Aurein's POV
The forest stretched endlessly before us, a maze of thick trunks, trembling leaves, and scattered shafts of sunlight that cut through the canopy like falling gold. Each crunch of leaves under our boots felt heavier than usual—charged with expectation, tension, and the promise of whatever "treasure" General Voltaire so mysteriously spoke of.
I exhaled sharply.
"So—did any of you see anything that resembles the treasure General Voltaire mentioned?" I asked Ton-Ton, Dante, Asper, and the rest of our group.
They exchanged uncertain glances.
"We can't even tell if we're interpreting things correctly," Asper said anxiously. "What if we end up grabbing something completely wrong?"
"Ugh! Honestly—what is wrong with that General? We're wandering around like lost fools! How are we supposed to know what treasure he meant?" I snapped in irritation.
"Maybe it's food?" Ton-Ton said hopefully. "Whenever I see food, it sparkles like treasure to me!" he added, grinning.
"Food is all you ever think about, Ton-Ton!" Asper said in exasperation before turning to Dante. "You? Any guesses about this 'treasure' General Voltaire meant?"
Dante placed a thoughtful hand on his chin.
"Hmm... shiny, fragile, and important to our kingdom?" he said with suspicious seriousness.
We all stared at him, intrigued—
"Sorry! Nothing comes to mind!" he said, laughing.
"I thought you already thought of it! We were waiting!" Asper groaned.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose.
"This is going to be difficult. There are countless things in this forest that could be considered a treasure... but only one is right. And we have to move quickly before the other group finds it first." I inhaled, thinking. "We need a strategy."
"I agree, Prince Aurein. Just say the word and we'll follow," Asper said.
I straightened and faced all of them. "We split into teams. A hunter team to search for the treasure. A defender team to guard the enemy base and trap them if they get close with the treasure. Likely, they will do the same and guard our base incase we have the treasure in our hands to stop us. And an attacker team—to intercept anyone who tries to take the treasure from us."
Their expressions sharpened with excitement.
"Ton-Ton," I said firmly, "you'll be in the attacker team. Take nine warriors with you."
"Yes, Prince Aurein!" he said, standing tall.
"Dante, you're with me in the hunter team. We need six more warriors."
"Will do, Prince Aurein," Dante said.
"As for the defender team, I need eight warriors—setting traps, guarding the enemy base, preparing any defensive measures you can think of," I continued.
"And me, Prince Aurein?" Asper asked, leaning forward with eager eyes.
"You have a special role," I said. "You'll be our spy. Since you move faster than everyone, you'll track the enemy. If they find the treasure first, you report immediately. You'll be our messenger. Your thin frame makes you the easiest to hide."
"Perfect! Time for me to shine!" Asper said, puffing out his chest.
"Alright," I said, "defenders—go prepare. Hunters and attackers will stick together. If we find the treasure, the attackers move with us."
Everyone nodded firmly.
"Hunters—if you find something, do not make noise. Keep your movements quiet. Signal me and let me confirm the object. If it's the treasure, I'll hold it and take it back to base. Attackers and hunters, your job is to protect me during the return."
"Yes, Prince Aurein!" they all said in unison.
"You're sounding like a true war tactician, Prince Aurein," Dante said with a grin.
"I'm not that good," I said, embarrassed... though admittedly flattered.
I placed my right hand right in front of everyone. The others placed theirs over mine.
"Team Aurein—move out!" I shouted.
Our voices echoed through the forest as our hands came down together.
The defenders dispersed instantly, followed by Asper vanishing between the trees like a blur. The remaining hunters and attackers clustered around me.
"We need something fragile and shiny," I said. "That's the most specific clue General Voltaire gave."
"Maybe a mirror?" one warrior suggested. "It's shiny and fragile."
"But mirrors aren't important to the kingdom," Dante said.
We all fell silent, thinking hard.
"There are too many shiny fragile things," I muttered, "but not all are significant to Ardentia..."
"Wait, Prince Aurein—I might have an idea!" Dante said. "What about a sword?"
"Explain," I said.
"The blade is shiny. And swords are important to Ardentia, especially during war."
"Good guess," I said, "but swords aren't fragile."
Dante sighed dramatically. "This is harder than I thought. Fragile... and important to the kingdom..." he murmured as his eyes wandered—briefly lingering on me.
I blinked. "What? Did you think of something?"
