Chapter 3

Step, step, step...!

Her legs had been running through the hallway and she ended up hid in the greenhouse.

"Why do I have to go through all this?" She bit her thumbnail furiously, and finally leaning on the medium sized flower pot. 'I shouldn't fooling around any longer. Claire must has been waiting for me to find her.'

"Eclara!"

Unfortunately, her fluttering red hair was seen. And the man quickly grabbed her hand before his daughter gets to escape again.

"Why do you always run away whenever I told you to learn dancing?" The king of Axteg, Charles Sient Vla Cavierelle came closer as he scolded Eclara Aurelia Vla Cavierelle, the princess of Axteg.

In the book, Eclara would nod to every single thing people told her to do. But this time, Ronea took control over her body and decided to rebel since the ending was obvious about the princess' death.

"Why do I have to dance? Who would ask for a dance with me?" Her aquatic blue eyes pierced that man as if she longed for a revenge. But the king did not know the hatred that Eclara built every time he orders the daughter for something she doesn't want to do.

Despite looking at Eclara who's already baring her fangs towards him, King Charles dragged her forcefully while ignoring her yell.

'I swear... I will find Claire next time!'

*

Our feet stopped right before the academy main gate. While other students were busy walking in, there were me and Halcyne who kept on staring at each other.

"Wanna go in?" I pushed him lightly as he only let me did it.

"Halcyne, is that your sister?"

One of the unknown boy slowly stepped closer to Halcyne. Seeing Halcyne didn't get nervous, meant that the boy was his friend.

"Yes. I'm his sister. Lysa." I patted on his head, who slightly turned red while smiling tenderly at me.

"I'm Lefka."

His bottom lashes were long while his eyes were pure jade coloured. His black hair reminded me of Calamir.

"Hey, look at his hair. The colour is so ridiculous!"

Startled by those words, I raised from bending and looked at the girl who made a disgust face. No wonder she's like that, since her black hair was smooth like Lefka. She's confident in her beauty that she decided to look down on Halcyne's beautiful hair.

By the look of other kids, they seemed unbothered by Halcyne's hair. But when the girl mentioned it, they made the same gross face while looking at Halcyne's hair. What the hell, is this some new trick of bullies?

As Halcyne was lowering his head, cowering like a fearful kid, Lefka was there just to give her a glare. But I was shocked to see that his glare was as if those eyes were once belonged to a grim reaper. And the girl ran while anxiously crying, while Halcyne was too confused to understand the situation.

"Lefka. Can you please accompany Halcyne to the class?" I asked, felt a bit dissatisfied for not be the one who beat the girl up. Just kidding.

Lefka nodded like I expected he would, since he seemed to be friends with Halcyne genuinely without any intention of harming him.

Then I went to the principal office without asking anyone for a way to go there. Well, Halcyne said that the teachers here treated him harshly. So why bother to talk to them?

"So... Did you say that you are Halcyne Aurelia's sister?" The old man fixed his circle glasses while staring at me like he's ready to judge my appearance. Lucky me to borrow one of Meldia's clothes. I nodded to the question despite knowing it's only a filler for a friendly chat.

"What can I do for you?" He asked me as he put down the pen. "Did he tell you about his hair?"

A sinister smile was carved on my lips. "If you know it, you must be have a very undeniable reason, right?"

"The gold in his hair will only catch the royalty's attention and that will only make our academy in danger. They will forcefully shut down the school for having a kid trying to imitate them by dyeing his hair to gold."

"How do you know that he dyed them? Did you see it for yourself?"

"N- No... I didn't mean that. But the royalty will end up bring him to the palace and face the king himself. This is like offending to them." He stuttered.

"Well, at least they will firstly check it whether the hair is real or dyed. Not like you and the teachers here, warned and criticized him like it's actually fully of his fault. The worst ever, I could say." I got up from the chair and grabbed the doorknob. "If I ever find you treat Halcyne the same way, I will make sure to cut your tongue. A bad teacher like you don't deserve to teach."

He was left speechless until I slammed the door. Ignoring the fact that it's cracked a bit, I went like nothing happened. But before going home, I stopped by at Halcyne's class. There was him who's focusing on writing, like I can see his spirits by looking at his intense expression.

Seemed like that girl was the one who started the rumor? Even her attitude belonged to nobles.

And Lefka.

