Aurelia Everblade

Quietude hung in the academy's library.

Leafing the pages of her novel, the scarlet beauty hummed.

Her imagination drew her focus.

Hours felt like seconds.

The fictitious ideas presented by the story brought forth an unfamiliar warmth to her cold heart.

A warrioress interested in the world of fiction?

Unthinkable.

It was the one secret she wished to hold.

An innocent heart.

With her image held high, she couldn't present weakness.

She prepared this time for that exact purpose.

But yet.

The grimy scum sitting across from her was ruining what time she had left.

She looked at the man.

His well-kempt uniform and calm gaze made him appear dignified on the surface.

August Vale.

Aurelia Everblade was well informed of his morally disgusting deeds.

She knew the man's innards were nothing but tar.

Rumors were more than enough to frame him as a villain.

However, there was something this man did that got under her skin.

Sariel Williams, the only daughter of Marquees Diluc Williams, the greatest magician in the Everblade empire.

Aurelia was not close with the girl but felt a great deal of pity toward her.

After all, Sariel Williams was obligated by her father to marry a Vale.

That's right.

The rich, playboy, noble bastard son, August Vale was engaged to the empire's brightest future of magic.

August Vale had no reason to keep such a marriage intact.

His father made enough money to keep their family incredibly wealthy for five generations.

However, their family had no interest in breaking off such a marriage.

August desired her body, while his father desired her talent.

Sariel's fate was sealed.

Maybe it was fortunate Aurelia was born under Casimir Everblade.

All children born from his blood were given the freedom of choice.

He desired them to bloom without his direct intervention.

Each of them was a candidate for succession.

But also targets, in the way of each other's goals.

A curious gaze cut her thoughts.

"Is my presence disturbing you, Princess Aurelia?"

"You know very well that I don't enjoy the smell of trash."

The setting sun always beautifully peered through this window.

Yet today, such beauty is being diminished by the presence of rubbish.

She didn't care if her words were rude.

They were directed at a man whose personality was as corrupt as a devil's.

Princess Aurelia had already prepared a retort for his words.

She expected August to denounce her.

To openly announce this room as free to every student, knowing damn well he never comes here.

"I understand. I'll leave."

"...Huh?"

But surprisingly, her retort went unneeded.

For a moment there, she was shocked.

"Is there something else bothering you?"

August's voice melted in her ears like butter.

His sweet innocent tone was followed by an even sweeter look of concern.

Most women would feel a tug on their heartstrings as a result of such a combo.

However, Aurelia Everblade was not unfamiliar with such acting.

"No."

With a cold answer, she returned to her novel.

August Vale quietly replaced his book on its shelf and left the library.

His dejected expression left an odd mark on Princess Aurelia's mind.

'What is he up to?'

The next day, again, August appeared.

And, again, Princess Aurelia requested for his leave.

Without a single complaint, he would move himself from his seat and exit the library.

As the week went on, she began seeing him every day.

It became more and more irritating to her.

There were clearly hidden intentions behind his actions.

Otherwise, why would he sit in the same seat across from her every day?

The tables here were not only limited to hers.

On the seventh day of his recurring appearance, Princess Aurelia asked him.

"You're acting unbefitting of your name. What is your goal here, Viscount August?"

A calm, clear gaze met her eyes.

"To change."

"To... change...?"

From the perspective of Princess Aurelia, it sounded ludicrous. 

"To alter, to improve, to better one's self. I believe my words are clear."

"...You wish to change. Yet your answer still veils your real intentions. What is it you're after, August Vale?"

Her words were minced with killing intent.

August stayed calm on the surface, but a drop of sweat dripped down his forehead.

"I wish to help you, Your Highness."

"Huh? How would you help me? Let alone, from what?"

August gulped.

He knew just as well as The Princess that he was no match for her.

Defending her was out of the question.

"I've come across information regarding one of your siblings. They seek to poison you and bottleneck your growth."

"And? I've dealt with that matter my whole life. It's not new information coming from you."

A sigh came from August.

"In 1 minute, a barrier will isolate this room from the outside. An assassin will come, and without your help, he will kill us both."

Princess Aurelia grasped the hilt of her sword.

The absurdity of his statement made her tinge with anger.

"August Vale. A lie can only take you so far. Would you bet your life on that statement?"

But August Vale was still calmly staring her in the eyes.

His honest gaze frightened her, for it carried his next words true.

"As a Viscount and member of the Vale household, I would bet my life any day for the safety of yours."

Princess Aurelia released her grip on her blade.

She turned away, unable to face the reality of August's words.

August Vale was a scumbag.

A womanizer.

An untalented piece of trash.

A man dragging a talented mage in the dirt.

And yet.

She trusted him.

"Fine."

Her words finished with the library door swinging open.

Two people came rushing in.

An instructor and student.

It was Professor Boyden, the swordsmanship instructor for the first years.

And...

Him.

A painful memory came back the moment she met his violet eyes.

Why was such a person here?

"Oi, Red-head! You interrupted my sleep for this?"

"Ah... it looks like the conflict between them settled down."

What were they talking about?

What conflict?

Questions only continued to arise the more that boy stayed in her presence.

Her mouth opened to shout, but nothing came out.

Another presence entered the room.

They emitted a killing intent so strong it took center stage.

"..Four..? One Professor, three students..."

Without wasting a single movement, the assassin appeared before him.

The assassin lunged at his throat, aiming to take the boy out in one strike.

But the dagger suddenly stopped.

A blade stood in the way of his attack.

"An assassin, huh? Is this brat your target? You should choose better."

Narrowly deflecting his strike, Professor Boyden mocked the assassin.

"Professor, be careful! He's after the Princess!"

August's statement made the Princess suddenly shiver.

The foretold minute had passed.

In a matter of seconds, the professor and assassin exchanged hundreds of blows.

Grabbing a previously hidden sword from the training grounds, August stood as the Princess's guard.

Everything around her was happening at an unbelievable speed.

All for the sake of her life.

She realized the seriousness of the situation and prepared herself.

But as she drew her sword, she noticed one person standing still.

Doing nothing but watch in a situation as dangerous as this.

Mackenzie Everblade.

The bastard that never did anything.

But why should he?

He had no reason to help her after how she treated him.

Mixed emotions filled her just looking at him.

However, he soon disappeared from her vision.

"Umbral veil."

As a black wave of blindness took away her sight, her ears heard a painful scream.

It was August.

The assassin must've hit him.

She tried distancing herself from August.

"Shadow tag."

However, her feet stuck to the floor.

They felt incredibly heavy.

Unable to move, she tried listening to the assassin's movements.

The glimmer of light in the darkness proved her efforts futile.

She landed defeated on the ground.

As the veil cleared, so did the assassin.

The pain from her neck sent her body into shock.

It was all so fast.

The conversation with August was only a minute ago.

His words she barely believed to be true were nothing but.

As a half-dead August cried out her name, she turned her head.

Was her death inevitable?

Would her blessing have made any difference?

These last thoughts crossed her mind as she stared at the same man she felt nothing but hatred for.

'I'm sorry... Mackenzie.'