Aurein's POV
Did... did we just kiss?
My mind was still spiraling, floating somewhere between shock and disbelief after that accidental brush of lips with General Voltaire. The world genuinely slowed—like the wind paused, like the water stilled, like my own heart forgot which direction to beat. He looked at me, and I couldn't decipher it. Was he disgusted? Offended? Confused?
He preferred women—I knew that.
But he definitely didn't expect... that.
SPLASH!
Ton-Ton cannonballed into the stream, sending water exploding upward and nearly drenching me and General Voltaire again. The sudden chaos snapped me back to reality.
"You really want us to throw you again, don't you, Ton-Ton?" General Voltaire called out, laughing as he glanced over his shoulder.
And all the while... he was still holding me.
One arm around my lower back. One at my side. Not close enough to be indecent—but definitely close enough that I could feel the warmth of his chest and the strength held in his grip.
I stared up at him, searching for even the slightest trace of anger or irritation.
None.
Nothing but calm... and something else I couldn't name.
But I wanted—needed—to know what he was thinking.
"I guess this bathing time is enough," he said before releasing me. "We better get back to training."
His hands left my body—and suddenly the cold water around us felt colder.
He tilted his head at me and smirked.
"Change into your female training gear. You have no other choice—your proper gear is soaked. I'll hang this up to dry so you can use it tomorrow," he said.
I could only nod while staring at him, still too dazed to even pretend I was alright.
The warriors began climbing out of the water, and General Voltaire followed soon after—water trailing from his broad shoulders, the sunlight catching on every droplet like tiny shards of silver.
"General Voltaire..." I called.
He paused mid-step.
"Hm?"
My throat tightened.
Does he really not care?
Does that moment mean nothing to him?
Why am I the only one acting like my soul briefly left my body?
I struggled to form the question, but before I could—
He looked back.
Smirked.
A small, knowing smirk.
"Focus on your training, Prince Aurein. It was a little accident. Don't think too much about it," he said, turning away quickly.
But even from behind, I saw it—the tips of his ears were red.
My heart skipped.
"I am not thinking about it!" I snapped irritably.
Just like that, we were back to our usual bickering.
But he felt it.
I knew he felt it.
He acknowledged it as an accident... but something about the redness of his ears told me it wasn't meaningless.
"Move faster and get out of the water, Prince Aurein," he said without looking back. "Unless you want us finishing training at midnight."
"Right! Coming!" I said, scrambling after him.
* * *
General Voltaire finally ended our session as the sun dipped low, painting the training grounds in gold and fire.
"Good work," he said, standing before us with that unshakeable authority of his. "I can see improvement in your swordsmanship. Applaud yourselves."
The warriors clapped—and I joined them, breathless and sweaty but strangely proud.
"Prince Aurein," he said, turning to me, "good job. You improved as well. I saw you pushing yourself even though swordsmanship isn't your preference."
"Me?" I asked, startled.
He singled me out?
The others clapped again.
"We saw you earlier—you were really serious," Dante whispered as he tapped my shoulder.
"Yeah, you followed everything General Voltaire told you," Asper added.
"You even looked inspired, Prince Aurein," Ton-Ton said with a grin.
"Th-thanks..." I muttered, scratching my cheek in embarrassment.
General Voltaire nodded at me.
A small one, but real.
"I can see the movements of a true warrior starting to show," he said casually as he walked past me. "Don't let it get to your head. If you slack off again, I'll punish you."
"Thank you..." I whispered, lowering my head so he wouldn't see me smiling like an idiot.
This was the first time he actually praised me.
And knowing it came from him made it... special.
Too special.
"Training continues tomorrow. You may all rest," he said.
Everyone dispersed until only the two of us remained, facing each other in the quieting field.
"So," he asked, "what's your plan?"
"Huh?"
"Aren't we going back to the palace?" he asked.
I blinked.
Right. I forgot.
He was still assigned as my personal guard until my father relieve him from this duty.
For a moment, I stared at him—this man who had just lifted me, held me, got kissed by accident, teased me, praised me, and now waited for me like a shadow bound to my side.
"Can I change clothes first? My father might see me wearing the female training gear again," I said.
"Hurry. Don't make me wait," he said irritably.
