The morning sunlight coming through the gap in the curtain felt faintly sharp entering Olivia’s eyes.

She woke up with a throbbing head. Her pillow still felt slightly damp from the tears that had fallen without her realising before she fell asleep last night.

She looked toward her wrist. Clean. No more coldness from Javien’s blue liquid, but the shadow of that man frozen in front of her room wall last night was still stuck strongly in her memory.

[Forgive me... for being the cruelest mistake of fate for you.]

Javien’s last sentence kept spinning in Olivia’s head like a broken tape.

"How stupid you are, Olivia..."

Olivia whispered to herself while covering her face.

"You drove him away, now you’re the one who feels like dying from guilt."

Olivia quickly got up, tried to clean herself up and put on her white apron. She needed to work. She needed to look strong in front of Ophilia. But the moment she stepped out of her room, her steps died.

In the corridor leading to Ophilia’s room, the atmosphere felt very strange. No sound of iron boots. No cold aura that always made her hair stand on end.

Javien... was not at his guard post.

"Olivia?"

Celine’s voice was heard from the direction of the kitchen. She walked toward Olivia with a very worried face. Her eyes darted looking at that empty corridor before whispering close to Olivia’s ear.

"Have you heard?"

Olivia’s heart felt like it stopped beating.

"Heard what, Celine?"

"General Javien... he didn’t report for duty this morning. In fact, his sword and battle robe were left just like that in the training room. Duke Herold is raging right now. He considers Javien has quietly launched a rebellion.’"

Olivia froze. She knew Javien wasn’t running away to rebel. Javien left because of Olivia’s words last night.

"And one more thing..."

Celine held Olivia’s arm tightly, her face pale.

"Prince Avvion is on his way here. He says he wants to ’claim’ what should rightfully be his after last night’s chaos. Olivia... I feel this palace is no longer a safe place for us."

Olivia was stunned.

"Are you serious, Celine!!... that man is coming here for what?.." said Olivia half whispering toward Celine’s ear. Celine confidently nodded quickly.

"Where is Lady Ophilia?... She must be disappointed we weren’t with her last night.." said Olivia. Drawing a disappointed face inside her heart.

None of this would have happened if not for the Duke!!!

She said in her heart. Then let out a breath. Celine went quiet for a moment then said.

"No... actually Her Lady was the one who told me to bring you to the rest room," said Celine with a casual face. Olivia furrowed her brow.

"Huh... why?.." she said. Celine without saying anything pulled Olivia’s hand into Ophilia’s room.

"Good morning.. My Lady..."

Said Celine while bowing slightly. Olivia who had just stepped in looked at Ophilia who was leaning at the side of the window while staring outside.

Her face looked tired and empty. After both of them greeted her she turned her face slowly. Startled by both their arrivals. Then smiled sweetly as usual.

She stepped toward her large desk chair while looking toward Olivia.

"Olivia..."

Olivia startled.

"Yes, my lady."

Olivia answered in a low tone. She slowly lifted her face while looking at Ophilia who looked serious.

"Why does your face look like that today... looks... swollen and puffy... are you okay?"

Asked Ophilia while scanning every corner of Olivia’s face that looked slightly puffy.

Olivia nodded slowly.

"I’m okay, my lady... why?"

Ophilia shook her head then sipped her teacup elegantly. Olivia without hesitation walked toward Ophilia.

"My Lady.... I’m sorry about last night at the ceremony..."

Said Olivia while bowing in front of her. Her eyes looking at her feet stepping on that cold marble. Ophilia went quiet.

"Olivia it’s fine... I’m okay... besides you didn’t know something like that was going to happen..."

She said with a slightly cold tone toward Olivia. Olivia was stunned. She lifted her face slightly toward Ophilia.

"My Lady... I truly am sorry about the matter..."

Olivia hadn’t finished her words when suddenly the thread on her wrist trembled slowly. Black. Olivia went quiet.

That man has arrived here...

Olivia whispered quietly. Ophilia was confused watching Olivia’s behaviour that hadn’t finished speaking. She furrowed her brow and placed down the cup she was holding.

"He is here my lady..."

Olivia whispered while lifting her face then stood beside Ophilia.

" who has arrived?.." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Asked Ophilia turning her face toward Olivia. They met eyes for a moment.

" His Highness, Prince Avvion.."

Said Olivia quickly then,

CREAKK....

Ophilia’s room door swung wide open. A tall man with blonde hair could be seen walking in.

". Good morning, My Lady... would you allow me to bring you to the city today?"

Said Avvion while his right foot lowered slightly. Avvion extended his hand toward Ophilia calmly.

". Come, My Lady. I have already reserved the most beautiful place in the city for us today."

