Chapter 01

Under The Night's Aegis

Chapter 01 - S1

"Once upon a time, there lived a woman named Aurora. She was a beautiful princess who has blue eyes and blonde hair."

"Do you think blonde hair and blue eyes would suit me too, mother? I want to be like the princess here in the story."

Her mother laughed. "You're beautiful as you are my dearest sunshine." 

"Mother is also beautiful! The most beautiful in the world!"

"That is so sweet of you my love. But shall we continue?" The mother asked as the little lady nodded her head calmly. "Aurora then had a lover, he was a soldier. A knight. A handsome and rich man named Yue." Her mother turned to the next page.

"Aurora and Yue loved each other since they were young. The promised to love and marry each other eternally. That no matter what they will always return to each other's arms."

The mother looked at her child to see if she was still listening as she felt her breathing get heavy. She laughed seeing her fast asleep.

She brushed her daughter's hair before fixing her position. She gave her daughter a peck on the forehead, nose and her lips before she whispered "Goodnight, my sunshine."

Astrid stared at her father sharply. It has been a year and months since she last saw her father and brothers and their relationship is becoming more and more bitter as time passes. Starting when her beloved mother died years ago, when she was only a kid.

She then turned her fiery golden eyes to her brothers, who's only looking, no, staring at her with nothing but coldness in their eyes.

Astrid scoffed at what she heard from her father, the emperor. 'Get married my ass! I am not yet ready to marry someone and I'm still young! Damn it!'

Astrid wanted to tell her father those words that are in her head. She almost said every cuss word the moment her father mentioned engagement and marriage.

The truth is, Astrid would rather be in battle or mountains slaying monsters and enemies than get married. Heck! Getting married isn't even in her plans for now.

Astrid always thought that marriage is something that will prison her, that will hold her back from everything she wants to do. There's still a lot of things in this world that she has to learn and a married life isn't yet one of those. 

She thought that if she gets married early then there might be things that she wished she did when she became older. She knew herself that she'll have regrets when she gets married in such a young age, that's why she doesn't want to get married for now. She wants to enjoy her youth as much as possible.

"Your highness, I believe I am still you-"

"You are already at the age of a woman ready to get married Astrid, how long do you inten-" Her brother, Victor, interrupted.

"I do strongly believe that getting married, bearing a child or children isn't the only purpose of a woman, your highness, the crown prince." 

Victor sighed at his sister's stubbornness, and facepalm. But he needs Astrid away from the empire as soon as possible. One of the reasons why he told his father, the emperor, to have her get engaged and married.

Victor might not show it, but he deeply cares for his little sister even after the grew apart as they grew. He only wants the best for her, he'll even have her out of the empire in order to protect her. His twin, Vitto, agreed to it, also thinking of his sister.

Whatever happens, even if they both die, as long as their sister lives. They won't put their sister's life at risk. She's precious.

Astrid doesn't know what her family was thinking that they want her to get married all of a sudden. As far as she remembers, her father isn't a fan of political marriage. So what made him change his mind? Much more, why her and not his brother Victor who's the crown prince?

He's going to be the emperor of this empire soon, he needs a heir and an empress. So why is it that she's getting married first before his brother?

Astrid covered her face with her palms as she overthinks. She pulled her hair and softly punched her head to get her back to her sense. She needs to go to her husband-to-be's castle and get to know him more, as it is her father's order.

She feels uneasy for some unknown reasons. She was lucky but at the same time unlucky to be born in a royal family. 

And out of all people she's going to marry, why him?! Why him out of all people?! Why Kaiser Steren Exequiel of all man in this empire?!

"Your highness!"

Astrid almost jumped out of her seat when she heard someone call her. She turned her head to the person. "Yes? What is it?"

"I apologize if I have interrupted you, your highness. But everything's ready, we shall depart now as the emperor's order." Samuel had said.

Astrid closed her eyes for seconds and stood up. She threw away whatever was on her thoughts for which she was unable to come up with solutions. 

If she's really going to marry Kaiser, then she will be the lady of his land, Aurothoria, that the king of Beatrix and the emperor gave him as a reward for winning the war, 7 years ago.

He was the commander of the ever brave and courageous Napoleon Knights for a reason. A duke who seem to be born to be a knight. A great swordsman, and an intelligent man who came from the house of Exequiel, the second son of Duke Keegan Exequiel and Duchess Selene Exequiel.

A courageous, brave and strong knight who ended the war with the empire of Rachzel 7 years ago.

He was said to be a lion who rules, feared and respected by many. 

"Princess Astrid." Astrid looked at the man who's waiting for her to come in the carriage and holding the door of the carriage. Astrid tilted her head before she shooked and turned her head left and right, looking for her horse. "Princess Astrid?"