"Hmp!" I answered, but secretly—fine, painfully—I was happy. Even when he rushed me like that. It means we wouldn't have to play being awkward with each other after that.
"Aurein? Perfect timing it seems. I guess you're finished," Rowan said as he arrived, but his eyes widened the moment he saw me. "Wh–what is this? Why are you dressed like that?"
Right. Rowan had never seen me in this outfit before.
I panicked immediately.
"Wait! Rowan, before your mind runs wild—this female training gear is the only one that actually fits me. The ones General Voltaire has are too big. And the male gear that did fit me? It got soaked. So I had no choice," I said in a rush.
"Wait—I can't let the others see you like this," he said with genuine worry. "Do you want me to run back to the palace and grab your clothes? I'll go."
I was about to tell him it wasn't necessary since I will be changing my clothes anyway, when General Voltaire stepped into our conversation, commanding our attention.
"No need to trouble yourself, Lord Rowan," he said.
Swoosh!
And in one fluid, unfairly cool motion, he pulled off his upper garment and draped it over my shoulders—effortless.
I was supposed to change my clothes, but this is not so bad.
Rowan tilted his head in confusion.
"Prince Aurein is already taken care of. It is my duty to ensure he is properly clothed," General Voltaire said firmly. "And do you not have plans with him? Why are we still here? It might get dark. We should be on our way."
"What? Wait? You're coming with us?" Rowan asked, turning to me in disbelief.
"Indeed, Lord Rowan," General Voltaire said.
"But—"
"By the order of the King of Ardentia—the prince's father—I am to be his personal guard. It is my responsibility to protect him at all times, anywhere, anytime. Even in his sleep, I keep watch. Therefore, I will accompany him wherever he goes," he explained. "Even if he wishes to use the restroom."
Rowan fell silent, his brows tightening as he glanced at me. He looked... troubled.
"He's telling the truth, Rowan. He has to be by my side everywhere. So yes, he's coming with us even if it is annoying," I said.
Rowan inhaled deeply, then faced the general.
"General..."
"Yes, Lord Rowan?"
"I am fully capable of protecting the prince should anything unexpected arise. As the Duke's son, I order you to leave me and Aurein for a moment," Rowan said calmly—though I could hear the disappointment beneath it.
General Voltaire sighed, clasped his hands behind him, and stepped closer.
"With all due respect, Lord Rowan—and I do respect you as the Duke's son—the King's order is absolute. His order is the only one I follow. So whether you like it or not, I am coming with you to guard Prince Aurein," he said with a faint, confident smile.
Rowan wasn't convinced—but he was trying to stay composed. And for some reason... I felt this wasn't going to end well.
"Aurein, is this all right with you?" Rowan asked softly as he placed both hands on my shoulders.
I looked at General Voltaire, who was already smiling at me in that infuriating way that said—You have no choice.
I swallowed before answering.
"If Father finds out I wasn't with General Voltaire, I'm not sure who he'll punish—me, you, or the General. And I don't want any of us to get into trouble," I said.
"You heard the prince, Lord Rowan. That means only one thing—I must accompany you. Don't worry, I won't interfere. You'll barely notice I'm there," General Voltaire said.
"I suppose... this will do," Rowan said reluctantly with a sigh. "I just thought it would be the two of us, Aurein."
"Hehe..." I laughed awkwardly and scratched my head.
"Let's go. Darkness is close. Prince Aurein needs rest—training begins early tomorrow," General Voltaire said.
"Let's go, Aurein," Rowan said as we started walking.
* * *
Behind me, General Voltaire followed at a leisurely pace.
When I glanced back, he had his hands clasped behind his head, casually biting on a small twig, chin raised like he owned the world.
He caught my stare and tilted his head.
"What is it, Prince Aurein?" he asked.
"Nothing. Just... don't be annoying for once." I said.
"I can't promise you that," he said, still biting his twig, smirking.
I rolled my eyes and tried not to smile as I faced forward again.
"This General Voltaire... why is he acting like this? He's too casual," Rowan whispered. "Honestly, I don't like his attitude toward you—or toward me."
"Don't mind him. You'll see more of his real self the longer he stays with us," I whispered back.
"Let me know if he ever mistreats you. I won't hesitate to report him to your father. He's acting far too casual with the Prince of Ardentia, which is unacceptable," Rowan whispered.