His gaze was calmly landed on Halcyne who's next to him, writing. Those green eyes... Where did they belonged to? As I've known, not even once mentioned a green eyes in the novel. Maybe due to the changing plots, the characters will also increased randomly played as noble or normal commoner.

I don't know how to say this, but I felt like Halcyne will be safe as long as there's Lefka with him. Now my worry vanished and I need to find a way to get to Axteg.

The moment I arrived at the town centre, I met a lady with brown hair and eyes. There's nothing in her that would entice men if you talk about her beauty. But there's something that made men attracted to her, and that's quite a problem since it might be a nuisance to another unexpected plot.

"You too? Don't tell me you're getting seduced by her too, lady?"

Not a familiar voice, a middle aged woman asked me a weird question. I shook my head and asked her about what's going on.

"The girl you're staring at just now is Tiara Arabelle. She's a commoner like us, but it's different since her father is a knight leader of Axteg royal military. That's what made her special. But we women don't even know how could our husbands and lovers would fall for her. That's a mystery."

Ah, I see... Now I remembered the appearance of her in the novel.

Tiara Arabelle's beauty is captivating, with her warm brown hair cascading gracefully, complementing the depth and allure in her brown eyes. The harmony of these features creates a timeless and enchanting appeal.

Sure, the author described her beauty like that, but I couldn't find something on her that could attract a man. Instead, the way she gazed on women was a bit off, as if she's trying to tell something.

"Anyway, you should be careful too. Take care of your lover if you don't want him to be taken by her."

That's the last advice she gave to me before walked away. Not that I have a boyfriend, it's so peace.

It's better to avoid her. Nothing is more complicated than a bitch.

While looking for someone decent to ask things about Axteg, I met with the guy who I met first when arrived in Jevas. That man with bright red eyes and dark red hair, who lent me his handkerchief. I don't actually recognize him since his head was covered with the hooded cloak.

"Sir." I called for him and he turned to me while smirking, I bet that he was thinking that I got lost and decided to ask him for a guide. Those crimson eyes were bright that as if they're glowing under the hood shade.

"What's wrong, lost your way, lady?" He asked, this time there's no one by his side.

"I'm not. If I am, would you be my guide?" My turn to smirk. But the smug on his face still didn't fade.

"Would you want me to?"

"Well, that's what I'm here for. But a bit different. I want to ask you if I can find an easy way to get to Axteg. I know it's not that far, but... The easier the better, right?" I sweated myself to not let him thinking how lazy I was.

"Hm, you can come with me."

I widened my eyes as I looked him. He didn't seem like lying, but how could I trust someone I just met.

"Don't worry. Seems like you're not aware of my identity, you can lower your guard down." He grinned like a kidnapper tells a victim to shut up and they will give you candies.

His identity, I don't even know him, not even novel wrote about him. Red was his pride colour, while his personality was out of the question since his suspicious smile hid his true self. Who's he? Come on, try to remember... I need Ronea.

"You're cautious now, lady. If you're that scared, feel free to drop your name so that you can think of me as your acquaintance. Since I'll drop mine too." The way he stared at me made me realized, that I got myself involved with 'Soul Devourer'.

His unsettling allure is accentuated by his piercing crimson eyes and the twisted beauty of his dark red hair. As a personal knight, he exudes a chilling aura, relishing the prospect of devouring anyone who dares to wrong him or his lord, Prince Calamir. His loyalty borders on the edge of a psychopathic devotion, making him a formidable and fearsome protector. The name is Nyxon Raon.

Hm, since he's actually Calamir's personal knight, that meant he wouldn't anything to me.

"I'm Lysandra."

"Call me Nyxon." The grin of his face meant that he's pleased with the second meetings, and he told me to get on his black horse.

A horse, Ronald was left behind at Meldia's house.

"What's the horse name?" I brushed its hair with my hands, waiting for Nyxon to climb the horse.

"Her name is Calamir II. Her attitude and colour are the same as the person I know."

Calamir... II... What the hell? Who would name their pets with names similar to their respected person?? I realized that his personality was too twisted that Calamir might allow him to do so.

"She's beautiful, right? She's the first horse I took in."

I stared at the fiece looking horse, she's truly a beautiful horse. But by the look on her eyes, she would rebel if Nyxon wasn't here.

"Say, how long will it takes to reach Axteg?" I asked, my hands were gently clutching on the horse's hair while my back sometimes would collide with Nyxon's chest as the horse was half-running.

