The instant Cedric saw the Third Princess step into the chamber, he rose from his seat.

"Princess Aerolia..." He greeted, inclining his head respectfully.

A faint smile touched upon her lips as she said. "Young Lord Cedric. My apologies for keeping you waiting."

Her voice carried a graceful cadence, smooth and refined, yet lacking the artificial sweetness that many noblewomen deliberately cultivated.

"There is no need for apologies, Your Highness."

The young noble assured, the he gestured politely toward the chair opposite him. "Please, have a seat."

Aerolia crossed the room with measured steps, then with practiced elegance, she settled into her seat confidently.

For a brief moment, her gaze drifted across the table, then one delicate brow arched upward. "Having only wine I see?"

A playful smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she added. "I must admit, I expected something considerably more extravagant."

Cedric felt heat creep up his neck as he sat. "Actually, the proprietor only informed the kitchen to prepare a meal after my arrival. I’m sure that it would be serve shortly."

The amusement in Aerolia’s sapphire eyes deepened as she remarked in a teasing manner. "And here I thought you were serious about this date of ours."

Cedric nearly choked on the wine he had just lifted to his lips as he stared at her with an horrified gaze...

Seeing his expression, Aerolia burst into laughter. Unlike the rehearsed giggles common among nobles ladies, her laughter sounded genuine and natural.

For a moment, the chamber felt less like a meeting between two influential figures and more like a conversation between old acquaintances.

"I was just joking." She waved dismissively, then she leaned forward slightly. "But honestly, Cedric, when are you going to stop being so stiff around me?"

Cedric sighed before replying. "That would be somehow difficult..."

"Oh... And why is that?"

Cedric shrugged. "You are the Third Princess of Valoria. A figure who is above the masses..."

"And you are the future Lord of House Valehart." Aerolia pointed out. "If anything, I think that makes us equals in terms of status."

Cedric opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, a knock echoed through the room. The door swung open and the proprietor entered hurriedly.

Behind him followed two maidservants pushing an ornate dining trolley.

"Young Lord, forgive my tardiness." The rotund man said, bowing repeatedly. Then, he gestured toward the servants. "Quickly. Serve the dishes."

The women immediately obeyed as they began placing silver trays upon the table. The aroma of roasted meats and fresh bread filler the room as a steaming venison roast, honey glazed pheasant, fishes seasoned with exotic spices, and vegetables imported from other provinces were laid out before the duo.

Even the desserts looked extravagant, like something that could add years to the life of a common man.

The proprietor watched the arrangement nervously, then suddenly, he caught the outline of someone seated across Cedric.

His gaze shifted, then his eyes widened as color drained from his face instantly. It was only now that he truly noticed who sat across from the young noble.

Without hesitation, he practically threw himself into a bow as he greeted.

"Your Highness!" Beads of sweat instantly formed on his forehead as he added. "My deepest apologies! I did not realize you were present!"

Aerolia’s blue eyes regarded him cooly as she spoke calmly. "Oh? I never knew I was so easy to overlook."

As she said those words, the temperature in the room seem to drop down a few degrees. The rotund man trembled as cold sweat rolled down his cheeks.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness. I know that I deserve punishment for such disrespect, but please, have mercy." At this point, the man was close to falling on his knees. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Aerolia rested her chin upon one hand as she watched him with an unreadable expression. For several moments, she remained silent, and the poor man looked ready to collapse from despair.

Finally, she spoke calmly. "I shall forgive you this once."

Relief flooded the man’s face when he heard those words.

"But should such an atrocity occur again, I may have you beheaded in the city square."

The man nearly fainted as he bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Your Highness. To show my gratitude, everything you order today shall be on the house."

The man promised with a pained heart, and with that, he retreated from the room with the speed of a man escaping certain doom.

The maidservants followed shortly after setting the table... Then silence descended once more.

After a brief moment, Cedric finally shook his head and said. "You shouldn’t have done that. You know, you almost gave the poor man a heart attack."

