WAITING FOR YOU

Immanuel slowly rose from his seat, his composure cracking at the edges.

"…Very well," he said stiffly, brushing off his robe. "We shall not force the hand of royalty. Not today."

He looked directly at Aria then, eyes narrowing—not in hatred, but something worse: calculated interest.

"But remember this, Aria Kaelen. The divine does not forget its chosen."

With that, he bowed stiffly to Caisson, gave a respectful nod to Lioan, and walked out. The other priests followed, their pristine white robes whispering like ghosts against the marble floor.

Only after the doors closed did the tension ease.

Selene stood still, her clenched hand now a bloodied mess.

Caisson sighed, rubbing his temple. "That went better than expected. Which is terrifying."

But Aria rose quietly, her voice soft. "I want to speak to duchess. Alone."

Theo tensed but stepped aside. Selene's eyes widened slightly as Aria walked toward the corridor, not looking back, and the duchess silently followed.

In the East Wing Balcony – Just Before Sunset

The sky burned in gold and rose, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Selene stood a few feet behind Aria, who leaned against the railing, the breeze catching strands of her hair.

"…You were willing to start a war," Aria said finally, not turning around.

"For you?" Selene said, tone still sharp from earlier. "I would end kingdoms."

Aria gave a tired laugh, but it wasn't mocking. "You know, you didn't have to act like a mother to prove you are one."

Selene took a breath—carefully. "I was never taught how to be one."

"I noticed."

Silence.

Then Aria turned, really looking at her. "But I also noticed something else. You're still trying."

That hit deeper than Selene expected. Her mask slipped—just slightly.

"I don't forgive you," Aria said plainly. "Not yet."

Selene nodded once, accepting.

"But…" Aria looked back at the horizon. "I'll give you a chance. Just one. Use it well."

"…I will."

A long silence stretched between them—still, but not uncomfortable.

Finally, Aria said, "I'm going back to the North tomorrow."

Selene walked forward and, for the first time in this life, reached out gently touching Aria's hair like she might vanish.

"I'll be watching too," Selene said quietly. "Even from far away."

Aria didn't stop her.

That night, Aria sneaked out again, her steps light and practiced. She moved through the silent corridors and into the garden shadows, eyes fixed on the distant figures of the High Priest and his entourage.

A soft whisper came from behind."Are you following them too?"

She didn't need to turn to recognize the voice.

"What are you doing here, Khalid?" she asked, her tone low but sharp.

"Same as you."His breath was close. They were crouched too near for comfort, but even a rustle could give them away.

In the courtyard below, High Priest Immanuel stood under the moonlight, his white robes glowing faintly.

"I heard the voice of God the moment I entered the palace," he said quietly to another priest, whose face remained hidden under a heavy hood."It kept repeating—'Take Aria back to the church'… but it never explained why."

The hidden priest nodded."If that is the will of the divine, then we must obey it."

Agreement passed silently between the robed figures.

Suddenly, they froze. Their gazes turned sharply—toward the place where Aria and Khalid were hidden.

Aria's breath caught.

"I heard it again," Immanuel murmured, his voice oddly distant now."We should return to the Holy Kingdom and decide there."

At the same time, two figures watched from a higher ledge—hidden by shadows, but their eyes sharp and focused on Aria.

"Is this how you keep Khalid away?" Icarus asked quietly, his arms folded as he glanced at Abigel standing silently beside him.

Abigel didn't respond. His gaze was locked on Aria… or rather, on the way Khalid was standing far too close to her.

"There has to be a reason he keeps trying to be near her," Icarus continued, his tone calmer than the tension brewing in the air.

Suddenly, Khalid tilted his head up.

He looked straight at them—and smirked.

Abigel's hands clenched at his sides, his knuckles pale. The dark aura around him twisted and rippled like a storm ready to break.

"No," Icarus said sharply, stepping forward. "Don't blow their cover. Not now."

Abigel's jaw tightened."That bastard. Why is he holding her like that?" His voice was low, lethal.

Icarus didn't answer with words. Instead, his eyes narrowed, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from the ledge.

Within seconds, he appeared beside Aria, grabbed her wrist gently—but firmly—and pulled her away from Khalid without a word. The move was quick, seamless, protective.

Khalid's smirk faded just a little.

From the shadows above, Abigel exhaled a slow breath, though the storm in his aura didn't settle.

"Don't worry," Icarus's voice echoed faintly through their bond."I'll make sure he pays for touching what isn't his."

