“Oh... Oh, good luck to her, then. Sabael is really stubborn, and I’ve never seen him with a girlfriend yet... Although he is really popular, you know. My sisters’ friends always want to try to get with him, but he rejects them every time. He is too serious to date, I think.”

“Well, maybe T-Tessa will help change his mind about d-dating?”

“That would be good!” nodded Nana. “Oh, let’s go now! I can ask my uncle to make us dinner, he’s a very good cook, you know! That’s why my auntie married him.”

“Your uncle seems t-to b-be a very nice man,” said Cessilia as they walked back inside the castle.

“Oh, he really is the sweetest, and my favorite uncle too! I was the only one of my siblings to like books so much, so my uncle was the one who helped me read more and always gifted me tons of books. He taught me a lot himself, and convinced my mom to let me be his apprentice! I would have probably liked to work in one of my family businesses too, but I do really love a good book... I think snacks and books are my two favorite things in the world!”

“I love b-books t-too,” nodded Cessilia.

“I will show you around the Royal Libraries later! My uncle and I are always there... but let’s let him know we’re home first! Otherwise, he and Uncle Yassim will worry...”

As promised, the two young women went in search of the Counselors; however, it seemed Yassim had left already. Cessilia was a bit worried to hear that, but Yamino promised the old man would be back soon, although he didn’t explain why the other Counselor had left, nor mention where he’d gone.

Naptunie quickly told her uncle everything that had happened, although it probably took much longer than if she had stuck to the most important facts rather than detailing everything they had seen, eaten, or drunk... Eventually, her uncle managed to have her stop by promising he would indeed cook them dinner as soon as Tessa would return, and asked her to get him a couple of ingredients from the kitchen. When the young woman happily left, the old man let out a long sigh.

“Oh, I love that child, but she’s got way too much going on in that pretty head,” he chuckled. “I hope you enjoyed today’s outing, Princess. Yassim and I were curious to hear your thoughts.”

“It was nice, th-thank you,” nodded Cessilia. “Nana and her b-brother were very k-kind t-to show us everything...”

“Sab’s a nice boy for sure. I looked exactly like him when I was younger!”

“R-really?” chuckled Cessilia, thinking about her cousin’s date...

“Oh, for sure! I had a dream of becoming a knight too, but it’s harder than it seems, and I’m much more suited for books! Anyway, my lady must be tired after all this. I’ll let you go and catch some rest in your room before dinner, I promise to keep Nana occupied so you can rest quietly!”

“Th-thank you, Counselor.”

Cessilia found it adorable how Yamino spoke so fondly about his niece. In fact, she was already beginning to miss her own family a bit... It became even more true as she walked back silently to her room, with only the sound of Nupia’s steps behind her. She had almost grown accustomed to the servant’s shadowy presence behind her, but it still inconvenienced her a little.

When she put her hand on the doorknob, Cessilia froze.

“N-Nupia.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“I want t-to b-be alone, for now,” she said.

“...I understand. I’ll see if Lady Tessa’s room is ready...”

Quietly, Nupia walked back in the opposite direction to leave her.

Her hand still on the warm handle, Cessilia let out a faint sigh, her heart beating a little faster already. She slowly opened it, a bit nervous.

Her room was almost as she had left it, except that their stuff had been left by the bed,  clearly for them to decide what they wanted to do with it. The Princess took a few more steps inside, something still making the back of her neck tingle. Beyond the balcony’s rail, the sun was already starting to set behind the sea. It gave her a marvelous vision of the sky taking new shades of yellow, orange, and purple, but Cessilia couldn’t enjoy them right now.

Her green eyes went around the room until she finally saw him. Standing opposite her, almost in the shadow of one of the pillars. His manly figure was standing out in this perfect room, the shine of his armor reflecting the sunlight and sending colors around the room, against the shimmery nacre. His white hair made him impossible to miss. He slowly stepped forward, and Cessilia’s heart rate helplessly went up again. Something appeared in her throat, a painful knot she couldn’t get rid of. A lot of feelings surged inside but none could reach her lips. There was something between them, just like before, in the throne room. Not even the sunset could be as beautiful as the way they looked at each other, and yet, they were both scared to approach, like two young animals wary of one another.

Finally, he took a step forward. Cessilia was torn between running up to him and running away. The look in his eyes was much too complex to decipher. Something like anger, confusion, and... pain.

“...You shouldn’t have come here,” he hissed.

Cessilia took a deep breath, his voice reaching her like a cold blade in her heart. She had made her decision long ago, and she was holding on tight to that resolve to face him. Her lips were twitching helplessly, and she could feel that familiar, scary tingle in her fingers. Her shortness of breath, that sensation climbing up her neck, all too familiar. Still, she struggled, all she could, to get that word past her lips.

The things she wanted to say, all embedded into one, unique word.

“...Ashen.”

His eyes twitched slightly, and the trouble could be seen in his expression. He reacted to his own name being called with a frown. Something in his eyes was a bit scary, but also fearful. He didn’t know what to do with her, and the anger in his eyes wasn’t as convincing as he had tried to make it, either. His fists, clenched by his side, were slightly shaking as if they contained too many emotions for him to handle.

With difficulty Cessilia tried to clear her throat a little; however, the knot didn’t go away.

“Ashen...” she repeated again, about to step forward.

“Don’t call me like that.”

His cold answer stopped her in her tracks, and she froze, feeling the tension and anger in his voice. He was really glaring at her this time, his lips pinched with a disdainful expression.

“Don’t call me that,” he repeated. “What are you doing here, Cessilia? Why did you come all the way here?”

His question came like a hammer, echoing in the room like heavy accusations of a crime. She tried to take a deep breath in and answer him calmly.

“T-to see you.”

“Don’t you lie to me. You made it clear you didn’t want to see me anymore when our paths diverged, didn’t you? Or should I remind you what happened that night?”

Cessilia felt a blow to her heart and the pain of that memory. She knew why he was angry, and she knew he was right to be. It didn’t change her feelings though.

Ashen averted his eyes, staring outside instead as if he couldn’t bear to look at her anymore.

“Why did you come here? Does your father know?”

“Yes...”

“Ha,” he scoffed bitterly, “I should have known. Why the hell did he send you now, Cessilia? What does he want? To keep me in check, after what he did to me? Is he afraid I’m going to attack your Empire again? Is that what it is? He sent you here to taunt me?”

“N-no!” shouted Cessilia, panicked to hear him speculate so fast. “N-no, Ashen, I swear, th-that’s not what it is.”

“Don’t lie, Cessilia, not to me. Why would you have come with his dragon, then? Why Krai? ...Where is Cece?”

She stepped back as if he had hit her. His accusing look wasn’t enough to scare her, but it was painful. Yet, not as painful as that name. She slowly shook her head.

“She d-didn’t c-come...” she painfully muttered, short of breath.

She couldn’t even utter that name. She hadn’t heard it in a long time, and she hadn’t pronounced it at all for even longer... Each time, she didn’t want to remember it, to go through that pain again. Her heart was beating so fast, wreaking havoc in her chest and making her feel a bit dizzy. Cessilia helplessly shook her head. She mentally cursed her stuttering that kept her from explaining to him, from telling him the truth, that she had only come here for him, and with her dad’s blessing. Not to wage war at all, but instead, see if there was still a bond between them... that bond that had been broken a long time ago.

“Ashen, I p-promise, I d-didn’t–”