He stared blankly, then scratched his head. "This is driving me crazy! There are too many possibilities but none of them match perfectly. It must be symbolic."
"Same," one warrior said. "Anything I think of doesn't fit the full clue."
"Alright," I said, exhaling deeply. "Since we'll lose our minds if we keep guessing, let's split up. Anything shiny and fragile—grab it. After thirty minutes, meet back here. We'll compare items and deduce from there. Clear?"
"Yes, Prince Aurein," Dante said. "Good idea."
"Agreed!" said one warrior.
"Anyway—attackers, help us search too. The more eyes, the better." I added.
"Yes, Prince Aurein!" Ton-Ton said with enthusiasm.
And just like that—
The treasure hunting truly began.
* * *
Thirty minutes later, we returned to our meeting point—the forest clearing now littered with leaves, gleaming patches of sunlight, and the muffled excitement of warriors carrying their findings like contestants in a chaotic treasure hunt.
Everyone laid down what they had gathered.
And my eyes immediately locked onto the item Ton-Ton proudly carried.
"What... is that?" I asked in pure disbelief, eyes widening.
"Something shiny and fragile! Hehe!" Ton-Ton said with a wide grin.
I closed my eyes for a moment, unable to process it.
Because lying on the ground was a fish.
A still-alive, barely-breathing, shimmering silver fish—gasping dramatically on the soil like it, too, could not believe it had been dragged into this situation.
"This fish is shiny," Ton-Ton explained confidently, "and fragile—once you fry it, it breaks easily! Plus, this one will turn into a food which is important to our kingdom!"
I dragged a hand down my face.
"Return it to whatever body of water you stole it from, Ton-Ton, before that poor creature dies," I said.
"I'll just bring it back later to cook and eat it! I don't want it go to waste! This was hard to catch." Ton-Ton said eagerly.
I ignored him and turned to inspect the others.
"This is a shiny rock," I said, lifting a crystal-like pebble. "Fragile, yes. But it has no importance to our kingdom. Reject."
I tossed it aside and reached for another.
"Another rock?" I muttered. But then—something caught my eye. "Wait."
Carved into the stone was the crest of Ardentia.
"Prince Aurein! This might be the treasure General Voltaire meant!" Dante said, suddenly energized. "It has the crest—signifying importance. It's fragile. It's shiny. This could be it!"
"This is a strong candidate," I said. "We'll set it aside and compare it with the others."
Next, I held up a small marble.
"A marble—irrelevant to the kingdom. Next."
A ring with Ardentia's crest engraved.
"Hmm. This could be a treasure. Set it aside."
A beer bottle.
"Shiny, fragile. But... important?" I questioned.
"Yes, Prince Aurein!" Ton-Ton said seriously. "That bottle brings out the truest behavior in a person. Plus, warriors like us love it."
"Ugh! Don't remind me, Ton-Ton! I already forgot about last night!" I said, mortified. "Alright, fine, we'll keep it as a candidate since alcohol is important to warriors like you," I sighed, moving on.
Then I froze.
"...A golden plate?" I blinked. "Where in the world did you even find this? Are we sure we're still in a forest?"
"Probably planted by General Voltaire to confuse us," Dante said.
"Possible! The task is hard enough—don't tell me he adds decoys too?!" I groaned, placing the plate in the pile of possible treasures.
I can just imagine him preparing all these things for the training, setting them up to confuse us—probably laughing mischievously the whole time, enjoying himself way too much!
Most of the other items were nonsense.
Until something sparkled at the very edge of the pile.
I picked it up carefully.
A small tiara, delicate and intricately designed.
"Who found this?" I asked.
"I spotted it hidden behind a rock, Prince Aurein," Dante said.
I examined the tiara—its tiny gemstones catching the sunlight, its golden structure gleaming faintly.
"Hmmm... This might be the one," I said. "Good job, Dante. Out of everything we found, this fits his clues perfectly. It's shiny, fragile, and symbolizes royalty—something deeply important to Ardentia."
Everyone exchanged glances.
"This might truly be the treasure," I said. My voice lowered. "Now we must bring it back to our base without getting caught."
All the warriors nodded.
I leaned closer and whispered, "I'll hide the tiara. Meanwhile, we will pretend we're still searching for the treasure. I have a feeling someone might be watching. While walking back, act like you're still looking. Clear?"
