The stench of iron and smoke still lingered in the shattered estate when silence finally settled.
One by one, groans echoed as the unconscious Imperial Knights stirred, dragging themselves upright with confused eyes and trembling limbs. Their armor scraped against the marble floors as they tried to make sense of what had transpired. Relief flickered briefly—until their gazes fell on the headless body of their Captain sprawled upon the blood-soaked tiles.
No one dared speak.
Aquila's jaw tightened. She forced herself to look away, to push down the coil of grief and rage that threatened to break her composure.
"Preserve the Duke's corpse," she ordered coolly, her tone sharp as steel. "It will be sent to the Imperial Palace. The scholars and court magisters will study the dark magic that tainted him. This cannot be left unanswered."
"Yes, Your Highness." A few knights scrambled to follow, dragging the mangled body away with practiced care.
Aquila exhaled slowly, gathering herself—until her gaze shifted.
Near the ruined staircase, Zuleika crouched beside Captain Rhys, who sat against the wall clutching his wounded arm. His jaw was clenched in irritation as Zuleika poked at him, both verbally and literally.
"Stop frowning like that," Zuleika said, grinning as she tugged at the fabric around his injury. "You'll wrinkle faster than an old prune."
Rhys shot her a look that could curdle wine. "If you would respectfully stop touching me Your Highness, I'd heal faster."
"You're welcome for saving your life, by the way," she said breezily, ignoring his glare.
Rhys muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse, but Zuleika only beamed brighter.
Then, as if sensing Aquila's stare, she turned. Her crimson eyes lit up, lips curving into a proud, expectant smile—like a child waiting for a parent's praise.
Aquila's brows furrowed. "Why did you kill him?" she snapped, her tone cutting.
"Do you realize how vital his testimony could have been? Without him, how are we to uncover the extent of Tartagalia's involvement?"
Zuleika froze, her smile dropping instantly. Her shoulders slumped, and for a moment she looked like a child caught stealing sweets. "…Oops?"
"Oops?" Aquila's voice sharpened, her frustration bubbling through her usually composed exterior.
Zuleika's lips pursed as she defended herself with a shrug. "What else was I supposed to do? He was about to turn you into minced meat. And besides—" her tone shifted, playful again, "—we already know it was Tartagalia pulling the strings. Sooner or later, there's going to be war between your Empire and theirs. And when that happens…"
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then grinned. "The Nexus Ocean will make a lovely battlefield, don't you think?"
"Zuleika." Aquila's tone was flat, dangerously low.
But Zuleika only leaned back, stretching her arms behind her head. "You're also welcome, by the way. I did just save your life. Where's my 'thank you, Zuleika, you were amazing, I owe you everything'?"
"You're annoying." Aquila's glare was sharp enough to cut steel.
Zuleika gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "No gratitude? None at all? You wound me, Princess. I could've died for you—"
"I would've let you," Aquila interjected, tone cold.
"Rude!" Zuleika whined, stamping her foot like a petulant child. "Save your life once and suddenly I'm the villain. Next time I'll let the big scary Duke chop you in half, see how you like that!"
Aquila pinched the bridge of her nose, refusing to entertain the nonsense any further.
Silence.
The Princess of Feltogora remained utterly still, her expression unreadable.
Zuleika smirked wider. "…See, see, Captain Rhys, look how rude the one and only Princess of Revazkerio is."
Rhys groaned, muttering through gritted teeth, "Gods above, just kill me now."
Aquila's gaze lingered on Zuleika longer than she realized. The girl's crimson eyes glittered mischievously, her arms wrapped around herself in mock threat.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Zuleika blurted, pulling her clothes tighter around her frame as if Aquila's stare might strip her bare.
Aquila's brows pinched together at the absurdity of it, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. Ridiculous. This woman was ridiculous.
And yet—
Something shifted in her chest. The heaviness of the day, the blood, the suffocating stench of death… all of it dimmed for just a heartbeat.
Her gaze softened, the steel of her silver eyes melting into warmth, and the corners of her lips curved gently—rare, fragile, unguarded. A smile.