"It's not that long, but you should at least let the horse rest twice if you love them.But Calamir II is different, her stamina is not like others. In conclusion, we're halfway there now."

I startled as he said that, what, was he joking? This place was a whole forest, there's not even a single road here. But seeing him climbed down, that meant he's letting Calamir II rest.

"Didn't you say she's strong not like others?" I took his hand and he helped me jumped off the horse.

"I did. But I also love Calamir II, so I let her rest and drink some water." Nyxon's grin always got me, the novel truly didn't leave out such details about his burning beauty.

"Say, Lysandra. Why do you want to go there?"

I looked at his calm smile, knowing that he's actually trying to pry something from me. But it's not like I tried to do something wrong, so I better tell him the truth.

"I have..."

Bang! Crash!

The pretty ominous sounds made us flinched, by hearing such a big crash, there might be something dangerous like bandits or whatever. But Nyxon smiled at me.

"Please continue, Lysandra."

Those eyes were landed on only me, while his back facing the dangerous sound came from. This guy was insane for sure.

I tried to continue, but the sounds came much closer and then there were a few people flying towards us. They're not technically flying, but they ran towards us like they're actually flying.

I tried to pull Nyxon to avoid being stabbed them, but it's too late since he's much quicker to unsheathe his sword and swung it to them, slicing their necks opened and left no one alive.

That's it. I just witnessed an unimaginable bloodbath that's being performed by Nyxon, the Soul Devourer.

I didn't even dare to move an inch from my seat, and I ended up having so much anxiety stuck in my chest. It's hard to breath, since this body was so much fragile than I expected.

Nyxon stepped closer, and he knelt before me while his eyes gazed on me.

"You're too young to die. Don't tell me you're actually an old woman in disguise?"

His words made my blood boiled, but I had to ignore it since his sword still screamed for fun. "I have a breathing trouble."

"Hm? Then what would you like me to do? Lysandra?" He wanted to sit next to me but there's someone appeared from the bushes with a few more people.

"Look who's here. A girl and a guy, doing something inappropriate in this forest."

What a familiar appearance, to think that we would encounter with Eclara's fiance.

The fiance exudes pride with his striking golden eyes that gleam with confidence, complemented by a mane of dark purple hair that cascades elegantly, framing a visage that exudes self-assurance.

Right, the author did their best to write his look. But the main problem was I forgot his name. Not because his name was too difficult, but I read too much novel that I constantly forgot about all of the trash male leads. Since they deserved to be forgotten, like this man even though he's not quite a male lead for Eclara.

"What are you doing, a girl, alone in the forest with a man? The sun is still up, but you're blinded by lust." Says the so-called male lead.

But I know that when Nyxon turned to him, he'll get on his knees begging to forgive his insolent words like he has no shame. Since Nyxon didn't straight facing him, while creepily grinning, I bet he's thinking of toying with that man. Calamir once called Nyxon a cat, since he likes to play with his toys before eating them.

"You're not answering. Then I'll change the question, are you the one who killed them?" His eyes was shifted to the people who were stabbed by Nyxon, I guess those were his subordinates.

"Don't worry, Lysandra. We'll get to Axteg before the sun sets." Nyxon slightly whispered with his eyes gazing through my soul, convincing me not to be afraid. But I smiled unknowingly, as I looked at him tore a part of his exclusive cloth and blindfolded himself.

"You two have the nerve to ignore me, I shall execute you now." The man slowly walked closer to us, but the moment Nyxon turned to him, he was too stunned by the beauty of Nyxon even when he covered his attractive crimson eyes. That's when Nyxon grinned with his canines shown. And I find that weirdly seducing, maybe it's my first time seeing human with beautiful canines.

Now Nyxon's sudden move completely shocked him and the back of the sheathed sword mercilessly hit on the man's face, I thought the hit wasn't hard, but seeing his nose was as if crunched, I immediately stayed back. Afraid that the sword might touch me.

Before he jumped on the guy, Nyxon told me to grab the horse and escape. I actually did that, but I just couldn't leave him like that so I stopped the horse right at the cliff that only connected to another cliff with a long hanging bridge. You think I must go there with the horse running on the shaking bridge?? I'm not that crazy.

The fogs suddenly became thicker, as I waited for Nyxon to appear. Finally I saw his shadow behind the fogs that almost covered the whole forest.

"You know how to ride a horse?" His eyes were brighten through the thick fogs while gazing at me who's already on the horse. He came back unscratched, he might make the male lead lowered his guard and made an escape to here.

