The Emperor rose from his seat. The hall responded instantly—everyone stood, bowing deeply as Aldric began to walk toward the exit.
Selara, Kael, Seraphina, the knights, the servants—every person present fell into step behind him.
They passed through the vast stone corridors. Through the castle gardens they walked, roses brushing lightly in the cold breeze. None spoke.
Finally, they reached the carriage.
Aldric placed one foot on the carriage step… then paused.
His hand tightened on the handle. His eyes flicked sideways—toward Seraphina. Something stopped him.
He slowly descended from the step. Then he turned fully toward her. And he walked.
Each step softened the presence he carried. By the time he reached her, he wasn't an Emperor. He was a father.
Seraphina lifted her head just as Aldric dropped to one knee in front of her.
He wrapped his arms gently around his daughter, pulling her close.
He whispered into her ear, voice trembling despite how hard he tried to steady it:
"Seraphina… you must be strong, my little light. And please—please don't be upset that I'm leaving you here."
Her breath hitched. She clutched the front of his coat.
"You and Kael need time—time to understand each other. I will return in one year with the core stone. Until then…" He pulled back slightly, cupping her cheek with a hand.
"If he ever hurts you… even a little… write to me immediately." His eyes darkened, voice dropping into a promise that could move armies. "I will break this engagement at once and take you home. Do you understand?"
Seraphina's lips parted, her eyes shimmering. "…Father…"
He brushed a thumb under her eye before a tear could fall. "Is that okay, Seraphina?"
She nodded fast, too fast, swallowing the lump in her throat. "O-okay… I will. I promise."
Aldric let out a soft, relieved sigh and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Then he rose, straightened his cloak, and—just for her—smiled.
Only after making sure she was steady on her feet did he finally turn and step into the carriage.
Before stepping into the carriage, Aldric froze. His gaze swept over Kael, piercing and heavy as if to say, "If you hurt my daughter, I will kill you."
Kael didn't flinch. He met the Emperor's gaze evenly, with his own eyes.
Aldric studied him for a long, tense moment, then slowly nodded. Satisfied, he finally turned and climbed into the carriage and left.
One year later
It was early afternoon, about an hour past midday. In the castle's training yard, two children were practicing.
The boy had black hair and purple eyes, his upper body bare, black pants clinging to his legs as he swung his sword. He was strong for his age—around 4 ft 11 in (150 cm), with broad shoulders and well-defined arms. Each movement was precise, almost like he was dancing with the blade, completely absorbed in his training.
Nearby, a golden-haired girl of about 10 years old lounged on a mat. Blue eyes sparkling, she wore a silver mask on the left side of her face that shimmered in the sunlight. Her earthy brown and green tunic, reinforced leggings, and ankle boots marked her as practical and ready for anything.
She lay back casually, grinning, eyes following the boy as he moved. There was no hiding it—she enjoyed watching him . Every swing of his sword made her grin wider, and she shifted slightly on the mat, trying to get a better view without drawing attention.
This was Kael and Seraphina. Nearly a year had passed since their engagement had been arranged and announced to the empire. Yet, not everyone had welcomed the news with open arms. But they couldn't openly defy the emperor's arrangements, so nobody showed disdain in public.
Only two weeks remained until the Awakening Ceremony. Over that short time, Kael and Seraphina had grown close.
At first, Seraphina rarely left her room, venturing out only when Kael was with her. But everything changed the day he gifted her the silver mask. It was no ordinary piece; crafted from rare magical metals with subtle healing properties, it had been forged by dwarves of Valemir, a kingdom bordering their duchy to the southwest. Commissioning it had been no simple task, and the mask had cost a small fortune. Yet for Kael, the Duke's son, wealth was plentiful—an unimaginable amount that allowed him to gift something truly unique.
After receiving it, Seraphina's world seemed to open. She no longer confined herself to her room. The mask became a symbol of freedom. With it, she ventured outside more boldly, laughed more freely, and slowly began to enjoy life beyond the castle walls, often wandering the training grounds to watch Kael practice, or simply sitting nearby, observing him with sparkle in her eyes.
General POV
Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing over at Seraphina. "Do you… come to watch me again? Don't you have classes?" His voice carried a mild irritation.
Seraphina pouted playfully, her golden hair catching the sunlight. "Aww… why can't I? I'm your fiancée, aren't I?" She leaned back on her elbows, grinning.
Kael's jaw tightened. "Don't change the subject. Why haven't you gone to your classes? You haven't taken them seriously for over a month." His tone was firm.
She laughed softly, a teasing lilt in her voice. "Hehe… that's because a month ago I learned about a mischievous child who likes to run from his teachers and hide. I wanted to… experience his little tricks too."
Kael's face burned red, and he looked away, scratching the back of his neck. "Who… who told you that?" he stammered, half embarrassed, half frustrated.
Seraphina leaned closer, her grin widening. "Oh, of course… your mother, Duchess Selara. She showed me so many of your baby pictures. She even had the one where you were hiding under her dress…"
Kael's hands shot up, and he groaned. "Stop! Stop! I get it, I get it! Please… don't say things like that to me. Keep it between you and my mother. I give up trying to stop you from gossiping about me!" His voice wavered between exasperation and laughter.
Seraphina's grin softened into a playful smirk, her eyes twinkling. "Oh… so now you're embarrassed, hmm?"
Kael huffed, crossing his arms, cheeks still flushed. "Just… shut up and watch, or leave."
Seraphina tilted her head, still grinning, but her laughter softened. "Okay," she said, settling in, her blue eyes following his every movement.
Kael's POV
It had been nearly a year since Seraphina had begun living in the castle. At first, she had been afraid to leave her room. She was afraid the servants whispered behind her back, so she only stepped out if I requested it.
At first, my mother wanted to scold me, but she gave up—she knew I had thick skin and wouldn't be easily swayed.
When my father came and learned that I had been engaged to a princess for an A-rank core stone, he laughed like a madman, clapping his hands with glee. "Finally, revenge is taken!" he shouted. I didn't understand the reason for his happiness at the time, but his excitement was contagious.
Despite the initial chaos, both of them eventually accepted my decision. They welcomed Seraphina as their future daughter-in-law, treating her with warmth and care.
But everything changed the day I gave her a mask—one that could shift its shape to cover only her scar, leaving her fair skin visible. After that, she became cheerful and lively, laughing more freely and slowly becoming like a daughter to my mother. Most of the time, she spent her days gossiping about me with my mother.
The worst moment came about a month ago. My mother had shown her my childhood photos—pictures I didn't even know existed. Somehow, Seraphina had captured images with a tiny crystal shaped like an egg. She always wore it as a necklace, delicate but noticeable, and only later did I learn it was an ancient artifact she had brought with her long ago. That small crystal had apparently allowed her to take pictures secretly, capturing moments I had thought were private.
I couldn't decide whether to be angry, embarrassed, or slightly impressed that I didn't notice that.