Rune and Celestia returned after so ti, and though Reina and Alys had fully expected them to co back flustered and embarrassed, the reality was nothing of the sort. Instead, both Rune and Celestia carried an anxious air, their expressions quiet and uneasy.
Alys opened her mouth, ready to ask what had happened, but Reina reached out and clasped her hand gently, giving a small shake of her head. The ssage was clear enough — not now.
"It’s getting late. We should head back," Rune said, his tone steady but lacking its usual ease.
"Yes, it is quite late," Alys agreed softly, giving Reina’s hand a reassuring squeeze. "I should return as well. Your uncle must be waiting."
They walked together until they reached the market square, where the lamps lit the streets in warm evening hues. Soon, Alys’s carriage pulled up. She embraced Reina first, then Rune, holding each a mont longer than usual.
"I’ll miss you two. Co visit , alright?" she said, her voice light but affectionate.
Then she turned to Celestia. A gentle smile ford on her lips as she reached up and touched Celestia’s cheek with warm familiarity.
"That ans you as well. You’re going to be part of our family soon, after all."
Celestia’s eyes softened, and she returned the smile, quietly, sincerely.
"Mm. I will."
They watched Alys’s carriage disappear down the street before the three of them boarded their own. The ride back was quiet. Reina observed Rune from her seat; he tried to maintain a composed expression, but the tension around his eyes and shoulders was unmistakable. Celestia, seated beside him, seed equally withdrawn—answering only in polite small phrases, her gaze fixed anywhere but on him.
When they finally returned ho, the two headed straight for the hallway, moving almost too quickly. Reina followed after them, silent. Rune seed to sense her presence behind him and slowed, stopping at his bedroom door just as she reached her own. He looked at her, as though waiting for her to pull him aside.
But Reina simply offered him a small, warm smile.
"See you later, brother," she said softly, hand on her doorknob.
He stared at her for a second, brow lifting in confusion.
"You’re not—" he started, and she paused, turning her head to him.
"Aren’t you going to ask what happened?"
Reina held his gaze for a quiet mont before replying steadily, "Did you two fight?"
Rune let out a slow breath and shook his head, shoulders relaxing just a fraction.
"No. She just... told the reason why she ran—" he corrected himself with a slight grimace, "—why she ca here."
Reina observed him for a mont before she walked up to him and the two stepped inside his room.
Rune removed his coat and pushed the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows while unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt before he plopped down on the armchair.
Reina watched him before she took a seat herself.
"What did she tell you?" She asked.
Rune massaged his temples before he straightened up.
"She got to know about the Trials that are going to be here and since Denril knows about the Golden Serpent and her hatred for Eric. Apparently, Duchess Konstantinos predicted that whichever Prince loses the Trials his side will have to face serious backlash and considering how Prince Carlos has a lot of support Celestia thought Prince Eric’s side, myself and others would be in trouble. She tried to get her to mother to try and stop the Trials but when her mother refused she ca down herself to help us."
Reina cocked her brow, "She ca here to help or try to talk you out of supporting Eric?"
Rune sighed, "I told her that as long as she is here, I will protect her but that doesn’t an I will leave Eric’s side."
"No wonder the poor girl looked so down." Reina comnted making Rune look at her.
"I told her that Prince Eric will win but she was too worried to listen."
Reina smiled, "She loves you too much to think of anything else."
Reina rose to her feet and walked over to Rune, "When she got to know that her fiance could be in trouble she ca all the way here alone despite being attacked, she is still trying her best. She just keeps gaining more and more points in my eyes for being your perfect life partner brother."
Reina placed her hand over his shoulder and he nodded, "I understand and I’m happy about that but, I also need to put her at ease. I know you said, I can’t be beside Eric for all the tis but you also can’t expect to not be there for him at all. Just like I love Celestia, Eric is also my friend, I have a responsibility towards him as well."
Reina smiled squeezing his shoulder a little, "Don’t worry about that and just focus on how you will calm Celestia. If she thinks we’re going to lose then I have plenty of ways to convince her that we won’t, but it would be Ocean who would do that. And technically, it should be you."
Rune closed his eyes for a mont, "I know, but I keep thinking of how I could do that."
