Chapter.5
1580 Words
Aurora flinched when a hand tapped her shoulder. She turned—and nearly jumped. Xander stood beside her, his face far too close, eyes narrowing with concern.
“Are you alright?” he asked gently.
What is happening to me? Aurora wondered.
Oh no. His face was close. Too close. Had he always been this dangerously close? And why did she suddenly notice how unreasonably charismatic he looked under the morning sun?
“Y-yes! I’m fine,” she stammered, stumbling backward in panic.
“That’s good to hear.”
Aurora nodded slowly. “You’re returning to Aethred, aren’t you?” She already knew his mission had been to escort her safely to Dryat.
“Yes, Aurora. I’ve already spoken to Lady Mira. She and the attendants will handle everything you need.”
Xander studied her quietly. Aurora kept her gaze fixed on the shimmering lake, where two swans glided peacefully. Lady Mira and the palace workers treated her well. Exceptionally well. Yet Aurora still felt… misplaced.
“Haven’t you already given me too much, Commander Xander?” she asked softly, trying to sound composed. “I don’t want to trouble Lady Mira and the others. Even though I’ve returned to Dryat, I’m still just… a guest.”
“Norelia never rejects a part of herself, Aurora,” Xander replied. “I’m the one who asked Lady Mira to look after you. You’re not burdening anyone. Are you worried you’re weighing her down?”
Aurora turned to him. Her green eyes wavered.
“…Yes. Honestly, I feel useless just sitting around. Back where I lived, I sold bread in the market almost every day. Now I’m being served like some kind of princess.” She lowered her gaze. “I’m grateful, Commander Xander.”
But as soon as she noticed a few palace attendants watching them curiously, her head snapped away.
“Hey. Look at me,” Xander murmured. “I’m close to King Niar. Are you doubting my influence as a Commander, Aurora?”
Checkmate.
“No—that’s not… I-I just—”
“Just what?” he teased. “Just a guest personally escorted by the High Commander of another kingdom?”
One brow lifted, amused at her panic. “I’ll take responsibility for your life. Do you want me to provide for you as well?”
“W-what?”
He straightened his posture.
“Actually… I think that’s the best option. Why don’t we get married first?”
Aurora’s face exploded into red. Furious, she stomped his foot.
“What nonsense are you talking about, Xander?! Absolutely not!”
Xander laughed, wincing at the pain.
“I’m joking, Aurora. But if you ever want to be in a relationship, just let me know. I can be that man.” He smiled sweetly.
“I am not getting into a relationship with you, Commander.” Aurora crossed her arms tightly. She still couldn’t believe the High Commander of Aethred could be this shameless.
“Why not? I’m handsome. I’m every woman’s type.”
Aurora stared at him, scandalized.
“Ha! No. You’re a womanizer.” She stormed off, refusing to look at his stupidly perfect face. Fine—yes, he was handsome. But still no. Absolutely not.
A few palace workers observed them from afar—some smiling, some giggling, some glaring jealously.
Xander quickly stepped in front of her again.
“Hey, I’m not the kind of man you think I am, Aurora. I only—”
“Excuse me, Miss…”
A small voice cut him off.
A little girl—no older than eight—approached shyly. “I’m giving away bracelets I made myself.” She held one out to Aurora.
Aurora knelt, her eyes softening. The bracelet was shaped like a crescent moon, tied with gray string.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you,” she said warmly.
The girl nodded and ran off. Aurora slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.
“It looks lovely on you,” Xander said, gently ruffling her hair.
Aurora froze like a startled cat and only managed a stiff nod.
“Take care, Aurora. I’ll be off now.”
Silver wings burst from Xander’s back. With one powerful flap, he glanced at the little girl again—and then he shot into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
---
THE NEXT DAY
Aurora’s light footsteps echoed through the white-stone corridor as she hurried after Lady Mira. Today marked her third day in Dryat—an ancient kingdom wrapped in the scent of fresh leaves and quiet winds that seemed to breathe with the land itself.
Since arriving, Aurora routinely helped in the palace kitchens—checking dishes, arranging plates, and occasionally serving meals with her small hands. On her free hours, she floated across the lakeside boundary of Dryat on a simple wooden boat, letting the waves lull her into peace.
