***

BEING born from an average human and a wizard was nothing of the ordinary. When I came up with the novel concept, there was no issue if they would have a family, even though it was rare to have the power and make a contract with the mana spirits. The ability to successfully make contracts with the mana spirits became complex. It was a plot hole that I would probably notice midway through the novel or at least when it was completed.

In this world, there are seven kinds of mana and each one is symbolized by a particular animal. They are numerous, from the smallest butterfly to the more prominent species, and the mana comes from Salim, the world of spirits.

Salim is a magical world that humans cannot access—whether ordinary or by someone with magic. No one knows what it looks like, but according to ancient documents, mana spirits descended to earth to empower people. And to ensure world peace, no one possesses more than one mana . . . which didn't happen since continuous wars were breaking in different countries.

Not everyone is blessed with mana. They had to come from one of the four warring kingdoms to be called the most substantial empire. The four kingdoms that possessed different manas were the Reburene empire, the Ashenford kingdom, the Galitian kingdom, and the Eostaghar empire.

And currently, Reburene is the leading empire.

I shook my thoughts away and went back to the present. This was not the time for me to think about the novel. This is my present . . . as the character of my own story.

I quickly picked up the blanket I had found in an empty room and returned to Samael, still lying down.

He was no longer screaming in pain, but his eyes were tightly closed, and he was sleeping peacefully. However, he had many wounds on his hands and feet. And I think it was because of his mana.

He was too young to make a contract with a mana spirit—the wolf—but because his power was overflowing, he could do nothing more. To manage his powers, he needed to undergo the ritual to make the contract . . . but each element has its test.

However, I have not given much detail about those tests since I am still writing this novel. But I never thought this was the test and ritual to create a mana contract.

Luckily, I saw a dagger by his left leg. I took it and carefully used it to cut the fabric. I was very careful because my hands were not that strong yet. I should not even hold a knife because even though my mind was over twenty-five, my body was less than four years old!

When I tore the cloth, I quietly approached Samael, who was taking deep breaths. I gently tied the cloth to some wounds on his hands and ankle. Although not as good as I could have been without the child's body, I still did my best. It is better to bind some of his wounds than to let them bleed badly.

His breathing began to deepen. I wondered if it would be better for me to return to Peridot Palace and ask Rosette for help. But if I do that, he would officially recognize me even though that is precisely what I avoid happening.

And I could not ask for help from another palace. No one knows who I was. If they saw the golden hair I got from my mother and eyes from the emperor. I would be the subject of the kingdom. I felt I would get closer to disaster and certain death. I might progress my execution if they discover me too quickly.

I saw how his forehead furrowed until his eyes opened.

His blue eyes met mine. I was about to get up, but he held my hand.

"You— Who are you . . . ?" he asked weakly before releasing my hand and falling to the floor. He closed his eyes again.

I was still trembling as I stared at his hand. It was as if my heart wanted to come out of my chest. I was silently praying that he thought it was all just a dream.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching from outside. I quickly got up and ran towards the window of the palace. I immediately saw the two empire soldiers entering the palace.

"I wonder if His Highness is okay?" the man with the scar on his eyebrow asked. He stood out because he had an extremely light complexion.

"I don't know either. But there would be some injuries based on how much he shouted last night. That was what the priest said."

"I do not understand why His Majesty allowed His Highness to make a contract when he's still young."

"Be careful what you say! Someone might hear you!" the Western-looking man warned.

When I saw them proceed to the entrance I passed last night, I went under the stage where the wolf once stood.

I felt my heart beating fast. It seemed to accompany every step of the oncoming knights.

When they reached the Samael's side, I noticed they carried bandages. It seems that this is expected to happen to Samael.

"Look . . . " The man with the scar on his eyebrow pointed.

"Someone tended the prince's wounds!"

"It does not seem to be trained because it is not tightly tied."

I was taken aback by my hiding place. I know I was not good at tying a knot. My hands were still weak, but I tried to tie them to ensure they wouldn't get infected—at least until proper help arrived.

The two nodded and stood up again. They took their swords and examined their surroundings. They were moving stealthily, making sure there was an enemy close by. I gulped, seeing how close the sword was to my hiding place. It was so sharp that I could not help but remember the guillotine blade from my memory.

I was very restrained from moving and swallowing. I kept quiet as I watched them return to Samael's side to tend to his wounds properly. The other knight helped Samael, still unconscious, climb on the back of the man with the scar.

I watched them leave the Emerald Palace. As the sun was rising, I hurried back to Peridot Palace. Rosette might learn that I ran away!

****

What happened did not disappear from my mind. Even if two days had passed, I wished Samael would not remember it and treated it as if it were a dream.

That was not what we should meet, according to the novel. But I also do not know what happened in Renée's childhood. I had only been writing about a part of her young adult life, not her childhood.

Maybe Samael will never remember that again. I hope my face fades from his memory.

I hope.

But destiny liked playing games because I woke up with people panicking around my tiny palace. They quickly dressed and prepared me for the arrival of a special guest.

However, no one could tell who would come. But I had a strong feeling that Samael was the guest. Rosette may have thought I did not know about my brother, so they chose not to explain.

"Hurry up! Someone is coming from the palace!" Rosette told the other maids in panic.

They all stood in a line, and Rosette held my hand. "Please don't leave my side, milady. Could you please promise me that?" I knew the concern in her eyes, and I gave her a nod.

She gave me a pale smile before we straightened our stands as we heard the main doors open. Two knights entered and inspected the area before finally opening the door fully.

"Salute to the heir of the sun of the Reburene empire!" they greeted Samael in unison as he entered the palace. His eyes were already wandering around without acknowledging their greeting.

Gone were the bandages and wounds around his arms and legs. I was no longer surprised by how fast it healed because they would have doctors who used magic. He needed to be healed immediately. He was the crown prince, after all.

For his age, he stood tall among the rest, not in height but in the aura and charisma he possessed. For a nine-year-old, authority and power were evident.

No one moved, and they remained to bow in his direction. Everyone was paying homage to the crown prince in front of them.

And when he turned in my direction, I was sure something would happen that I would not like. His piercing blue crystal eyes locked on my red orbs meant trouble. I had to gulp that empty lump in my throat, knowing that I had sealed my own fate.

***

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