"I suppose," Aquila murmured, voice low but steady, "you're not that useless after all."
Before Zuleika could speak, Aquila turned, her silk-clad figure retreating through the broken halls with the dignity of a queen leaving a battlefield.
Zuleika didn't move. Her jaw fell open, her breath caught. She sat frozen on the cracked marble floor, as if time itself had stopped.
Captain Rhys, watching with his one good arm crossed against his chest, raised a brow at her stillness. Finally, he leaned forward, waving his uninjured hand in front of her slack face.
"Your Highness? Are you… still breathing?"
Zuleika barely heard him.
Her mind was still replaying it—over and over. That fleeting smile.
It was as if the coldest winter had cracked open to reveal the warmth of spring. Aquila's smile was not of this world; it was quiet light breaking through a storm, a sacred glimpse of something untouchable. A goddess hidden behind frost and steel, choosing for once to show she was human.
Zuleika's chest fluttered, her throat tight. Slowly, she whispered, almost reverently, "Did you see that…? The Ice Princess of Revazkerio just smiled."
Rhys gave her a long, flat look, his brow arching in unimpressed confusion. "…That's what's got you acting like you've been struck by lightning?"
But Zuleika didn't answer. She was still somewhere else, locked in the memory of silver eyes softening just for her.
Zuleika finally blinked herself back into reality, still dazed, still grinning like a fool. She leaned toward Rhys, her crimson eyes glinting with mischief.
"Rhys," she whispered conspiratorially, "what do you think Father would say if I brought home a woman instead of some charming prince?"
The knight nearly swallowed his tongue. He coughed so hard he had to clutch his chest, his face contorting as if he'd been stabbed instead of just startled.
"Y-Your Highness!" he sputtered, his ears burning red. "Please, stop fooling around with such—such outrageous things!"
Zuleika threw her head back and laughed, a sound far too loud for the blood-soaked ruins around them. "Oh, come now, you should've seen your face! Priceless!"
Rhys muttered darkly, dragging a hand down his face. "One day, you'll be the death of me. And not by enemies—by heart failure."
"Mm, dramatic as always," Zuleika teased, poking his uninjured arm. "But admit it—you'd protect me anyway, even if I did bring a bride home."
Rhys groaned, long and suffering. "Saints preserve me…"
...
The orders from the Emperor arrived swift and absolute. The bloodshed at the Zhenka estate could not be ignored, nor the implications of the Duke's corrupted magic.
By dawn, preparations were already underway. Servants scurried about, knights reformed their ranks despite weariness, and the estate grounds buzzed with urgency. The air smelled of smoke, iron, and unease.
Inside the courtyard, two carriages stood waiting. The Imperial crest glinted on the banners, flapping gently in the morning breeze.
Aquila emerged first, her silver eyes cold as steel, her white cloak draped elegantly over her silk gown. Not a single crack showed on her posture; to the world, she was once more the untouchable Ice Princess of Revazkerio.
Zuleika followed a step behind, stretching her arms lazily as though she hadn't just fought a Duke-turned-monster the day before. She stifled a yawn, her crimson eyes sharp despite her languid demeanor.
Captain Rhys, his injured arm properly bandaged, bowed low before the two princesses. "The carriage is ready, Your Highnesses. We will head directly to the capital as His Majesty ordered."
Aquila nodded curtly, her expression unreadable. She climbed into the carriage without another word.
Zuleika lingered for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the town of Velmoura. A smirk curved her lips, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Goodbye, Zhenkas. What a waste of a name." Then, with an exaggerated flourish, she hopped inside after Aquila, plopping down across from her.
The carriage doors shut with a heavy thud. Hooves clattered against the stone as the convoy began its steady march toward Revaz, the Capital of the Feltogora Empire.
For a moment, silence filled the carriage. Outside, the sun was rising, but inside, the air between the two princesses felt weighted—one cloaked in resolve, the other in secrets and mischief.
Their return to Revaz would not be quiet.
——End of Vol.1——