"Just want you know, I'm doing this for Arlo," Kieran said, turning his face towards the car window so Serena couldn't see his expression. "And so I can get back to Rainvale City sooner. Lunabelle must be worried sick waiting for me."Serena pressed the gas pedal harder, unconsciously gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I already apologized, didn't I? Stop being so passive-aggressive! From now on, I won't bring up Lunabelle anymore, and you shouldn't meddle in my affairs either."As soon as those last words escaped her lips, Serena bit her lip. It hurt to receive such cold treatment from Kieran. And she felt hurt herself just by saying hurtful words to him.Kieran remained silent. However, as the car exited the forest area and descended onto smoother roads, he said, "I'm not interested in meddling in your affairs either, Serena. But I won't forgive you if the petty on-off love story between you and Dravon causes trouble for all of us."Serena shifted gears and pressed the gas pedal e
In the slowly moving cabin of the ferris wheel, Kieran observed Arlo, who was asleep on Serena's shoulder. Behind the two of them, the skyline had changed colors to orange, red, and purple. Around them, only the creak of the cabin's suspension and Arlo's steady breath could be heard.Kieran sighed and turned his face to the side, watching the visitors leaving and arriving at the amusement park gates. "Arlo and I saw Dravon at the amusement park today. I guess he came to see you?" Kieran asked softly.Serena's fingers fidgeted on her lap. She also turned to look out the ferris wheel cabin window, observing the frozen lake behind the ferris wheel. Some people were ice skating there, some still learning, and others gracefully dancing."There's a letter inside the Zyronox dagger we bought at the Umbravale market," Serena murmured. "Your name is written in it."Kieran turned and looked at Serena. "Can I see the letter?"Serena nodded. She promptly pulled out a sheet of paper from her pocke
A few hours earlier."Hurry up, Lana, no one walks slowly in this city." Lana barely caught Grand Duke Elios's words as they both briskly navigated through the crowd at Remirer City's main airport.For some reason, Lana struggled to adapt to this city. Everything seemed different. From the towering buildings she had never seen before, to the entirely unfamiliar interiors and objects, to airport visitors dressed casually with just a single piece of fabric! Lana couldn't imagine a respectable woman not wearing at least ten layers of fabric for her dress. As a servant, she wore a dress with three layers of fabric! And the most challenging part was adapting to everyone's speed, which was so hurried as if chased by Cerberus."Lana!" Grand Duke Elios turned around so suddenly that Lana accidentally bumped into his body. She quickly stepped back and looked up at her master's son. But Grand Duke Elios instead gazed at her from head to toe. "What makes you walk so slowly? You're not even carry
As the night grew later in Remirer, the "reunion party" between Elios and Sera became livelier. With refreshing beverages and, of course, secretive information.As the sole princess of Varidianth, Sera was far from graceful. Her demeanor was friendly, yet still dangerous. But it was precisely these traits that Elios appreciated in inter-kingdom dealings."You know, I admire the beautiful bags they sell in Zyronox," murmured Sera as she sipped her drink, her glass lost count. "Please add that to the list of herbal remedies Valorthorn will send, and I agree to dispatch medicines from our laboratory.""Of course. I'll get some for you," Elios flipped through the pages of the confidential document in his lap. He read it for a moment then looked startled. "So, you initiated this investigation based on a report from Earl Swiftwind?""Of course!" Sera sighed disappointedly, then glanced down at William Zephyr, who was asleep on her lap. "He said he met Kieran Nyxshade. And I couldn't help bu
"I've explained everything that needs to be done," Dravon said as he rose from his small throne and straightened his somewhat wrinkled royal robe. He observed all the knights sitting to listen and watch him in the hall. "Do you have any questions?"The knights remained silent, perhaps already tired from being asked to do so many things at once. Like searching for Kieran Nyxshade in the vast kingdom of Varidianth without any clues, finding Lunabelle Nightcrown-Silverlake who was likely still with Kieran, preparing for a magical attack in the city of Rainvale, and at the same time, returning to the Valorthorn palace to ensure the country's security did not weaken. But Dravon still held firm to his principle that humans could surpass their own limits when forced.Dravon cleared his throat. "If there are no—"Suddenly, the hall door swung open wide. A moment later, the Crown Prince, Prince Vikrant, entered the hall with a servant and two of his knights. He glanced at the knights, then snor
Dravon always thought that no school building in the entire kingdom of Varidianth could surpass the nobility school in the city of Umbravale. Its large and tall structure was made of stones so strong that they became sturdier with each rain. Various colored trees were planted close together, so the falling leaves would blend harmoniously across the schoolyard, creating its own ever-changing painting every day.If only Dravon had the money, he would surely paint all of it on a canvas. But he wasn't sure if his father's salary as a gardener at the palace could afford to send Dravon's painting equipment to Umbravale. Dravon should have been able to pick it up, but since the beginning, he only had a small room in a special building for servant living quarters, and the Queen despised him. So, the only place Dravon could consider home now was his room at the Umbravale orphanage, where he shared it with nine other children.That morning, the sky was so overcast, the leaves had fallen, and th
The morning sunlight gently penetrated through the curtains. The breeze danced beneath the heavy lace. But Elios Silverlake, who was looking down at a text message on his mobile phone, did not feel that way. General Griffin had informed him last night that he had failed his mission, and was probably languishing in the dungeon until the next trial when Elios read his message.A faint smile crossed Elios' face. Only one person could thwart his plans and bring General Griffin to justice. Only one person Elios knew was best at turning black into white and white into black. Someone who enjoyed the game as long as he got the role of God."What's wrong?" Seraphina's hoarse voice made Elios hurriedly put his mobile phone in his pocket and return to reading the document on his lap."Nothing," Elios muttered. "I just found out that my men failed to get Dravon. But, it's all my fault for only sending one person."He turned to see Seraphina stretching her shoulders on his bed. The woman's skin lo
Half a year ago."So I think, with the method in this book, we can create a smaller magic pattern with a much bigger effect," Will finished. He put the book he was reading on the coffee table and looked at Dravon who was sitting on the sofa scribbling something in his sketchbook. There was only the sound of pencil tips scratching the paper, and wood burning in the fireplace. "Dravon, you heard my explanation, didn't you?""I did," Dravon replied, without stopping scribbling. "You were explaining how to minimise the magic pattern by turning the circular lines into pointed ones, and the pointed lines into circular ones. Then adding magic patterns to stretch the magic. Easy enough. But I'm not sure it's suitable for Rainvale city's hilly terrain."Will smiled and cursed inwardly. "I must admit your intelligence and nonchalance are an irritating mix," he said calmly. He reached for the coffee cup on the table and took a sip. The bitter taste with a hint of sweetness was a fl