What He Truly Wants

It didn't take them long to arrive in the Skildell Manor located in South West Alynthia, Marquess Lumley lives. Titania wonders why the Marquess's name sounds so familiar until she realizes that it was the name of Sylvester's sister-in-law and his brother's wife, Rhiannon Lumley.

"I wasn't expecting the Archduke to visit me." The Marquess greeted the two with a smile as he led them towards his office. 

The Skildell Manor looks blissful; beautiful flowers that grow in the South Alynthia filled the entrance. Although simple-looking, it makes an impression like a true 'home.' The colour of the walls and furniture are soft and calming, making Titania in a daze. 

"I've heard you two are now engaged. Congratulations."  Titania showed a shy smile as she continued to roam her vision without looking obvious.

"I think the lady should go and get some snacks while the two of us catch up." Marquess Lumley said as he called a maid to guide Titania out of the office. 

As they walked towards the garden, Titania examined the hall, saw flowers growing on the walls, and felt fascinated. When they have reached the garden, the servants prepared a little tea party for the Fairy Queen. Many maids gathered with excitement as they watched the young miss drink the tea they had made for her.

The pleasant aroma coming from the tea and the snacks on the table made Titania feel felicity, and a smile formed on her face while tasting the tea. Her satisfaction made the servants feel accomplished as they continued watching her. 

The young fairy thought they'd somehow leave as they have duties to do, but it didn't go as expected. 

'This is suffocating,' is what Titania thought as she carried on pretending elegant while drinking the tea. When the truth is, she wanted them to leave so that she could eat the cookies and cakes in peace, without worrying about her image. 

'I've noticed something; the Marquess must have loved these flowers.' she thought as her gaze shifted to the flowers in the garden that looked the same as those in the entrance. The whole manor is filled with flowers; that's why she thinks if Marquess adores flowers.

"What are you guys doing?" 

Their attention went to the voice behind the servants, "Young master!" The servants began panicking as they saw the owner of the voice. 

Titania tilted her head to peek at whoever it was that caught the attention away from her. But she realizes that it's her chance to eat the snacks; before they could glance back to the lady, she devoured the snacks in an instant. 

'If Bonbon is here, he'll love these,' she thought. Bonbon and Ebony are in the stable. Since the Marquess is afraid of demi-humans, Sylvester hid Bonbon inside their bag on Ebony's back. 

"You guys didn't tell me that we have a guest." 

Titania's eyes shifted to the man in front of her. This man has mint green hair that reaches up to his ears and a pair of amber-coloured eyes. His legs are long, and he's taller than the average. His body is not that huge, but he looks like he's strong. 

He has this sophisticated aura, different from either Astra or the Archduke. 'He seems sweet,' Titania thought. She didn't even notice that she was already staring at the young man. 

He kneeled in front of the lady as he kissed the back of her hand. "I apologize for the late introduction. I am Rigel Vermillion Lumley." 

Titania remembered the man after hearing his name. She recalled that this man is the captain of the Holy Knights that serve the Holy Temple in the sacred land of Icatara. People said that Icatara is the door towards the Liwen, the abode of the gods and goddesses. 

"I'm Titania." 

The man looked up at her and smiled. "I am aware of your name, your highness." Titania squealed inside her mind after the gentle but seducing smile of Rigel. 

Since she came into this land, all the men are either terrifying or weirdo. There's no in-between. But this man in front of her, if someone would make her pick, she'll go with the kind-looking Rigel. Rather than the Archduke or the Emperor. 

Rigel sat on the chair in front of Titania as he continued to watch the young fairy's face. "May I ask what it is you have come for in our manor?" It seems like the fairy's magnificent beauty took over this young man. 

"I… came with an acquaintance." 

Titania averted her gaze; she knew that Rigel and Sylvester were rivals in the book when it came to Cassandra's heart. Telling him that the Archduke came might fuel their situation much earlier. Given that they've been wary of each other ever since they were children. 

"I see. Then would you like to have a stroll with me while you wait? I'll give you a tour here in our humble home." Rigel lent the young lady his hand as they walked through the garden. The servants looked at them with hearts in their eyes. Thinking that the lady suits their young master. 

The man must have thought that the fairy liked flowers since he brought her to the greenhouse. When the truth is, she prefers eating rather than looking at flowers. But of course, she couldn't possibly say that. 

As they entered the greenhouse, Titania saw many varieties of flowers that she couldn't have noticed back on earth. She used to not care about her surroundings before. That's why even though she felt uninterested, she grew amused by what she was seeing. 

But something caught her eyes the most. 

Titania went in the middle of the greenhouse, "What is this called?" 

"These are purple Lisianthus. But as you can see, they have a deeper shade of purple than other Lisianthus." Rigel smiled as he picked one for the lady. 

"These types of Lisianthus are harder to cultivate. That's why they're placed in the middle where the sunlight could focus longer." He explained.

Titania stared at the flower in her hand. "Looks like Sylvester's eyes." She said without thinking which made Rigel look at her with a confused expression. 'Wait! If he knew that the Archduke got engaged, wouldn't he celebrate that he could take Cassandra for himself?' 

"Could it be that you're acquainted with the Archduke?" 

Titania smiled and nodded, "Yes, actually, I got engaged to him." 

The sudden news that came out of the young lady's mouth devastated the young master of the Skildell Manor. "W-When? H-How?" Tears are forming in his eyes which made Titania feel baffled, 'What did I do?!' 

