Enya scoffed, staring at Llard. She clipped her sword sheath back onto her belt and looked down at him.

“Really? So is being illegitimate a crime then?” Enya questioned.

“Of course, it is when you’re deceiving the entire empire!” Llard laughed.

Oh… I don’t want him to get hurt because of me. Hansel clenched his fists.

“Deceiving? Didn’t the late Emperor name him the Phoenix Heir? So, are you saying the late Emperor made a mistake?”

Everyone gasped, covering their mouths. Llard glared at her instantly.

“What—”

“Aren’t you a Prince too? Wouldn’t that mean your family deceived the entire empire because you named him the Phoenix Heir? I mean, look at him. What did he do wrong? He only existed because your grandfather named him the Phoenix Heir,” Enya argued.

Llard pointed at her aggressively.

“How dare you insult the late Emperor?!”

“How dare you speak like you’re the Emperor?” Enya narrowed her eyes.

“W-When did I?!” Llard flustered.

Hansel swallowed hard, fearing that this could end badly.

“Sire…” he stuttered.

“First of all, since you’re here, why don’t you explain to the people why he was named the Phoenix Heir? Second of all, why the hell are you here? No one asked to see you…” Enya asked.

Llard clenched his fist between him and Enya.

This bastard! Just because of my brother… my brother! “His Grace was considered a royal member, yet he didn’t have any aura! His dragon is also asleep! A bad combo. In truth, he is also an illegitimate, just like him!” Llard smirked.

Enya quickly frowned, sighing in frustration.

“Are you that stupid, or have your parents never taught you humility? If you’ll shame your brother in public, you might as well admit you still hide under your mother’s skirt!”

Llard wielded his sword in front of the crowd. Everyone took a step away from him, gasping in fear. Mothers grabbed their children and hid them.

“How dare you talk to me like that? No one has EVER insulted me the way you do! What has your commander been teaching you for you to be insolent?!”

Enya took a step closer to him, then closer as the sword tip touched her neck.

“How dare I? No one told you to insult my master. If you want to start a fight, then you’ll have to sever my neck before you dare lay your filthy hands on him!”

Llard held his sword tightly, taking a step forward. Enya pushed his wrist, dropping the sword beside her.

“You—”

“Leave before you will get insulted again… don’t test my patience,” Enya threatened.

Llard tightened his jaw.

Crazy bastard! He grabbed his sword and turned away. Watch! Once you and Zilant are dead, that Phoenix aura will be absorbed by me!

Enya turned to Hansel, placing his hoodie on.

“Follow me, Your Highness…” Enya said.

Hansel hesitantly nodded and followed Enya as she led him away from the crowd. They returned to the Dukedom. Luther ran to them, panting.

“His Grace has summoned you to his study room…” Luther commanded.

Hansel stared at Enya, fearing. Enya locked eyes with him and nodded.

“Let’s go…”

They followed Luther to Zilant’s study room.

“Your Grace, I’ve brought His Highness and Sire Fraye…”

“Good. Close the door behind you,” Zilant ordered.

Luther walked out the door and closed it. Enya stood behind Hansel, watching his shake. Zilant slowly raised his head and looked at Hansel.

“Y-Your Grace…” Hansel stuttered.

“Did you leave the dukedom early today?” Zilant asked.

“Yes…”

Zilant paused, sighing in frustration.

“Are you okay? Did you hear about the rumors?” Zilant wondered.

Hansel clenched his fists beside his thighs, closing his eyes.

“I… I heard them…”

Zilant frowned, placing his hands facing down.

“Please refrain from leaving the dukedom without letting me know. I really don’t want you to hear these things and doubt your true origin…” Zilant stated.

Hansel trembled, wishing to speak more but holding back. He nodded.

“Okay…”

“You’re excused.”

Enya glared at Zilant. Hansel turned around and looked at Enya. She turned and smiled at him.

“I have something to say to Commander. I’ll come later,” she said.

Hansel nodded to her reluctantly. He left the study room.

Enya turned to Zilant, locking eyes with him.

“What is it, Sire Fraye?”

Enya’s eye twitched out of frustration.

“Who are you to tell him to stay indoors to avoid these rumors?!” Enya questioned.

Zilant clenched his fists.

“You’re going too far in your tone… do not—”

“In fact, why do you let these rumors go around? Are you that pathetic to protect that boy from the crucial part of this world? Why are you teaching him to run away from these problems?!”

Zilant tightened his jaw, trembling for the first time from feeling confronted. He stood and walked to Enya.

“What makes you think facing head-on will benefit him in any way? He hasn’t developed any aura, and now they have a valid point to disrespect him!”

“So what if he has no aura? Do you not have an aura, too?” Enya argued.

Zilant swallowed hard, staring deep into her green eyes.

“I have little to no aura…” he whispered and admitted. “But as his guardian, I need to do whatever it takes to protect him…”

“So, running away is a way to teach him? How disappointing as a Commander… I didn’t expect to have a commander as a coward!”

Zilant panted, losing his words to speak out.

“I’m not teaching him to—”

“Then what are you trying to teach him? Avoiding your problems, thinking time will pass, and solving it is running away,” Enya paused. She stared at his eyes. “If you let those whispers crawl under your skin, you’re no better than the bastards who spread them. And worse, you’re spitting on the boy you put under my care. I didn’t take this role just to see my master dragged through the mud because his commander is too proud to stand tall. If you’re illegitimate, then what am I? A commoner who mouths off to nobles? At least I don’t bend to their words.”

