Zilant returned to Enya and Hansel, heading back to the Dukedom. Before Enya strode to the entrance to leave, Zilant ran to her.

“Enya…” he called out.

Enya faced him, looking at him coldly.

“What?” she asked.

“Thank you… for sparing the words for Hansel…” Zilant paused.

Enya nodded, turning slowly.

“Yes… well, he is my master,” she responded.

Zilant looked at her, grabbing her arm. He pulled her in. Enya widened her eyes, staring at him.

“I really mean it. Hansel’s future is very important to me. I don’t know what they would do to him if he has an aura… yet you challenged the Emperor and helped me in ways I cannot fully express,” Zilant explained.

Enya locked eyes with him, with time between them flowing so slowly. She stared at his eyes, reflecting the stars beautifully like a blue frozen sea beneath the winter sun. She blushed, swallowing as she looked away. What was I thinking? She pulled her arm away.

“Yeah… Goodnight,” she murmured and then ran off.

Zilant watched her leave, smiling.

“I didn’t take you for a shy boy… I guess you’re still young after all,” Zilant whispered to himself. He took a deep sigh before turning around and returning with Hansel.

Enya walked hastily through the market, shaking the image of Zilant’s eyes. His genuine and earnest facial expression.

“Since when did he talk like that?” Enya blushed. “He was always just a cold, silent brute…”

She turned her head around, glaring.

“Weirdo!” she shouted. Then she kept walking to her residence. As soon as she was about to turn to the alley, she heard a wind flying her way. She took a step forward, but her head leaned back.

A dagger stabbed the wall beside her.

She turned to look around for any signs of presence. Salem quickly jumped out of her hidden spot.

“Salem…”

“I couldn’t track the person… However, the aura was like spring wind… The same one that sent me the information about the First Prince and the Tiger’s Den…” Salem explained.

Enya frowned, grabbing the dagger. She pulled out the letter that was attached to the hilt.

| Assassination will be attempted. Stay fully alert. |

Enya smiled as she read it completely. Salem stared at Enya.

“I guess, I will be having company before we set out to the Tiger’s Den…” Enya stated.

Salem nodded, following Enya. The shadow that followed with the wind aura watched, then the shadow jumped away. Enya heard the faint footsteps disappear, so she released her fire, burning the note that came with the dagger. She turned her face a little to the light of the market before entering the dark alleyway, smiling.

As soon as Enya reached her home, the shadow with wind aura returned to the palace. The lonely tower beside the palace. He entered, removing his mask. Maximillian. He looked around, making sure no one was nearby.

“Where did you go this late at night, Sire Tullio?” Llard’s voice pierced through the silent room.

Maximillian turned around and saw Llard sitting at the table. He crossed his legs, holding a glass of red wine. Maximillian quickly knelt before him.

“Your Highness… I…”

“No worries… I was just asking. I knew what you were doing. Did you find his home?” Llard smiled.

“His…? As in…”

“Enya Fraye. That annoying knight. Were you able to track his home?” Llard asked.

Maximillian lowered his head.

“Not yet. He had company as he was heading home. I couldn’t follow closely,” Maximillian lied.

Llard stared at Maximillian carefully, narrowing his eyes. He placed the glass to his lips.

“Very well… By the way, this is very good wine… you have good tastes in wine,” Llard smirked. Then Llard left the room.

Maximillian closed the door, panting.

“That was close…” Maximillian whispered. As he stayed low for the night, the assassination must take place.

After that night, Enya walked herself back home alone, anticipating an assassin to follow her. Salem would follow from a mile away, watching carefully.

Enya knew she only had days left before they had to head out to the Tiger’s Den. She waited each day to confront the assassin, but there was no one there to assassinate her. She frowned upon waiting endlessly like she was excited to play.

After a few days had passed, Enya continued living her life as normally as possible. Hansel asked Enya to go for a stroll outside of the dukedom to the market. Enya followed him.

“I guess… we will be leaving in a few days. To see…” Hansel hesitated.

Enya nodded, looking at the marketplace.

“Yeah… it’s whatever. These fools just want to say and do whatever they want. Don’t be afraid of them…” Enya said nonchalantly.

Hansel paused and stared at Enya.

“How are you so sure? What if… they’re right?”

Enya stopped, turning to look at Hansel. They locked eyes. She smiled at him.

“Because… you’re not one who lies. Unlike that foolish prince…” Enya responded.

Hansel blushed, his jaw dropping slowly.

“Thanks… Really… Enya, you’re always good at cheering me up,” Hansel stated.

Enya patted his head softly and scuffled.

“I’m glad then! I hope you stay happy all the way. You deserve it.”

As soon as Enya turned to face the market, a carriage ran straight to them.

“Watch out!”

Enya’s eyes widened, grabbing Hansel’s arm. She pushed him away from the pathway.

“Enya!” Hansel shouted.