A bright smile spread across the princess' face. "I'd like to ride my horse when travelling. Staying in the carriage while travelling for too long is kind of suffocating."

"Your highness." Astrid almost jumped upon hearing a familiar voice behind her back, greeting her. "What is happening here? Why are you closing the door when her highness isn't yet inside?"

Astrid looked at the man who was lying on her back. She was completely unaware of the man standing behind her. That... sort of aggravates her.

Seeing this guy after years, she felt a pang of pain in her heart as their eyes met. She finds it quite annoying that, rather than feeling resentful, she was feeling longing towards the man. 

Behind the commander was four eminent knights from his order; Cadmus Esquivel, Aiden Ciervo, Zyair Vera, Yves Silvestre, and the order' mage Nikos Freyr greeted her. Astraea waved her hand and smiled at them.

"Her highness has said that she'd like to ride a horse rather than sitting inside the carriage while travelling up to the aurothoria."

Kaiser looked at the princess. A stare couldn't be helped on his part as he looked at the woman's golden eyes that looks like the sun. He scanned the lady who was wearing a frilly ruffle dress shirt tucked in her black pants. 

He remembered the first time the princess participated in a monster raid with him and the other knights. It made him feel proud. Due to her amazing swords skill, braveness, and intelligence that allowed her to participate in battles, expeditions, raid, campaigns and a war. The fact that her highness is doing the things that she wanted to do warmed his heart.

The empire's princess proved herself, and her worthy. She wasn't only a princess, she's more than that. 

Astrid's golden eyes glared at Kaiser as she faced him. She eyed the knights behind her back who was staring at her. She let out a heavy sigh, feeling tense because of the knight's stares.

"What is it? If you're going to tell me that I'm not allowed to, then I must ask you. What do you think of me?"

Kaiser's eyes widened a bit. He thought that she might've think that he was underestimating her. "I will not stop you, your highness. Do what you wish to do."

With that, Astrid then abruptly turned away from him and walked directly to her horse. Kaiser watch her as she moves, her high-ponytailed black hair swaying the other way with her hips.

She beam a smile on the knight who was holding her horse's reins and thanked him. She patted the horse before sat on it. She then put on her head her hat with a veil on it.

"Commander, I've been meaning to ask. Why is the princess always nice to everyone... except you." Cadmus let out a chuckle at what Yves asked.

"If you only know, Silvestre. If you only know." Yves looked at Cadmus with confusion written all over his face, as Kaiser only glared at Cadmus at what he said.

Cadmus felt the hairs in his nape rising as he felt the commander's gaze passed through him as he walks towards the princess. Zyair laughed at his fellow knight.

From their position, they could see the princess throwing daggers using her glare as she noticed Kaiser walking towards her. The way her smile turned into a scowl amused the knights.

Just what did the their commander do for her to act like this around him?

Aside from that, they were mostly amused by the behavior that their commander is showing. He was often different when it comes to the princess. 

He never approached any woman and whenever a woman approaches him, he'll avoid. Never did he even try to talk nor dance to one unless it was necessary. But when it comes to the princess, just one word from her and he's answer would be yes. They even started to think that they were a thing which Astrid denied.

"How long will it be till' we get to your land, Aurothoria?" 

Kaiser raised his head, meeting the princess' gaze and making eye contact with her. His cape was then removed, and it was placed on Astrid's lap. 

Astrid raised her brows on the guy in confusion. 

"You have to wear a cape. You're gonna get a headache because of the sun's heat, not only that, we don't want to cause a ruckus when we go down to the capital do we?"

Astrid scoffed. "You're the one who's going to cause ruckus here. And... I do not need this."

"It's either you wear and we leave here or you do not wear it and we do not leave here, your royal highness. It's for your safety."

She curses the guy in her head. Just who does he think he is ordering her around like this?! Her life's full of people stressing her and that fact stressed her out even more.

Astrid had no other choice but to wear it. She swore in her mind that someday, She would fix his blunt attitude.

She watched as the guy jumped on his horse before asking him the question once again. "So? How long will it be till' we arrive there?"

"Around two weeks, maybe? It depends. Don't worry, we're going to take care of you and make sure that harm won't come your way, your highness."

"Stop calling me your highness and what do you think of me?! Someone who doesn't know how to protect herself?! I am completely fine Kaiser, I can fight too!"

Kaiser smirked upon hearing his name escape Astrid's lips. "I never said that you can't fight. After all, her highness fearlessly battled in the war, 7 years ago. Shall we head now, your highness? We've still got a long journey ahead of us."