"Yes, Prince Aurein."
"Let's go. Attackers—stay close to me," I said.
We began moving slowly through the forest.
I hid the tiara deep inside my clothing, cool metal pressing against my chest. My eyes scanned the surroundings as I pretended to search bushes, peer beneath rocks, and examine tree roots. The others mimicked the act flawlessly—Ton-Ton even stuck his head into a hollow trunk dramatically.
My heart pounded.
At any moment, another team could jump out and attack us.
Thankfully, Ton-Ton and the attackers flanked me closely, forming a protective circle.
As we walked toward our base, a blur of movement tore through the trees.
"Asper?" I breathed.
He sprinted toward us with wild speed, gasping heavily as he reached Ton-Ton and clung to his large belly to catch his breath.
"What happened? What did you see?" I asked urgently.
"They found the treasure, Prince Aurein!" Asper said between breaths.
My eyes widened. "What? Impossible. We already found it."
I instinctively revealed a bit of the tiara hidden inside my clothes.
"They found something else—a golden egg with the crest of Ardentia carved into it!" Asper said, panicked.
"A... golden egg?" I repeated blankly.
My mind replayed the clues.
Shiny.
Fragile.
Important to the kingdom—because of the crest.
A golden egg has all of those things as well.
"They're heading back to their base right now!" Asper said. "We need to beat them there!"
"This means one of our treasures is the correct one," I said, tightening my grip on the hidden tiara. "But we must determine if ours matches the criteria just as well."
I inhaled sharply.
"Everyone—back to base! Now!" I commanded.
* * *
By the time we returned to the training grounds, the battlefield had already erupted into chaos.
Our defender team was locked in a full-on brawl with the opposing group—shouts echoing, bodies colliding, dust rising in frantic clouds. I froze for a heartbeat, stunned by the sheer physicality of what was happening. One of the enemy warriors was desperately trying to place their treasure onto their base, only to be relentlessly blocked by our defenders.
Meanwhile, on our own base, a second wave of enemy warriors waited in ambush.
"I don't think I can pass through those guys guarding our base," I whispered under my breath. "So what I'm thinking... is to lure them away. Distract them." I said.
"What's your plan, Prince Aurein? Just say it," Asper asked.
"It's up to you now, Asper. I'm counting on you to secretly place our treasure on the base. I'll act as the decoy—make it look like I'm the one carrying the treasure so all their attention shifts to me," I said.
"I like that plan," Asper said.
I slipped the tiara into his hands beneath Ton-Ton's massive frame, using him as the perfect wall to conceal the exchange.
"Alright—let's move!" I said, and I shot forward at full speed.
"Cover me, attacker team! I need to get this treasure to the base!" I shouted, loud enough for the enemies to hear, and Ton-Ton immediately sprinted behind me like a charging bull.
The enemy guards took the bait instantly.
"All eyes on me—good," I thought as they roared and surged after me.
For a split second, I glanced toward Asper. Our eyes met. I gave him the signal.
He nodded once—and vanished in a streak of motion.
With no enemy left guarding our base, Asper sprinted straight toward it and, with speed that even left me breathless, he placed the tiara at the peak of our base.
"Everyone, halt for a moment!" General Voltaire's voice boomed, echoing across the grounds. He wore a smug grin as he surveyed the chaos. "Aurein's group has successfully placed the treasure on their base."
We all stopped mid-motion, breaths sharp, shoulders heaving—waiting, hanging onto his next words.
"What you did, Aurein—as a decoy—was impressive," the General said. "Excellent tactics up your sleeve. You divided your team wisely. I commend you for that. With that said... congratulations."
I couldn't help the triumphant smile tugging at my lips.
"So we won? I'm sure we brought the correct treasure," I said.
General Voltaire chuckled—far too amused.
"A tiara, shiny, fragile, and it carries importance with the kingdom. I congratulate you for the effort," he said, grinning wider, "but unfortunately, the treasure you retrieved was incorrect."
"What?!" I groaned. "Seriously?!"
I dragged a hand through my hair and glanced toward the other group.
"That only means one thing..." I said grimly. "They have the correct treasure."
"That means we need to steal the golden egg from them!" Dante said.
"That's right," I said. "This is going to get chaotic, but we're already here. We fight for that golden egg. Let's move—charge!"