"No need! I prefer him this way!" I said, laughing nervously while waving my hands. "I don't want the serious version of the general following me around every day. He'd be like those servants who keeps following and doesn't even talk to me. This is perfectly fine. So there's no need to tell my father, Rowan."
Then I noticed General Voltaire lean closer to listen.
He froze when our eyes met, then instantly shifted back into a casual walk like I didn't caught him red-handedly!
"Were you listening to us?" I whispered angrily.
His brows knitted, and he shook his head.
"Behave, General. Be proper," I whispered before turning back to Rowan.
"So... how did it get to the point where General Voltaire has to guard you everywhere?" Rowan asked.
"That's... a long story. Better if you don't know," I said with a sheepish smile.
"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine," he said gently. "Let's talk about something else. I want to bring you to a special place I know that you will love."
"Good. Let's do that," I said with a relieved breath—my eyes widening secretly as we continued walking toward somewhere.
"Look, Aurein!" Rowan said as he pointed toward a clearing ahead of us. "That's the fish pond we used to visit. We would watch the fishes there and feed them." He smiled, eyes soft with nostalgia.
"Yup! You still remember?" I said with a grin.
Rowan laughed lightly and tugged my hand, pulling me toward the small wooden bridge by the pond.
As he dragged me along, I glanced back at General Voltaire. He walked slowly with his hands tucked inside his pockets, a twig still between his teeth. When our eyes met, he nodded at me—almost as if granting permission to go with Rowan.
Wait.
Why do I need his permission?!
Ugh.
But the moment we stepped onto the old bridge, all annoyance vanished.
The entire place glowed gold—the sunset spilling over the water, painting the world in warm amber and soft shimmering light. Even the wooden planks beneath our feet looked like they belonged in a childhood dream.
"I remember... we used to come here every day," Rowan said quietly, still holding my hand firmly as he looked around.
"Good times..." I murmured.
That was when I realized someone was standing beside me.
General Voltaire.
I turned and saw him glancing around in silence. The fading sunlight cut along the angles of his jaw, making it look—annoyingly—godlike.
"This is it?" he teased, unamused. "This is just a normal pond for me."
I took it back. He looked ugly now. Completely.
"This place is part of my childhood. Don't make fun of it," I whispered irritably.
"Did you know? I came here a lot too when I was young," he said.
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes," he said, his voice suddenly serious as he looked at me. "I used to throw pebbles at the fishes to disturb their home."
"General! You heartless man!" I said between laughs.
"To keep me away from boredom."
He almost laughed too—almost—but held back. Instead he just chuckled and lightly tapped the top of my head.
That was when Rowan looked back at us.
He looked... confused.
Probably because of the general's hand still resting on my head. I quickly brushed his hand away and smiled at Rowan before he misunderstood anything. He might not be used to this, where someone acts unruly in front of us especially someone that is not coming from the royalty.
Rowan silently eyed the hand that touched me. I had no idea what he was thinking—but knowing him, it was definitely something.
"General Voltaire," Rowan said, "I won't ask you to leave since Aurein clearly doesn't want you far. But... can you please give us a moment? Just the two of us. You can keep your distance for a while. We'll just stay at the edge of the bridge."
General Voltaire looked at me.
Then he lifted his hand lazily, signaling "fine."
Rowan took me to the far end of the bridge. I glanced back once—where the General now stood, casually flicking small pebbles into the pond. Probably messing with the poor fishes and destroying their peace, just like he does to me all the time.
I sighed.
"This is not the moment I was expecting, Aurein," Rowan said.
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked.
"I wanted it to be just the two of us. But I guess that won't happen anymore," he said. "Still... I just want you to know I'm really happy to be with you again after so long. After I moved to the southern region."
"I'm happy too, Rowan," I said gently. "Even though we didn't get to watch each other grow up, our bond didn't fade."
He exhaled softly, eyes lowering.
"How was your life back then? Especially when I left?" he asked. "You were my only friend—the one you always talked to since we were the only kids inside the palace. I looked up to you because you were older. I wanted to follow you everywhere."
"Well, I noticed," I laughed. "You were always glued to me. And honestly... I was happy to have you. When you left, I was alone. I only had the palace servants to accompany me every day. They were boring since they don't talk to me that much."
