After the news of the fire in the Degardo’s estate had died down, Enya returned to her training with Cullen. Zilant observed her from afar, watching her carefully.

His movements are quick and accurate. Too precise that it could be deadly… As if he were trained to kill instead. Zilant pondered. Vaince suddenly walked up to Zilant’s side.

“What are you staring at, Commander?” Vaince asked.

Zilant sighed heavily.

“Enya has good skills and everything, but… his purpose of the sword is more about killing than it is to protect,” Zilant answered.

Vaince nodded, understanding. He placed his hand under his chin.

“You’re right. Now that I look at it carefully, Enya’s skills are precise. So deadly at the same time…”

Zilant turned to Vaince, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Teach him some morals of the knights… The Snow Knight.”

Vaince paused, thinking carefully.

“What do you mean by the morals of the Snow Knight?”

“Morals… where massacre should never happen, and betrayal is a heavenly crime…” Zilant replied coldly.

Vaince froze, recalling the Phoenix Clan massacre. He nodded firmly and bowed respectfully.

“Yes, Commander. I will remind Enya of the Snow Knight’s oath!”

Zilant returned to his office, continuing his duty as the commander and the duke. Vaince glanced at Enya, watching her.

Once Enya was done practicing, she walked to a bench and gasped, catching her breath. Vaince sat beside her, leaning on his back.

“So… how is training?” Vaince asked curiously.

Enya looked at him, frowning.

“What do you mean? It’s just… training,” Enya responded.

Vaince scoffed, turning to her. He took a deep breath, squinting his eyes.

“Enya, why do you train like you do today?”

“Because that’s how I am being taught…”

“But the way you’re doing it… looks like it’s against our oath as the Dragon’s Snow Knight. Do you know that?”

Enya locked eyes with him, smirking.

“Oath? I didn’t know that there was such a word to describe how I fight,” Enya stated.

Vaince nodded, thinking.

“Well, we have an oath every time before we go to a battlefield… We don’t betray each other, and we don’t do mindless killing.”

Enya paused, glaring at him. She pulled out her sword, pretending to wipe her sword clean.

“And why is that? I thought the Dragon’s knights were all faithful. They don’t need such an oath to remind each other…” Enya dared.

Vaince took a deep breath, looking at Cullen. Then he thought of Zilant.

“Because… Commander took over. When he was a child, he witnessed something no child should have seen… an entire annihilation,” Vaince replied solemnly.

Enya’s eye twitched.

“Really? Well, I’ve seen worse. I see humans slaughtering others like pigs.”

Vaince’s jaw dropped, swallowing hard. He glanced at her.

“So, you and Commander have gone through similar experiences, then, right?”

“I’m not sure…” Enya started, then she paused, grabbing her sword’s edge tightly. Her jaw tightened. “I think… my experience was definitely the worst of all… I lost my entire family. What did he lose? His integrity? Stupid softie.”

As Enya sat there, memories of the Phoenix Clan massacre flashed before her eyes. Her mother’s dying last words were for her to protect her brother. Because of the Dragon’s Snow Knight at that time, she had lost everything overnight. A home, her parents, her people, and her baby brother.

Vaince groaned.

“I see. Well, we all have our own types of traumas and miseries. Commander wants to stop that cycle.”

Enya released her grip on the sword and returned it to the sheath. She whipped the cloth as she stood.

“How can you stop a cycle when you aren’t even the most powerful one?” Enya argued. Then she walked away.

Vaince couldn’t bring out the words to argue with her, but he was stunned.

“That… that punk!” Vaince shouted.

Enya headed toward the exit, leaving the training ground. However, a carriage had stopped her. A royal carriage with a Black Dragon Crest.

“Move out of the way, commoner!” the chauffeur shouted at Enya.

Enya glared, wanting to refuse, but she looked away and walked to the side like they didn’t exist. As she continued on her way out, the passenger in the carriage peered out of the window to look. Llard.

He scoffed as he watched Enya’s back fade through the exit.

“Since when did my baby brother hire girl-looking boys…?” Llard sneered.

As soon as Llard’s carriage stopped by the building stairs, he stepped out and headed to Zilant’s office. Llard didn’t knock, and in fact, he stormed inside, smiling slyly at Zilant.

“What brings His Highness here to the Snow Knight’s training grounds?” Zilant asked seriously.

Llard chuckled as he looked around the office.

“I just came here to check how the knights are doing and my baby brother… as well as the Phoenix Heir,” Llard revealed.

Zilant’s hand froze halfway in the air, pausing. He looked at Llard, placing everything down.

“Your Highness, I thank you for your concern about the Phoenix Heir. He is doing fine.”

Llard laughed hysterically as he stood and walked up to Zilant’s desk.

“Really? So are you saying that for him or is he saying that himself?” Llard wondered.

Zilant clenched his fists.

“He hasn’t developed any aura yet, if that is what you want to know so much… Your Highness.”

Llard smirked as he leaned closer to Zilant, seeing how far Zilant would go. However, because Zilant wouldn’t back down, Llard nodded and headed to the door.

“Where is that recruit that was with you on the night at the Degardo’s estate?” Llard questioned.

Zilant sighed in frustration silently.

“Why do you ask him? He had just left…”

Llard then recalled seeing a small boy, Enya. He scoffed.