We had no choice. Either face them head-on or lose this challenge entirely.
The battlefield erupted once more—warriors grabbing, blocking, pulling each other back in a frenzy. Asper and I pushed past the scuffle, bolting toward the warrior holding the golden egg. But it wasn't easy—his teammates protected him like an impenetrable wall.
Still... I wasn't planning to back down now.
Not when victory was shining right there in front of us.
I glanced toward General Voltaire—and nearly choked on my own frustration.
He was standing off to the side, arms crossed, wearing the most entertained smirk on his face as if this entire chaos was his personal stage play. He watched us scramble like ants whose hill had been kicked open.
We tightened our formation, ready to corner the warrior holding the golden egg—only for him to do something none of us expected.
He suddenly rolled the egg across the dirt.
It spun fast—far too fast—and zipped cleanly between our legs before anyone could react. It shot straight toward another member of their team who was already near their base.
"No—no—no—grab it—!" I shouted, but it was hopeless.
In one swift motion, the opposing warrior caught the egg and placed it onto their base.
Everyone froze.
Our breaths hung thick in the air as all heads slowly turned toward General Voltaire. My heart pounded with dread. They probably got it right this time—my instincts screamed it.
Voltaire exhaled calmly.
"Seems the other group does not want to be outdone," he said, nodding at the gleaming egg. "A golden egg with Ardentia's crest... impressive."
My chest tightened.
"Did they... win?" I asked, anxiety gnawing at me.
He lifted a brow.
"I suggest you all search harder," he said. "Because that treasure is also incorrect."
"What?!" I groaned. "Unbelievable! We struggled so hard to steal that egg—only to learn we chose wrong again?! This is torture, General Voltaire. We're pouring out effort, and in the end everything is wrong!"
"You are not wasting effort," he said, utterly calm—too calm. "You are learning. I shall repeat the treasure clue for you: shiny, fragile, and holds importance to our kingdom."
"Wow. Thank you for that extremely specific clue," I said sarcastically as I rolled my eyes. Then I turned to my team. "Regroup, everyone."
* * *
We returned to our stations—defenders near the base, Asper slipping into position to spy on the enemy again, and the hunters and attackers surrounding me once more.
"Even if we think we've chosen the right treasure," I muttered, "it's still wrong. Dante, I think you were right earlier—General Voltaire probably placed all these objects here just to mess with us."
Dante nodded with a pout, letting out a dramatic sigh.
I ruffled my hair in irritation.
"Okay, Aurein. Calm down," I whispered to myself. "This is just training. What more when we enter the actual competition?"
Of course, everyone heard that. It was hard to whisper when frustration wrapped tightly around your words.
I caught Dante staring at me quietly—studying me.
"What? Is there something strange about me?" I asked. "You've been staring at me for a while."
"I just noticed the necklace you're wearing," Dante said, puzzled. "The blue crystal stone... It's shiny. And looks fragile. Where did you get that, Prince Aurein?"
His words struck me like lightning.
I shot upright.
"This is from General Voltaire!" I said, stunned. "And this necklace carries... a special meaning. I won't explain all the details—but Dante, you might be right!"
"Really, Prince Aurein?" he said with a grin.
"I'm going. Alone," I announced, narrowing my eyes. "Wait here. I don't want all of us wasting effort. I have someone I need to confront—and scold."
* * *
I had returned alone to the training grounds, my footsteps steady as I walked toward General Voltaire, who stood calmly between the two bases as if the chaos around him did not exist.
Warriors from the opposing group tried to block my path—but I stopped, lifted my chin, and fixed them with a cold stare.
"Let me pass," I said firmly, my voice sharp and unwavering. "Or you will not like what I am about to do."
They stiffened.
"Forgive us, Prince Aurein," one of them said at once, stepping aside. The rest followed, creating a clear path.
I walked straight toward General Voltaire.
"What brings you here?" he asked with an infuriating smile.
"Do not give me that smile," I snapped. "I have been irritated for hours because you keep making this hunt unnecessarily difficult." I crossed my arms. "I am here to confirm something."
"Oh?" he said, still smiling. "And what might that be?"
"Stop smiling!" I said irritably. "Dante helped me come to this conclusion," I continued. "He believes my necklace might be the treasure—the one you gave me. I came here personally because I cannot risk everyone fighting over it. I promised I would wear this and never remove it. If the others tried to seize it, it might break." I met his gaze. "So I will ask directly. Is this necklace the treasure?"
