𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺.

𝘏𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺.

𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘳.

𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘒𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦.

𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯.

𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸, 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬.

------

A ceramic bowl was handed to the black-haired male. Filled to the brim with food, a delicious aroma filled his nostrils.

"Solis, do you really plan to go back to your home?"

Li Solis Vernum nodded. He ate quickly, practically devouring the contents without taking a single breath.

"There are unsettled things I have to take care of. It's been ten long years. I have to go back to resolve the things I have left untouched during my hiding in Eastern Clarity." Solis bowed his head in thanks to his friend. "Thank you for assisting me during this prolonged stay."

His friend chuckled. "I should be thanking you. You helped me more than I could have asked for. As Prince of East Clarity, I must thank you for your efforts in helping me unite the majority of Eastern Clarity despite being a part of a rivaling empire."

Solis chuckled. "It was of no harm. You saved me all those years ago, it's only fair that I help save your country."

"But Solis, how do you plan to go back? Are you sure you won't just get killed on the spot?"

Solis's brown eyes darkened. "They won't recognize me. My appearance now differs greatly from my past looks. I will also be using a new name until the time comes for me to reveal myself."

Solis stood, patting the imaginary dust off of his robes. "I will return soon Rafael. This will not be the end of our friendship."

He threw on a black cloak, the material flapping dramatically as it wrapped around him, hiding his body features from view.

He gazed at the sunrise, his black hair flowing in the morning breeze.

"Father...I'm coming back."

------

Aurora Yi'Ung frowned as she dismounted her horse.

"Eunuch Sun. Why have you come?"

"Princess, the emperor has requested for you."

Aurora struggled to keep her face straight upon hearing the eunuch's purpose. "I see...tell His Majesty that I will be there within the hour. I apologize, but there is an urgent matter that I must attend to before going to the palace."

The pale-skinned elder bowed his head. "By your command Princess."

She watched the eunuch disappear into the shadows, presumably heading back into the palace.

Aurora could only sigh, the lack of sleep for the past few days catching up to her. She rubbed her tired eyes, hoping for a break.

The bags under her eyes were darker than before, sleep at the forefront of her mind.

She couldn't sleep now. She had work to do.

She cast a look at her manor before shaking her head. "I'll work on it later."

Aurora remounted her horse and headed towards the palace. She couldn't keep the emperor waiting.

------

"The nerve of that girl." Li Tempus Ruptor gritted his teeth in anger. "How dare she keep His Majesty waiting?!"

"Calm yourself Crown Prince." Emperor Li raised his hand. "Princess Yi'Ung must have her reasons. She has never disobeyed me before."

"Still, it is Father-"

"Crown Prince, remember where you are."

Emperor Li scolded Prince Tempus for his informality. He lowered his head in submission at his father, choosing to remain silent after.

"Princess Terra, what do you think?"

Li Terra Finxit bowed respectfully. "I would have to agree with His Majesty. It must be something that is utmost importance to keep Princess Yi'Ung from coming."

"Sister, you are only saying this because you are close to her. If it were anyone else you would not take their side."

"Of course I am. It is because I am close to her that I can assure Father that she would not do this without a reason."

Tempus was about to argue again, but a shrill voice cut his words off.

"Princess Yi'Ung has arrived!"

All three members of the royal family were stunned at the rather quick arrival of Aurora.

Aurora's white robes dragged on the ground, bowing deeply to the emperor. "Paying my respect to His Majesty."

The emperor stood from his throne, and held onto her arms to pull her up. "Get up, get up. There is no need for this."

"What matter is there for me to settle?"

The emperor stepped away and motioned at his son.

Aurora took the parchment Tempus handed and read the contents. "Pardon me, Your Majesty, but I don't see anything important. All I see is requests for me to marry into a family."

"Exactly. Aurora, you still have not married. It is already far past the age where most girls marry and you still have not decided on which family to marry into."

She bowed her head. "It has never come to mind. I spent all my time fighting on the battlefield. I do not know any suitors that interest me at the moment."

"It should be no problem. I will gather some potential men for you to choose from. It is only fair you choose a man you want after all the time you spent helping the Great West Clarity."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Aurora bowed to her emperor. "If that is all I will get back to my manor. I came to the palace instead of taking care of the issue that was already bothering me when Eunuch Sun came to my home. I will take my leave now."

------

"Aurora, wait."

She turned around to look at both Terra and Tempus following her out of the palace doors.

"Your Royal Highnesses, how can I help you?"

"Don't call us that." Terra frowned. "We are your friends Aurora. There shouldn't be a need to be this formal."

Terra nudged Tempus, who quickly agreed. "Yes Aurora. We are friends."

He rubbed his side, almost as if Terra's subtle nudge had actually hurt him.

"Thank you for that Prince and Princess, but I must respect my boundaries. We are still within the palace."

Terra nodded. "I suppose that was a bit much to ask for. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I will support you in your decision in this marriage affair."

She bowed to Aurora before speaking with Tempus. "Please make sure to come to my home later, I have something to discuss with you."

Tempus nodded, dipping his head towards her. He turned his attention back onto Aurora as Terra walked in the opposite direction of where Aurora was heading. "I'll walk with you Princess Yi'Ung."

They walked at a strolling pace. "What do you think of marriage?"

Her face contorted into one of disgust.

"I already have a Princess Consort. I have no interest in you Aurora." Tempus rolled his eyes.

"That can be taken in a multitude of ways, Prince Tempus."

"You know what I mean." He stopped and leaned into her. "I know the reason why you have rejected all your suitors. It has nothing to do with your business with war or lack of interest."

She froze. Aurora had thought that she had hidden her reasoning deep enough.

"I know you still bear feelings for your former betrothed."

Tempus straightened. "Make sure you don't slip up around Father. Even he won't spare you from his wrath when you mention your former fiancee."

The Prince turned his back to her, waving over his shoulder. "Do not worry over my words. Even I, of all people, can understand the pain you are going through."

He bowed to her. "I will see you later Princess."

Aurora could only stare at the Crown Prince in stunned silence.

She gritted her teeth in frustration. If Tempus of all people was able to see it, who knows who else knew of her intentions?

She exhaled sharply, leaving the palace.

Forget the matter in her home, she needed to see Terra.

------

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕰𝖓𝖉