Zela's mother, Lady Haruka, sat in her throne-like chair, her eyes blazing with anger as she stared at Zela.
"So, you're telling me that you're in love with a commoner?" Lady Haruka spat, her voice venomous. "A gardener, no less? You're a member of the nobility, Zela. You have a duty to marry well and secure our family's fortune."
Zela stood tall, her eyes flashing with defiance. "I don't care about our family's fortune, Mother," she said. "I care about being happy. And Akuma makes me happy."
Lady Haruka's face turned red with rage. "You're a fool, Zela," she spat. "You're throwing away your future for some fleeting infatuation. I won't allow it."
Zela's eyes narrowed. "You can't stop me, Mother," she said. "I'm an adult, and I can make my own decisions. I'll marry Akuma, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
Lady Haruka's face turned white with anger, and she slammed her fist on the armrest of her chair. "You'll do no such thing, Zela," she spat. "I'll disown you before I let you marry some commoner. You'll marry the man I've chosen for you, and you'll do it with a smile on your face."
Zela's eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step forward. "I'll never marry some man I don't love, Mother," she said. "I'd rather die than do that."
Lady Haruka's face turned cold, and she smiled. "We'll see about that, Zela," she said. "I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me."
As Zela turned and stormed out of the room, Lady Haruka's smile grew wider. She knew exactly how to deal with her rebellious daughter.
Meanwhile, Akuma was waiting anxiously in the gardens, pacing back and forth as she waited for Zela to return.
As she walked, she couldn't help but think about Zela's mother and the power she wielded. Lady Haruka was a formidable woman, and Akuma knew that she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.
But Akuma was not afraid. She was determined to fight for her love, no matter what obstacles lay in her way.
As she turned a corner, Akuma saw Zela walking towards her, a look of determination on her face.
"Akuma, I have something to tell you," Zela said, her voice firm. "My mother is not going to give up easily. She's going to do everything in her power to stop us from being together."
Akuma's eyes narrowed. "I'm not afraid of her," she said. "We'll face whatever she throws our way, together."
Zela smiled, her eyes filling with tears. "I knew I could count on you, Akuma," she said. "Together, we can overcome anything."
As they hugged each other tightly, Akuma knew that she and Zela were in for the fight of their lives. But she was ready. She was ready to fight for their love, no matter what it took.
Over the next few days, Akuma and Zela were inseparable. They spent every spare moment together, exploring the gardens and talking about their future.
But despite their happiness, Akuma couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see Lady Haruka or one of her minions lurking in the shadows.
And then, one night, Akuma's worst fears were confirmed. As she and Zela were walking through the gardens, they were confronted by a group of rough-looking men.
"Well, well, well," one of the men sneered, his eyes fixed on Akuma. "Look what we have here. The little gardener and her noble girlfriend."
Akuma's heart skipped a beat as she realized that the men were Lady Haruka's minions. She knew that they were in grave danger.
But Zela just stood tall, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Leave us alone," she spat. "We're not afraid of you."
The men just laughed, their eyes gleaming with malice. "Oh, we'll leave you alone, all right," one of them sneered. "But first, we're going to teach you a lesson. You're not good enough for the likes of Lady Haruka's daughter. You're just a commoner, and you'll never be worthy of Zela's love."
As the men closed in, Akuma knew that she and Zela were in grave danger. But she was not afraid. She was ready to fight for their love, no matter what it took.