Titania wince, "Do you… perhaps… like the Archduke?" What the young lady said after made Rigel dumbfounded. How could this beautiful young woman be so oblivious? 

In fact, she thought about Rigel Vermillion having feelings towards her. But she didn't want to assume anything because of what happened with the Archduke. She thought that he was jealous, but he's just possessive when it comes to his friend. 

Rigel felt weak, "How could you say that?" 

Rigel Vermillion, known by his nickname 'Holy Prince.' This is because of the divine powers that made him become a member of the holy knights at 14. He is kind and gentle that women all over the country go crazy for him. 

Although the one that caught his attention is too far to feel the same. He wanted to give up on his feelings towards Titania. Because of the rumours that the Emperor had already set his eyes on the girl.

He knew that he'd never win against the Emperor, that even the Archduke couldn't kick off the throne until now. But now that he knew it didn't end like that, he thought that he might have a chance, yet his greatest rival since birth is now the one blocking his way. 

"I… I like you—"

"Titania." 

The young lady's attention went to the familiar voice; there, she saw the Archduke looking at the two of them with a cold stare. "We need to go." Titania looked back at Rigel because she couldn't hear what he had said.

"What is it again?" 

This made the young master flustered; with the Archduke staring, he couldn't possibly say anything. "It was nothing. I hope you have a safe trip." Rigel forced a smile as he was about to kneel in front of the lady. However, Sylvester quickly pulled her away. 

"The hell is your problem?" Titania whispered, but Sylvester ignored her. 

"You're leaving already?" The Marquess appeared in front of the two as they were leaving the greenhouse. "I hope you can stay for a little while." 

The Archduke humbly rejected the Marquess's offer, "I am counting on you, Uncle." Titania couldn't believe her ears after what the Archduke called the Marquess. 'Uncle? Is he okay?' 

"I will do everything I could. Have a safe trip." 

The two went to the stables where Ebony and Bonbon are. Rigel followed them from behind and was about to help Titania to get on the horse, but Sylvester blocked him, "You shouldn't touch another man's fiancée, Sir Holy Knight." Tension grew as the two gave threatening stares at each other.

"I hope you could take care of the lady for me, Mister Archduke." Titania saw how fake the smile on Rigel's face was, and it made her wince. 

"No need to hope. It is my duty to take care of my future Duchess." The unchanging expression on the Archduke's face pisses Rigel off as if he wasn't affected by what Rigel said. 

While the lady just looked at the two and thought, 'Why the hell are they acting like this?' 

The two rode the horse while Rigel walked beside them until they reached the gate. Marquess Lumley bid them goodbye and wished for the Archduke and the young fairy's safe travel back to the Archduchy. 

"I'll see you soon, your highness." Rigel waved his arm to the young lady. And when she was about to wave back, Sylvester made Ebony race out of the gate, making her feel flustered as she tightened her grip on the man behind her. 

"Could you stop being rude towards him?" Titania sighed when they reached the intersection towards the Azmar Village and the Village of Crus. 

"Why? Did you happen to like that brat?" 

Titania couldn't believe the attitude Sylvester currently shows; she's aware that he's crude when it comes to businesses that don't involve him but doesn't this look too much? "What do you mean, brat? You're just two years older than him." She rolled her eyes, "And yeah, he's kind and sweet. No woman could ever resi—"

Sylvester made Ebony stop, almost resulting in Titania falling onto the ground. "Why did you—" Titania couldn't complete what she was about to say after seeing the dark aura surrounding the Archduke. 

"Why are you being possessive of me? It's not like you own me. Could you chill?" The Archduke's deadly stare made Titania shut her mouth after saying that. 'I have a point, though! This damn Archduke!' she thought as she continued dissing the man inside her head. 

Their ride continued until they reached the riverbank near the Azmar Village; they have decided to take a break. Titania sat in front of the river, and she dips both of her feet to cool herself. The weather today is too hot that it might melt the Archduke sooner or later, is what she thought. 

"I want a watermelon." Titania grunts while Bonbon just looks at her with innocent and confused eyes. He ran towards the forest, bringing her any fruits that he found on the way. She giggles at the cuteness of the tiny creature. 

"Break time's over. Let's go." The Archduke commanded as if they were one of his tropes, and it irritates Titania. 

"I have a question." 

The Archduke looked back at the young lady, "Go on." 

"Is it okay for the people to hate you? Since you're the dog of the Imperial Palace." Sylvester glared at Titania after asking that; the young lady thought she should have rephrased it in a better way, but she also wanted to call him a dog. 

"I have my own dreams to fulfil. I don't have the luxury to get along with everyone that wouldn't benefit me." 

'What a jerk!'

"Then it's okay to just kill them? They're still the people of Alynthia." Titania is talking about the people involved in the fight at Sherfield city when she just arrived in this world. 

Quillan told her that the people now residing in the Village of Crus are originally from Sherfield City. They flee to escape the chaos between the Knights and the Demons. 

"One must sacrifice something to achieve greater things." Sylvester shifted his gaze to her, "You're in the same situation, aren't you? You must choose if it's your body on your original world or Titania's body here." 

"Why would I have to choose? If I could, I would want both to live." 

"But that's not how the way things work." Titania felt as if the Archduke was forming a wall between the two. She realized how different their minds were and that they wouldn't end up in the same conclusion. Ever. 

"You're right…."

But in the end, they're both fighting for what they want. And that made Titania feel conflicted.