After Enya finished with her training, she returned to the alcohol shop. She quickly changed into her night stealth outfit and waited for Salem.

“Enya, Lumerin had requested knights’ night duty. He hasn’t spoken to anyone else yet,” Salem said. Enya smirked.

“Then let’s search for some more in his mansion. There’s definitely a clue somewhere,” Enya replied. “The knights won’t be able to catch me that quickly. They’re quite slow now…”

Enya walked to the balcony door and jumped out to the roof next door. Salem followed. Once they reached the House of Degardo, Enya snuck into the master bedchamber. Lumerin slammed his cup on the ground.

“What went missing?” Lumerin asked his butler. His butler groaned in frustration.

“I can assure you, nothing was amiss. We checked everywhere, except that place…” his butler responded. Lumerin sat down.

“Who could have raided my place? Who the stupid pea-brained dared? Argh. Luckily, it’s nothing to worry about, but my reputation will be shattered. The Empress won’t support me if they find out,” he screamed. Enya smirked behind her mask.

“The Empress, eh? Who’s the pea-brained now?” she spoke to herself.

“Make sure to take those things away. Hide them in the secret house tomorrow!” Lumerin demanded. The butler nodded.

“Will do, Viscount.”

“That stupid Ice Prince will come by tomorrow to do his night duty… Make sure to make a room accommodating for him,” he added. The butler bowed, then left the room. Enya sighed in frustration. She turned to Salem.

“This way…” Salem instructed. Enya nodded, following her. They jumped around, closing toward the secret house behind the garden. Enya glared.

“What’s in there?”

“He hasn’t let anyone entered yet. Only he has the key…” Salem responded. She nodded.

“Let’s return tomorrow. We can try to get the key from him when the knights come… he will be distracted, anyway,” she said. Salem nodded as they returned home for the night.

Enya returned to the knight’s training ground, but everyone was lined up. She stood behind the last person as she looked at Cullen. He stared at Enya.

“Enya Fraye, come here,” he called. Enya was surprised and pointed at herself. Everyone turned and looked at her with envy and disgust.

“Me?” she asked. Cullen groaned.

“Who else is named Enya if not you?” he asked. Enya awkwardly smiled and walked to the front. He handed weapons to her: a bow, arrows, and a sword.

“What are these for?” she asked. Cullen slyly smiled.

“You’ll be on night duty tonight,” he answered. Enya’s jaw dropped. The entire knight squad started snickering, pointing at her. Enya was in disbelief and looked at the squad.

“But… there are a lot of other knights—”

“Are you questioning my command? Commander had requested you for the night duty. Lumerin’s residence,” Cullen instructed. Enya bit her lower lip.

Biscuits! Salem, the plan has changed… Enya nodded as she didn’t argue.

“Yes, Captain!” she obeyed, straightening her pose, glaring as she looked down. I thought he didn’t care… why does he care now? Enya walked away.

Once training was done and night fell, Enya wore her knightly armour for the first time. She groaned at the thought of it. She stepped out to the front of the training grounds, and Zilant was there, waiting. He turned when he heard her footsteps.

“Your footsteps are quiet… like a trained assassin,” he stated, lacing with suspicion. Enya smiled silently, avoiding eye contact.

“What makes you think that? I just have small feet,” she replied boldly. Zilant leaned his head back.

“Small feet with practiced skills…”

Enya chuckled awkwardly, feeling the urge to smack his head.

“Do you love talking to people, Commander? Because I sure don’t,” Enya stated. Zilant smiled slyly. He can smile… this evilly?

“I don’t know… maybe I just feel like someone is trying to steal something from me that I have to confront…” Zilant responded.

Enya shrugged.

“I’m just asking… why are you attacking me?”

“Let’s go. Lumerin is waiting.”

Zilant walked out of the gates. Enya’s jaw dropped with shock. She paused and laughed hysterically. She slapped her forehead out of frustration.

“This bastard just wants the last word… calm down. You can give him a beating when the time comes…” She took a deep breath. Then she followed Zilant to Lumerin’s estate.

While they were at the estate, Enya followed closely, looking around like it was her first time. Mesmerized.

Zilant stopped and turned to look at her.

“Keep your head low. Lumerin is quite close with the Empress… he doesn’t have respect for me as much as he does with the First Prince. So, be in full alert,” Zilant warned. Enya looked at him, unsurprised. She nodded nonchalantly.

“Okay. Sure.”

Lumerin stood by the entrance, smiling at Zilant and Enya. The moment their steps were by the stairs between them and Lumerin, Lumerin walked down. He kept his chin up.

“Your Highness, the Second Prince.”

They bowed to each other, a hand held up as they lowered their chest near it.

“Lumerin, please address me as Duke…” Zilant humbly stated. Lumerin snickered.

“As you wish… By the way, Duke, just make sure you protect everywhere in the mansion and near the storage. Apparently, this rat is stealing food or rations.”

Enya glared at Lumerin’s face. She smirked. Too loudly that Lumerin quickly turned and looked at her.

