The messenger approached Freya, holding out the invitations to her as he stood poised, saying, "Here you go, Your Highness."

  The room was silent. Freya's expression was contemplative as she stared at the invitations in the messenger's hands.

  Elianna also stared at the invitations, but she looked confused. She didn't understand why she was receiving an invitation, especially since she had never met Tristan and had only met Nicholas' father once.

  Turning to look at Nicholas, she noticed he had a tight expression as he stared at the invitations. She could only imagine what he was thinking right now. She knew very little about Nicholas' brother, but that was because Nicholas didn't like to talk about him since they didn't get along.

  With a sigh, Freya took the invitations before nodding to the messenger, "Thank you. You can tell my brother that the message has been received."

  The messenger nodded, "As you say, Your Highness."

  "How long do we have before—" Nicholas began and swallowed hard. All eyes flicked to him. Nicholas' lips tightened. "Before we have to go back?"

  Freya looked at the invitations, her eyes narrowing slightly. "A few weeks, it seems." She raised her eyebrow at the messenger. "A little bit of a short notice for such an important event."

  "The king sends his condolences in that regard, Your Highness," The messenger said. He smiled, "But he also said he is looking forward to seeing you all."

  Nicholas scoffed and looked to the side, gaining a worried look from Elianna.

  Freya remained silent before looking at Raina. "Did you have anything else for them?"

  Raina shook her head, "No." She looked at the messenger and smiled, "I hope you have a good day, Gavarian messenger."

  Taking that as he and the others he arrived with were dismissed, the messenger turned toward Raina and bowed, "You as well, Regent. And thank you for your assistance in delivering the message."

  The messenger and the other Gavarian members turned and approached the doors. The room fell silent, except for the doors opening and closing as the Gavarian's left.

  The silence in the room was deafening, with a few eyes locked on the invitations in Freya's hands. Then, breaking the silence, Mathew spoke flatly, "An engagement party, huh?"

  Freya sighed and nodded, "So it seems."

  "Tristan," Raina began curiously, and everyone looked at her. "How old is he?"

  "He's nineteen," Freya stated matter-of-factly. "The same age as Celine."

  Raina hummed and nodded, "I see. It is about time he is betrothed, then." Eyeing the invitations, she said, "Maybe William will finally name Tristan as the crown prince at the party."

  Freya's jaw clenched, and her grip on the invitations tightened.

  Elianna's eyes darted to Nicholas, who seemed to physically flinch. As his eyes fell, his expression was unreadable and contemplative.

  "Perhaps," Freya said tightly, which didn't go unnoticed by Raina, who seemed confused. Freya stored the invitations in her spatial ring. "Thank you, Raina. If you don't have anything else for us, we will be taking our leave."

  "Of course," Raina nodded and smiled. "I hope you all have a good rest of your day."

  "You as well, Regent," Lucian said tightly as they all turned to leave.

  As they turned, Elianna looked at her father, noticing the tension in his voice. While he looked poised and held his composure, she had a feeling her father wasn't happy about this situation.

  "Oh, and Freya," Raina called out.

  The group of them stopped and looked at Raina as Freya asked, "Yes?"

  Raina smiled, "When the time comes for you all to leave, you're more than welcome to use the royal portal."

  Freya nodded, "Thank you."

  The group of them turned and approached the doors as the guards opened them. They all fell silent, listening as the guards closed the doors to the throne room behind them.

  With her eyes darting around, Elianna noticed how everyone seemed incredibly tense.

  Mathew cleared his throat, "Well—"

  "We'll talk when we get outside," Freya said tightly.

  They all fell silent again, moving as a group as they moved through the palace. Elianna noticed that a few of the royal guards would quickly step out of their way and snap to attention when they saw her father in their group.

  They eventually made their way out of the palace and walked some distance away, finding shade under one of the trees.

  Freya sighed as she turned to face everyone, crossed her arms, and leaned against the tree. Her eyes flicked to Lucian. "I'm sorry."

  Elianna's eyes furrowed, wondering why she was apologizing.

  Lucian's face tightened, and his gaze flicked to Elianna before looking back at Freya. "Why do you think your brother sent my daughter an invitation?"

  Freya shook her head, and her eyes fell, "I'm honestly not sure."

  Lucian grumbled and pinched the bridge of his nose, "This makes no sense. She has nothing to do with this party."

  Mathew looked at Freya curiously, "Do you think William has an ulterior motive in inviting Elianna?"