Zilant’s heart fluttered. Not in disbelief, but in pain that was clenching every second he witnessed injustice, but he kept his mouth shut throughout the years of raising Hansel.

“I… I never thought of it that way…” he muttered.

“Then you should. He’s under your protection. This is a warning for you from me… I didn’t become a knight under an incompetent commander to be humiliated by his cowardice,” Enya responded coldly.

Because Zilant didn’t say another word, Enya turned around and walked out of there. Luther was at the door, shocked.

“H-How dare he call His Grace a coward?!” Luther gasped.

Zilant stayed silent, watching Enya leave. He groaned and sat on the chair.

“Am I being overly protective? Is that why Hansel grew to become like this…?” Zilant started to question himself.

Zilant couldn’t stop thinking about Enya’s words. It bothered him until night fell. He sighed in frustration, taking an evening walk around the garden. As he headed near the water fountain, he saw Hansel sitting beside the water fountain. Hansel was frowning.

“What are you thinking about?” Zilant asked suddenly, scaring Hansel.

“Y-Your Grace!”

Zilant smiled and patted his head.

“What was making you think so intensely?”

Hansel blushed, looking away.

“Sire Fraye seems like a very nice person… he also pats my head sometimes…”

Zilant froze, staring at Hansel.

“Really? Do you like him as your personal knight?” Zilant curiously asked.

Hansel nodded, smiling warmly.

“Yes… Out of all of the other knights, Sire Fraye was the one I personally think would do the best!”

Zilant nodded happily.

“I’m glad to hear that…”

“It’s just… I don’t want him to get hurt because of me.”

Hansel drooped. Zilant sighed in frustration.

“You’re worried that you will affect his reputation as a knight?” Zilant wondered.

“Yes… but he told me not to worry… he told me that everyone is all talk. Once you put a fist on their face, you can win,” Hansel recalled.

Zilant’s eyes widened, staring at Hansel. He paused. Then he laughed.

“Of course… that’s Enya right there…”

Hansel watched Zilant and smiled again.

“It’s the first time I have seen you laugh, Your Grace. It seems like Sire Fraye has had a great impact on your knightly day-to-day…” Hansel pointed out.

Zilant froze, realizing that he did laugh. He smiled warmly and sighed.

“I guess he did… that little boy could be so talkative and annoying, but he never lashes out…” he stopped, patting Hansel’s head. “I’ll go to the palace tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?”

Hansel stared at Zilant, shocked to respond. He slowly nodded.

“Yes… yes, I would like to come!” he responded. A tear streamed down his face as he beamed happily.

Zilant watched Hansel’s tears of joy and sighed in relief.

I guess you aren’t as reckless as I thought… who are you to disrupt my way of thinking just like her? Zilant smiled to himself, thinking of Hanara once again.

Just as he kept thinking of Enya, she stood at the tower. Salem bowed.

“Varen sent words. It seems like the First Prince is up to no good…”

“Like…?” Enya asked.

Salem swallowed, closing her eyes.

“People are going missing. And all of them have one thing in common… they have an aura.”

“So… what does this have to do with the annoying prince?”

“He had made a deal with the Tiger people… to find out if His Highness has an aura. The First Prince will try to take His Highness away. Varen said that they have been taking these auras and consuming the life out of it,” Salem explained.

Enya smirked, scoffing.

“So it seems like the massacre wasn’t just the plan… there was more to it… very well. If anything, they will never know why Hansel doesn’t have an aura. Let’s prepare for tomorrow,” Enya commanded.

Salem nodded. They rested for the night, waiting for the next day to rise.

As soon as the sun rose, Enya ran to the dukedom. She noticed the carriage.

“Why is there a carriage here?”

“Sire Fraye, you’ll be joining us at the palace. Sorry for the last-minute notice,” Zilant stated.

Enya turned to him, stunned.

“Eh?! I’m coming with you guys?! Who’s ‘us’?!” Enya asked.

Hansel walked behind Zilant and smiled at Enya. He waved at her.

“Me!”

Enya widened her eyes, staring at them both.

“What? Why? I hate going to the palace!” Enya shouted.

Everyone in the dukedom dropped everything and stared at Enya. She looked around, confused. Hansel chuckled.

“You’re going there to be by my side. Aren’t you my knight?” Hansel asked.

Enya chuckled nervously, scratching her neck.

“Well, yes, I am… but why? I thought Commander said—”

“I’ve changed my mind. Now get on. We will be late,” Zilant demanded.

Enya’s jaw dropped, unable to argue back. Hansel walked into the carriage, sitting. Enya groaned, walking beside the carriage. She didn’t want Hansel to go alone. Zilant smiled faintly as he mounted his horse.

As soon as they reached the palace, they headed to the Main Hall together. Enya stood behind Hansel as Hansel stood behind Zilant.

For the first time, Enya finally faced the Dragon Emperor, the son of the man who slaughtered her people.

“We bow before Your Majesty…” Hansel and Zilant greeted the Dragon Emperor. Enya mouthed but didn’t say it.

Enya smirked as she lowered her head, grinding her teeth silently. The foolish ruler of all fools.

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

Author’s Note:

Hello, fellow reader! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well as all the other ones.

Which one is your favorite chapter so far?

What will Enya do from now on?

By the way, if you have forgotten, no one knows that Enya is a girl. She’s dressed as a boy in her knight armour, but with Salem, she’s a girl. I hope that doesn’t cause any confustion 🙂