His smile softened, almost fond.
"That makes me happy, Aurein," he said. "You are keeping your promise this time."
"Enough!" I barked. "Just answer me!"
"All right, all right," he said with a quiet laugh. "Relax. The answer is no. But YOU are very close to the treasure you are searching for."
"Ugh!" I groaned. "Good thing I did not risk having everyone fight over it!"
He leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Thank you, my Queen," he whispered teasingly.
"Hmp! Do not talk to me," I said sharply, turning my back on him. "And do not come anywhere near me tonight, specially inside my chamber! I hate you!"
I left him standing there, still smiling like he had won something.
I returned to our meeting point carrying nothing but disappointing news.
"Well?" Dante asked. "What did he say?"
"He said it is still wrong," I replied. "But he claims we are close."
We all sighed at the same time, staring into nothing as our thoughts tangled themselves into knots.
"What else could it be?" I said, rubbing my temples. "This is driving me insane. Maybe General Voltaire is just messing with us at this point."
* * *
The sun eventually sank below the horizon, and the moon began to rise. Neither group had guessed the correct treasure. We were so close to giving up entirely.
As everyone stood in silence, deep in thought, the only sound left was Ton-Ton chewing loudly on an apple.
"At this rate, you will finish all the apples on that tree, Ton-Ton," Asper said as he arrived.
"Oh, any news, Asper?" I asked.
"None, Prince Aurein," he replied. "Even the other group does not know what to do anymore. I got bored watching them do nothing—I nearly fell asleep waiting."
I let out a long sigh.
"This is hopeless," I muttered. "It feels like this will never end. Even if we ask General Voltaire to stop, he does not look like he plans to."
He was still there in the distance, after all—doing push-ups, sit-ups, sword drills, anything to pass the time while waiting for us.
Then came silence.
Well—almost. Ton-Ton was still eating.
Until he was not.
Five seconds passed without a single bite.
I glanced at him, assuming he had run out of food. But he was still holding the apple. He was staring at it—confused, focused, as if he were seeing something unfamiliar.
He examined the untouched half carefully.
For a brief moment, a ridiculous thought crossed my mind. Perhaps Ton-Ton was right. Perhaps food was the treasure. The apple did look shiny. Fragile, too—if dropped or crushed, it would easily break apart. And food was important to the kingdom.
But no.
There was no way we had wasted an entire night just for a single apple.
"Why'd you stop eating? Have you gone mad from hunger?" Asper teased. "Are you imagining that apple as meat now?"
"No," Ton-Ton said, still staring at it. He wiped the surface of the apple and lifted it closer to his face, inspecting it more carefully.
Asper frowned, clearly convinced Ton-Ton had finally lost his mind.
Dante, meanwhile, poked the ground with a twig, clearly having given up.
"Prince Aurein," Ton-Ton suddenly said.
"Yes?"
"Your skin is unusual," he said with a laugh. "I can see your reflection here. It is not very clear, but your fairness stands out. It's like your skin glows. It reflects against the shiny skin of the apple. Does royalty like you bathe in a different kind of water? Also, princess Serena has the same kind of skin.
Asper stared at him, then walked closer to take a look.
"...You are right," he said slowly. He then turned to me "Look at us. Our skin is darker. Compared to yours, Prince Aurein... you are incredibly fair. So fair that you almost glow in the darkness. We can easily spot you when it's nighttime."
He laughed—then abruptly stopped.
His eyes widened as he stared at me.
"Prince Aurein," he said slowly. "I just realized something."
He swallowed.
"I think I know what General Voltaire meant by the treasure."
My heart skipped.
"What if," he continued, "he was never talking about an object at all?"
His voice dropped.
"What if... the treasure is a person?"
I looked down at my hands.
Then my arms.
Realization struck me like lightning.
"Asper... what if the treasure is actually—" I began.
Our eyes met. We both swallowed hard.
"You," Asper said. "You are the treasure General Voltaire has been talking about all along."
I froze.
"You shine," he continued. "Not just physically, but in who you are. Your royalty. Your name. Your status. Your character. Wherever you go, people notice you. You are strong-willed—we all know that. But as a person, you are also fragile and can easily break down. There are things that can hurt you deeply."
