Chapter 10
A cloaked individual padded softly on the muddy floor of nature.
Her steps made squelching sounds whenever she stepped into a wet patch of mud, but she persisted until she reached a dilapidated house hidden deep in the heart of the woods.
A broken sign with "Thalebrook" was nailed crookedly on its front — battered and almost faded.
The woman exhaled before softly knocking. The door soon creaked open and let her in.
Even though the house looked withered and on its last thread from the outside, the interior was surprisingly clean.
Miss Thalebrook was led into the study room by a man clad in black robes from head to toe.
Knocking briefly, Thalebrook entered the room, which was lit by only a few candles but mostly covered in darkness.
"You arrived sooner than I expected."
The silhouette of an individual seated behind the desk spoke up.
Thalebrook kept a stoic expression.
"All the same, I am here. So please, can we start with it?"
The man chuckled and snapped his fingers.
"As impatient as always. The Thalebrooks were always like this, so I'm not surprised."
"What do you want? I'm teaching the Princess, and I'm yet to get her to trust me fully. Your plan is still in motion—so what do you still want from me?"
Thalebrook's brown eyes glinted with annoyance. Her voice rose a tad higher as she looked at the silhouette.
"I want the welfare of the family. I want us to regain what was once ours. I'm not the enemy here, Celestria ."
The man shouted, finally stepping into the candlelight.
Miss Thalebrook gritted her teeth when she saw him and turned toward the window.
"Your so-called welfare meant leaving your sister when she was dying? Where was it when we had nothing to cover our heads?"
Thalebrook spat through her gritted teeth, lips trembling as she glared at the man before her — the man who wielded power only second to the King of Eldoria.The uncle who had abandoned their family.
Minos's expression faltered; shame flickered across his face.
"I did it for the family," he muttered softly, as though trying to convince himself.
"You did not do it for the family. You did it for your selfish desire."
Thalebrook stopped mid-sentence and exhaled furiously, struggling to rein in her anger.
"What is it? I didn't come here to hear your excuses. Your letters were getting annoying, and I feared my mother would notice."
She turned to him coldly.
"After all, I wouldn't want her reliving the terror she went through when you left."
Minos sighed softly. Her soft features reminded him of his sister—the last time he'd seen her, Celestria had been just a toddler.
"I've received the go-ahead from them, and I want you to help me with the Princess… and the Prince."
The dimly lit room was filled with whispers and tired sighs.
Outside, the forest prepared for dusk as the sun readied itself to plunge the world into darkness.
Sera sat before a mirror while her maids, along with Adna, moved quietly around her, adjusting the folds of her gown and combing through her golden hair.
But Sera's mind was far away.
Adna noticed and subtly dismissed the other maids.
"My Princess, is anything the matter?" she asked softly, her voice laced with concern.
Sera's eyes quivered before she regained composure.
"There is nothing wrong," she said with a forced smile.
Adna could feel it in her bones that something was wrong, but she couldn't press further—not when her Princess had spoken.
Instead, she shifted to something lighter.
"You look stunning, my Princess. Even though your dressing isn't complete yet, you look like a goddess."
Adna squealed softly and fastened a midnight-blue necklace around Sera's neck.
"I'm sure the palace will be full of roses tomorrow, my Princess. Please make sure—"
"Adna… you love your family, don't you?"
Adna blinked, unsure if it was rhetorical.
"Of course, my Princess."
"So how would you feel if you found out that your family was hiding secrets from you?"
Sera's voice was quiet, her sapphire eyes locked on Adna's reflection.
Adna froze for a second but soon recovered, fingers resuming their rhythm as they braided.
"My Princess, if I'm honest, I'd be angry. I'd probably refuse to speak to anyone for a day or two," she said thoughtfully.
"But I'd come around. I'd ask why they hid it, and I'd cry or laugh with them—whichever was needed."
She smiled softly, her heart warming with memories of home.
Sera's eyes flickered with emotion before clearing.
"That's what I was thinking. There's nothing a little patience cannot solve."
Adna's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Then let's get you ready for the battle ahead," she said mischievously.
"You'll have a lot of suitors to fight."
Sera smiled lightly.
"Yes, get me ready, my dear knightess."
Outside her chamber, nobles began gliding into the palace.
Their opulent dresses shimmered beneath the chandeliers' glow, and laughter mingled with the soft tunes of violins.
Maids moved gracefully among them, serving refreshments as nobles whispered gossip and sought alliances.
"Duchess Wilfred! How pleasant to see you."
An elegant young lady greeted, her poise radiating refinement.
The older duchess turned toward the voice, scanning the crowd until her sharp eyes softened.
"Lady Carrissa! What a pleasure. I didn't expect you here."
Carrissa's lips twisted slightly.
"Well, Father insisted I attend since the invitation was addressed to the family," she said with a helpless smile.
The Duchess chuckled, looping her arm around the girl.
"That's good of the old man. I see he's preparing you to succeed him. We'll need to find you a wealthy suitor, my dear."
Carrissa smiled sheepishly.
"Don't worry yourself, Auntie. Today isn't my day—it's the Princess's. Everyone's been talking about her beauty."
"The Princess may be beautiful, but you, my dear, are my little angel. You have your own charms," the Duchess said warmly.
Just as she finished, the hall erupted in gasps and murmurs.
All heads turned toward the grand staircase.
At the top stood Princess Sera.
The black marble walls reflected the masterpiece draped over her—
a cascade of midnight-blue velvet, so deep it was almost black, threaded with silver that shimmered like a star-strewn sky.
Tiny sapphires caught the light like shards of ice.
Her golden hair was swept into a constellation of braids pinned with diamond stars, and her kohl-lined eyes swept over the crowd like those of a goddess descending from her throne.
The hall was spellbound.
And Garran, standing at the base of the stairs, looked furious as he strode forward and slipped his hand into hers.
He gently descended the stairs with his sister who willingly dropped her hand into his. The crowd stood mesmerized before bowing their heads, the Prince clad in a black suit and tye Princess furnished in her midnight blue regalia.
Minos entered from the backside and slipped into the palace, unseen. His sharp gaze fell on the two siblings and his frown deepened.
Just then, a man slipped into the hall, his clothing not meant for outing but for formal work, he came close to Minos and dropped a parchment in his hands.
Minos read the content of the parchment and a smile formed on his lips.
" I guess the ball I going to get interesting than I thought."