I sighed, looking around—until my eyes landed again on General Voltaire.
This time he wasn't just throwing pebbles in a very light way.
He was hurling them at the pond.
Like his trying to murder someone!
"General! Why are you terrorizing the innocent creatures?!" I shouted.
"These fishes are mocking me so I have to destroy their peaceful home!" he yelled back—and continued attacking the water.
"This man is really insane," I said, laughing quietly. "How would these fishes even have the urge to mock him?"
"It seems," Rowan began softly, "that you're starting to grow fond of General Voltaire. I noticed."
My smile froze.
"What do you mean?" I asked, blinking.
"Has he taken my place," Rowan asked, "as the person closest to your heart?"
"What are you saying?!" I laughed—too fast, too nervous.
But Rowan didn't laugh with me.
He only gave me a gentle, aching smile.
"I was your best friend before, Aurein. I hope I still am," Rowan said.
His eyes—deep blue like the calmest ocean—held mine steadily.
You couldn't deny it, Rowan had grown into a man who looked more princely than me, the actual prince.
Sun-kissed golden skin. Golden-brown hair brushed back neatly. A well-built frame, almost like Dante's—though still not as sculpted as General Voltaire's.
That man looked like he was carved by the gods themselves.
"I hope I'm still one of the most important people in your life, Aurein," Rowan said quietly.
"Of course. You're part of my childhood, Rowan. You're important," I said as I held his right arm, pressing gently.
He placed his left hand over mine, fingers warm, steady.
I glanced at our hands—unsure what to do—but I let him hold me.
He exhaled, a soft, fragile sound, and smiled. I smiled back.
Then he withdrew his hand and looked into the distance. Worry shadowed his face.
"Is something wrong, Rowan?" I asked.
"The reason why we're here, Aurein," he began, "is to speak with the king about an issue in the southern region—my father's territory."
"All right. I'm listening." I said.
Rowan inhaled slowly, the fading sunlight reflecting off his eyes.
"Some of the nobles... no longer wish to follow my father," he said. "And they refuse to follow the king as well."
A cold shiver crawled up my neck.
"What are you saying?" I whispered.
"We've heard things. Plans. Meetings held in secret. Whispers of rebellion," he said, voice sinking lower.
"If they move, Aurein... the southern region might break away from Ardentia."
I swallowed hard.
Rebellion?
My gaze drifted instinctively to General Voltaire—who had now stopped throwing pebbles and was lying flat on the ground as if taking a nap.
I turned back to Rowan.
"This could become serious if we don't act early," I said softly but with resolve. "If possible... I want to speak to them. I don't want violence or war. Maybe we can still fix this through peaceful negotiation."
Rowan looked at me—hope and fear mixing like storm clouds.
"I'm not sure what else you can do, Aurein," he said. "But from what I've heard, they are planning not only to separate and form a new kingdom... but to conquer all of Ardentia."
My chest tightened.
"Rowan... what if they attack when... I'm already the king? I—" My voice trembled. "I'm scared."
"Don't worry," he said. "As I promised, I will protect you with everything I can."
Relief blossomed in my chest.
I turned my eyes to General Voltaire—still sprawled on the ground—who suddenly sneezed so loudly that a flock of birds flew away in surprise.
Would he protect me too?
Would General Voltaire stand between me and danger... the way Rowan would?
"But my father is already working on this," Rowan continued. "He's informing the king. The danger isn't severe yet, but... we don't know what their next move will be."
"I wish I knew what to say or do," I whispered. "If only we understood why they want to rebel. Are they unsatisfied with how my father rules the whole kingdom? Do they want more wealth? More land? We can offer it to them."
"That's what we don't know," Rowan said. "And what worries us is... the southern region might not be the only one planning something. Other regions might join. They could attack the central region of Ardentia, where the royal family resides."
"Rowan! You're scaring me too much!" I said, panicked.
"I'm just stating the worst-case scenario," he replied. Then he looked at me deeply. "But what would you do, Aurein, if everything truly reached its worst?"
"Can I... cry in a corner?" I tried to joke.
"Aurein, I'm being serious," he said.