"And my importance to Ardentia," I whispered, my chest tightening. "As the next king..."
The realization settled heavily among us.
We all looked at one another in silence—no longer searching the ground, no longer guessing.
The treasure had been with us the entire time.
Only a few seconds passed before a faint rustling crept in from every direction.
My body tensed instantly.
Then—they appeared.
The opposing group emerged from the foliage, one by one, unhurried and confident, as if they had already won.
"Now that you've realized it," one of them said with a slow, satisfied smile, "I think you were right all along. It's a good thing we waited. We knew sooner or later you'd figure it out. All we had to do was stay put."
They advanced in measured steps, careful and deliberate—predators stalking prey that had finally wandered into the open.
A chill slid down my spine.
Something was wrong.
No—something terrible was about to happen.
"Everyone..." I whispered, my voice tight with dread. "I have a feeling they're coming after me. On the count of three, I'll run. Protect me. No matter what."
My companions moved with me, rising slowly, every muscle taut as a drawn bowstring.
I stepped backward, never breaking eye contact with the enemy. Each step felt heavy. Counted.
"Three... two... one..." I murmured after the third step back.
Then I spun around.
"Run!" I shouted.
Chaos erupted.
I sprinted forward as my team closed in around me, forming a living shield. But the enemy group was relentless. They chased us with terrifying focus—every step of theirs aimed at dragging me back.
"You won't catch me!" I shouted breathlessly as I ran. "You're unbelievable, General Voltaire! You really made me the treasure? You wanted me to get swarmed this badly?" I snarled, half-panicked, half-furious.
Everything dissolved into noise and motion.
Behind me, Dante and the others held the line. Ahead, Ton-Ton charged forward like a wall of muscle, while Asper stayed tight at my side.
"If you hadn't said it out loud," I said between gasps, glancing at Asper, "I wouldn't have realized it."
"Thanks to Ton-Ton's endless hunger—and his recklessness," Asper replied with a grin that bordered on delighted.
"Hehe! Food is the best!" Ton-Ton declared proudly.
Moments later, we skidded to a halt.
A barricade.
The opposing group had already cut us off.
Every exit was sealed.
We were surrounded.
"They're persistent," I muttered. "And clever. That's why they stopped searching. Just like you said, Asper—they were waiting for us to realize what the real treasure was."
"Yeah," Asper said calmly. "But we still need to get past them."
"We have to win," Ton-Ton said seriously. "There's food waiting for me." He turned toward me and bowed his head slightly. "Forgive what I'm about to do, Prince Aurein."
My heart skipped.
"W-What are you going to do, Ton-Ton?" I asked, alarmed, as he stepped closer.
Strangely, I was more afraid of him than of the enemy.
And then—
Before I could react, Ton-Ton scooped me up.
Fast. Too fast.
His arms wrapped around me in a crushing grip, my feet leaving the ground as he hugged me tightly to his chest, like I was his favorite food that he didn't want to share to everybody!
"I—I can't breathe, Ton-Ton!" I gasped.
"Hold on tight, Prince Aurein!" he said.
"How am I supposed to hold on when you're squeezing me to death? My ribs are about to crack!" I yelled.
"I'm sorry, Prince Aurein, but I will bring you to the base personally, and I will carry you to make sure no one takes you," he said earnestly. "I must do this. For my food.
Then he ran.
Straight toward the barricade.
"Ton-Ton, don't tell me you're going to ram through them!" I shouted in pure panic, twisting in his arms to look ahead.
He didn't answer.
He lowered his head and accelerated.
I screamed, clutched him with everything I had, and squeezed my eyes shut.
Blag!
Thud!
Smack!
Ton-Ton crashed into the barricade like a cannonball.
Bodies flew. Warriors scattered. The impact sent them tumbling in every direction as if struck by a rolling boulder.
He didn't stop.
Anyone who tried to block him was mowed down. He surged forward, unstoppable, a living avalanche.
When I dared open my eyes again, I saw the training ground ahead.
And there—
General Voltaire.
He had been doing push-ups.
He froze the moment he saw us, rising sharply to his feet.
His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Ton-Ton charging toward him with me clutched in his arms. He actually winced.
Behind us, the enemy warriors were still chasing.
"We're close, Prince Aurein!" Ton-Ton shouted as he ran.
"T-Ton-Ton," I said shakily, gripping him tighter, "promise me you won't throw me—or crush me—once we reach the base!"