Aerolia’s measured expression broke immediately as a wide grin spread across her face.

"Perhaps..." She spoke while slicing into a piece of venison. "But someone has to teach these people a lesson on etiquette. Besides, we got to have free food, don’t we?"

Cedric couldn’t help smiling as he took a sip of wine from the goblet.

Most people within Valoria viewed the Third Princess as cold and aloof, to the extent that some even considered her intimidating. Yet it was only a certain few that understood her true personality.

Behind closed doors, and away from prying eyes, Aerolia possessed a mischievous streak that often surfaced when she was comfortable around someone.

In fact, he only got to know about this when they interacted more back at the Royal Academy.

The Third Princess dapped her lips with a napkin, then her expression gradually grew serious.

"So, what were you trying to say earlier?"

The light-hearted mood instantly shifted as Cedric’s smile disappeared.

His fingers around the wine goblet tightened slightly as he replied.

"I recently received an information that my cousin is returning to Valor with my uncle."

Aerolia paused. "You mean Maverick? The cousin who supposedly failed to awaken?"

Cedric nodded. "Yes. The very same one."

She frowned thoughtfully as she commented. "I thought he was sent to the Frozen North years ago with his father."

"He was. But now they are returning to Valor..."

Aerolia studied him briefly before replying. "I don’t understand why you are suddenly concerned about him."

Cedric exhaled slowly.

"According to my source, he has already awakened. And just like me, apparently, he is a King Tier Awakener."

Aerolia’s playful expression immediately changed the moment she heard those words. Clearly, she also understood the implications and complications of such a reveal.

The significance of a King Tier Awakener cannot be understated, especially when it comes to matters involving a Great House.

"Well, that changes things." She remarked.

"It does." Cedric nodded. "So, you understand the problem now, right?"

Aerolia remained silent. If the reports were true, then Maverick had suddenly become a legitimate political factor.

Cedric was hailed as the future Lord of House Valehart because there was none like him in his House. But now that another had appeared, it could not simply be ignored.

The Third Princess tapped a finger against the table as she looked into Cedric’s golden eyes. "What do you want me to do?"

Now, the conversation was already getting to the crux of the matter.

Cedric leaned forward with a narrowed gaze. "My uncle was tasked with defending the frozen North, yet they are suddenly returning. In simpler terms, for personal reasons, he is abandoning his post..."

He didn’t even need to complete his sentence because the Princess already understood where he was heading to as she interrupted.

"You want me to convince my father to order them back, is that it?"

"Right. If the command comes directly from the Crown, they would have little choice but to comply."

The Third Princess was silent. For several seconds, she simply stared at the delicacies laid out before her, then she let out a long sigh.

"That would be difficult..."

Cedric frowned. "I don’t see why. I mean, you are practically the King’s favourite child so surely, this is something easy to accomplish."

Aerolia’s expression darkened as she spoke. "This has nothing to do with favouritism..."

Cedric noticed the subtle edge in her voice and his brows furrowed further as he realized something was wrong.

The Third Princess lowered her gaze and spoke almost silently. "You see, House Valerion is not in a very good position right now."

Cedric’s brows knitted together. "What do you mean?"

A couple of seconds passed before Aerolia lifted her eyes and for the first time that morning, genuine worry appeared within those sapphire orbs.

"The situation is actually worse than most people think..."

Cedric was already feeling uneasy with the way she was speaking.

"Tell me what happened."

The Third Princess hesitated briefly, then she spoke resignedly.

"Cedric..." Her fingers tightened around the stem of her wine goblet as she spoke. "...The King is dying."

The words came out almost like a whisper but they struck the room like a thunderbolt, and instantly, everything became still.

Even Cedric froze, and for an instant, his breathing faltered slightly.

The cheerful atmosphere that had existed earlier had long dissipated and even the food upon the table was forgotten as the duo remained in a silence that seemed everlasting.

For a long moment, the young noble didn’t reply as the revelation hung between the two like a sword suspended overhead...