Chapter 2
King Adam looked closely at his son, noticing the pain hidden behind his words.
"Berry… what exactly happened?" he asked, his voice softer now.
Prince Berry sighed deeply and turned away, walking toward the window.
"She doesn't love me, father… not even a little. Every word she speaks pushes me further away. I tried… I really tried, but her heart belongs to someone else."
King Adam frowned. "Someone else? Who?"
"That is what I intend to find out," Berry replied, clenching his fists. "But I will not force her. Love should never be forced."
The king remained silent for a moment, studying his son.
"You have changed," he finally said. "Most princes in your position would demand the marriage."
Berry gave a faint, bitter smile. "Then I am not like most princes."
Meanwhile, back in Ava's kingdom…
Ava sat quietly in her room, staring at nothing in particular. Her father's harsh words echoed in her mind, but she refused to give in.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened slowly, and Esterian stepped inside.
"You shouldn't be here," Ava said, though her voice softened at the sight of him.
"I had to see you," he replied. "Your father is furious. The whole palace is talking about it."
Ava looked away. "Let them talk."
Esterian stepped closer. "This is getting dangerous, Ava. If the king finds out about us—"
"He won't," she cut in firmly. "And even if he does, I won't marry Berry."
Esterian hesitated. "He's not a bad man…"
"I know," she said quietly. "That's what makes it harder."
Silence filled the room.
After a moment, Esterian spoke again. "Then what will you do?"
Ava stood up, determination in her eyes.
"I'll leave."
Esterian froze. "Leave? Where?"
"Anywhere but here. I won't live my life as a pawn in someone else's decision."
Later that night…
Ava carefully packed her belongings into a small bag. She moved quietly, making sure no one noticed.
Just as she was about to step out of her room, a voice stopped her.
"Going somewhere?"
She turned sharply.
King Jaeck stood at the doorway.
Her heart dropped.
"Father…"
At the same time, in another kingdom…
Prince Berry sat alone in his chamber, deep in thought.
A guard knocked and entered.
"My prince… we have gathered some information."
Berry turned quickly. "Speak."
The guard hesitated. "It appears… Lady Ava has been seen frequently with one of the palace guards."
Berry's eyes narrowed.
"Name."
"Esterian."
Silence filled the room.
Berry slowly stood up.
"So… that is the man."
His expression hardened—not with anger, but with resolve.
"Prepare my horse. At dawn… we ride."
Ava stood still for a moment, her heart pounding. JC's words echoed in her mind, but they didn't comfort her the way she expected. Instead, they left her feeling more alone than ever.
"Fine," she said quietly, turning away. "Maybe I will handle it myself."
JC sighed but said nothing. The distance between them suddenly felt wider than before.
Later that day, as Ava walked across the school courtyard, her eyes wandered through the busy environment. Students laughed, groups gathered, and everything seemed normal—but not for her.
Then suddenly—
"Ava!"
She froze.
That voice.
Slowly, she turned around.
Standing a few steps behind her was Tyler.
He looked different from the last time she saw him—more confident, more determined. His eyes locked onto hers like he had been searching for her all along.
"Ava… I finally found you," he said, breathing heavily.
Her heart skipped.
"Tyler… what are you doing here?"
"I told you before," he replied, stepping closer. "I'm not giving up on you."
Ava looked around nervously. Some students had already started noticing.
"You shouldn't be here," she whispered. "This is not the place—"
"I don't care about the place!" Tyler interrupted. "I care about you."
There was silence between them.
Then—
"I love you, Ava."
Those words hit her like a storm.
Before she could respond, another voice cut through the air.
"Well… this is interesting."
Both of them turned.
Prince Berry stood there.
Calm. Composed. But his eyes told a different story.
"I see my brother wastes no time," Berry said slowly.
Tyler clenched his fists. "Stay out of this."
Berry smiled faintly. "I would… if it didn't involve my future wife."
The tension grew instantly.
Ava stepped forward. "Stop! Both of you!"
But neither of them moved.
"She is not your possession," Tyler said firmly.
"And she is not your decision," Berry replied.
The atmosphere became heavy.
Students gathered at a distance, whispering.
Ava felt trapped.
"This ends now," she said, raising her voice. "I'm not an object for both of you to fight over!"
They both went silent.
"I will decide for myself," she continued, her voice shaking but strong. "Not today… not like this. I need time."
Tyler looked at her, pain in his eyes.
Berry remained still, studying her carefully.
"Time?" Tyler asked softly.
"Yes," Ava nodded. "If you truly care… then give me space."
There was a long pause.
Finally, Tyler stepped back. "Alright… but I won't stop loving you."
Berry adjusted his posture. "Take all the time you need. I'll be waiting."
Ava exhaled slowly.
For now, the storm had calmed—
But she knew it wasn't over.
As the crowd slowly dispersed, JC watched from a distance, his expression unreadable.
"Looks like things just got complicated…" he muttered.
Berry stood still for a moment after leaving JC, his mind racing with everything that had just happened. The air around him felt heavier than before, as though the calm that once existed had been replaced by an invisible storm waiting to break.
He muttered under his breath,
"Tyler has no idea what he's getting himself into…"
Meanwhile, JC sat quietly beside Ava in the canteen. Though his face appeared calm, his eyes told a different story—one of determination, warning, and something deeper… something dangerous.
Ava noticed.
"JC… what's wrong?" she asked softly.
JC looked at her for a moment before speaking.
"Nothing you should worry about. But I promise you this—no one will ever hurt you again. Not while I'm here."
Ava's heart skipped. There was something in his voice she had never heard before—not just love, but power… authority.
Elsewhere…
Tyler paced angrily in his room, his fists clenched.
"That guy… JC Walker," he growled. "I don't care who he is. No one takes what's mine."
Berry walked in suddenly.
"Tyler, stop this now," Berry said firmly. "You're walking into something bigger than you understand."
Tyler scoffed.
"Bigger than me? There's nothing bigger than me in this school."
Berry shook his head slowly.
"You're not fighting a student anymore… you're provoking a kingdom."
Tyler paused—but only for a second.
"I don't care if he's a king," Tyler snapped. "I'll crush him all the same."
Berry sighed deeply, realizing words alone wouldn't stop what was coming.
Later that evening…
News began to spread quietly across campus—whispers of a confrontation, of power, of a name that carried weight far beyond the school walls:
JC Walker… the son of the great Morale Walker.
And somewhere far away, in the mighty Jubilee Kingdom, a message had already begun its journey…
Back at the school grounds…
JC stood alone under the night sky, staring at the moon.
His voice was calm, but carried a chilling certainty:
"If Tyler crosses the line again… I won't handle this as a student."
A faint breeze passed.
"…I'll handle it as a prince."