Archer's pov:-
The garden of Sinsk's imperial palace was as serene and beautiful as ever, with vibrant flowers blooming in perfect harmony and a soft breeze rustling through the trees. Sitting amidst this peaceful scene was Emperor Alexander, a man whose presence exuded both warmth and authority. Beside him were his two daughters, the composed and graceful Aria, and the shy yet sweet Aurora.
As the sound of approaching footsteps echoed, Alexander looked up from his conversation with his daughters. A familiar grin crept across his face when he saw me leading the group.
"Archer, my boy!" Alexander called, standing to greet them. "And Asha, you've grown so much! Come here, child."
But before Asha could respond, her eyes locked on Aria, and she bolted toward her with a squeal. "Aria!" she cried, throwing her arms around her.
Aria caught her effortlessly, lifting the little girl up with a radiant smile. "Asha! I've missed you. Look at you—you're even more adorable than I remember!"
"Archer," Alexander said warmly, rising from his seat. His eyes softened when they landed on me. "It's been a while. What brings you here?"
"Your majesty," I greeted with a grin, bowing with exaggerated theatrics. "I couldn't stay away from your charming company for too long. Also, I thought it was time to spice things up here in Sinsk."
Alexander chuckled before his gaze shifted to Asher. "Asher Celestino, isn't it? It's been some time since I last saw you—was it at the banquet?"
Asher nodded politely. "Yes, Your Majesty. It's good to see you again."
Alexander's brow furrowed slightly as he looked between us. "What are you doing here, Prince Asher? Visiting Sinsk doesn't seem like your usual pastime."
I clapped a hand on Asher's shoulder before Alexander could press further. "Asher is here because he's my best friend. Wherever I go, he follows. Isn't that right, Asher?"
Asher sighed, though there was an amused glint in his eyes. "Something like that."
Aurora took a hesitant step forward as Asher approached, her usual composure slightly shaken by the tension in the air. She smiled softly, though her gaze was a little uncertain. "It's good to see you again, prince Asher," she said quietly, her voice gentle but with a hint of shyness.
Asher, sensing her unease, offered a warm but slightly awkward smile. "Likewise, princess Aurora," he replied, his tone friendly but guarded. He gave a respectful nod before adding, "I hope everything has been well with you."
Aurora nodded in return, her smile growing a little more sincere as she met his gaze
Aria smiled down at the little girl. "Asha, you've grown so much since I last saw you. It's good to see you too."
"I came with Archer and Asher!" Asha declared proudly, her arms tightly wrapped around my neck.
My voice broke the brief silence as I casually leaned against a stone pillar, my smirk never faltering. "Well, it's nice to meet you again, Ari," I said, my tone oozing mock sweetness.
Aria gave me a look that could freeze fire. Her words were like daggers, delivered with brutal clarity. "Oh, it's not nice to meet you again, Archer. In fact, I was quite fine without you."
Meanwhile, Asha, who was happily in my arms, tilted her head to watch the exchange. "Why do Archer and Aria always fight?" she whispered loudly to Aria, making everyone chuckle except for the two in question.
I crossed my arms, smirking. "Because Ari just can't admit that I'm better than her."
Aria eyes narrowed with a fire that could melt steel, and she didn't hesitate for a moment before firing back with a savage grin. "Better than me?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with venom. "Better than me? Honey, the only thing better than you is the silence when you're not speaking."
I opened his mouth, ready to fire back with another scathing remark, but before I could speak, Alexander's commanding voice cut through the tension.
"Enough, the both of you," Alexander said firmly, his authoritative tone leaving no room for argument. "I won't have the two of you turning my garden into a battlefield. Now, let's go inside before this escalates further."
I huffed, letting the argument drop, though the glint of mischief in my eyes made it clear I wasn't done yet.
🔸🔸🔸🔶🔸🔸🔸🔶🔸🔸🔸🔶🔸🔸🔸
As we stepped inside the grand halls of Sinsk's imperial palace, Asha's wide eyes sparkled with excitement. The palace's opulent decorations and towering columns made her gasp in awe. She tugged at my sleeve, her voice filled with wonder.
"Archer, look! It's sooo big and pretty! Look at all the shiny things!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy as she twirled around to take in the majestic surroundings.
I, who had been walking with my usual confidence, couldn't help but smile down at my little sister. She was a bundle of energy, her excitement so contagious that even the most serious of moments seemed to melt away in her presence.
"Yeah, yeah, it's nice, kiddo. But don't go getting any ideas about redecorating Ahimsa to match this place," I teased, my tone affectionate but tinged with the playful authority of an older sibling.
Asha giggled, her tiny hands clasping together as she looked around in awe. "But, Archer, I want everything to be sparkly just like this! Maybe we can add sparkles to the walls?" she said with the earnestness only a child could muster.
I couldn't stop chuckling. "We'll see, princess. I'll take it into consideration… but no promises. Sparkles can be a lot of work."
As we continued walking through the palace, Asha's attention flitted from one extravagant decoration to another. She was a whirlwind of excitement, her small voice filled with innocent admiration. "Look at all the flowers! And that painting—oh! It's so big and colorful!"
As we continued through the palace, I noticed the subtle exchange of glances between Asher and Aurora. Every time their eyes met, they quickly darted away, as if caught in something neither of them wanted to confront.
I raised an eyebrow, unable to resist. "Hey, Aurora," I called out, my voice teasing. "Why don't you show Asher around the palace? I'm sure he'd love to see more than just the garden."
Aurora blinked, a little caught off guard by my suggestion. Her gaze flicked to Asher, who gave her an uncertain look, but she quickly masked it with a polite smile.
"Of course, I'd be happy to," she replied, her voice soft as she turned to lead him away.
I watched them go, my grin widening. This was going to be interesting.