"Tell her the truth if you must." Reina suggested and he looked at her, bewildered.
"What?!"
Reina chuckled, "Not the complete truth but what she needs to hear. That should be enough and if words don’t work then use action."
"How?" Rune asked and Reina shrugged.
"You should think of that on your own, brother. After marriage you’re going to be the one to pamper her so, you should know all the formulas on how you would deal with her emotions."
Rune pondered over it and Reina patted his shoulder before she turned to leave.
"I won’t be there for dinner tonight, I’m going to Ryujin and won’t be able to return for a while."
Rune sighed, "Take care of yourself, Reina."
Reina smiled waving her hand as she left.
In the evening, Reina shifted back into Ocean’s form, the serene calm of that identity settling over him like water resuming its natural shape. With a quiet flicker of mana, he teleported directly into his office at the Ryujin estate.
Roan was the only one there, sorting through docunts. He startled for a mont when Ocean appeared, but his expression quickly eased into relief. He stood and bowed deeply.
"Welco ho, Master."
Ocean stretched, rolling his shoulders back as if shaking off the weight of the day.
"How were things in my absence? Did Carlos cause any more trouble?"
Roan stepped around the desk and fell into stride beside him.
"Everything has been running smoothly. Carlos has been... behaved, surprisingly."
Ocean made a noncommittal sound, neither believing nor disbelieving, and the two left the office. Roan paused only to lock the door before they continued down the corridor toward the dining hall, their footsteps echoing softly through the marble halls.
"There was a small incident," Roan added, tone steady. "But I assu Lyall already reported it to you."
Ocean nodded once.
"I suppose soone is still in the dungeon after the interrogation."
"Yes. We had Doc check on him but most of it was beyond fixing," Roan confird. "We could have called for Young Master Kai, but—"
Ocean cut in with a quiet hum, understanding the implication imdiately.
"No need. I’ll handle it after dinner."
Roan inclined his head in acknowledgnt, then continued, "Additionally, our people spotted a few suspicious individuals lingering near the arena."
Ocean’s gaze shifted toward him, sharp but calm.
Roan raised a hand lightly to ease the tone.
"We checked. They were spies sent by the Esrtia faction. As a precaution, we also swept the arena. No tampering, and the mana detectors didn’t register anything unusual."
Ocean nodded in acknowledgnt, and the two reached the dining hall doors. He pushed them open to find the Princes, Kai, Enora, and several servants already waiting. The servants bowed imdiately, and Kai stepped forward without hesitation, wrapping his arms around Ocean.
Ocean let out a quiet chuckle and patted Kai’s back.
"How are you?"
"I’m well, Master. How was your work?" Kai asked, glancing up at him.
"I’ll explain later," Ocean said, his eyes shifting briefly toward the two Princes across the table.
Eric and Carlos both stood from their seats, offering a polite greeting. Ocean returned it with a respectful bow after stepping back from Kai. Once everyone sat down, the servants began to serve the al. Ocean’s gaze drifted to Carlos, who sat with stiff shoulders and careful movents. The warning Ocean had given him previously was still unmistakably in effect.
"I hope your stay here at the Ryujin mansion hasn’t been uncomfortable, Your Highnesses," Ocean said mildly.
"Everything has been excellent, Marquis. Your hospitality is comndable," Eric replied with an easy smile.
"Yes—everything is fine," Carlos added quickly, though the slight strain in his voice did not go unnoticed.
Ocean’s smile was polite and even.
"I’m glad to hear that. Should you require anything, please do not hesitate to tell ."
Eric returned the smile warmly, while Carlos managed only a shaky nod.
Dinner went on without incident. Eric, Ocean, and Kai carried most of the conversation, while Enora listened quietly and Carlos hurried through his al, clearly eager to be dismissed.
The mont they finished, Carlos excused himself and left in haste. The room grew quieter as the others watched him exit. Ocean remained by the doorway, waiting. The instant Carlos disappeared around the corridor corner, he spoke.
"I’ll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast, Your Highness Eric." He glanced once at Eric who frowned a little and then Ocean glanced at the others, "As for the rest, be in the library in a few minutes."
His tone was calm—yet firm enough that none of them questioned the reason.
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