"I'll have to save Asher.."
Aria gasped as if abruptly pulled back into reality, sitting up from her bed, her head held as she struggled to comprehend the sudden lapse into blankness. "Asher," she unconsciously whispered before hearing someone call her name.
"Aria. You're finally awake." It was Asher. Dark lines underscored his eyes, and his platinum hair appeared disheveled—clear signs of sleepless nights. Aria smiled softly. "Did you wait for me? You came back early just to come and wait for me."
She lightly caressed his hair and cheek. "Did I make you wait for too long?" "Why would you?" Asher made a charming smile that concealed all his exhausted features and stood up.
"How long have i been out?" Aria asked as she held her head. "About a two days. You seemed really tired and mom was seriously worried about you." Asher replied as he yawned
"Days? It felt like minutes!" Aria groaned at her usage of time "Doctor said you had a panic attack or something." Asher smiled and leaned on her bed "Yeah... i guess so too."
"Forgive my quick departure, but I must take a shower; otherwise, I might cause you more harm than care." Asher smiled and turned to leave but stopped. "You seemed to have missed me these past few days I wasn't around."
Asher turned with a serious look, addressing an issue he had been avoiding with Aria but that gnawed at his heart. "In your sleep... you kept on crying and calling out my name... Are you okay?"
Aria dropped her curious look and put on a blinding smile. "I'm fine as long as you're fine, brother!" Asher smiled back and began walking out while saying, "The only blinding moon I know. Ariana, my sister, I'll be right back."
The door closed shut, and Aria's smile slowly faded into a grimace as she muttered under her breath, "You will be... I promise." I need to think of a way to save you...
Aria stood up and sat in front of a mirror, staring at her silver hair. She thought, "I could sweet-talk my way out of this war..." Aria shook her head in dismissal. "That won't work; I'll become a huge suspect. Then..." She stood up and began pacing, trying to think of a way to avoid Asher's death. From faking a deadly disease to simulating an injury, Aria considered everything, but nothing seemed viable.
Aria paced for hours before stumbling upon the invitation letter, seated on the bedside. Immediately, an idea came to mind—she could avoid the attack on the empress altogether. "That's it! I could find a way to avoid the attack on the empress by faking a witness! I could say that I heard a rumor that the empress would be attacked at a party..." I could also be suspected of being an accomplice. Who can I tell to avoid being suspected... someone nonchalant and free?
Aria continued pacing, considering possible individuals who would not suspect her yet be willing to help. From her father to the Emperor of Drakoria, Aria pondered various options before recalling someone from her past life. Someone devious and powerful yet carefree and nonchalant—Olympia Adelaide Drakoria.
Olympia was the princess of Drakoria and the twin sister of their crown prince. She was strong-willed, talented, and powerful, with a character that eschewed formalities. Olympia was what Seraphim people called lazy and hardworking at the same time, and, just like Princess Iris Evangeline Nightshade, she was a member of the Elite Elcheon—a Sun twin.
The Sun twins, blessed by the goddess Solarus, were two individuals always given an ability under the sun category, usually twins. Olympia possessed Luxokinesis, the power to manipulate light.
Aria smirked as her plan slowly came together. Walking toward the door, she grabbed the doorknob. "I'll have to get someone who can track the Drakorian royal family so that I can use any opportunity to save Asher." This time, I'll have to drop being a villainess for a while, as I'll have to save Asher. But you'll wait for me, right Thea?
Aria smirked and opened the door, but maids rushed in to help her pick a dress as Leander was coming to visit her. "What the hell! What are you all doing in here?!"
"My lady, Lord Beaumont is here to see you." A maid replied as the other maids hurriedly went through her clothing.
"Why is Leander here?" Aria wondered, thinking he should still be sulking over the loss of the title as heir. The maids finally settled on a cyan-colored dress and dressed her with some light makeup.
When the maids were done and finished praising Aria on her beauty, she walked down the stairs, straight toward the guest room. In the meeting room, Aria heard the loud voices of Asher and Leander having a small quarrel, and her mother trying to calm them to no avail. Aria decided to listen in, as her father wasn't around.
"Shouldn't you just leave Ariana alone!? You lost the title as heir, which is as good as losing your importance to our family, and Ariana doesn't seem interested in you anymore!" Aria heard Asher's voice through the door. "I'll have you know that my value to your family has increased by ten folds and that Aria still loves me and is devoted to me." Aria winced at what Leander said.
"Please, boys, calm yourselves; this is a decision only Aria can—" "You must be delusional now that you've lost the throne!" Aria heard her mother being interrupted by Asher, who was practically shouting.
"Please—" "How am I the delusional one?" Anastasia was interrupted yet again, but this time by Leander, and Aria heard it. "Oh please. I was the one who gave up the throne for my brother besides Asher, you of all people should know that with the coming dynasty union i will be brought back into the race for the throne." Leander stated proudly.
"So that's why he walked into here with all confidence and pride" Aria muttered before turning the doorknob and slowly walking in. Leander and Asher fell silent at the sound of the door opening and the elegant clicks of Aria's heels, a sound Leander had grown to hate.
"Good day, Lord Beaumont." Aria made sure to stress the name "Beaumont," making Leander visibly shiver as she curtsied.
"Good day to you too, Lady Ariana." Aria smirked, hearing the underlying annoyance in his voice that he failed to hide. "I didn't really expect you to visit me any soon, as I had thought you would be too busy helping your brother, Crown Prince Nikolai."
Again Aria stressed her words, and again Leander shivered. "You seem to be very interested in my brother Nikolai these days, how so?" Leander asked as they sat down.
"Well, I was right next to His Majesty when he was contemplating whether to choose Nikolai... or you." Aria smiled deviously as a maid handed them tea, and she sipped.
"Well, you see, Ariana here has not been feeling well lately, so she couldn't visit you much." Anastasia pitched in, awkwardly smiling, and Asher just silently grimaced while folding his arms. "Yes, I was quite sick. I wonder what I was so sick of..." Aria muttered loud enough for Leander to hear as she sipped more tea, and Leander did hear it, nearly choking on his tea.
Asher made a small chuckle as he also had heard what she said. "I was just on my way out somewhere so could you please tell me... why are you here?" Aria said with a smile
"Ariana, you shouldn't be up and about when you just woke up." Anastasia pitched in with a worried tone. "I'm fine mother, infact, i was just planning on some morning excersice!" Aria lied.
"May i accompany you Lady Ariana?" Leander asked with an evil smile but Aria just put on a smirk and replied "I would caution you against it my lord..." "Why so?"
"... because no one likes a clingy fiance." Aria simply said as she got up and Asher burst into laughter. "Now please excuse me as i have places to be." Aria walked out of the room as the maids shut the door behind her.