She had just settled in the garden earlier, weaving purple thread into a scarf, when Lady Mira appeared—her tone unusually serious.
Now, they stood at the open-air training hall at the end of the main bridge—the same place where she had bid farewell to Xander. There were no walls. Only two towering stone pillars carved with symbols of wind and water. The marble floor gleamed softly under the morning sun.
“What are we doing here, my Lady?” Aurora asked quietly, slipping off her shoes.
Lady Mira turned.
“I will teach you the etiquette of a princess, Aurora. This is where the princesses of Dryat train. Knowledge you won’t learn anywhere else.” Her voice carried a silent authority. “Sit.”
Aurora exhaled dramatically but obeyed.
“Princess etiquette?” she muttered. “Seriously… now what?”
Lady Mira handed her a cloth.
“Wipe the chocolate from your teeth.”
Aurora flushed in embarrassment.
“Oh—thank you.”
That must have been from the chocolate cake earlier. She smiled sheepishly—only to immediately drop it under Lady Mira’s sharp stare.
Class began.
Aurora learned posture, tea-brewing with delicate precision, eye contact with royal grace. None of it came naturally. She poured tea too quickly, her posture bent, her fingers misplaced.
“Goodness, Aurora. Gracefully. Look—your fingers are wrong. And straighten your back.” Lady Mira corrected her wrist and posture.
Aurora nodded seriously. “Easy enough.”
Her second attempt succeeded.
But then came negotiation etiquette—where Aurora failed spectacularly. She mispronounced phrases, forgot structures, and burst into uncontrollable laughter when a guard fell headfirst into a pond after being startled.
“That’s what you get!” Aurora cackled, rolling on the floor.
WHACK!
Lady Mira’s wooden stick landed on her backside.
“Ow! Lady Mira! That’s cruel!”
“Stop fooling around unless you want more.”
Aurora straightened instantly, her spine trembling from discipline.
The session continued until noon. Aurora ate, then trained until dusk.
“Your progress has improved,” Lady Mira finally said. “Continue practicing. Tomorrow, the next lesson.”
Aurora bowed gratefully.
---
THE WHISPERED RUMORS
Days passed. Aurora learned. Aurora adapted. Her movements grew more refined.
But everything shifted one night.
She was walking back to her room when she overheard two palace maids whispering in the garden.
“So that’s the Commander’s future bride?” the blonde maid whispered.
“Yes. Haven’t you heard? Her training is preparation for marriage. What did she do to make Commander Mark want her? I’m jealous. She’s only been here three days,” the black-haired maid sneered.
Aurora froze ten meters away.
Were they… talking about her?
“You don’t know? She begged Lady Mira to arrange a marriage with Commander Mark. I heard she tried to seduce him.”
Aurora’s eyes widened.
What?
Anger surged through her.
“Wait. What did you just say?!” Aurora stormed toward them. Her fists clenched. Her voice nearly dripping venom.
“N-no, Princess! We weren’t talking about you—”
Her green eyes glowed sharply. The maids paled.
“Good. Because if you were talking about me, then you’re choosing the wrong person to provoke.” Aurora’s voice dropped to a lethal whisper. “Return to your rooms before I report you to Lady Mira.”
The maids trembled.
“I-I’m sorry, Princess. We were only repeating what the kitchen workers said—that you used expensive fragrances to charm Commander Mark.”
“What fragrance?! I didn’t seduce him, and I’m not trying to marry him! Now go.”
They fled.
Aurora inhaled deeply, regaining control, then hurried back to her room.
---
THE COLLAPSING WEIGHT
As soon as she entered, Aurora locked the door and collapsed onto her bed. Her room was spacious and filled with every necessity—wardrobe, side table, vanity, makeup.
Yet her chest tightened.
This world—the immortal realm she once believed was fiction—was real.
Her parents were gone.
And Chessy, her closest friend, had been dragged into danger because of her.
The guilt swallowed her whole.
They had crossed into the immortal world.
And the weight of Norelia clung to her like a curse.
Aurora clutched her necklace. The purple pendant glowed faintly whenever she touched it—as if responding to her soul.
Would this pendant bring disaste
r one day?
Why were they even saying she seduced Mark? They barely spoke.
Aurora groaned and smacked her pillow.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled her under.
And she fell into a deep, uneasy sleep.
- Writer
