Davian rushed back to his room as soon as he managed to get his hand back from Ocean’s grip and couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong with him.

His heart was still racing out of his chest and he couldn’t brush away the image of Reina’s face coinciding with Ocean’s. Was he comparing their unearthly beauty in his mind that’s why he happened to see their faces like that?

Or was there some other reason?

He could even remember the way the touch felt faintly different when he saw the change. His one hand was trapped under Ocean’s cheek touching his ear and he could remember feeling the smoothness of some stone.

Could it be Ocean’s earstud? Was that one of his disguises?

But a disguise that looked exactly like Reina... Wasn’t that a little too uncanny?

Davian couldn’t understand anything.

Around three days later, the carriages carrying the two Princes halted before Ryujin mansion.

According to the rules to keep the trials fair, it was decided that Eric and Carlos would stay at Ryujin mansion and they would be there until the end of the trials.

Eric and Carlos stepped out of their carriages and Eric glanced up at the large mansion while Carlos looked displeased.

"We have to stay here?" He grunted.

Ocean and his household personnel had gathered to welcome the two.

"Welcome to the Ryujin estate, Your Highness Prince Eric and Prince Carlos. I hope you had a pleasant journey." Ocean spoke sweeping a bow.

Carlos narrowed his eyes a little and Eric stepped ahead.

"Yes, it was quite a pleasant journey, Marquis. Thank you for having us." Eric spoke cordially.

Carlos crossed his arms at his chest, "Well, I can’t say it was a pleasant journey for me considering your mansion is in the middle of a forest."

Ocean chuckled a little, "It is for the safety, Your Highness. Please come inside."

He led them both in and the two Princes were shown to their rooms. The trials still had some time but they were called in earlier so that they could adjust to their days in Ryujin mansion.

Before the two Princes had arrived though, Ocean had asked Davian to leave since it would complicate things if he stayed around. He had also asked Sol to live at Eldarf for some time since his existence as Ocean’s family was still a secret. He had also requested for Miri to leave for the royal palace as her staying at his place would create unnecessary misunderstandings.

Miri had left but instead of going to royal palace she had ended up going to the Grand Duke’s estate at the capital since she said she was going to stay with the Grand Duchess.

Ocean had made several preparations to make sure that his secrets were hidden from the prying eyes.

It was also a strict rule that since the Princes were living at the Ryujin mansion none of the other nobles or royal family would get involved in the trials.

The trial plan was already checked several times by not only Ocean’s side but also by the pro-Carlos faction.

The trials were going to be held in the three contests and the venue was going to be an arena which was already built as per Ocean’s instructions. The three Lords had been given the task of constructing this arena before Ocean had left for Denril a while ago. He was going to do it himself but since Davian had requested him to be his chaperone he couldn’t.

First trial was the knowledge test.

And it by no means was a simple exam. The two Princes were going to answer the questions asked by not only Ocean himself but also by the ones who were going to choose the King. The commoners and the nobles alike were going to be present for all the trials and they would be actively involved in the selection process.

The second trials were to check their physical strength.

The two Princes would have to fight against the strong opponents and prove that they were capable of fending for themselves at the times of dire life-threatening situations.

Thirdly, was the strategy expertise.

The two Princes would be given a battalion each and they would be given a task to fulfill. This trial would test their cool-headedness, strategy and planning, as well as how they would lead their armies to victory.

Once all these trials would be done, it would be up to the people who were going to be the judges to decide whom they would have as their King.

At first, this was the plan. But considering that Ocean had to add another last minute trial so, there was now a fourth phase as well which would test the Princes’ in a different environment altogether.

This trial was crafted to make sure that the Princes would gain the alliance of a strong yet, secluded race. Ocean had formed a plan regarding this but he was yet to begin the first steps. He would have to make sure to not create too much of a trouble anyways.

Ocean showed the two Princes to their rooms on the second floor. Both were given rooms side by side.

"I hope you will have a pleasant stay here, Your Highnesses." He spoke to the two of them.

"The lunch will be served in an hour, so, please get freshened up. Also, you will be having a tour of the mansion after lunch." He said.

Eric nodded while Carlos simply shrugged.

Ocean left them and walked over to his office where Roan waited.

"Are you really going to do this?" Roan asked looking skeptical and Ocean hummed.

"Yes, besides, I won’t be going right away. I’ll be going at night." Ocean said.

Roan sighed, "You know it’s pretty dangerous, right?"

"I’m a Dragon, Roan. I’ll be fine."

Roan shook his head and Ocean smiled mischievously.

"Besides, I heard some interesting piece of information recently, Roan." Ocean spoke and Roan looked at him suspiciously.

"What?"

Ocean hummed, "Well, a little birdie told me that someone in my mansion is in love."

Roan’s eyebrows twitched and he leaned ahead, "Who?"

Ocean shrugged, "Who indeed? Do you know if there’s some secret love story going on around?"

Roan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who told you about this?"

"Davian, he happened to overehear the laments of the jealous man and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what the poor man was going through."

Roan sighed, Ocean knew. Now he wouldn’t let him see the end of it. He would keep teasing him till the ends of the world.

"Just say it openly, Master. You know it’s-"

Suddenly there was a knock on the window and Ocean walked over and opened it. The large black wings flapped once before Nox swooped down and landed on the window sill.

"Welcome back," Ocean said brushing his hand over Nox’s back making it hoot.

"Did you find the place?" Ocean asked and Nox flapped his wings hooting.

Ocean nodded, "Good. Let’s go now."

Roan’s eyes widened, "Where are you going now?"

Ocean walked over grabbing his coat.

"I had Nox secure the perimeter around where the intruder had disappeared. I figured their base would be close by and it seems like my hunch was right."

"Master, we’re talking about a witch here. Are you really going alone?" Roan quickly rose from his seat watching as Ocean was by the window again.

"I’ll be fine, Roan. Don’t worry. I’ll simply go and look around a little. If I run into them, I’ll just drag them back here with me."

Roan’s jaw dropped hearing that and he massaged his temples.

"Master... Prince Eric aside but Prince Carlos is also here now. What if he comes to know of this?"

"And what will he do? He’s lucky he’s made it this far because of his mother. But now that I’ve taken away his biggest support, he’s more like a weakest link of Esmertia clan. If he interferes, I’ll make sure he learns his place."

Roan sighed and Ocean climbed over the window sill with Nox already taking off.

"I’ll be back in an hour for lunch." Ocean said before he leapt out unfurling his wings and activating the invisiblility spell.

Nox flew ahead of Ocean and the two soon enough were hovering above the forest. Nox swooped down and Ocean followed by frowning slightly as he spotted the ruins of what resembled a temple.

Ocean landed before the ruins and Nox landed over his shoulder. Ocean looked around. He couldn’t sense any presence around the place.

Ocean walked inside the ruins. The cracked and broken walls greeted him with the wind that whistled through the lonely, stony corridors. Ocean walked around till he reached in front of what looked like something that wouldn’t belong in an old place as this.

Ocean reached out touching the metal door and smirked before he pulled out the key that Nox had brought him the other day.

"Let’s see." Ocean muttered before he placed the key in the keyhole and turned it.

Click.

The lock clicked open and Ocean pushed the door open and saw the dark staircase going deep down into the earth.

"Secrets buried deep within. Let’s see what we find, Nox." Ocean spoke and Nox hooted as Ocean started descending the steps.