Aria didn't go into the portal, but sat on a chair and waited for her father to finish whatever he was doing in that pocket dinsion.
Her mind was blank, and she just sat dazedly.
In the blink of an eye, six hours passed by.
Aria was still sitting dazedly, waiting for her father.
Thankfully, her wait was finally over after another hour as her father finally erged from the portal.
King Leim. He was lean-muscled like Erix and was 6'4 feet tall with shoulder-length light blond hair.
Upon seeing Aria, he was surprised and smiled, "What brings you here, my doll?"
Aria finally snapped out of her daze hearing his voice.
Upon looking at her father, Aria's eyes glazed.
"Father…I don't want to marry. I want to live my life based on my decisions. Please cancel this arrangent."
Aria's eyes looked straight into Leim's eyes and wanted to see his imdiate reaction to her decision.
Leim imdiately frowned hearing her, "It's for your own good, Aria. You will live happily."
Aria bit her lips and said, "But I don't want to marry him, whoever he is. I-I have decided what I want to do."
Her eyes were already disappointed deep within, but she still said, "I am not weak. I am getting stronger faster, and I can protect myself."
Leim clenched his fists and then released again before he sighed. "Aria, I even fought with Queen so you can have this life. You will live like a true princess."
Aria's eyes instantly turned distant. The father she admired and adored was fading away.
'Why is no one listening to ?'
'I am alive…I can think, I can make my choices.'
'Why even you are not listening to ?'
Her eyes involuntarily dropped tears while her face remained flat, yet showed imnse pain in her eyes.
"Aria," Leim approached her and patted her head. "You will not understand now, but once you co with and marry that prince in that other world, you will understand."
'No.' Aria already knew what kind of life she would live if she married a prince.
Her father was already in a lower position than those in that world, so her life wouldn't have the freedom she wished for.
But she knew what to do now.
"Mhmm…" Aria got up and said as she wiped her tears and smiled, "Thank you, father."
'Thank you for everything until now, but I will live my life in my way.'
'I am not stupid or weak.'
"I will go back now."
"Alright," Leim smiled. "Don't worry. You will have a way better life after you marry that prince."
…
While Aria was on her way to the lower floors and arrived at the underground passage to enter the pond cavern, she suddenly felt Runia's presence.
Aria didn't want to talk with anyone, so she was in her ethereal spirit form, undetected by one if she wished to, and arrived at the door where Runia was standing.
Just as she was about to enter, she suddenly saw Erix and others exiting from the door, surprising her.
Her eyes lit up seeing the group she wanted she wanted to join, especially Erix.
When she saw his journey in the test, she longed to have soone like him by her side.
'He will do anything for those he cares…'
Aria thought her father would do anything for her and listen to her, like how Erix did in his test for his loved one.
But that didn't happen. Her father didn't listen to her even though it was the first ti she asked for sothing. It was just her own life.
"Welco," Runia said with a smile as she welcod the group as they exited from the passage.
"Your courtyard is ready on the 70th floor. A feast is also ready, so let's go there and eat."
Aria watched them walking towards her since she was standing on the path to exit the underground hall's big door. However, no one could detect her.
Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and she positioned herself a bit left on the path.
Erix and others followed Runia, but in the sa line as Erix stood Aria.
Aria grabbed her dress with both hands as her spirit and soul slightly surged within her.
She saw Erix nearing, and soon he passed through her body, but she could feel his unawakened soul, his mood, and such subtle things, making her heart flutter as she felt Erix.
It was only for a second, but her mood improved.
'I will join this group and beco soone he cares for like others,' Aria thought with determination.
'I'll have to work hard for that.'
"Silly girl," Amu appeared before her and sat on her head. "It seems that sothing happened."
"Amu!" Aria grabbed Amu and hugged the cute sli tightly. "I got bad news, but I will drive away the bad things!"
However, Amu didn't need to know what happened to Aria as the sli's expression soon beca livid.
"That damn father of yours and that bitch!" Amu read Aria's mories and found out what transpired when she was in the palace.
"Alright, I've decided. I have fucking decided!" Amu angrily said. "I am revoking my blessing from this palace, from this family!"
"Damn them all!"
"Calm down," Aria smiled and patted the sli, feeling happy to see Amu getting angry on her behalf.
"No, this is not the ti to calm down," Amu said in a cold voice. "It is ti to plan things and teach those bunch of garbage a lesson!"
"Ok, ok, but I also want your help in one thing," Aria said with a grin.
"I know. You want to join that group, right? I've already told them about you."
"Whaaa!" Aria's face flushed, and she beca nervous. "What did you say!?"
"I'm joking," Amu laughed. "Start with a spar when you et them and show them what you got to join the group."
"But before that, you have to get strong and get a final piece from . Co in."
"It's ti for you to awaken your soul and bloodline both."
"We both are done with this trash place, so we'll leave with Erix and his group," Amu said with a wide smile.
"Yes!" Aria's eyes glittered with excitent. "I also want to leave. I really really don't want to stay in the palace with others anymore."
'Of course. You are alone despite being surrounded by them,' Amu thought coldly. 'We'll leave, but not before razing this palace into rubble!'
'I can't do it myself, but Erix and others should be able to if I aid them.'
"Co, let's begin."
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