"I promise, Prince Aurein!" he said with unwavering conviction.
Five warriors stood guard at our base—the final barricade.
They saw Ton-Ton coming.
And wisely, they moved.
They scattered on their own, diving out of the way in fear of collision.
We were almost there.
"Ton-Ton, slow down! Any second now!" I cried, terrified he'd trip and flatten me.
At the very edge of the base, he stopped abruptly.
Then—gently—he placed me atop the blue elevated platform as if none of it had happened.
I stood there in silence, stunned. Traumatised.
Ton-Ton beamed.
"We brought the treasure, General Voltaire," he said innocently. "Were we right?"
General Voltaire stared at us, lips parted, utterly speechless.
"I... did not expect this to be how you would deliver the treasure," he finally said, still in disbelief.
He shook his head fast and composed himself.
Soon, all the warriors gathered around us, their eyes fixed on General Voltaire as they waited for his verdict.
Then—he smiled.
"Congratulations," General Voltaire said, his voice ringing clearly across the training ground. "You have successfully defended and brought the treasure back to your base."
I stared at him, disbelief crashing into irritation.
"Wait," I said, throwing my hands slightly in the air, "all this time, I was the treasure? If I had known from the very beginning, I should have just stood at the base!"
A low chuckle escaped him.
"Well, it wouldn't have been challenging if I gave the clues away too easily," he said. "My hints were actually simple. You just assumed the treasure had to be an object—not a person."
"Well, because a treasure is an object," I shot back, clearly annoyed.
"Not to me," he said smoothly. "You are my treasure."
My eyes widened instantly.
He had said it.
Out loud.
In front of everyone.
"General Voltaire!" I whispered urgently, my entire face burning.
He merely grinned, completely unfazed, as if he had no concern at all about who heard him. Whatever happened to act normal and don't let anyone notice?
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "My army, my rules. Not a single word leaves this ground."
Then he turned to the warriors, pride evident in his expression.
"I applaud everyone's effort in this training," he said. "I saw your strategies, your persistence, your coordination, strength, and how far you were willing to go just to win. This will serve you well in the upcoming competition. Congratulations to the winning group—and to the other group as well. You fought bravely."
Cheers erupted instantly. Applause echoed through the field.
I smiled, relief washing over me, and hugged Ton-Ton beside me.
Big mistake.
Without warning, Ton-Ton lifted me off the ground again, hoisting me up effortlessly.
"Ton-Ton!" I yelped.
Suddenly, everyone crowded around—and then they lifted me too.
"I know what you are going to do! I dare you all not to throw me!" I shouted in alarm.
They started walking.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked, panic creeping into my voice.
Then I saw it.
The spring.
The same one we bathed in.
"Wait—guys! No!" I shouted. "I know what you're planning! It's already night!"
"We haven't bathed yet, Prince Aurein!" Ton-Ton said cheerfully. "Food tastes better after a bath!"
"No! Don't do this to me!" I protested. "I'm still wearing my training gear!"
Too late.
Splash!
They threw me straight into the spring.
"Ugh!" I groaned, sputtering as I surfaced.
But it didn't end there.
One by one—they stripped.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head.
Right in front of me—completely unashamed—their bodies were on full display.
Even the General.
Then—
Boom!
They all jumped in at once, the water surging violently as if determined to tear me apart.
Amid the chaos, someone reached me.
Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, shielding me from the crashing waves and the warriors who were splashing wildly in pure joy.
It was him.
"General!" I said irritably. "You didn't even stop them!"
"We're having fun," he replied with a smile.
"Hmp," I muttered, embracing him as best as I could in the water to let him be my shield before I get crushed!
"Tonight, I will sleep beside you, my queen." He whispered.
"What about Serena? Don't you have to be by her side?"
"The Queen wishes me to be your personal guard again."
"Why—When—How?" I astonishingly asked.
"No need to ask what happened. Just be happy."
He just gave me a grin, and I really don't know what is going on!
* * *
Third Persony POV
Far from the training grounds—beyond the echo of laughter, beyond the churn of splashing water—the night lay heavy and unmoving, as if the world itself were holding its breath.
