Meanwhile, outside the palace,
Edrick strode briskly through the palace grounds, his pace sharp and rigid, as though marching away from something he refused to confront.
The iron gates loomed ahead, and just beyond them waited his carriage, the horses shifting impatiently as their hooves struck the stone.
Yet, just as he reached the entrance, he stopped.
His steps faltered.
Edrick turned back, his gaze lingering on the towering palace walls. For a moment, he simply stood there, staring.
Then a quiet sigh slipped past his lips, so faint it was nearly swallowed by the clatter of hooves and distant voices.
"…She was so different today…"
The words left his mouth almost unconsciously.
His mind replayed the strange interaction they'd just had against his will.
If it had been any other day, she would have clung to him like a leech, crying, shouting, throwing tantrums and refusing to cancel their engagement.
The palace would have been in chaos, with everyone scrambling to calm her down.
But today—
"...Today she was really different..."
Her voice echoed in his thoughts. Calm. Sharp. Honest.
Too honest.
She hadn't begged or cried like usual. She hadn't even raised her voice.
And worse—she had looked at him as though she could see through him.
Edrick frowned, shaking his head as if to physically dislodge the unease twisting in his chest. None of it made sense. He had known her for years—watched her grow, watched her obsess over him.
Yet today, she had spoken words she had never once said before. Words that were raw, unguarded… and disturbingly mature.
Clicking his tongue softly, Edrick turned away and climbed into the carriage. He settled into the plush seat as the door closed behind him, the carriage rolling forward with a gentle lurch.
He leaned back, closing his eyes, hoping the steady rhythm of the wheels would calm his thoughts.
It didn't.
Her voice resurfaced without warning.
"Do you have someone you like?"
Edrick stiffened.
His heart skipped violently, thudding against his chest. Before he could stop himself, an image rose unbidden in his mind—
A small girl, no more than three years old, crouched among bushes. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes wide and trembling as she tried and failed to stifle her sobs.
She had looked at him then.
Her tear-streaked face and those wide, innocent eyes haunted him, though there was an odd sweetness to the image.
She looked so cute...
Before he could even process the thought, Edrick's eyes flew open and he jolted upright in his seat, ears burning crimson as heat rushed to his face.
He clamped his hands over his face, mortified, as though someone might see his expression through the carriage walls.
Cute…?
"What the hell am I thinking…?" he muttered.
He groaned softly and slapped his cheeks lightly, but firmly—trying to snap himself out of the strange daydream.
"It's not gentlemanly to think of someone like that," he scolded under his breath.
"Stop it, Edrick. Stop."
Lowering his hands, he exhaled slowly, rubbing his face as he forced his breathing to steady. His heart still raced, stubbornly refusing to calm down.
Turning his head, he stared out the carriage window. The passing scenery blurred by, utterly ineffective at easing the restlessness coiling in his chest.
She's changed, he thought grimly.
There's something wrong… or something different.
After a long silence, his expression hardened with resolve.
Maybe I'll find out what's wrong with her next time.
The carriage continued onward, but Edrick cast one final glance back toward the palace, its walls receding into the distance.
One thing was certain—
This wasn't the same princess he knew.
She had changed.
—
Astra resumed reading 'The History of Aristynne' from where she had left off, her expression serious and her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
["Aristynne, a kingdom brimming with magical creatures, enchanted weapons, diverse species, and powerful hybrids, thrived in harmony. Situated to the far south of Cristiane and near the Karstein Empire, it stood unchallenged—no one dared to invade its borders. Over time, it grew vast and powerful, earning the title of the 'One Of The Most Powerful Magical Kingdom', a realm not only teeming with diverse races but also home to rare species, magical artifacts, and extraordinary talent."
"Its most renowned institution is the prestigious Aristynne Academy. Known for its unparalleled education, the Academy welcomed anyone with talent, regardless of their background. Every year, the Academy produced rare geniuses, and every graduate left after some grueling years."
"Though the entrance exam wasn't exceedingly difficult, the Academy conducted competitions every six months, ruthlessly eliminating those unable to prove their talents."
"One of Aristynne's most legendary places is The Avareth Forest, teeming with dangerous beasts. Many ventured inside, seeking to tame a beast as their familiar, thereby increasing their strength. However, no one dared approach the forest's center, as it was overrun by ferocious creatures."
"Curiously, the Academy itself was hidden deep within Avareth Forest. its location unknown to outsiders, and only those with permission are allowed access via special teleportation."
"However, Aristynne was not always the powerful, harmonious kingdom it is today. Long ago, it was far from the powerful force it is today. The Avareth Forest was forbidden, considered too dangerous. The Academy had not yet been founded, and Aristynne was just a small, insignificant kingdom, rife with chaos and bloodshed."
"Aristynne was a lawless land. Murder and theft in broad daylight were daily occurrences, and even illegal activities flourished openly. It was but a lawless and chaotic land, rife with murder, theft, slavery and open illegal activities. Peace was but a myth. It was known as the "Land of Chains"—a place where cruelty and oppression reigned."
"Its rulers would pit their own children against one another, The royal family upheld a barbaric tradition—each ruler ascended the throne only after surviving a brutal power struggle against their siblings."
"The 12th ruler of Aristynne was infamous for killing all 21 of his siblings, brutally displaying their severed heads at the entrance gates—an ominous show of dominance. He is recorded in history as the cruellest ruler to ever exist in the history of Aristynne."
"But despite its lawlessness, few dared attack Aristynne. Criminals roamed freely, unafraid of death, making it too unpredictable for conquest since nobody wanted suffer any damage over a small Land."
"The turning point came 236 years ago, when the 24th princess, Reinelle de Aristynne, ascended the throne at the mere age of 15 after slaughtering 28 siblings in a ruthless battle for the throne."
"The emperor had many concubines who bore him 26 children. His queen gave birth to four—though the firstborn survived only three years before being poisoned. Reinelle was the second child of the queen. When she was eight, her mother died giving birth to twins, who were the youngest among the emperor's children."
"In total, the king had 29 children competing for the throne. By the end of the bloodshed, only one child survived.
"Reinelle Morvane de Aristynne."