"Sorry!" I said quickly. "I—I honestly don't know. I'm not ready to be king. I'm only a prince now, and even at this stage... just knowing there's danger makes me nervous."
"I'm sorry," Rowan said gently. "I didn't want to burden you. But as the future king, you deserve to know."
"Thank you, Rowan... for trusting me," I said with a soft smile.
I looked at the sunset—its glow fading into dusk—and wondered.
What can I do?
What can this weak Aurein possibly do?
I sighed.
"But you know what, Aurein?" Rowan said, voice calm but firm. "You can still be at ease. Even with danger looming. Because they would think twice before attacking the central region."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because of someone," he said—and he turned his eyes toward General Voltaire.
"The sun's almost gone. Aren't we heading back to the palace yet?" General Voltaire asked as he let out a massive yawn, stood up, and brushed the dirt off his clothes.
As I looked at the general, Rowan continued speaking beside me.
"As long as that General remains inside the Central Region," Rowan said, "King Lucen's most formidable warrior—the war prodigy himself, General Voltaire—your enemies will have to think twice. I've heard many things about him. He is... dangerous, if he's the one you're fighting."
A strange relief washed over me.
I had grown so used to General Voltaire's teasing, his sarcasm, his constant nagging, that I almost forgot who he truly was beneath it all—Ardentia's greatest weapon. A man whispered about in war councils, feared on distant borders, and impossible to defeat.
"So don't think about the danger for now," Rowan said gently. "As long as he's here, there's nothing to worry about. Unless, something worse happens to him, then the Central region will fall. He is like the main fortress that protects the royal family."
"Yeah..." I murmured.
"We should return to the palace, Aurein. The general was right. Intruders could appear anytime. Yes, he's with us—but better safe than sorry," he said.
"Intruders?" I repeated.
Then it hit me like cold water.
"Wait!"
"What is it, Aurein?"
"Recently... there were people from the Kingdom of Solyn who crossed Ardentia's borders. They even tried to capture me. Luckily, I was with the General and he took care of them. What confused us was how they managed to sneak past our borders," I said.
I glanced over—and nearly jumped.
General Voltaire was suddenly standing right beside me, listening.
"Wow. Since when did this actually matter to you, Prince Aurein?" he said.
"Oh, shut up," I said irritably.
"Maybe they have someone helping them," Rowan said "Someone giving them passage. But who knows."
I turned back to General Voltaire.
He stared at us like we were speaking nonsense, his brows deeply knitted.
"What are you thinking, huh?" I asked him.
"I'm thinking," he said, "that you should train more and train harder—so you won't panic if enemies ever cross our borders again. Look at you right now, you are trembling."
I glared at him while he smirked smugly.
"Actually, General Voltaire is right," Rowan said. "You must at least know how to defend yourself. In case... one day, we can't be by your side, especially the General."
I looked at the General again.
He looked ridiculously proud—like he was silently saying: I told you so.
"Fine! I get it! Let's go back to the palace already," I grumbled. "I guess we can't visit the city anymore. I'm exhausted from training anyway."
* * *
I lay on my bed in my chamber, staring blankly at the ceiling.
My mind spun.
Should I think about the danger Rowan told me...
Or should I think about... the accidental lip-touch with General Voltaire?
I know, I know. It was silly. Petty.
But my brain refused to let it go.
I turned my head toward the garment lying beside me—his garment.
The same one he wrapped around me the night he caught me dancing.
It was still here.
He still hadn't taken it back.
As I ran my fingers over the fabric, an idea sparked—reckless, dangerous, and absolutely something the General wouldn't approve of.
But only he could help me.
I stood up abruptly, opened my door—and there he was.
General Voltaire. Standing perfectly upright, guarding my door as always.
"Psst—General Voltaire. Come inside," I hissed in a whisper.
He turned to me with his usual annoyed expression.
"Come!" I said, grabbing his wrist and pulling him inside before closing the door.
"What is your problem?" he asked, confused.
"General Voltaire..." I said, staring at him with my most pleading expression. Maybe even trying to look a little cute. Hopefully. Maybe.
He made a face like he was disgusted.
"If you want that accidental lip-touching thing again, I'm sorry, not going to happen," he said.
"It's not about that!" I said, offended. I took a breath and tried to calm myself. "I'm not sure if you heard what Rowan said earlier about—"
"I heard everything."