“Are you saying the girl-looking boy was that recruit that night? When did you start hiring any type of knight, brother? If you are so desperate for more knights, you could have just joined my Imperial Knights,” Llard shrugged with a smug face.

Zilant stared at Llard coldly and sighed.

“Yes. That boy was the new recruit that I had brought with me to the Degardo’s estate. If you want, I can summon him.”

Llard glanced away, walking out the door.

“I will drag him back then…” Llard responded, ignoring Zilant.

Zilant groaned, shaking his head.

“I hope you don’t insult him… Enya.”

Llard entered his carriage again, strolling around the neighborhood. When he saw Enya’s back, he smirked, raising his hand to stop the carriage. Enya casually purchased her food before leaving. Many ladies squirmed toward them to see the First Dragon Prince.

“Oh my! Your Highness!”

“Do you remember me!? I’m Lady—”

“Excuse me, you are all on the way…” Llard said coldly. The ladies felt the chill and frowned.

Llard walked to Enya, tapping her shoulder.

“What?” Enya turned around. Llard scoffed.

“Are you the new recruit from those stupid Snow Knights?”

Enya squinted her eyes.

“Excuse me? And you are?” she asked nonchalantly.

Everyone who stood there dropped their jaws.

“Y-you don’t know His Highness?”

“Do you live under a rock?”

Enya looked around and at Llard.

“Who are you?” she whispered this time.

Llard was stunned, staring at her. He leaned closer to her ear, smirking.

“So, you don’t even know the man you accused of burning the Viscount’s garden?”

Enya leaned back, staring at him.

“No. You’re wrong… I didn’t accuse anyone, and I don’t know you. Why would I know you when you… look insignificant?” Enya responded.

Llard widened his eyes, stepping back. He glared at Enya for her insult.

“How dare you?!” he screamed.

Enya drooped as she looked at him again. Her eyebrows furrowed.

“How dare I what? Who are you, seriously? Is that how you talk to people you have never met before? You don’t introduce yourself?”

Llard frustratingly held his sword, wielding it halfway. Before he pulled it out, a stick was pulled out between them. They both looked at the wielder.

“Your Highness, I think it’s best if you return to your palace… Her Majesty has called for your presence,” the man said.

Llard frowned at the man.

“Dammit! Why did my mother’s personal knight come? Very well. Let’s go,” Llard retreated.

After Llard entered his carriage and left, Enya paused and watched. The Empress’ knight turned around and bowed.

“I apologize on behalf of the royal family. His Highness doesn’t usually behave like that out of the palace. Please forgive his act today…”

Enya observed the knight, smiling. On the inside, she felt the enjoyment.

“I see. So, he was the First Prince, right?” Enya asked.

The knight looked up at her face, checking if she was seriously asking.

“Yes, he is. Have you never seen him?”

“No. What was your name again, Sire?” Enya pried.

The knight bowed, lowering his head.

“Sire Maximillian. House of Tullio.”

Enya smirked, nodding before he looked up.

“I see. Send His Highness my ‘forgiveness’…”

Enya walked away, heading to the alley nearby. Maximillian nodded, allowing her to walk by. The moment Enya stood next to him, the breeze that she created between them quickly astonished him. He quickly turned his head to look at her, his eyes widening.

What was that…? That… enormous aura. He couldn’t make sense of it. To him, Enya looked like a tiny boy. However, the aura that he sensed through Enya was as painful as stepping into a fire.

After Enya turned and disappeared from Maximillian’s sight, Salem appeared behind her.

“Enya, that was dangerous…”

Enya smiled delightfully.

“Let him… Because they will start squirming around the empire to search for the new aura user who is hidden… but they can’t verify it with me. Ever.”

Enya returned to her residence, relaxing for her day off.

Meanwhile, Maximillian returned to the palace, bowing his head before the Empress.

“Your Majesty…”

“Did Llard cause any trouble? If so, tell him to be patient. No good results come from a muddled head,” she claimed.

Maximillian nodded, agreeing.

“Yes, Your Majesty…” he paused. His eyelid twitched. Should I tell her? Will this harm His Grace?

“Okay. Carry on.”

Maximillian stepped out and frowned with confusion.

That aura was definitely not a normal swordmaster aura… it was scorching… so dangerously hot. Maximillian recalled the chilling aura that Enya released as she brushed by him. It could mean one thing or the other… That boy has an aura for wielding fire like His Highness or worse… stronger.

“Sire Tullio,” Llard’s voice pierced through Maximillian’s thoughts.

Maximillian froze and turned to look at him. Maximillian lowered his head immediately, sweating.

“Your Highness…”

“What were you thinking that you didn’t even hear me call your name the first time?” Llard wondered.

Maximillian swallowed, clenching his fists.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I was about to head to your quarters and relay Her Majesty’s words.”

Llard nodded, shoving Maximillian’s shoulder.

“I see…” Llard smirked. “No need. I heard everything… by the way, you should keep your head low… interrupt me again like that, I swear I’ll behead you.”

Maximillian bowed lower than before, closing his eyes.

“My apologies, Your Highness…”

Llard glared at Maximillian’s neck, scoffing.

“If I catch you doing anything suspicious, be prepared to sacrifice your head… Make sure to check on the Phoenix Heir. He should have developed an aura by now… send word to me before you do to my mother.”

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