Akamir followed his gaze until he saw her.
She was short but still tall enough to be seen clearly.
Her long light lavender hair was tied into a ponytail that swayed behind her.
She wore a modest yet well-tailored gown of royal blue and silver embroidery, cinched at the waist with a white ribbon.
Her dress matched the suit he wore.
Zaina ember eyes glanced towards her father then...at Akamir.
She blinked before she quickly looked away.
Akamir wondered, tilting his head in confusion as Erwald laughed softly.
"She's not shy," Nayomi muttered, floating closer to his ear. "She just didn't expect you to look that good."
Akamir let out a sigh as he noticed Zaina stealing glances at him.
He adjusted his collar, ignoring the way his tailored sleeves clung to his wrists just right.
Erwald nudged him forward with a grin. "Go on. Say hello. She won't bite."
Akamir gave the older man a side glance before stepping forward.
As he approached, Zaina straightened subtly.
Her hands, previously clasped in front of her, dropped to her sides.
She didn't look directly at him until he stopped a step away.
"Zaina," he greeted, his tone even.
"Sir Asher," she replied, her voice softer than he expected and uncertain.
Up close, her eyes looked even brighter—gold and ember swirling inside them.
She blinked again and Akamir noticed her long eyelashes.
"I didn't expect you to arrive so early," she added, fiddling with the edge of her dress. "Dukes usually take their time."
"Well, we had things to do," he said simply.
She nodded, then gave him a slow once-over. "Your suit... it matches mine."
Akamir looked at her weirdly.
Upon glancing back at her father, Akamir wondered if he was right.
"It was unintentional." He replied softly. "Don't mind it."
"Still," she said, glancing aside. "It looks... good on you."
He tilted his head. "I look feminine, right?"
She looked back at him, startled for a moment, her lips twitched. "I wasn't going to say it."
"But you thought it."
She folded her arms lightly. "Maybe."
Erwald coughed from behind them.
Akamir sighed rubbing his temples. "Do you mind if we go somewhere quiet?"
Her expression hardened but she quickly nodded. "...Sure. Lead the way."
He nodded in response as he began to move towards the garden of the palace.
Zaina did keep a little distance between them but he didn't mind.
"Are you going to molest her?" Nayomi asked, floating closer to him.
"What? No." He frowned. "Why would I do that?"
"I don't know." She mumbled softly. "To keep the plot similar to the novel."
Akamir just looked at her weirdly.
'Why would I do that?'
He wondered taking a sharp turn to arrive in a different hallway.
'I don't even know what the whole story is.'
The hallway opened up to a wide archway that led into the palace garden.
Moonlight illuminated the place as some unique flowers bloomed under it.
The garden was empty leaving them both alone.
Akamir turned fully to face her, who was busy adorning the garden.
"Zaina." His cold voice made her flinch. "I have a few questions to ask."
"Do you have anyone you love?" Akamir replied, looking into her eyes.
Confusion flickered in them. "Pardon?"
Akamir rubbed his temples in frustration as he looked up.
"I know you don't want to marry me." He said. "It's alright as I don't want it as well."
She froze in place looking at him.
"Look I already have someone I like." Akamir lied with a straight face. "And I am well aware—."
"It's Princess Inara isn't it?" Zaina interrupted, taking a step closer.
Akamir looked down at her pleasantly beautiful face. "That's none of your—."
"Don't you have any shame?"
Much to his annoyance, she interrupted him once again.
"Today is her engagement and you're still using her to scapegoat your own engagement."
Akamir quieted down as he looked down at her.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't like a brat like you."
Zaina's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I said, I don't like a brat." Akamir replied, looking down at her. "So, let me be and forget we are even engaged."
Zaina drew in deep breaths as if trying to control herself.
Zaina remained silent for a long while—
—Before she snapped, making him close his eyes.
"Fuck your entire family—."
"You could be beheaded for trying to sully a duke's family name." Akamir said coldly. "Be mindful of your words."
Zaina's jaw clenched as her fists trembled at her sides.
"Oh?" she sneered, voice shaking. "Then behead me. Right here. Go on, Duke's son. Make an example."
"I don't need to," he said coolly. "You're doing a fine job of embarrassing yourself without my help."
She took a step forward, now only inches from him.
"You think you're above everyone else, don't you?" she hissed.
"Too noble to bother with a political engagement. Too pretty to be touched. You walk around with that empty face and act like everyone around you is a nuisance."
Her words were knives, sharp and reckless.
"You're right," he said, voice low. "I do think I'm above this."
"But not because I'm noble," he continued, gaze steady. "Because I chose not to become what my father raised me to be."
A sudden voice made her stop as someone called her.
Akamir also looked at the same direction.
A boy walked towards them wearing a black suit that didn't match his vibrant orange hair.
"Lucas?" Zaina mumbled, looking at him
"What are you doing here?" Lucas asked, walking closer to them.
"Nothing." Zaina replied, turning towards him. "Why are you here?"
"Oh, mother was looking for you." He said, urging her to move. "Let's go."
Zaina's eyes lit up. "Aunt is here?"
Akamir quietly looked at their interaction without interfering even once.
What took his interest was the threatening look that the boy was giving him.
Zaina turned to look at Akamir. "This isn't over."
She huffed as she walked away along with the boy.
Before leaving, Lucas looked back one last time and smirked at Akamir.
Akamir raised his eyebrow. "Look at this fucker."
His head moved to where Nayomi was floating. "Mind telling me who he was?"
"....Lucas." she replied, watching them walk away. "He is the heir of Marquis family that Zaina's father worked under."
"....What role did he play in the novel?" Akamir asked, curiosity clear in his eyes.
"...Closest thing to male lead who tried to help Zaina." She replied, looking at him. "Lucas' mother was the one who nourished Zaina when her mother died."
"And what happened to him in the game?" Akamir asked, tilting his head. "Who killed him?"
At this point he was sure whoever was close to Zaina died in the novel.
"Zaina herself." Nayomi replied softly. "You made her kill Lucas."
Akamir mumbled, rubbing his neck.
'Looks like Asher did a lot of fucked up shit.'
As he began to walk out of the garden—.
A sudden voice echoed along with people's footsteps.
From the other side of the garden, four boys rushed towards him.
Akamir recognized the one leading them.
The son of Duke Vareon whom he beat in the duel.
Kieran stepped forward, barely containing the smug curl of his lips. "Looks like we don't have to bring you to a quiet place."
Akamir tilted his head. "Seriously? You are bringing more people when you can't defeat me alone?"
Kieran's expression twitched. "That wasn't a fair duel. You humiliated me."
Akamir mumbled. "Sounds like a you problem."
He barely managed to control himself as he gestured his minions to surround Akamir.
Akamir let out a sigh.
"Don't worry, it won't be too bad." One of them muttered. "A few bruises on your face."
"Don't use mana." Kieran warned them. "It might trace the attack back to us."
They nodded while Akamir removed his coat and threw it on the bench.
But just as he began to roll his sleeves something caught his eye.
At the top balcony of the building...
...A solitary of someone.
It only took him a second to recognize her.
All four of them jumped at him together.