“Who is this young boy?” Lumerin asked suddenly. Zilant swallowed hard.

“He’s a new recruit. I brought him along because his skills are superb.”

Lumerin laughed.

“You’re saying he’s…”

“I’m new, and I don’t know much about my duty yet…” Enya interrupted, waving her hand from behind. Lumerin paused, squinting his eyes at her.

Zilant slowly turned to look at her with rage.

“You are not to speak without being called…” His jaw tightened. Enya locked eyes with him.

“I can speak for myself. I don’t need you to speak for me… Plus, you dragged me along.”

Lumerin watched them bicker, realizing how annoyed Zilant had become.

I have never seen His Highness to be this… emotional before. Who is this young man who dared to disrupt His Highness’ cold expression? Lumerin smiled. He raised one finger, opening his mouth.

“Duke—”

“Viscount Degardo! There has been an explosion!”

They all panicked and looked behind the mansion. Enya smirked beneath them. Lumerin turned to Zilant.

“Duke, go check! Make sure to capture the culprit dead or alive!” Lumerin demanded disrespectfully. Enya glanced at Zilant, who bowed without a care.

“Yes, Viscount. Lead the way.”

Lumerin turned and walked ahead. Zilant and Enya followed closely behind.

Is he stupid, or does he not care? As a prince and a duke, your status deserves respect… Enya paused, frozen. She looked at her hands. Why do I care? Focus.

She followed them closely. Once they had passed by the garden, Enya glanced over. Lumerin pulled them away from the garden. Enya stopped.

“What is it?” Zilant asked. Enya locked eyes with him.

“Commander, there seems to be a fire here, too. I’ll go check it out over there!”

Zilant looked over at the garden. He nodded.

“Be safe. Come back to the big explosion when you’re done…”

Enya smiled, nodding. Then they departed. Enya stopped before stepping closer to the entrance. She turned and jumped into the bush.

Suddenly, Salem appeared.

“Enya!” Salem called. Enya smirked.

“Here. Give me the clothes,” she replied. Salem took her knightly armor. Then Enya changed into the dark clothes, blending in with the dark. She tied her hair up. “Let’s go!”

“Yes…” Salem followed closely.

They looked around the entrance of the garden.

No guards.

Enya and Salem snuck inside smoothly.

Salem searched around for an opening. Enya watched carefully. The wall of vines.

“Why would the Viscount be so into gardening? This only means a few things…”

“What is it, Enya?”

“He’s planting them himself…” Enya glared at the wall. She glanced at the flowers of the vine. Salem was about to touch the vine. Enya pulled her back immediately.

“...”

“These flowers are poisonous. He wouldn’t want anyone stepping inside. He definitely planted these to keep intruders away. The trigger is somewhere further from it…” Enya said, looking behind. She then saw a mossy stick with a dragon’s head. She walked up to it. She snickered. “How basic…”

Enya pulled the trigger.

The wall of poisonous flowers trembled, opening. It creaked open just enough for a body to walk in. Salem and Enya stepped inside through the crack.

Enya quickly shifted her eyes to the ruby red, flickering fire on her hand. Her phoenix fire. Salem and Enya stared at the pots in front of them.

Thousands of them.

A bright orange and yellow flower shone back at them from the reflection of Enya’s fire.

She instantly trembled in rage, glaring at the flowers.

“Sunfire nectar… that bastard was the one trying to plant them for what? A mass massacre?!” Enya said. Salem gasped, panting.

“What do we do with this much? We can’t take them all…” Salem stated. Enya smirked, clenching her hand as the fire evaporated.

“Take two or three… the rest? I’ll burn it… just like I will burn them in the future…” Enya demanded. Salem looked at Enya with concern, nodding. Salem grabbed a few pots. She turned and walked to the wall.

Enya’s eye twitched as her ruby eyes glimmered. Instead of red fire this time, she summoned her blue fire.

“I’ll make sure those who want these will suffer immense backlash. This… is for poisoning my mother, bastard!” Enya whisked her blue fire across the room.

The blue flame flickered once, then a massive red fire stormed across like a crashing wave. She smiled as she watched the flowers wither into ashes.

“You’ll be next to become the ashes that only Phoenix rise from…”

Enya turned around and escaped with Salem. They walked by the bushes and tried to hide.

“Enya!” Zilant’s voice pierced through the nightly air. Enya swallowed hard, realizing that she was still wearing her stealth outfit.

“Biscuits…”

Salem turned to look at her.

“Enya…” Salem handed her the knightly armor.

Enya quickly changed as fast as she could. Then she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Once she opened her eyes again, the color changed back to green.

“Head back… send these to Kahni. Make sure he finds out how the poison works. Tell him not to mess this up because… the rest are burnt.”

Salem nodded.

“Noted. Stay safe!” Salem replied. Then she jumped away. Zilant heard noises toward Salem’s direction. He wielded his sword. Enya saw it. She quickly jumped out of the bushes.

“Ow!”

Zilant turned to look at her.

“Enya?!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🪶 🔥 Princess, Don't Waver ❄️ 🐉 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~