Aqua felt tensed as the security inside the palace tightened. A messenger arrived with the information that Demons had planned to make a move towards the border to take the Aquamarine river from the precious fall and use as their water resource.
The plan was to sneak and attack when time the King gets distracted with the coronation ceremony and loosen the border control, cause more distraction in the name of river and abduct the princess, to utilize the life time of water crystals. The sea palace got covered with guards and more maids and Aenon requested Huo to keep eyes on Aqua in her chamber. This was the greatest chance for Huo on the other hand. Everything under his control.
He didn't even let any of her personal maids inside the chamber except for himself, staying alert right next to Aqua.
"Am serious," Aqua said.
"So am I," he replied coldly. He was avoiding to look at her.
"I have to change and I need help, and you possibly cannot meet my needs Huo'er, please let some maids in," She pleaded but Huo'er kept hesitating to her request and rejected them in the end.
Aqua grew frustrated even though it was for her sake. She started fighting with him. Her kungfu was better than he expected it. She did not give him a moment to think before he made the move and flew around him. Huo grabbed her hips suddenly, and she heard her fabrics tearing under his grip, drawing her towards him. She felt his fingers touching her abdomen through the torn parts of her clothes. She just remained silent. She stood with her back attached to him. She felt his warm breath on her neck as she stood, both panting a little. Her heart fluttered.
"Did we have to fight like this?" he asked her in a hoarse voice. She smirked. Then he took her arms and led her to the pool in her chamber, behind the curtains.
He dimmed the bath chamber by putting out few candles and then took a piece of cloth from the curtains and blind folded himself. He couldn't afford to feel anything at the moment. He did not wish to make any wrong move.
And then Huo put his hands over her shoulders without asking her much. She just took the chance to look at him for a moment. She wasn't sure of her feeling either. He ripped open her dress, destroying it and slowly pushed her to the water, getting in along with her, standing face to face. Even though she struggled at first when he did it, he supressed her holding bothe her hands and then turned away. She was incredibly strong to his surprise that he hardly was able to contain her strengths compared to his.
He asked her to quickly finish bathing and get out of the pool. Aqua stopped rebelling and did everything on her own. Soon after dressing up. She took his hands in hers who was still blindfolded and standing behind the curtain as she changed. She led him towards the mirror, and stood in front of him, slowly uncovering his eyes. As he opened his eyes, he felt his heart pounding loud and fast.
Standing in front of him wearing a navy blue and silver long gown that had embroidery of roses and dragons, with a bright red lip colour. She had to do her hair yet. Huo forgot to breath for some minutes. He couldn't take his eyes off her. He noticed how the back of her dress was open and needed help with it. The slender body that showed, he didn't want to look at her like that. He soon walked towards her tied the knots and hooks for her. Aqua felt her body burn where his hands touched while he fastened those knots. She just remained silent and little embarrassed of thinking about the situation. She wanted him to watch her ceremony and not undress and dress her inside her bed chamber.
Huo made her sit in the chair in front and dried her hair. By that time, Milan rushed into the room to help her sister hearing the news from the maids. She gave a look at Huo and he stepped back instantly.
An hour later, Aqua stood on top of the platform near Aenon, wearing a crown and and a sceptre in her hands. Her dark hair out up and the train lying behind her gown, She walked down the steps smiling as people hailed the name of the Crown Princess.
Unable to control himself, Huo let out a smile as he stood next to Volca, Ash, and Shifu recalling everything that happened between them. He didn't notice how much Volca was noticing and getting jealous of the situations even though there was nothing. The leaders were able to hold the threat and successfully complete the celebration without letting a soul know about the situation that passed.
Aqua looked tired and fed up after the ceremony that she almost fell asleep on her table in the banquet hall. The food looked lavish and the decorations looking amazing. The guests had a splendid evening and began to leave one by one. Volca suggested Queen mother and Milan that it's better the princess leaves and they agreed with her. Volca accompanied Aqua to the chamber and spent some time with her.
"Tell me about your dreams Volca," she asked Volca as she settled down after changing into her night clothes. Aqua noticed the tattoos on Volca's back, the giant falcon and its wings.
"Equality, without any difference seen among the clans now, equality without a separation on blood and power, between heaven and hell,"
"But why do you think the heaven and hell exists?" Aqua asked her straight. "Could it become equal keeping its purpose aside?"
"No, but the treatment by the people to those who belong to hell, it should be changed,"
"You have me, whatever decisions I make will matter from today on, you can count on me," Aqua promised her best friend, without caring the factor that she belonged to a demon clan. Huo made sure she fell asleep standing outside and left the door silently and decided to go back to the school.