Ophilia didn’t answer but replied with a heavy sigh. The atmosphere of Ophilia’s room felt very quiet and suffocating to all of them.

"Why me?.."

Said Ophilia with a slightly cold tone but she insisted on not being too cold toward Prince Avvion who was also her fiancé.

Avvion went quiet looking at Ophilia who looked uncomfortable with his presence in that room. He gripped his hand tight.

"I..."

Before Avvion could finish his words.

Ophilia’s room door swung wide open. Not with a rough bang, but with a movement that was slow and heavy.

At the doorway, stood Javien.

Olivia froze. Not just Olivia but everyone inside. Javien’s face that usually looked clean and sharp, now looked pale.

His silver hair that had been neat last night was now slightly messy, and what hurt Olivia’s eyes the most... there was a mark of dried blood at the corner of his lip.

His Knight uniform also looked not as neat as usual, as if he had been forced to wake up and dress in a rush.

"General..."

Olivia whispered, her voice caught in her throat. Her heart felt like it was being sliced seeing Javien’s state like that.

Javien stepped in. Every step he took looked slightly stiff, as if every movement brought immense pain to his body.

Could this be the effect of a beating or physical punishment from Duke Herold?

Olivia wondered in her mind.

"General Javien?"

Avvion raised his brow, smiling sarcastically.

"Looks like Duke Herold wasn’t hard enough educating you last night. You can still walk?"

Javien didn’t respond to Avvion’s provocation. He stopped a few steps behind Ophilia, then bowed respectfully, a movement that looked very painful for his body that had just been punished.

"Forgive... my tardiness, My Lady,"

Javien’s voice sounded very hoarse and low.

"I came to... carry out my duty."

His purple eyes, even though they looked tired and dim, managed to glance toward Olivia for just a moment. Only a second, but Olivia could feel the sadness and apology in that look.

Javien stood upright again, even though his body was slightly trembling holding back the pain. He looked at Avvion with frozen eyes.

"Your Highness... Lady Ophilia needs rest after last night’s ceremony. If there is no official matter from the Emperor, I humbly request... Your Highness leave."

Ophilia only watched Javien who looked like he was in pain. Avvion ignoring Javien’s words kept speaking toward Ophilia.

"Come, My Lady. I have already reserved the most beautiful place in the city for us today.... and I have reserved the food place that you really like,"

said Avvion in a very gentle tone very different from the way he spoke to others. He received Ophilia’s hand with full grace, showing how much he valued his fiancée.

Ophilia who had been as hard as stone slowly smiled.

"Really?.."

Asked Ophilia. Avvion nodded slowly. For some reason she felt slightly happy when Avvion mentioned her favourite food.

"Alright, if that’s the case."

Finally, she felt slightly appreciated after last night’s chaos.

"How about you bring your friends too?" said Avvion while looking toward Javien who was staring at him coldly. Ophilia immediately looked at Olivia and Celine. They only smiled as usual. But in their hearts.

Noo!!!!!

Ophilia nodded quickly. Avvion smiled watching that reaction. Whether that was the joy of watching his prey or something unfinished in his heart.

All five of them stepped out of that estate and boarded a horse carriage.

_____________

During the journey.

Avvion wanted to sit together with Ophilia in one carriage alone but Ophilia didn’t want to be with someone who hadn’t officially become her husband yet. And so that was how it was... all five of them sat in the same carriage.

Throughout the journey, the atmosphere between them felt awkward. Awkward watching the strange scene in front of them.

Ophilia and Avvion.

Avvion touched Ophilia’s chin gently, forcing that girl to look into his deep eyes.

He carved the most captivating smile, a smile he had practiced thousands of times in front of a mirror.

"My Lady, why does your face look so worried? Am I not here for you?"

Ophilia was stunned. She felt like she wanted to believe it, but something felt strange, she just went along with Avvion’s game as if giving a different kind of warning to herself.

Meanwhile, in the corner of that horse carriage,

Javien only watched with sharply narrowing eyes. He knew Avvion was acting. He knew that wolf was trying to build a nest in Ophilia’s heart.

Olivia meanwhile?

She could only hold her breath. She knew the original novel’s plot said Avvion would fall madly in love with Ophilia after this coming of age ceremony, but watching Avvion’s performance that was too perfect right now, Olivia felt this story’s direction was getting more dangerous.

Celine meanwhile, was busy looking out the window while hitting Olivia’s hand repeatedly to look.

That atmosphere made her feel pressured and guilty about the man beside her and also the woman in front of her.

"...When will this carriage arrive?! I can’t take this anymore."

But in the middle of all the chaos, Olivia noticed Javien’s hand beside her growing paler, and our red thread... suddenly started trembling violently.

The main characters are right in front of me...

When is this carriage going to arrive?!