was twenty-one.
If their standing were based on accomplishnts, Seraphina far outranked Eleanor. She knew that, hence she wanted to make Seraphina jealous through other ans.
However, despite their distance, Seraphina was much closer to Aaran than Eleanor ever was.
"Not to ntion…" Seraphina said, looking around the room. "I can't help but notice the lack of our fiancée's portraits in your private chambers."
"…Not every fiancée is obsessed with their beloved," Eleanor quipped back.
"Perhaps, but what's the value of love without a little… obsession?"
As the two went back and forth, the surrounding maids grew increasingly worried. The princesses weren't in love with Aaran—they were utterly obsessed with him.
They were so obsessed that they kept shouting their embarrassing secrets in the na of love without thinking about the consequences. The worst was probably when Eleanor admitted she had a collection of Aaran's bathwater.
However, Seraphina wasn't any better. She once asked Donovan to send her Aaran's bedsheet so she could sleep next to it and feel Aaran's warmth. She even had a body pillow shaped like him.
At one point, they realized what they were saying and shut their mouths. Their cheeks turned red with embarrassnt.
Eventually, Eleanor broke the silence.
"I'll get straight to the point. I hold Prince Aaran in great reverence, more than any lover would," she said. "As such, I think it's only right for to be the first consort during his coming-of-age ceremony."
Seraphina looked at her before giggling. The first consort. Such titles belonged to soone who was married to an emperor or a king. Such titles weren't valid in their case, as neither was Aaran an Emperor or a King, nor were they married to him.
Even so, Seraphina decided to play along with Eleanor.
"Your Highness, you're wrong about sothing," she said. "I am, and always will be, Aaran's first wife when the ti cos. Why? Because I was his fiancée first. Not you. Not anyone else. And I won't relinquish that place to anyone."
"Is that so?"
Instead of backing down, Eleanor smiled. It was a rival's smile. It was Eleanor's way of saying things wouldn't have been fun if Seraphina backed down.
"I have heard about the circumstances of your… engagent. A bond ford from a promise between old friends. There's no love in such an arrangent—"
"And there's love when he's forced to marry you?"
Seraphina's question stung Eleanor. Even the maids were shocked by how direct she was.
"Even if you are a Virtue's daughter, there are so things you shouldn't say recklessly, Princess," Eleanor replied. "Although, it's fine. Since we both love Aaran, and our relationships have ford under pressure, we should let him decide who he wants as his first consort, shouldn't we?"
"I agree, but only on the condition that you don't ask for His Majesty's help. After all, it's no secret how much Aaran cares for him."
"Fine. It'll be as you want. The one Aaran chooses to accompany him to the ceremony shall be his first wife when the ti cos."
Both were confident in making Aaran fall for them first. And just like that, they were out of topics to talk about. Despite being princesses, they belonged to two different worlds, with Aaran being the only common factor between them.
However, they didn't have to remain quiet for long as Aaran entered the room, flanked by his knights.
"Oh, you're both here. Saves the trouble of contacting you separately," he said, bowing slightly. "I would like to have both of you to accompany tonight for the festivities."
Just like that, their carefully crafted plan crumbled into pieces.
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