No one could see the details for certain—Mai would've made sure of that, yet I suspected the general, knowing Ozai's daughter's temperament, had also warned his men "not to disturb" us.
Not to mention that we'd gone far enough away for the camp to become nothing more than a distant speck. Still, given our speed, it was close enough for us to make it back quickly if anything happened, because safety came first.
But then the battle ended, and... we realized that once again, we were standing far too close to each other, with no one else around.
"You know..." the princess began. "I've made a decision."
"Hmm?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You... What happened in the cabin..." She fell silent. "Argh..." Scrape—a ninety-degree pivot on the ball of her foot, and off she went, pacing back and forth in irritation.
"You irritate me so much! You're constantly driving me insane! You act almost like my insufferable uncle! Worse, even! Damn it, you were ready to face Father in an Agni Kai! To face me! You do realize that your behavior is outrageous! But... for some reason, I can't be angry about it! Not truly angry! More than that, I like it! And I can feel myself becoming different!"
"And that scares you?" Catching something in her voice, I asked the question without any hidden meaning, simply out of genuine curiosity.
"Yes, Spirits take you!" Azula snarled right in my face. "And the fact that I just admitted it scares me even more! How did you manage this?! I would've burned anyone else for something like that long ago! Just for asking the question! Never mind what I'd do if they actually learned the answers..."
"Maybe... you simply know I won't use it against you? Not even emotionally."
"And how would I know that?!" the girl exclaimed, gesturing sharply with both hands before briefly straightening them at her sides. "Much less believe it?!"
"You studied me." I met her gaze directly, without the slightest hint of a smile or condescension toward her nervousness. "I don't think I'd be wrong in saying that studying people is one of the main things you were taught as the heir to the throne. And after living alongside me for several months, observing me under all sorts of circumstances, you can't help but know that I'm entirely on your side and your father's, without the slightest interest in court circles or any kind of opposition. Even despite my friendship with Iroh, to me the Fire Lord is unequivocally Lord Ozai."
"Whose decisions you don't exactly always approve of. Just as you don't always approve of mine," the princess astutely pointed out, though there was no reproach in her voice over the fact.
"Good commanders conduct reconnaissance in person for a reason, despite having an entire staff with intelligence reports and dispatches from hundreds of observers. And good rulers send trusted people with broad authority out into the field for a reason, rather than trying to decide everything themselves from behind a desk. Even the Spirit of Knowledge cannot know everything or be everywhere in person to judge events without distortion or embellishment. A true supporter and defender of the throne isn't a fanatic who worships every word their sovereign speaks, treating it as unquestionable truth. A true defender of the throne is someone who will defend it even at the cost of disobeying an order and falling out of favor."
"Impudent... You're so impudent!" Azula clutched her head. "Unforgivably brazen! Shamelessly self-assured! Arrogant!.." The yellow eyes fixed on my face blazed with something close to fury.
"But... damn it!" She turned away again and resumed pacing. "I don't understand why hearing those arrogant words feels good! When you say such outrageous things, I feel happy! It happens all the time! And it's not just me it's affecting! Back on the airship, in the room Mai, Ty Lee, and I share... we were just talking and laughing, like we did when we were children! But they used to be afraid of me! They might have tried to hide it, but I'm not an idiot! Fear is reliable! Fear is right! That's what I was always taught! But... then why, in those moments when we were laughing and there was no fear... why did I feel so good?"
"Because you're human, Azula. The Fire Herald can and should be a monster. The Fire Princess should inspire fear, awe, and reverence. But Chan and Azula are human, and nothing human is alien to us. We don't want to see fear in our friends' eyes. And that's why, when that fear disappeared, you felt better too."
"I know!" the girl snorted irritably, turning half toward me as she brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. "You told me that before, but... I didn't understand... back then. But now... yes. And one more thing... tell me, Chan." She turned fully toward me. "Could you... become my husband?"
"Ahem..." Admittedly, it wasn't as though I was surprised—I wasn't an idiot, after all, and while things hadn't exactly been heading toward this for very long, certain developments had been noticeable, clear, and rather obvious. "Oh. That's unexpected!"
"If you tell me you need time to think, I'm going to kill you," the girl informed me in a voice brimming with friendliness.
(End of Chapter)
🙌Bonus chapter for 200 power stones!
🔥The next bonus chapter will be for 200 power stones.