23

Why was her brother here?

He was supposed to be trapped in the sandstorms of the Vesperia Wastes with their father, unable to return for another month.

Aurelia Delensar's eyes flickered with panic, her lips pale.

She trembled like a fragile dove, caught between the instinct to run to her brother and the thorn of doubt lodged in her heart.

The crown prince, tall and golden-haired, was as elegant as ever. His riding attire was immaculate, the silver buttons of his coat fastened to the collar.

His crimson eyes, narrow and sharp, softened only when they rested on his sister.

He picked up the fallen crown and gently placed it back on Aurelia's head. "It suits you, Lily," he said warmly.

But Aurelia wasn't comforted.

She had run away without a word, and her brother must be furious.

Tears welled in her eyes, glistening like dew on rose petals.

She looked utterly pitiful.

The prince gently wiped away the tears, cupping her face. "I've missed you these past days."

He seemed oblivious to her unease.

His crimson eyes gazed deeply into hers, calm and composed, as if he always had everything under control.

Aurelia had always relied on her brother.

But she could never decipher his thoughts.

Not even now.

Her gaze flickered to Caelum Valtaris, who stood a short distance away.

As her brother held her face, her eyes darted over his shoulder to her knight.

Silent and towering, he exuded a sense of security.

—If she knocked her brother out, what were the chances Caelum could help her escape?

For a moment, Aurelia entertained the absurd thought with startling calmness.

But before she could dwell on it, her brother released her and turned to Caelum with a gracious smile.

"Lord Lancaster, thank you for accompanying and protecting Lily."

The two men's eyes met.

A silent exchange passed between them.

Caelum was the first to look away.

He refused to acknowledge the prince's knowing gaze, which seemed to congratulate him for regaining Aurelia's trust.

Caelum's expression was cold, his patience wearing thin.

If it weren't for the fact that the prince was Aurelia's beloved brother, he wouldn't tolerate the man who had caused her so much pain.

To the crown prince, power always came before family.

When he had discovered Caelum's secret, he had offered a deal: Caelum could stay by Aurelia's side as her knight, and in return, the lycans would provide the prince with the resources he needed to secure his position in the Kingdom of Delensar.

Caelum didn't want the prince here.

Especially now, when he sensed something ominous on the horizon.

Aurelia had no idea about the deal her brother had struck.

As someone who had gained her trust through deceit, Caelum hoped the secret would remain buried, preserving his image in her eyes.

He shot the prince a silent warning before masking the predatory glint in his golden eyes.

He stepped closer to Aurelia, becoming her silent, loyal shadow.

His familiar presence soothed her.

Aurelia instinctively moved closer to him, like a frightened animal seeking shelter.

She had grown accustomed to his company.

His presence made her feel safe.

The prince didn't miss the subtle shift.

His crimson eyes narrowed slightly before a faint smile appeared.

Instead of being angered by Aurelia's retreat, he seemed even more amiable.

"Lily," he said gently, "there's a tower behind the Holy Light Temple. It's the best vantage point in Vescalen."

"From there, you can see the sky in different colors. To the west, it's the Crimson Bloom of sunset. To the east, the orange hues of dawn. To the south, the deep blue of the sea. And to the north, the icy white of the glaciers."

He described the city of the seventy-two sunsets with a soft, nostalgic tone, as if he were telling her a bedtime story like he used to.

Aurelia's tension eased slightly. She looked at her brother, her rose-colored eyes filled with confusion and innocence.

She didn't know what to say.

The prince didn't need her to understand. Her naivety was part of her charm.

He smiled. "You can have your knight accompany you to see the view."

Aurelia hesitated. "What about you, brother? Won't you come with me?"

The question lingered on her lips, but she remembered the buried boots with the lycan claw marks.

The memory still haunted her.

After a moment, she asked cautiously, "Aren't you here to take me back?"

The prince looked surprised. "Of course not. I've missed you dearly. When I heard you were in Vescalen, I came to see you."

He opened his arms, inviting her into an embrace.

But Aurelia took a step back, her eyes wary.

She was stubborn in certain matters. Without answers, she wouldn't forgive easily.

"Brother," she said firmly, "why was there a tracking spell in the boots you gave me? And how did Queen Isolde know about it?"

The prince's smile remained flawless. "I was only concerned for your safety."

He explained patiently, "Many items in the palace have special markings, especially those that leave the palace grounds. When you were younger, I used to put spells on your belongings to ensure you wouldn't get lost."

"As for how the queen knew…" He paused, his expression apologetic. "She shares the same authority as our father. I'm sorry, Lily. It was an oversight on my part."

Aurelia fell silent, her ruby eyes studying him before she lowered her gaze.

Her brother's eyes were as sincere and gentle as ever, making it easy for her to trust him.

The hint of vulnerability in his apology tugged at her heart.

After all, the queen's power was undeniable.

Her brother was only the crown prince, not yet the king. He wasn't infallible.

Aurelia couldn't tell if he was lying.

He was always perfect, his explanations seamless. The faint trace of helplessness in his voice made her heart ache.

But she no longer trusted him completely.

At least…

Not as much as she used to.

She looked down, her voice small and uncertain. "Brother, you'd never hurt me, right?"

She needed reassurance.

The prince gently embraced her.

This time, Aurelia didn't resist.

He held her close, his voice tender. "I only want to protect you and keep you happy."

His words were firm and sincere, and Aurelia's resolve wavered.

Maybe… he really did love her?

Her mood lifted, and she reverted to her usual playful self.

She clung to his arm. "Then I don't want to go back to the palace!"

"Of course," the prince agreed without hesitation. "You can go wherever you like, as long as your knight stays with you."

Aurelia was puzzled by his emphasis on Caelum, but it didn't matter to her.

She pressed on, "And I don't want to marry the lycan chieftain!"

The prince hesitated.

Aurelia noticed and immediately looked up, her eyes stubborn. "Promise me, brother! I don't want to get married!"

The prince gently ruffled her golden hair, his gaze briefly flickering to Caelum before returning to her. "I can't be with you forever. One day, you'll marry someone who will cherish and protect you, someone who will never betray you."

"No! I won't!"

Aurelia's voice rose in defiance. "I won't marry a beast!"

She stepped back, pulling away from her brother.

Like a prickly hedgehog, she even refused Caelum's approach.

She suddenly remembered that Caelum had been brought to her by her brother.

The way they had exchanged glances earlier, their unspoken understanding—

They were in this together!

The realization that she was utterly alone, with no one fully on her side, broke her.

She burst into tears, crying out:

"I hate beasts, and I hate you, brother!"