Aria stumbled slightly as Icarus pulled her into the deeper shadows behind one of the palace's old stone walls. The cool night air pressed against her skin, but it was nothing compared to the fire in Icarus's grip.

"What was that?" she hissed, pulling her arm free. "You can't just show up and drag me off like—"

"Like he had any right to stand that close to you?" Icarus snapped; his voice low but fierce.

Aria stared at him.

"It's not about rights, Icarus."

Icarus looked away for a second, his jaw tight, hands twitching as if trying to restrain himself."He looked too comfortable."

"So do you, sometimes," she muttered.

That got his attention. His head turned sharply toward her, and his gaze fixed on hers with such intensity it made her heart skip.

"And does that bother you?" he asked, voice softer now, but no less dangerous.

Aria swallowed, suddenly aware of how close they were again. The moonlight barely touched his face, but the heat from him was undeniable.

"What bothers me is being treated like this" she said carefully.

That silenced him.

For a moment, the night was still. Only the soft wind between the trees moved.

Then Icarus exhaled."I know," he said quietly. "But… I felt something when he touched you. Something wrong. Like the golden aura—reacting. You didn't feel it?"

She blinked. "No… but now that you mention it… my chest felt tight for a second."

He stepped back just enough to give her space."Then stay away from him. Please. Until we understand what that reaction was."

Aria hesitated. "What are you really afraid of, Icarus?"

 He just simply smiled.

Icarus brought Aria back to her room, silent but firm, his touch lingering longer than necessary. As the door creaked open, she froze—Abigel was already there, leaning against the wall, arms crossed like he had always belonged in her space.

Without a word, he stepped forward, pulled out a handkerchief, and gently began wiping her hand. His touch was precise, careful—almost too soft for someone like him.

"Did you tell her?" Abigel asked, his eyes not leaving her skin.

"I did. The rest is up to her now," Icarus replied from behind. Then his voice grew darker. "If she refuses, I'll choose my own way."

His own way… probably murdering Khalid, Aria thought grimly. But when her gaze flicked to Abigel, the way his jaw tightened told her everything. They might be different in how they acted, but on this—on her—they were united.

"At least you're agreeing for once," she muttered.

Abigel didn't respond. Instead, he walked past her to the window and flicked the blood-stained handkerchief out. Before it could even fall, Icarus raised a hand and set it ablaze. The cloth vanished in a swirl of ashes, dancing in the moonlight like a forgotten curse.

"Why are you like this?" Aria sighed, not even sure who she was asking anymore.

"Like what?" Abigel asked, glancing back at her, eyes unreadable.

She didn't answer. She couldn't. Her chest felt too heavy with things she didn't understand.

Icarus moved behind her, his presence like heat at her back. He pulled her gently against him, brushing her hair aside. Then his lips touched hers—slow, claiming. She gasped softly, her hands clutching his sleeves, but before she could fully react—

Abigel stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from the front, tilting her chin up slightly. His lips pressed against the side of her neck that was still exposed, deliberately trailing where Icarus hadn't touched. The contrast between them made her body tense and her thoughts shatter.

Her heart thundered in her chest. The scent of both of them mixed around her, intoxicating and overwhelming. Her mind went blank.

When she finally pulled away, her lips were swollen, her face flushed, and a dark mark had bloomed on her skin—Abigel's unmistakable signature.

She stood there, breathless, looking at the two men who never looked at anyone else the way they looked at her.

Icarus stepped forward, took her hand, and pressed a soft kiss to her fingers. "I'll see you later," he said simply before vanishing through the door.

Abigel's fingers traced the mark he had left on her neck, slow and deliberate, like an artist admiring his handiwork. A small, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"You've changed," Aria murmured, her voice still breathless.

"No," Abigel replied softly. "I was always like this."

She blinked, confused. "Always…?"

"Yes. Since the first time I saw you." His voice carried a weight she hadn't expected.

"That was just a few months ago," Aria frowned, stepping back slightly to read his face.

He laughed, quiet and low, almost bitter. "No… not a few months ago. The first time. When I came to the North."

"But that can't be. I never came to the North before now," she said, her brows drawing together.

Abigel tilted his head, his gaze far away, like he was seeing something she couldn't. "Don't you remember the portrait in the main hall of the duchy? The girl in the white fox fur…"

Her breath hitched.

"I've been waiting since then," he whispered. "Waiting for you to return."