  Elianna flinched as her gaze snapped to Mathew, wondering what precisely the king would want with her. She also noticed as Nicholas' eyes narrowed and his hands balled into fists.

  Freya's brows furrowed, looking deep in thought as Lucian and Mathew stared at her. After a moment, Freya shook her head, "I don't think so. I can't think of anything my brother would want." She sighed, "Plus, even though he can be an ass, he isn't the manipulative type."

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  Mathew nodded before he looked at Lucian, "You know, neither you nor Elianna have any affiliation to Gavaria." Lucian's eyes flicked to him. "So, technically, Elianna doesn't need to answer the invitation."

  Elianna noticed how Nicholas' brows raised, and he almost looked relieved. Elianna's brows furrowed, wondering if Nicholas wouldn't want her with him when he left.

  "I know," Lucian sighed before his eyes fell. He rubbed his temples before looking at his daughter, who held a confused gaze. Lucian smiled. "I'll just have some things to consider. And I'll have to speak with Katarina, of course."

  "How do you think she will react to this news?" Mathew asked inquisitively.

  Lucian shrugged, "Honestly, I'm not sure. Guess I'll know when I tell her."

  "In the meantime," Freya began as she pushed herself off the tree. "I can carry us back to the garrison; this way, we don't have to walk."

  Mathew looked at Freya a little worriedly, "Are you sure? Can you carry all of us?"

  Freya looked at Mathew and smiled humorously, "Don't worry. You're not that heavy."

  Mathew gave his wife a deadpan look, "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

  Freya chuckled lightly, "Yes, I know. I'll be fine. We're only going a short distance. But, to be on the cautious side, I can channel you if that's okay."

  Mathew smiled and held out his hand, "It's always okay."

  "I can take my falcon form."

  Everyone looked at Nicholas, seeing that he was looking down with a contemplative expression.

  After a moment, he looked at Freya and smiled slightly, "This way, you don't have to carry all of us and put too much strain on yourself."

  Freya smiled and nodded, "That's fine."

  Taking out her wand from her spatial ring, Freya grasped Mathew's hand, and they began to channel each other. With a flick of her wrist, Freya cast a levitation spell, and an emerald energy enveloped everyone except Nicholas.

  Elianna looked at Nicholas worriedly, seeing his dejected expression. A moment later, her stomach fell to the floor as she and the other rose into the sky as Freya flew off. Elianna looked down at Nicholas, watching as he took his falcon form and flew after them.

  Elianna's lips curved slightly as she looked at Nicholas in his falcon form, with memories of the night they practiced channeling in her room surfacing. Her cheeks heated at the thought of how close they were that night and how she wanted him to kiss her.

  Looking ahead, Elianna noticed that as Freya began her descent, they were nearing the first battalion building. Her eyes flicked to an individual standing in the grassy area, recognizing her as Zera, who was staring at them as they descended and landed on the grass.

  The emerald energy dispersed as Freya dismissed the levitation spell, and she smiled at Zera, "We're back."

  Zera nodded. "I can see that." She looked at Freya worriedly and asked, "Is everything okay?"

  Freya sighed, "Everything is fine. Just family business."

  Zera's gaze snapped left and right, "Wait, where is—"

  A moment later, Nicholas landed on the grassy area and shifted back into his human form. Elianna noticed how he still retained a downcast gaze.

  Freya looked at Nephew, also noticing his troubled expression. She smiled slightly, "Nicholas." Nicholas looked at Freya curiously. "Would you want to continue training? Or maybe continue tomorrow?"

  Nicholas looked down, thinking, "Maybe I will just take a moment and go relax and think." He looked up, his gaze flicking between Freya and Zera, "If that's okay."

  Freya nodded and smiled, "It's alright."

  Zera also smiled, "I'll be with Freya. So, when you feel like training again, just let me know."

  Nicholas nodded before turning and walking toward the tree line.

  Seeing Nicholas walk off, Elianna quickly looked at her father with a questioning gaze.

  Noticing his daughter's expression, Lucian smiled and nodded, "Yes, that's fine. Go."

  Elianna smiled, "Thanks."

  Elianna turned and quickly ran after Nicholas, catching up with him in a matter of seconds. Walking beside him, she fell silent, periodically darting her eyes between the trees and Nicholas, seeing how troubled he looked. Elianna didn't say anything, letting Nicholas think, and they eventually reached the tree line. She followed Nicholas to a tree and sat beside him as they leaned against it. Looking at Nicholas, she noticed how he stared at the grassy area in front of him, unblinking, and he wasn't even taking out his drawing utensils like he usually did when he was contemplating.

