The duke had been spending some time with his daughter; he even joins her when she trains Kaldor. Though she is happy to have her father, she still has a heavy heart.

“Come on, you lost on the match purpose” Kaldor grumbles as Azura flies to the ground as if their wooden swords had clashed, “Why are you distracted? Is your father joining us again?”

“No, he had gone to a meeting with the Baron.” She sighs.

“Then what is the problem?”

“It’s just I cannot figure out his sudden change. Don’t get me wrong, it is not a bad thing, but I do not want to get my hopes up.”

“Maybe he wants to make up for his loss of time?” Kaldor reasoned, “Let us take a break. You cannot be distracted all the time, you might get hurt.”

“Oh, his highness cares about me” Azura teases, “Are you sure you do not have a crush?”

“You know you should learn to stop that nasty sense of humor of yours when we get to the capital, they take everything literally, but then again, if people think you and I are involved they would stop arranging weddings for me.”

“Hey, you dumb prince, did you forget we are teenagers, teenagers.”

“Teenagers fall in love too, don’t you know?” He winks at her, “We have been spending so much time together, people might even think we are in love.”

“Ugh.” She face palms, she knows she is that one that influenced him to be this shameless, “I can’t believe you are letting my humor rub off on you.”

“That means you are a good teacher, right?” he watches as she rolls her eyes.

“Besides, mother and father hadn’t allowed me to accompany you.”

“Come on, it is just for the end of year festivals, we will treat you nicely, I promise.”

Kaldor is adamant about taking Azura to the capital with him for the end-of-year celebration. Many would say it is because he doesn’t want to fall back on his training. But he knows it is because of his lack of friends in the capital.

“You have your family and friends back there; what do you need me for?”

He does have one friend, Carl Lentin, who he cherishes greatly, but Carl tends to be too serious all the time. He had gotten used to being around a witty, sassy friend like Azura. He fears he would not be sane if she was not around.

“Let us just get ready for the tournament, we will think about going to the capital after that.”

“But I leave on the night of the tournament? We need to be ready by then.”

“I know, but it will work out.”

He grumbles a little as he gets up. For another round of sparing, he knows Azura very well. She struggles greatly when it comes to time management. She should speak to the duchess and see how he can get Azura to go with him.

 Soon it was also time for the knighthood festival, one of the north’s most spacious festivals. It is held each year on the last day of the year before the capital’s celebration of a new year.

“So, what do I do in this festival?”

“Aren’t you going to the capital to celebrate with your family?”

“I will go after the festival; I am your only friend.”

“His highness is too conceited I see.”

“Come on, tell me what to do in the festival.”

“You enter a competition of swordsmanship. All the knights in the north compete in a ten-stage challenge. to crown the northern knight. I was never able to join until they created a junior competition this year.”

“Is your mother the reigning champion?”

“She does not enter much. Last year Uncle Rizontie won. Walk faster before the limit contestants are reached.”

He runs after Azura, who is buzzing with happiness. He had never seen her that happy, and for some reason her happiness made him happier.

After they get their names on the board, they wait until the day of the tournament approaches. Azura vows to up her training since the tournament is nearby.

-The capital.

“Mother, is brother coming home for this year's celebration?”

“He sent a letter that he would be attending.”

“Yippie.”

“That is good, I will call the countess to bring her daughter.”

“Why would father do that?”

“Because we need to appoint a new crown princess soon.”

“Gael!”

“This time I chose a good match for him, Nessie, they come from the green dragon family.”

Though the brown and green dragons were the most common of all dragons, they were believed to be the most loyal of all the dragons.

“But big brother doesn’t want to get married.”

Adler knows very well how his brother hates being married, he might have assisted him in burning the Viscount’s business, though he was never caught because Kaldor protected him.

“And you are not going to force him. So, if he meets that girl and doesn’t like her, he is allowed to say no.”

“Of course, he is.”

Nessie had loved her husband dearly, but she had hated how his duties as an emperor override those as a father. A man who does not learn might not be willing to do so until he loses his son completely. That is how she viewed her husband.