"I never knew that you owned such a beautiful cabin deep in the forest."

"It is not mine, your mother gave it to me." I glanced at him, waiting for him to continue. "When I became your bodyguard, your mother informed me of this place, claiming that if anything goes wrong, I should bring you here for safety. Never thought I'd actually use this place.

"How do you know so much about magic and all?" I glanced off at the setting sun.

"I...did some research." Akihiko turned slightly red at admitting it as he scratched his chin. "When I started to like you, back at Earth, I started studying your books. I thought that in order to be with you, I should understand you...and your magic. Then when we came back, I studied a little bit about your family's magic as well."

"That explains why you were able to ask my brother to make that drink." Health drinks can only be made by magicians, the colour of the drink reflecting the colour of the maker's magic.

"How did you know?"

"I woke up when you put me in the car, silly." I leaned over and kissed his cheeck. "You are too sweet. Thank you, I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I couldn't let you face this alone." He moved my face to look into my eyes. "Manami, I love you." My eyes widened. We had been dating for a while, but hadn't confessed, until now. Tilting his head, he moved his face closer, closing his eyes, and shared a deep kiss.

"I never took you as a romantic, kissing me during a sunset."

"There is a lot about me that you don't know." I gave him a pout before resting my head on his shoulder.

***

Unable to sleep that night, I grabbed my hoodie and headed outside the cabin, Akihiko was no where to be seen. Not caring about the rain, I tried to understand the way to the palace, determined to challenge Tiana. "Manami!" A white wolf ran towards me. "What are you doing out in the open?" He looked stressed.

"I wanted to challenge Tiana. I may not be a perfect princess, but I will not let my people suffer under her." I stared into his eyes, it held a deep emotion, a fear. "What happened?" I asked as I had never seen Akihiko stressed and in fear.

"What? No, nothing happened. I was just making my rounds to see if we were safe or not." Akihiko avoided eye-contact.

"Alright, what is it." I cupped his face and made him face me.

"Did you know that you look pretty under the rain." A small smile creeped on my lips.

"Akihiko!" Despite my blush, I still tried to ask him what the problem was.

"Alright...I have bad news." He sighed. "Come with me." Nodding, I climbed on his back as he headed a little bit further away from the cabin, toward a lake.

"You know after my mother retired from being your mother's personal bodyguard and became the head of the defence team?" I nodded. When the princess turns 18, she is assinged a new personal bodyguard, while the Queen's personal bodyguard retires. "After Tiana took over, my mother was forced to become Tiana's personal bodyguard, or she'll kill my mom."

"She did what?" Akihiko stared into the lake as the rain lessened into drizzle.

"That's not it. Tiana's parents scolded Tiana for stealing the kindom, and Tiana put them into the dungeons."

"And what about my little brother?" I sat down next to Akihiko, allowing him to recover from the shock.

"Your brother is fine, so far." After a small while, Akihiko opened his mouth again. "Tomorrow Tiana will use the crown to it's full power..." I turned my gaze to the lake as the droplets formed ripples into them. If Tiana uses the crown to it's full powers, which means that the mythical characters will remain as human or creature forever when that spell happens. Magicians will become normal humans, and die within 1 week, 168 hours to be precise.

"What shall we do? I cannot let my people suffer under her. If magicians lose their powers, they will die. And what about the hospitals and clinics? Magicians are the only ones who can make the medicines." Akihiko rested his snout on my laps as I hugged him. "I am scared. Without my magic, I won't be able to defeat Tiana. And even though I know hand-to-hand combat, I still won't be able to defeat her as she will take the advantage of the crown.

"I won't lose you to someone like her, we'll figure something out." I hugged Akihiko tighter, scared and worried.

"Manami." My mother's soft whisper called out to me, as she stood behind us beside my father.