Enya turned to look at the carriage.

SWOOSH.

A sword stabbed through from inside the carriage, aiming at Enya’s neck. She saw the sunlight reflection from the sword and lowered Hansel’s neck further down. She raised her hand with the sword sheath.

The carriage skidded and then stopped in front of Enya.

The assassin appeared in the carriage and leapt out the window. Enya quickly pushed the assassin away and grabbed Hansel. She dragged him out of harm’s way, sword ready to defend.

“Stay here!” Enya demanded.

Hansel nodded, refusing to go anywhere else because he trusted her.

Enya charged the assassin, snatched a twine from a market booth, then rolled on her back to vault over him and stabbed his hand, forcing him to drop the sword. Once the blade hit the ground, she struck him with her pommel, knocking him out, then tied him up, groaning.

“Damn,” she muttered to herself.

Then another shadow appeared from the carriage. Hansel’s eyes widened, pointing behind Enya.

“Enya! Behind you!” he screamed.

The blade sang past her cheek, snapping strands of her hair. Heat rushed over her skin as she stumbled back, heart pounding. She turned to confront him, but then felt the wind aura. She widened her eyes and held back her sword.

The shadow assassin continued to slash above her, trying to land a scratch. Although she didn’t fight back, she evaded perfectly. As soon as the shadow assassin stabbed the other assassin to death, he lunged his sword toward Enya. She had to jump away, sliding close to Hansel.

They stared at each other, locked in a silent contest. Enya smiled at the shadow assassin.

“You’ve finally come,” she said.

The shadow assassin planted the pommel against his belly and pointed his blade at her. Before he charged, he glanced at Hansel. Enya spread her stance and charged. As they closed to clash, the shadow assassin sent a sneak aura attack toward Hansel. Enya tossed her sheath into that attack, taking the hit. Then she pulled her sword to the left and struck from his head down to the ground, forcing the shadow assassin to shift into defense as their blades met.

“Enya…” Hansel whispered anxiously.

“Who are you?” Enya asked.

The shadow assassin swallowed hard, glancing to her left. He quickly pushed her sword away, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her down behind him.

Enya’s eyes widened with surprise. What the?!

Then the shadow assassin faced her as he blocked her, screaming in agony. A ball of fire exploded on his back.

Hansel and Enya froze.

The shadow assassin dropped to his knees, gasping and pointing his sword down to hold himself up. Enya looked behind him.

Llard. He stood there, smiling at them.

“I knew you betrayed my mother…Sire Trullio.”

Enya glared at him, pointing her sword at him. The shadow assassin quickly stood, shielding Enya. He trembled as he held his sword up.

“You and your mother were never my masters…” Maximillian said. He removed his mask, showing the blood that streamed down his mouth.

Llard’s eye twitched out of frustration and smiled thinly, his voice low and sharp.

“Of course. You have never given me full details about everything… When you lie, you cower. It was too easy to read,” Llard stated.

Maximillian smiled in pain. He took one step forward, but then he realized that his whole body started to feel warm.

“What…?” he panted, looking at Llard.

“You deserve to die in the most agonizing way. Burn into ashes…” Llard turned and walked away.

Enya tightly gripped her sword out of anger, chasing after him. Maximillian grabbed her wrist, stopping her. They locked eyes. Enya was filled with fury, but Maximillian’s eyes were filled with relief.

*

Tait stared at young Zilant, who was playing with baby Hansel. Maximillian walked up to him, bowing.

“Commander…”

“Max, we have to protect these young children…” Tait said without looking at him.

“What do you mean..?”

“Although we have different perspectives in everything, those people didn’t deserve to die the way they did. Promise me that you’ll protect Zilant… and that child,” Tait begged.

Maximillian swallowed.

“Why? They are already—”

“That child’s sister could still be alive. At such a young age, her explosion was bigger than any other. Her aura felt… dangerous. Like she was the fire herself. Her ashes weren’t there after she exploded.”

“How could that be possible? It’s been recorded that anyone who uses it usually turns into ashes.”

“But she didn’t. She… could definitely be alive. The princess.”

Maximillian froze.

“Impossible…”

“If she comes here, protect her… we need to make sure that they don’t accomplish what they wanted from these two young birds,” Tait ordered.

*

“Protect… His Grace. I… I know who you are, and I hope you succeed. Stop the Empress and His Highness…” Maximillian stuttered.

Enya frowned, tightening her jaw. A tear streamed out of her. She began panting, clenching her fists.

“Why…? Why?!” she screamed.

Maximilian smiled with his eyes glimmering.

“Because… Commander Tait wanted forgiveness… and only you can give him that… Princess,” Maximillian whispered.

*

“Fly. Fly and protect your brother. Princess, don’t waver…” Eliana whispered.

*

Enya froze, staring at him speechless. He pushed her hand away as he suddenly burned completely into ashes, just like her mother.

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