No doubt about it, she mused.

If the crown prince had chosen to dance with a lady he liked, she would surely have considered it a significant event. He had picked Aris to avoid such a situation. Perhaps he was more astute than she had initially thought. Nonetheless, the fact that she had to endure a month of inconvenience for his sake still filled her with anger.

But at least I got my revenge.

She had stepped on his toes twice, and that had probably hurt quite a bit, especially since she was wearing high heels. Aris had noticed that Hiel had become more cautious after those incidents.

"Your Royal Highness," she spoke to capture his attention. He would soon leave her to ask Violet to dance, but before that, she had something to say.

"What is it?"

"Violet is just like me." She wasn't sure if he would believe her, but it was worth a shot. "Like me, she desires a man who will be loyal to her and only her."

Aris hoped this revelation would be enough for the crown prince to release Violet from his attentions. Violet had too much potential to be confined within the palace indefinitely. If Violet had aspired to become the crown princess, Aris would have supported her, but Violet had no interest in the title. Perhaps Aris was being audacious, but she still insisted, "Don't imprison a girl of only 13."

Hiel's face reddened as he grasped the intent behind her words. "It's none of your concern."

"I'm telling you this for your own sake, Your Royal Highness."

"For my sake?"

"Lady Essel aspires to become a Duchess, not a crown princess. Do you think she would willingly do anything she doesn't want to?"

At that moment, the music came to an end, and Hiel turned to Aris. He could see the honesty in her eyes. "You're not lying."

Aris was telling the truth. He turned and headed toward Violet for the next dance. Violet, still young and unaccustomed to wearing high heels, would undoubtedly experience aching feet if she danced too much. Aris knew Violet would head to the powder room to rest after her dance, so she decided to go there first and wait for her.

A few moments later, Violet entered the room, asking, "Big Sister, what did you tell him?"

"Mm... the truth."

Violet sat down beside her with a joyful grin. "He said he expects great things from me when I become a Duchess."

"Ah."

"It seems like he won't pester me anymore."

"The crown prince isn't as foolish as he may seem."

"You're right."

Aris hadn't expected her words to have an impact on him, but it seemed he had taken them seriously. He was arrogant, but perhaps he could change. Maybe he had been moved by Aris' sincerity.

"My feet hurt." Violet kicked off her high heels with a sigh of relief. "I'm going to indulge in cake at the café," she said with a wide smile.

Aris was looking forward to it as well. It would be her first time exploring the capital with a friend. "I'm going to the restroom," she said.

"Alright."

Aris left the powder room, examined her reflection, and noticed that some of her makeup had smudged.

I should ask Lucine to touch it up for me.

She washed her hands and exited the restroom, only to find Hiel standing before her. "Your Royal Highness."

"I was waiting for you."

Aris gave the crown prince a perplexed look. Their dance had ended, so what business did he have with her now?

"You're the kind of lady who stands up for her friends."

"Thank you."

"I have plenty of women anyway. It doesn't matter if I don't have one more," the crown prince said, but there was a hint of regret in his eyes. It didn't matter anymore, though. What mattered was that he wouldn't trouble Violet anymore. Aris found that she didn't dislike the crown prince as much as she used to.

"I rather like you."

"Pardon?"

"What do you think about becoming the crown princess? Really," Hiel asked.

"Where is this even coming from?"

"I need someone sincere like you by my side. And besides, I have a feeling you wouldn't get jealous if I were to meet other women."

This jerk seemed to have reached a gross misinterpretation.

"I decline," Aris stated firmly. She would dance with the crown prince as many times as needed, but she would never become his bride.

"Is that so?" Hiel chuckled. "I knew you would say that."

"Your Royal Highness."

"Then let's be friends."

Violet was enough for her. It was odd that the crown prince would even want to be friends.

"I'll invite you for tea sometime. Don't pretend to be sick. I want you to come," Hiel said before turning on his heel and disappearing into the crowd. He was off to find more ladies to dance with.

* * *

Aris returned to the powder room and found Violet still waiting for her. It appeared that Anthe had allowed her to eat after dancing, as the little blonde was happily nibbling on snacks. Next to her, Lucine held a plate of sweets.

"You're back, my lady."

"Yes."

"Your makeup is smudged." Lucine took out a small tin of powder and began reapplying it on Aris' face. She examined her handiwork and smiled. "There, beautiful again."

"Are these snacks for me?"

"Of course they are."

Lucine knew how to keep a girl happy. Even though she was strict about food when Aris was dieting, she also knew when to reward her with delicious treats. She had set aside all of Aris's favorite snacks for her to enjoy at the ball.

"They're tasty." Aris munched on her cookies and looked at Violet. "About the crown prince," she began.

"Yes."

"He asked if I wanted to become the crown princess."

Lucine's eyes widened, and Violet's jaw dropped in astonishment. Lucine's heart raced with excitement, but she didn't hold high expectations. After all, she knew her young lady had no intention of becoming the crown princess.