In a dimly lit chamber carved from stone and secrecy, a single lantern burned low above a rough wooden table. Its unsteady glow spilled across unfolded maps of Ardentia, the parchment scarred with inked circles, slashes, and carefully drawn paths that converged toward the heart of the kingdom. Five shadowed figures stood around it, their forms swallowed by darkness, their faces concealed beneath deep hoods.
"Voltaire's army is noisy tonight," one of them muttered. A dagger tapped softly against the map—tap, tap, tap—each sound sharp and deliberate. "They're celebrating again."
"They're training for the upcoming competition," another corrected quietly. "And they're starting to grow stronger. That is the alarming part. It will not be General Voltaire alone who stands in our way—but his entire army, should the time come."
Silence followed. Thick. Waiting.
Then, from the far corner of the room, a presence stirred.
Footsteps—slow, measured—crossed the stone floor. A lone figure emerged into the lantern's weak light, calm and composed, as if the tension in the room did not touch them at all.
"I have great news," the voice said evenly.
Every hood turned toward the speaker.
"You're late," the man with the dagger said. "We've been waiting for you... our shadow."
"I needed more time to gather information," the informant replied, ignoring the accusation. "I've been watching the General and his army—quietly. They conducted a mock mission earlier. A test about protecting a treasure."
"A treasure?" another figure scoffed. "Gold? Artifacts? Weapons of war?"
"No," the voice said.
The room stilled.
"A person."
The dagger froze mid-tap.
"Explain," the leader ordered.
"They were given clues," the informant said. "Something shiny. Fragile. And vital to the kingdom. After hours of searching—after clashes, ambushes, and even stealing from one another—they finally uncovered the truth."
A pause stretched, tight as a drawn blade.
"The treasure," the informant continued, lowering their voice, "was Prince Aurein."
The lantern crackled.
"And what does that mock mission do any good to us?" the leader asked.
"I witnessed it myself," the informant replied. "In front of the entire army, the General spoke openly. And without hesitation, he declared the prince his treasure—before everyone."
A soft laugh slipped from one of the hooded figures. There was no humor in it.
"So it's true," the informant said. "The prince and the general share a hidden relationship."
"How touching," the leader said coldly. "Our future king—cherished, protected, adored by Ardentia's strongest general. Who would have thought that Prince Aurein would be the one Voltaire admired the most?" He paused, then asked, "Do they suspect anything? About us. About the rebellion."
"No," the informant answered. "They're consumed by preparation for the competition. And neither the General nor the prince has any idea we exist. Their focus is elsewhere—on their so-called secret love."
For a moment, only the lantern spoke, its flame hissing and popping softly.
"Good," the leader said at last. He leaned forward, his finger dragging a slow line across the map—from the city walls to the royal crest etched at the center. "Then continue watching them. Every step. Every bond they form. I want it all reported."
"And when do we move?" another voice whispered. "We can't wait forever. They're only growing stronger."
Beneath his hood, the leader smiled.
"We strike," he murmured, "once the wall that protects Ardentia is gone."
The lantern flickered violently, shadows stretching like grasping hands across the walls.
"We cannot kill General Voltaire," one of them warned. "He might kill us first before we even try to."
"Do not worry," the leader said smoothly. "I already have a plan. When the wall is gone, that's when we strike and infiltrate. We need to bring down King Lucen and take hostage of the weak prince, it would be easier for us to do our plan."
"But what about his army?"
"No need to worry about his army. Our only concern is Voltaire. He is too formidable to confront directly—that is why we must plan every step with care, before he destroys us. But now we know his weakness. There is now a way to stop him. " A soft, chilling laugh escaped him. "And it is none other than Prince Aurein."
"Understood," the informant said. Then hesitated. "But I believe we should no longer focus on General Voltaire alone."
"What do you mean?" the leader asked.
"We must watch the prince as well," the informant said. "He is no longer the weak figure we once believed him to be. Under the General's guidance, he is improving—rapidly. If we delay too long, our rebellion may fail. He will become dangerous. Powerful and smarter enough to ruin everything we have planned."
The leader's voice hardened.
"If it comes to that," he said, "then we will have no choice but to kill him—before he reaches his full potential. The upcoming competition will be our basis to see if he will become a threat to our plan."
The lantern's flame trembled, casting their shadows high upon the walls—five figures bound by ambition, fear, and blood-soaked intent.
And far away, the prince and the general are having fun and not worrying about anything, unaware of the impending danger waiting for them.
End of Chapter 26.