"Hurry, the fogs are getting too much thicker." I reached out my hand to help him climb Calamir II. He smirked and took my hand as an assist and made the horse closer to the start of the bridge. "Are you sure that we can make it there? Won't the bridge get destroyed?"

"Lysandra, you worry too much. Let's see how much I have faith in Calamir II."

*

A-choo!

He sneezed a several times that his assistant Yorin, gave him tissues. "Your Highness, you've been sneezing for 12th times, want me to call for a doctor? It might be a cold."

Calamir shook his head as he took the tissues. "It's just Nyxon who maybe keeps calling for his horse."

Yorin laughed looking at him letting Nyxon does whatever he wants. They're not only master and a knight, but their whole relationship was awesome.

"By the way, Your Highness. The king requests for you if you're finished with works." Says Yorin.

Calamir raised one of his eyebrows. "Me? Didn't he personally teach Eclara dancing? Isn't he busy for that?"

Yorin shrugged. "That's not what I saw, the king was with Madam Claudia."

He flinched as the woman's name was mentioned. His hatred for her just wouldn't end, instead the way she was always there whenever King Charles called for him. An outsider who seduced his father just to be a concubine while the queen was ill.

The king's action couldn't be forgiven since the queen cried while her son was in her arms. Knowing the sadness of the queen, King Charles brought her to somewhere else to date as a compensation. And a year later, Eclara was born. That's the reason King Charles couldn't care less about the daughter since she's only a nuisance.

After that, the king made out with Claudia and she gave birth to Prince Collins, next year was Prince Reodh and the last one was Princess Shilla.

Of course Calamir won't let him off since he's an intelligent 14 year old teen, then he rebelled against the king. Not wanting to lose the crown prince, King Charles decided to sleep with Meldia one last time before her disappearance.

"Your Highness?" Yorin waved his hand right in front of Calamir's face. Then he came back to reality.

"I should go check on her first." He got up from the chair and went to Eclara's room.

Yorin stared at the crown prince who's calmly walked out of the office. 'He always prioritizes the princess over the king. What a loving brother.'

*

Growl~

Nyxon looked at me while snickering. "We can go eat first before entering the main town. Or do you want me to drop you here alone?"

I haven't thought about walking alone just after I arrived here. But thanks to him, I reached here safe and sound. I slightly nodded out of embarrassment, blaming my loud stomach.

"You're yet to tell me your identity." I pulled his cloak.

He looked at me for a seconds before smiling. "I don't need to, right? I know you have my whole background in your head, Lysandra." Then he leashed Calamir II to the fences.

Did I slip something? How can he knows? I didn't say his name once before. What if he knows something that I don't know?

"What do you mean? I don't have any idea what you're talking about."

"Sure. But if I caught you knowing my identy, I will make sure to kill you painfully." His grin wasn't creepy anymore, it's just a whole dangerous thing.

"I will just address you something else. Would you like a pet name?"

He's not responding, while his eyes looked dead thinking if I was going to give him a weird name.

"Sir."

And he looked more disappointed. "What? Isn't that too common? I thought you would give me something majestic. Forget it, let's fill your rumbling stomach. I sighed as I followed him from behind.

"There's no one would interrupt our conversation. So tell me what are you going to do here at Axteg?" He sipped the hot tea that was served as soon as we ordered it.

"... I have a close friend here. I think she might be here." I lowered my gaze on the soft looking bread in front of me. "I should go to her before she comes to me."

"Hm... What a nice friend you have. Well, I should get going first. There's something I need to do." He stood up right after he finished drinking.

"Ah, sir. Thank you for today. It's a pleasure to meet you, and it's a shame that we have to part here."

It was strange, but he tenderly smiled before answering. "Yes. Me too. The journey is fun like nothing else for me, Lysandra."

I watched his back, so slender of a man's body but he carries a ton of burdens. In the novel, he was one of the last men standing at the final war between Axteg and Shagan country.

Calamir was nothing more than a puppet of his father, all he did was doing works that King Charles assigned him to do. So he barely aware of what happened to his little sister Eclara and his little brother Halcyne.

Both died in a cruel way while he's the only one standing unaffected, gaining the throne as he should be. Only then, he regretted after knowing a bit too late about the incident of beloved siblings' unfortunate death.

Nyxon was there to stay by his side until the novel ends.