It's him?

The moment they stepped out of the carriage, someone was there to escort the Marquess away by using the Emperor's name. Although he knew he wouldn't be there to oversee the playdate, he didn't appreciate being separated the moment they set foot into the palace.

"Look after your sister well."

Aaron nodded vigorously. He was all set to protect his little sister. He didn't know what he was protecting her from but he was determined to make sure she stayed safe. 

Around Adeline stood 3 knights, they carefully escorted her to the Empress's palace. 

"Ow!"

Before she realised it, she was on the ground, falling straight on her butt. "Linny!" Aaron immediately helped her up. She realised someone had run into her. He quite literally ran out of a bush from the side, no one saw him coming.

Right in front of her was a young boy about the same age as Aaron. The first thing she noticed was his striking red hair, it was just like fire. His amber eyes were full of tears. Quickly after getting up he wiped them away and bowed, "I apologise."

"Master!" 

Just like how Aaron accompanied Adeline, a nanny accompanied him. She helped him dust himself off and apologised, "I'm sorry." 

"I'm alright, you're hurt though."

Adeline pointed to the boy's scraped knee. He was holding back tears and tried to remain strong but once it was mentioned he burst out in tears. 

The nanny quickly tended to the boy while the knights urged Adeline to head towards the playdate in the garden. 

Before leaving Adeline turned to see the boy one last time. "Bene- Master. You mustn't run off like that. The Duchess would be so worried if she knew of this."

Adeline froze for a second, this was the boy who would cruelly stab her in the chest? Looking at him, she would have never thought of it.

Hearing the word 'Duchess' she finally remembered a plot point that she forgot. Benedict didn't like Cassian at all though they were childhood friends, he put on an act while secretly helping the second Prince. 

This playdate couldn't have come at a worse time for him, his mother was on her deathbed struggling to cling to life. She would go into a coma tonight which lasted three gruelling months before she passed away.

Benedict didn't want to leave her but because of the royal order, he had to come. If he had stayed back today, he could have at least had the opportunity to spend time with her while she was still conscious. 

The female lead, who finds out that Benedict is a spy, 'reforms' him, and then he becomes Cassian's right-hand man.

Adeline sighed to herself. She was about to meet the main characters pretty soon, wasn't she? She wondered if she helped Benedict by getting Cassian to send him back, wouldn't he owe her a favour?

Anything to help her avoid her eventual demise would help, and she was willing to try anything.

She knew that the Empress wanted to get Cassian and her engaged but he refused to do so, they never got betrothed but he made sure to give her hopes of marrying him. With the constant push and pull she never knew what to believe. 

What would happen if she insisted on getting betrothed to Benedict, surely the Empress would act quickly and make him leave so that her plans wouldn't be hindered. It was a long shot, but Adeline couldn't think of anything else at the moment. 

Almost all the children of the aristocracy were present in the garden, but the key figure around which the party was centred was missing. So many unknown faces and almost all of them were older than her, she was the only five-year-old at the party.

Most children didn't attend unless they were at least seven. But since she was the only daughter of the powerful Marquess, they made an exception. 

"Is that her?" 

"Who else could it be? Look at that pink hair..." 

Adeline could feel all eyes on her, this was her first appearance after all. She was afraid the crowd would surround her but before that could happen, a teenager stopped in front of her. 

"Lady Adeline. Drogo Walter, nice to meet you." He looked so imposing, he was used to everyone taking a step back from him.

The name sounded familiar, Walter... Isn't that the surname of the Southern Duke?

Is this person related to that family? 

Adeline bowed politely, "Adeline Kendrick, pleased to make your acquaintance."

He narrowed his eyes sharply, the girl in front of him didn't panic but simply greeted him. Was she a force to be reckoned with or was she just a simpleton?

Aaron immediately stepped in front of Adeline. He could tell that the person in front of him was dangerous. Although he was just a child, he was a talented swordsman, he could sense that something was wrong with Drogo Walter.

"Aaron Kendrick." He named himself and nodded to greet him. 

Drogo couldn't help but laugh heartily. "We will see each other in the future, I'm sure of it."