I AM SEREIA HAWTHORNE

After having breakfast, my father escorted me for a walk. It was refreshing, especially since my biological family doesn't have too much time to spend with me. They would buy me gifts and apologize for things, but affection was never there.

"You know, when I was your age, I always thought that marriage was political. That's why I tried to obey my mother by marrying a girl I didn't know." I looked at him, and his eyes sparkled. Even the toughest man can feel embarrassment, eh?

"I tried not to get close to her, but she's a woman who always makes trouble, and I have to deal with her attitude." A forced marriage... Is he talking about his wife or someone else?

"We'd fight over small things, and she would cry afterward. I wonder if it's a thing to be attached to her since we're married on paper." I wonder what it feels like to be loved romantically...

"I would always blame her, and she would cry again, which led me to always get annoyed."

"But then we got a divorce after she told me something very offensive. I let my emotions take over."

"I thought I was fine, as it was just a political marriage without love. That's what I thought. That's what I wanted to think."

"Suddenly, all the stupid things she did, I miss all of it. The way I would scold her after she sprained her foot, the way she would sleep on my shoulders whenever she was tired—suddenly, all of that matters to me as if I can see her image all over the place."

"That's when it hits me. It's no longer a political marriage. My feelings grew for her. I started to court her again. When I visited her manor, her parents didn't really want to hand their daughter over again."

"So I have to court her. And we ended up having two children." So he was talking about Mother.

"Why?" I asked. He just looks at me as he smiles.

"Why are you saying this to me?" He grabbed my shoulders gently as he spoke.

"I wanted you to marry someone you like. I'm not saying it's not the Crown Prince, but if you ever found yourself hurting, come back to us." The cold of the morning didn't bother me as I felt warmth in those words.

My father really cares for me.

"It's not like I'm going to live there. I just wanted to meet him," I said.

"I can hear you from miles away," Sebastian stated as he gave me a jacket. "Meeting the Crown Prince is not as easy as you think. You have to inform them weeks ahead." Then maybe I'll start writing a letter after this conversation.

"Your brother seemed to be very displeased about it." Seb closed his eyes at Father's statement.

"How could I let you enter a lion's den? At least let me be a proper knight before you go to the battlefield." But I'm just going to see the Prince and nothing more.

Although it was stated in the novel that the prince is a loyal dog to the church. It's because the Kingdom couldn't make a move without the Pope's blessings.

His personality must be timid, but his skills towards politics are useful.

"Continue your training on the grounds and show us your ability to rule the Knights of Hawthorne." Sebastian might be a year older, but his tongue is very sharp compared to Father.

"So you can do something when I'm in trouble." Or more like I should do something to improve myself rather than relying on everyone.

"I'm not in favor, but you wouldn't agree on this without a plan in your mind. I know you." And you should train more to escape the tragic event that will happen in the future.

And I will do all of this to save this family.

"The wind is getting cold, how about we go inside to rest?" Father suggested as he looked at the both of us.

"I'll be fine here. I would love to walk more." I answered.

"Then I'll be escorting Seri, Father."

"The two of you are like magnets, don't you know that?" But I just laughed as Father walked away.

"The Crown Prince is not strong enough to fight for you. I heard that he's very shy." Sebastian said as we walked in the garden.

"I don't actually believe rumors unless I see it personally so—" I laughed as I stared at him.

"I know you're just being protective, but we can't actually judge people." Although the original Sereia is very judgmental and evil.

"If he hurts you, I'll kill him." I can see his concerned stares as he looks pissed.

"The only thing you can do for me is to train well." And maybe he doesn't like the fact that I always tell him to do well.

"You're saying that as if I'm going to die." But you are going to die. So in order to prevent that, we need to obey the Royal Palace.

"I'm saying this for your own sake. So you could also protect the Duchess and the Duke."

"Could you tell me about that dream?" I thought it's just stupid, but it's better than sorry, isn't it?

"A spy is planted in our family. We were eating until Mother and Father experienced hyperventilation. I was screaming for help but no one came. Until I figured out that they're not breathing anymore and this mansion will be destroyed by fire."

"I was so scared."

"Because even though we both make it, you'll be executed for familial genocide." His eyes widened as he looked at me.

"Why would I—" I cut him off.

"It's because we're at the top of the hierarchical tree."

"You were the last bloodline who could give birth to a new Hawthorne. Even though we wanted a peaceful life you were executed."

"And I was left alone. I don't want that." If it means to save you then my happiness is nothing.

"A dog from the palace cannot kill us, Seri. But your dream might have a meaning in it. I'll make sure to investigate it." He pats my head as he smiles.

"The Crown Prince's brother, Cain. He's a nice kid. If there's anyone that I could trust you with, it's him." Cain Regulus. The second brother of the Crown Prince.

Although he doesn't actually appear in some parts of the novel, he's good at handling swords.

The Regulus siblings have a title for their brain and strength.

But either way, they're both the Kingdom's weapons. The Crown Prince's Brain plus The Second Prince's strength is equal to success.

"You should also trust what I will do, Seb."

"After all, I am Sereia Hawthorne." The Heroine in this story.