Ah. Right. This timeline in this novel is not so welcoming to genders. But it's not that’s not into men. She loves men. But right now when talking about marriage, all she wants is to run away from them.

Thus the reason why she spread this rumor.

“Now are you done playing around? You need to go back and prepare for tonight’s banquet. It’s your day after all.” Said Prince Apollo. 

Her other two brothers laughed at her.  They know that it’s only him who could scold her like this. 

Well of course. How could she forget…her fate from tonight. 

Which is her 18th birthday and finding her husband.  

The king, her father himself proposed it long ago and now that the day arrived, she could only slow down the process. 

“You look dumb.” Her black talking cat, Lucia, who appeared out of nowhere, said to her. Ever since she transmigrated to this novel, she knew that she could talk to animals. 

“You’re an ugly cat.” She fired back. 

Lucia, the cat gasped. “Everyone would think you’re insane if they see you talking to me.”

“Then say goodbyes or you’ll get eaten.”  

She hissed and Princess Asteria just ignored it. Actually, she’s been also blaming this cat.  If it weren't for her, then she wouldn’t have come into this novel world. 

Well, every prince from another kingdom has gathered to impress her father.

It’s not like she hates the idea, but it would be awkward to be married off to some old man or something. Or some handsome prince with a bad attitude. 

Plus, marriage is no joke. This will mean that she won’t have much freedom anymore. Meaning, that she couldn’t go visit the streets, have a beer in the taverns, and play cards with the boys whenever she wanted to. 

Just thinking about it irks her. 

Sighing, she nodded and was about to head to her room and listen to her brother’s nagging when she made a huge turn and ran to the opposite - which is outside.

She looked back and could see her brother’s tired face. 

The loud breeze welcome her and she inhaled fully. She kept her dark cloak on and covered her silver hair to avoid standing out from the crowd. 

She then remembered Lord Eros…the dead dark mage that she was working her essay on. She went and stole the book of Ardis to get more information on how to summon him.  And now that the book is in her grasp, she could get her wishes now! 

He can give anything she wants. Just like a genie. 

Putting the book of Ardis to the pockets inside her dress, she made sure that it is safe and  intact before she managed to slip outside the castle and to the bushes where there was a hidden dog door leading to one of the alleys in the central town. 

She smirked as she was almost reaching outside when her whole upper body was outside already but her lower half was still stuck with the opening. Muttering a curse, she remembered that she was only little when she used this little dog hole so now that she’s old, she didn’t even think of how she couldn’t fit in here with all her now larger butt and wider hips. Wow, talk about a mishap!  

And more than that, she could smell a disgustingly stinky smell.

Her hand had met a dog’s poop on the ground! Now really not very ladylike. 

“Very unladylike indeed.” Said her cat Lucia out of nowhere. 

“Just shut up. You’re not helping me.” She snapped. 

“Do you help with anything?” Suddenly, a dark voice asked. 

A tall dark figure loomed over her. Oh great. Another encounter.

She instantly removed the crown from her head and faked a smile. The kind stranger who offered to help looked a bit familiar bu she couldn’t tell where she saw him. 

“I am just a maid.” 

His eyebrows raised, his lips crooked, probably finding her position on the ground hilarious.

She ignored what he said, “Can you help me get away?”

He blinked, not sure what to do as he watched her in the most awkward position. 

“Just grab me.” She instructed and he did as she told, pulling her from her stucked position. 

 

She patted her dress as she stood up. Now that she was on eye level with him, she stopped as she saw how handsome he is…no Asteria, just because a handsome stranger helped you doesn’t mean you’ll have to befriend him….she thought to herself and bit her lip. 

 Air came out from his hands, meaning, his one of the gifted ones with an air type..

“You’re an air user..” She mumbled and he nodded, “I believe I am.” 

Ignoring her thoughts, she just sent a smile at him, “Thank you, gentleman.”

He glanced at Lucia, “Your cat is cute.”

Lucia meowed and blushed. 

Princess Asteria scoffed, “Oh yeah, but she’s very useless.” 

Lucia gave her a glare and she stuck her tongue out at her.

“Do you need me to escort you-“

“No.” She simply rejected his offer. 

But the streets are busy today-“

He persisted but Princess Asteria was also keen.  “Yes. I can see that. Since the princess is getting those suitors of hers around.” She said, mentioning the princess. 

“Princess!” 

Someone yelled behind and she gasped, her eyes widened. “Hide me.”

The stranger blinked, somehow getting it. She can’t believe she’s letting him help her. 

In an instant, the stranger grabbed her hand and caged her to the wall. HIs green orbs stared intensely at her golden ones. She gulped, mildly checking her pockets to make sure the book of Ardis is still in her pockets.  

The stranger chuckled and raised his eyebrows and whispered. “Relax, they’ll sense your nervousness.“

Princess Asteria’s breath hitched, tongue-tied. 

“I-uh…”

She racked her brains for anything to say but found her lips couldn’t. 

The stranger suddenly removed his hands from the wall and stood still, “They’re gone now.” 

She nodded, noticing that indeed, the royal guards swept past them. 

She cleared her throat, feeling her cheeks flushing red. “T-thank you again.” 

She was about to walk away when the handsome man stopped her, “Wait!”

When she turned around, the man was smirking as he held a book up high, “Where did you get this?” 

