"You…are you sure you saw Xuma?" Ainaz asked skeptically. From young, she had always been the most beautiful, the most delicate and sweet of the two sisters.
However, due to being the biological daughter of Givon Al Israr, the nominal king of Blossom Valley, Xuma had always been the one who received the respect, love, and adoration of the people.
Of course, Ainaz hated her for it, but at the end of the day, there was nothing she could do about it. Who told her to be the step-daughter of Givon Al Israr? She could get the riches and wealth, but could not bask in the prestige reserved only for Al Israr's bloodline.
That's why she had set her eyes on Joan. Xuma's cousin, only childhood friend, and arranged fiancé before the destruction of Blossom Valley.
"You think I would joke about something like that?" Joan scoffed and turned his gaze towards the boisterous marketplace. "She was with a man, probably a noble, judging by his aura. And from the cloak she was wearing, I could tell she no longer had the identity of a slave."
His Xuma was safe, healthy, and living well. Joan could barely suppress his excitement at the thought of meeting her.
Though they had been separated from each other, he didn't worry about her. That girl had the keen intelligence and resourcefulness of her father. When she decided on something, no one and nothing could stop her or get in her way.
Joan admired this trait of hers. And in this foreign empire where every slave had only one ending, he needed her to shatter the chains of slavery that shackled him and change his fate.
"Since she's no longer a slave, she'll definitely find a way to free us if we meet her." He turned his gaze back on the girl. Seeing her flushed cheeks and watery eyes, his gaze softened and he held out his hand to her. "Come on, hold my hand so you don't get lost in the crowd." He sighed.
Ainaz gazed at his hand for a second. Before, he used to grab her hand without permission. He used his body to protect her from the cold and allowed her to lay on his shoulder during the night.
But now…he offered her his hand with the expression of an elder brother looking after his sister.
Was it because of Xuma?
The wretch hadn't only survived the slaughter that night. She also managed to discard the identity of a slave in a matter of a few months.
She wondered if this meant she wasn't as good as Xuma. Whether in Blossom Valley or this Frost-Flame Empire, her radiance always paled in comparison to the other's light.
"Okay." Giving him a bright smile, Ainaz took his hand with tears of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you for finding…my sister," she said.
"You don't need to thank me. Xuma is my fiancé." Joan replied, returning her smile and pulling her into the bustling crowd.
…
After entering the inn, Ghazeyh headed straight to his room.
He pulled off his cloak and threw it to the side, striding into the bathroom for a quick bath. At this time of year, warm water was scarce in the empire. Royals and nobles used red pearl stones to keep their water warm.
And since the stones were pricey treasures from the Pearl Sea, there was a limit to the amount they could possess in a year. As for the citizens…they could only make do with ordinary gray and black stones.
As the Crown Prince, Ghazeyh wasn't bound by such restrictions. He had access to the Royal Treasure and could withdraw as many pearls stones as he desired. However, he refrained from indulging in privileges that set him apart from the citizens.
As Crown Prince, if he didn't understand the hardships of his people, who would?
Instructing Sanbiri to send the red pearls to the girl, he dunked into the frosty water and leaned back to close his eyes.
'Xuma…who are you?'
This question plagued his mind. From the second he met her, his behavior became strange, his mannerism cautious in a way he never acted before. He felt a connection towards her.
One that manipulated him to pay extra attention to her. Forced him into instinctively treating her with the same respect he treated with his female relatives.
In the Frost-Flame Empire, the identity of a slave was lower than a servant. Killing or raping one was as easy as slaughtering the wild beasts from the dark forest and desert regions.
He knew she was a native from Blossom Valley, a slave brought back for one of two reasons.
By law, he should've sent her back to the authorities after her attempted escape. But instead of doing what was expected of him, he created new identification documents and brought her back to Stone City with the identity of his servant.
As Crown Prince, his action was no better than those nobles who manipulated the rules and regulations of the empire for their own benefits.
"But…what do I gain from keeping her by my side?" Frustrated lines wrinkled his forehead, and he rubbed his temples, trying to sooth throbbing veins.
Never in his life had he felt so confused. So…muddled.
"No. This won't do. I need to return to the Palace and figure out what's wrong with me."
If it turned out to be a work of dark magic, not only him, but the entire Frost-Flame Empire would be in danger.
Stepping out of the tub and yanking a robe, Ghazeyh slipped it on and strode out of the bathroom, then called out to Sanbiri to prepare their return to the Palace.