"What? How? You didn't look like you were listening at all—you were in your own world!" I said.
"My ears were trained to be sharp," he said proudly. "I wasn't called a war prodigy for nothing."
"Yes, yes, I know. You don't have to be proud and annoying at the same time," I said, waving my hand at him in frustration.
"Okay... since you already heard everything, what can you say?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said—and he actually shrugged.
"Huh? You're not bothered?" I asked in disbelief.
"Why would I be bothered? No one can stop me. Even if an entire battalion stood before me, none of them could defeat me," he said.
I scowled. "You're so full of yourself."
But I had to stay serious.
This mattered.
"Let's say I'm not the prince—"
"Because you're a princess," he smirked.
"General! Please, be serious for once!"
"Okay, okay! I surrender!" he said, raising his hands slightly in mock defeat.
I inhaled deeply.
"Let's say I'm not the prince. Pretend I'm a stranger—just anyone. Would you turn your heart against Ardentia and try to conquer it for yourself? We both know you're strong—unstoppable even. Would you do it? Would you turn against my father and the kingdom?"
His expression shifted.
The teasing vanished.
The smirk faded.
For the first time... he looked directly, deeply into my eyes.
Then, ever so slowly, he smirked again.
"Why? Are you afraid I might become your enemy?" he asked, voice low as if daring me to fear him.
He stepped forward.
I instinctively stepped back.
He stepped forward again.
I stepped back again.
Until my back hit the wall. His shadow loomed over me, swallowing the light, and suddenly he wasn't the teasing general anymore.
He looked dangerous.
Unpredictable.
And something icy slid down my spine.
Then, he held the hilt of his sword.
"G-Ge-General Voltaire..." I whispered, my voice trembling as my knees weakened.
What if it was true?
What if he really could turn against the kingdom?
What could someone like me possibly do against someone like him?
My breath hitched.
And tears—hot and humiliating—began falling down my cheeks before I even realized.
I wasn't brave.
Not really.
I was blunt, loud, impulsive—but my heart?
It was fragile.
"W-wait!" he said quickly.
His voice cracked into worry as he reached for me, his hands holding my trembling arms gently.
"Did—did I scare you that much?"
I couldn't answer.
I could only look at him, breath trembling, chest rising and falling too fast, panting.
I was scared of him for a moment.
"Prince Aurein..." he said softly. "I was joking. I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm sorry."
His voice—gentle, quiet, sincere.
A tone I had never heard from him before.
"I would never turn against Ardentia. Or your father," he said. "I have the highest respect for him. He gave my father a life of honor—and because of that, I inherited a life worth living. I owe your father... everything."
Then he lifted both hands and cupped my cheeks.
His palms were large, rough from years of sword and battle—
but warm.
So warm.
The moment I felt his palms, suddenly, I felt safe.
Protected.
Grounded.
He wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes with his thumbs, looking at me with unwavering seriousness.
"I will protect Ardentia with all of my might," he said, voice firm with conviction. "And if possible... this time, trust only me. We never know who the real enemy is."
"I understand and I will. I want to protect it too, General," I whispered. "I don't want the kingdom to fall just because I wasn't strong enough. I want to protect it with my own hands. With you..."
A slow smile spread across his lips.
"That's what I like to hear. You're starting to think like a king. I'm proud of you, Prince Aurein," he said gently.
I swallowed, gathering courage.
"General Voltaire... I know you've been trying to teach me how to use a sword, but..." I hesitated. "I think there's something I can do better."
His brows lowered slightly.
"What is that?"
"Please help me," I said. "Help me get inside the Moon Dancers' pavillion. I want to learn their way of fighting—graceful... but deadly."
His eyes narrowed.
"Are you sure about this? But there is no turning back once you are inside their Pavillon. They wouldn't let you leave anymore and we'll never sure what might happen next."
"It's only you who knows my secret," I said softly. "I'm trusting you, General. Please... help me."
He stared at me—eyes sharp, unreadable.
My heart pounded as I waited.
Would he say yes?
Would he refuse?
Would he expose me?
Would he protect me?
He didn't move.
He didn't blink.
He just stared—
—and I held my breath as I waited for his answer.
End of Chapter 13