Her eyes widened and she instantly jumped to get it but since the man was taller and held the book higher, she couldn’t, “Take it back!” How did he even got it? She made sure to tuck it inside her pockets! Unless this man got inside her gown? No! 

“Na uh, answer me first, where why did you get this..forbidden and eclosed book?”

She gulped, “It’s not your business. Now return it to me, while I’m asking nice.”

The handsome man seemed to find the situation hilarious. Furious, Asteria forced to take the book when her hand grazed his and she stopped when a sudden electric shock struck her bones. 

The strange man seemed to also feel it as he stopped and his eyes went wide and gasped, “Did you feel it?”

“Felt what?” She asked, playing dumb but the man just smirked. 

“I finally found you. After 1000 years.”  He whispered. “Come with me, miss. I’ll return the book once you’ll come with me.”

Princess Asteria pushed him away, “No! Are you kidnapping me?” 

He shook his head, looked at her as if offended, “Of course not! Well, I’m taking you with me but I’m asking nicely so please just agree, I promise not to harm you. It will just be a moment.”

He then thought of another thing then brightened up, “You want to revive Lord Eros, I believe?”

She gasped, “How did you know? I mean..no!” She tried to lie, but he already seen it. 

“Good, well, we seem to have the same goal, given that I’m also trying to revive my twin..” 

“Your twin? How-“

“It’s a bit a long story and time is running, I’ll explain it to you later.” 

And instantly, she felt him snapping his fingers and a large gush of win came to take them. 

****

She woke up with her mouth covered with cloth together with her eyes. She felt like her mind was still spinning with all the amount of wind that they used as transportation. She didn’t even struggle and let fate take her knowing this will not be her end anyways and that it is only for the plot development. Someone took it from her and she adjusted to the sudden brightness. 

She saw the man from earlier who stood in front of her. The man who’s saying he’s Lord Eros’ twin…

She blinked, and let out the first words from her mind, “Am I being kidnapped?”

“Kind of.”  The handsome man answered, “I’m sorry that you have to experience that kind of mess. I just need to do that to make sure we are not being followed.” He then cleared his throat. 

He then offered his hand, “Anteros. My name is Anteros.”

Asteria accepted his hand hesitantly, “I’m Ast-“

“Yes, Princess Asteria. I know you. Your name is practically all over the kingdom. I must say, the rumours were exactly true. You look so beautiful.”

His remarks didn’t caught her attention, but what bothered her was his name. Anteros? Oh my goodness. How could she be stupid! Anteros as in the twin of…Lord Eros from the novel? Her mouth gaped open. At this time, she’s supposed to be married off to some prince back at the castle. She looked around and realized she was taken to a cave. No, if her memory serves her right and with Anteros here, there is only one answer to this. 

She’s going to revive Lord Eros. This has not happened in the novel! 

Anteros cleared his throat,  “Well, firstly, do you know how dangerous you are?”

She cocked her head, “I don’t

He looked confused then nodded, “I see, no one must have told you how incredibly rare and dangerous power you currently possess.” 

It took her a moment to process what he said, “What?”

“You, possess a very rare power. And a very dangerous one.” He repeated, this tim slowly for her to hear it clearly. 

Her ears perked up in interest at that. She didn’t have any power in the novel…and knowing that this random character..is telling her that she has one just made her both happy and at the same time scared. What is happening now? 

Are we still going through the same storyline from the novel? Uhm, hello, author of this story? She wanted to scream that right now at the void. The last time she remembers, she’s practically powerless and mana less. The royal family and very few people had their own special elemental mana while she, a random extra who turnemana-lesss never had any so why is Anteros here saying some dumb stuff to her?

Unless the story changed? Or she changed the story? 

Anteros looked at his watch, hearing it strike six in the evening. She didn’t even notice how time passed by that quickly. 

“We’re losing time now. You have a ball to attend later too. I’ll explain everything later but right now, we must first focus in our goal. To revive my twin brother, Eros.” He said then asked, “But why do you want to revive him, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I…need something from him..” Was all she answered. 

“Alright, then you have to help me now.” He pleaded. The book of Ardis appeared out of nowhere and he showed it to her. 

“Since you’re the only one who possess the rare power, you’re the only one who can do this. I tried multiple times alone but ended up failing in the past.” He said and she opened the book. 

The letters were written in another language, yet she wondered how her mind could translate it. This must be one of the perks of her gift, if what he’s saying is true...

She let her eyes wander in the pages and the letters read, “It says here that only a woman with rare gift can perform the ritual. She has to be alone, offer her blood, her greater resolve to revive the person should be stronger and sacrifice herself to the cliff-wait what?” She looked at him with are you serious expression. 

“Oh so that’s why my air spells were not working!” Anteros exclaimed. 

“You didn’t warn me, Anteros, that this will cost my life.” She said. Goodness, does her resolve to revive him stronger than surviving in this world?

She pushed him, “So basically, I’m a human sacrifice for your brother? Are you even saying that my gift is true-“

“Of course, I am saying the truth. Don’t worry, I’ll just be nearby if it won’t work I’ll catch you.” He said, “Think about how if it will be successful, you’ll get what you want.” 

She bit her lip, having second thoughts now, “What if it won’t work? Just a legend?”

Anteros smirked, “I promise, it will. And after this, I’ll train you so you’ll be able to control your power.” He didn’t even waited for her as he instantly disappeared from sigh, leaving her in the cave.