"I said no, and he suggested we should be friends."

"Oh my goodness," Violet exclaimed, surprised. She hadn't expected the crown prince to make such an offer. "He has good judgment."

Aris still felt slightly apprehensive. At one point, she had considered fleeing the country to escape the arrogant, womanizing crown prince. However, she had learned today that while he was indeed arrogant, he also knew when to listen to others.

"I thought I might have to leave the country," Violet said, echoing her thoughts.

Aris sat down next to her and sighed. "He told me not to feign illness to avoid his tea parties."

"Oh my goodness." Violet's face turned pink. "Do you think he knew I was lying?"

"Who knows?"

Who could possibly decipher that enigmatic prince? Aris shrugged and reached for another cookie, but she had run out. Lucine, realizing that Aris still had time to dance at the ball, whisked her back to the ballroom. As Aris reappeared, all the men quickly took note of her. They recognized the young lady who had danced with the crown prince.

Some men, who had yet to secure dance partners, approached her. However, Aris stood alone in the corner. She had no intention of dancing now that she had danced with the crown prince.

"My lady."

"Yes."

Lucine, standing by Aris's side, inquired, "Are there any men who catch your eye?"

Today was the crown prince's coming-of-age ball, and as such, several high-profile guests were in attendance.

"No, they're not my type," Aris said and sat down. She didn't enjoy balls very much and felt it unnecessary to search for her future husband here. She was bored.

* * *

The battle had commenced. Raids from the Oraanian Empire had disrupted the troops' formations, but this had been expected. Roy had suggested splitting their troops into two groups in anticipation of raids, and this decision had proven to be the correct one.

One group would deal with the raiders, and the other would head to the Oraanian military camp. A decisive victory there was imperative.

The new general of the enemy troops was rumored to be highly impatient, and the Oraanian soldiers all charged in the same direction. Thurwin, wielding his twin swords, ran towards a soldier and slit his throat, causing blood to spurt out like a fountain.

"Damn it," Thurwin muttered. He should have eaten a larger breakfast. Looking at the corpse before him, he suddenly felt pangs of hunger. He was quickly running out of strength. "I hope the other brigade gets to the camp safely."

In the midst of the chaos, Roy stood alone. He was acting as bait for this battle, ordered to fend off the enemy soldiers until the other Xenonian brigade set fire to the Oraanian camp.

It was a decent plan, but it seemed ironic that Roy had been chosen as the sacrificial lamb.

"Commander, are you alright?" Thurwin asked.

Roy nodded. "I'll survive."

The other brigade would soon return after setting fire to the camp. He just had to put up a good enough fight until then. But what if they failed to return, or worse, chose not to return fearing for their lives?

Roy smiled to himself, though it looked more like he was baring his teeth. He swung his sword and charged forward on his horse, slicing the throats of every enemy who stood in his way. The surrounding soldiers backed away in surprise. They had known he was a skilled swordsman, but they were not aware of how powerful his magic was.

From a distance, more enemies approached.

I don't want to die yet.

He had survived in the face of great danger before. Someone had sent him to the battlefield hoping he would die, but he had stayed alive. He had faced deadlier places than this. He would stay alive, no matter the cost, and return home.

There was no one waiting for him when he returned to Xenon, no pretty fiancée at home. Yet, Roy was not ready to die. He had no particular reason to live, but he wanted to stay alive anyway.

Roy locked eyes with the enemy general. He laughed bitterly and swiftly beheaded the general, knowing that the enemy troops would fall apart without their leader. The general had been waiting for Roy to attack him, but impatience led him to charge instead.

"Your leader is dead!" Roy roared, holding up the general's severed head. The enemy soldiers began to hesitate.

"Commander!" Thurwin shouted. "Backup has arrived!"

"Good."

Thankfully, the other brigade had returned, having successfully set fire to the enemy camp. The enemy soldiers hadn't expected more Xenonian troops to arrive, and Roy could sense their confusion.

"Pull back!" One of the enemy soldiers shouted, leading the rest of the soldiers to retreat into the distance.

Thurwin watched the surviving Oraanian soldiers disappear and let out a mighty shout.

"We have the head of the enemy's general!" he bellowed. "Long live Commander Roy!"

All the men cheered and shouted. Roy's bravery in battle made him a hero. He listened to the jubilant sounds, slowly nudging his horse forward, blood from his fallen foes splattered across his body and even his face.

"I want to take a bath," he mumbled, still holding the head of the general.

No matter how accustomed he became to the sights and sounds of battle, he could never grow accustomed to the smell of blood. Everything about it disgusted him.

A warm breeze blew lightly. Spring would arrive here as surely as it did everywhere else. But in this place, there was no spring. There existed only death. Roy led his horse back quietly, knowing he had narrowly escaped death once more.