Eavesdropping

Amidst the applauding crowd Rudolf pursed his lips and left the hall leaving stunned Octavius in the center of the crowd.

"Brother...!" He heard Lucerne call him.

"Uhh...huh... What's wrong?" He looked at him. Lucerne was almost the same height as him.

"Snap out of it. Mother is calling us to pay our blessings to the couple."

"Do I need to?" He rebuked him sourly.

He glanced back before he proceeded.

"I knew that father tried to set Aria as your consort....to be honest I was against it." He shook his head.

"You...?"

"It's best for both families to remain neutral than having our relationship breached. That my opinion."

He could feel the regret in his eyes. He returned to Melody's side.

He hung his head low and silently left the hall. He looked up at the half moon. The gardens looked mystically breathtaking. The fireflies flew around the flowers in full bloom. The lamps along the white marble pavements shone golden. The trees at night seemed to be showerimg themselves with the light.

"Luciana..." He muttered looking at the white jasmine flowers. She was fond of them as they let off a sweet scentto the passerbys lightning their worries.

"But General! This is insane! Please reconsider it my Lord."

" You will do it! Or consider our deal off."

-"Father?" He guessed the stern voice. He sneaked in closer to get a better view of the two people who were more likely murmuring than talking.

Rudolf and someone else in striped robes was talking to him in a sense of unease.

"Cornelius...that sly brat. He will likely go with you to bring back Luciana. The demons have breached the contract in keeping her safe."

-"What?... What did he just say?... " He felt like the sky a ove him was ripped into pieces.

"There is a higher chance of us preparing for another war with Wahrheit. Our work should be done discretely. Bring Luciana back and I don't care if he dies in process."

-"Luciana.... Bringing her back? She's in danger! Why is father ordering them to kill Cornelius?" He was breathing rapidly.

A small branch broke beneath his foot.

The sound was loud enough to draw their attention.

"Damn it"

"Someone just heard us!" The old man panicked.

"Calm down." Rudolf slowly approached the bushes where he was hiding.

He closed his eyes when he suddenly heard laughter.

"Let's get out of here." The old man said and hurried out of that place with Rudolf following him after one last glance at the bushes.

He narrowed his eyes while Octavius remained silent not even daring to gulp down his saliva.

When he heard the footsteps retract until they vanished, he sighed in relief.

-"What is father upto? Oh Luci... He doesn't understand what he's doing."

He buried his head in his arms and sat there for a moment until he heard the laughter again.

"Look at them!"

Few nobles who preferred strolling out in imperial gardens were muttering and sighed delighted by the magical appearance.

"Oh they look like they're straight out of a portrait."

People shared their opinion when he finally stood up and looked at the place they were pointing at.

He stood silently but helpless felt envious of them.

Cornelius and Aria were having a time of their lives. They were so engrossed with each other where they didn't care about the world around them. It was after a while he had witnessed her smile genuinely.

He grit his teeth in envy at the sight.

If only he had decided to stay by Luciana's side. Only if he could hold her hand like he saw him holding Aria's hand so affectionately.

They looked more intimate with each other than he was with her.

Unable to bear it any more he turned away and left. His eyes fell upon his father who was now with Helios in the palace talking about something he feared woild take a wrong turn.

His facial expressions were revealed that it was not a good talk.

He felt something hit him from behind. He looked down and saw Avlynn and Tiberius together.

"Princess....What are you doing here without Echo?" He inquired her presence in the gardens without any guards.

Echo was Avlynn's nanny whom Luciana chose to look after her.

"Tiberius and I sneaked out." She replied.

"Did he force you to do it?" He frowned as his younger brother stood frozen trying to deny it.

"Avlynn asked him to come." She shook her head. The dangling hair accessories made a tinkling sound as she shook her head.

"Why?"

"Avlynn wanted to look at sister Aria and brother Cornelius."

"Ah-!" He stared at her dazed and lost in fearful thought.

"Brother?"

"Princess it's not a nice thing to worry your elders. You too Tiberius. Let's head inside before his majestic finds out that you're missing."

"But it's no fun in there. They're all adults. And Sister Melody is with brother Lucerne. Sister Aria is with brother Cornelius. And sister Luci..." She paused for a long moment. Octavius feared that she'd start crying so he lifted both of them in his arms and carried them inside the palace.

"It's okay princess. Your brother will bring back Luciana. So let's not cry and pray that she comes back safely."

Avlynn nodded and hugged him tightly.

*Don't worry Lynn! Brother is strong and cool. He and father are best knights in the land." Tiberius boasted proudly.

"Ti. There's no need to show off."

"But it's true!" The young boy insisted.

"There are far better knights that surpass me. Cornelius is one of them." He sighed.

"But you're personally chosen by uncle Helios."

"I just happened to be lucky. That's all."

"Avlynn knows that brother is sister Luci's knight in shining armor. Please bring her back safely."

"Without doubt. It's a promise."