  Looking up at the beautiful, clear blue sky, Elianna's lips curved, and she couldn't help but laugh a little.

  Hearing her laugh, Nicholas looked at Elianna with a raised brow, "What are you laughing about?"

  Elianna shrugged, "I was just thinking that the last time we were here, we ended up having a stupid fight."

  Nicholas looked down, and his lips curled slightly, "I guess that's true." He leaned his head back against the tree, looking at the sky, "This time, I promise not to bottle anything up."

  Elianna looked at Nicholas curiously for a moment before saying, "Does that mean you want to talk about it?"

  Nicholas sighed, "Not really." His eyes shifted to her, "But I will."

  Elianna smiled, glad to hear that from his lips, "Then, talk to me. How are you feeling?"

  Nicholas looked forward, thinking, "Irritated. Frustrated. Annoyed. I don't know. I'm feeling a lot."

  Elianna nodded, "Because you don't want to return to Gavaria?"

  "Yeah," Nicholas sighed. "Part of me hoped I would never have to go back, that I could just remain in Tri-Union City. Like how my aunt did."

  "Then don't," Elianna said matter-of-factly. "Ignore the invitation and stay here."

  Nicholas let out a chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "I wish I could. But, it's not that simple."

  Elianna raised a brow, "Why not?"

  Nicholas looked at Elianna, "Because we are members of the Gavarian royal family. We are expected to be there. While it is technically an invitation, it is more like an order to be there."

  Elianna's brows furrowed, and she just shook her head, "I don't understand. You're not even in Gavarian jurisdiction at the moment. How can he order you?"

  "If a Tri-Union City soldier is outside of the city and the outposts, does he still have to answer to your dad?"

  Elianna nodded, "Of course. He still falls under the chain of command."

  Nicholas looked forward, "It's like that. Even though I'm not in Gavaria, I still need to listen to my father's orders."

  Elianna looked down, thinking, "If that's true, then why hasn't he just ordered you back? You know, since he didn't seem too fond of you being here when I met him."

  Nicholas flinched, "I'm not sure. Let's just be glad he didn't." He sighed, "But, now, it seems that my aunt, my cousin, and I need to go back to Gavaria anyway."

  Elianna's brows furrowed, "Wait." She looked at Nicholas curiously, "I just noticed. Why didn't Mathew receive an invitation?"

  Nicholas scoffed, "My father would never send my uncle an invitation. Those two hate each other."

  Elianna's brows raised. "Why?"

  Nicholas looked at Elianna, "My father blames my uncle for keeping my aunt here in Tri-Union City, apparently. At least, that's what my aunt says."

  Elianna rolled her eyes. "That's stupid. She is her own person and can make her own choices."

  Nicholas nodded, "Just like you."

  Elianna looked at Nicholas, confused, "What? What do you mean?"

  Nicholas looked forward, seeming to be thinking, "What I mean is, my uncle is right. You don't need to answer my father's invitation. You can stay here."

  Elianna stared at Nicholas, "Do you want me to stay here?"

  Nicholas' head snapped to Elianna, looking surprised, "What?"

  Elianna tilted her head slightly to the right, "Do you want me to stay here? Or do you want me to go with you?"

  Nicholas looked at Elianna wide-eyed, "Why are you asking me?"

  Elianna shrugged, "Because maybe your answer is important to me."

  Nicholas swallowed hard, staring at her. His face turned red before he looked forward and cleared his throat, "Maybe it would be nice to have you with me."

  Elianna's lips curved slightly, "Maybe, or it will?"

  Nicholas shrank back, obviously looking embarrassed, "It will."

  Elianna smiled brightly, "Good. Because I want to go with you as well."

  Nicholas smiled.

  Elianna looked forward and sighed heavily, "Besides. It will give me more time with you."

  Nicholas looked at Elianna, confused, "What do you mean?"

  Elianna smiled sadly and looked down. "You'll be gone for a whole year when you leave for your field training. I'll be happy that you're getting stronger. But I'll still miss you." She blushed slightly before she chuckled and looked at Nicholas, "Part of me is also jealous and wishes I could go with you."

  Nicholas stared at her, his eyes looking her up and down. He looked forward, thinking, with his eyes darting around the knights and mages training together in the area. After a moment, an idea came to mind.

  "You know, your birthday is coming up very soon," Nicholas began, and Elianna looked at him curiously. Nicholas looked at Elianna and smiled, "And I know exactly what you should ask for."