Prince Leo led Auriella through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. 

As they walked, Auriella noticed the number of people passing by dwindling. The hustle and bustle of the castle seemed to fade the closer they got to her guest chambers.

“How come there's hardly anyone around?” she asked, her voice breaking the silence as they approached a set of ornate double doors at the end of the hallway.

Leo glanced at her, a slight smile on his lips. “This wing of the castle is for guests only. It makes sense that there would be minimal staff here,” he explained, reaching out to open the double doors.

Auriella stepped inside, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the sight before her. The room was far grander than she had expected—a luxurious display of wealth and elegance. 

The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, the floor covered in plush rugs, and the furniture was finely crafted, each piece exuding an air of opulence.

She couldn't help but think, ‘Are they trying to get in my good graces with this display of wealth?’ 

Leo watched her as she examined the room, his expression curious. “Is the room to your liking?” he asked as she sat on the large bed, which was big enough for five people to sleep comfortably.

Auriella released a short chuckle at his question as she leaned back on the bed to test its comfort. “Hmm, I suppose this will do,” she said with a smirk as she sat up again.

Leo chuckled in response. “Good night, General,” he replied, his tone light as he turned and walked to the door, closing it behind him.

The next day, Auriella was lounging in her room when there was a soft knock on the door. 

Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and the castle's designer entered, carrying a carefully wrapped bundle.

“Here is your dress and matching accessories, Miss Auriella!” the designer announced, her voice tired but full of pride. 

Auriella noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the weariness in her posture.

“Are you alright? I thought you said my design was a simple task,” Auriella remarked, her tone laced with concern.

“Oh, yes! It was nice to work on something so simple compared to the dresses of the other ladies at court…” The designer's voice trailed off, and her eyes slowly closed as she wavered on her feet.

‘Did she just fall asleep standing up?’ Auriella thought, impressed despite herself. She moved quickly, guiding the exhausted woman to the bed and gently laying her down. 

“Now that that annoying dress matter is settled, I should go pay the royal barracks a visit,” she mused to herself as she quietly left the room, leaving the designer to her well-earned slumber.

As Auriella made her way to the barracks, she asked a passing maid for directions. 

Following the path given, she soon found herself at the edge of a large dirt field where several knights were paired up for mock battles. 

The sounds of clashing swords and the grunts of effort filled the air, but her attention was drawn to the center of the field, where Prince Leo was dueling a man with dark hair.

‘Oh? Let’s see if he’s improved against someone more his level,’ she thought, a hint of curiosity sparking in her eyes as she watched from a distance, careful not to draw attention.

The dark-haired man seemed intent on winning through sheer brute force, pushing hard against Leo’s sword in an attempt to overpower him. 

Auriella shook her head in disappointment. 

“That won’t work,” she muttered under her breath, and as if to prove her point, Leo sidestepped, causing the man to stumble forward.

“Oof!” the man exclaimed as he fell to the ground, Leo’s sword pointed at the back of his neck.

“You’re dead. Next time, come at me with a plan, not just brute force,” Leo advised as he helped the knight to his feet.

“Thank you, Your Highness! I’ll keep your words in my heart!” The man bowed deeply before joining the other knights.

“Who will challenge me now?” Leo called out to the crowd of knights. As he scanned the field, he felt a familiar gaze on him. He turned his head, and there she was—Auriella, watching him with a cheeky smile. 

‘Seems I’ve finally been spotted,’ she thought with amusement.

“What a treat! Auriella, come spar with me! Maybe I’ll finally beat you this time!” Leo’s voice rang out, causing a murmur of surprise among his men.

“OUR prince hasn’t won a single time against her?” one knight whispered in disbelief.

“Well, it makes sense if you think about it. The demons are more battle-hungry and resilient than we are,” another knight replied.

‘I don’t know whether to feel complimented or insulted,’ Auriella thought as she listened to the knights openly gossip.

Leo readied himself, a confident smirk on his face. “Ready for your first defeat, General?” he taunted.

Auriella drew her sword, her smile never fading. “The better question is, are you ready to disappoint your men with your loss?” she retorted, launching the first strike.

Leo grunted as he met her blade, the weight of her strike almost overwhelming. He pushed back, and Auriella took to the air, flying several feet backward into the air before landing gracefully.

Leo closed the distance between them, bringing his sword down on her with all his strength. 

But Auriella was faster, ducking out of the way just in time as his sword slammed into the ground. She quickly brought her sword up to his neck, the match seemingly hers. 

But Leo refused to let it end so quickly. 

He lifted his sword and pointed it at her stomach, forcing Auriella to backflip away, kicking his sword out of his hand as she did and bringing her blade to his neck once more.

The field fell silent as everyone processed what had just happened.

“I truly thought I might have you beat this time, but I suppose not. Well done, General!” Leo admitted as he retrieved his discarded sword.

“You surprised me with that last-ditch effort, but the score is now 22-0, right?” Auriella asked, her smirk returning.

Leo nodded, a slightly bitter chuckle escaping him. “That would be correct.”

The knights, despite their prince's loss, erupted in cheers and applause. 

“Good job, my prince! You did well! You’ll get her next time for sure!” they shouted, clapping enthusiastically.

Auriella’s expression fell. “I’m leaving,” she said curtly, her mood suddenly soured.

“Oh, see you later!” Leo called after her, but she was already walking away.

The next day, the castle was abuzz with preparations for the ball that evening. As the sun climbed high in the sky, a group of maids entered Auriella’s room to help her get ready. 

But when they saw the dress she was wearing, they froze, their eyes wide with shock.

The dress was unlike anything they had seen in noble society. It was a beautiful white, sleeveless design that exuded both elegance and femininity. 

The high neckline, adorned with delicate lace, formed a choker-like collar that connected seamlessly to the bodice. 

The bodice itself had a structured, corset-like design, with lace accents running vertically down the front, adding a touch of sophistication.

The skirt flared out from the waist, creating a flattering A-line silhouette. The hem was adorned with intricate lace detailing that matched the bodice, giving the dress a cohesive and graceful look. 

Auriella slipped on a pair of white lace tie-up flats to complete the ensemble.

The maids quickly recovered from their surprise and set to work, carefully applying her makeup. 

Once they are done, Auriella admires herself in the mirror for a moment before heading out to the ball, ready to face whatever the night had in store.