“Lady Aetheria, I discovered the whereabouts of the rebels.” Norielle slightly bowed as she reported. She ran around all day gathering information on the rebels who had attacked the Palace a few days ago.

“Good work. I wonder who’s leading them, do you have any information on this?” Aetheria put down the book she was currently reading and stood up, with light steps, she moved towards her most loyal maid servant.

“My Lady, their base is a little hard to infiltrate.” Norielle was a little hesitant to continue what she was about to say. But after considering for a while, she decided to tell what she saw. “I am not yet sure of the matter, but, I believe I saw one of them wearing an army badge My Lady.” She bit her lip after speaking, she knew that this incident won’t be just a small matter anymore.

Aetheria abruptly turned her head to Norielle, “What did you say?!” Aetheria gripped the maid servants shoulder and stared intently at her.

“I-I saw one of them wearing an a-army badge.” Norielle stuttered as she repeated her words. Her Lady is a gentle and delicate woman but when it comes to serious matters, she can be absolutely scary.

“So it’s really them. No wonder they knew our every move.” Aetheria loosened her grip on Norielle and started pacing inside the roo deep in thoughts.

Upon noticing this, Norielle started to panic. She’s familiar with her Lady’s personality. She may act timid and cowardly most of the time, but she knew how brave and valiant she can be when she’s protecting the people she cares about. “My Lady, we can’t act rashly on this.”

“I know Norielle. But we can’t do nothing.” Aetheria’s face was filled determination as she turned to Norielle. “Go and prepare the carriage.”

“Where are we going My Lady?” still stricken with panic, Norielle seemed to be unable to move her feet.

Aetheria squinted her eyes and gazed at the direction she wanted to go, “To the Sovereign’s Palace.”

~o~

“Aliyah, wake up!”

Aliyah felt someone tap her cheeks a couple of times before slowly opening her eyes. “What is it?” she lazily asked. She’s still a little disoriented and confused, how come she fell asleep again?

“Class has finished already and you keep on sleeping?” her friends chuckled around her.

These past few days, even though her headaches are gone now, she’s been feeling sleepy a lot. And what’s even more puzzling is that she keeps on having those strange dreams everytime.

“Aliyah, the Vice President is calling for you.” One of her classmates called out to her from the corridor. Some of her classmates gave her a curious look, some even gave her sharp glances.

Again? Why would he call for me again? I have already declined to sing for the event haven’t I?

“Aliyah, why do you look so annoyed?” one of her friends noticed the sulking expression on her face. Aliyah just shrugged at the question and walked out of the room sighing.

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~o~

Inside the Student Council Office she didn’t see Devin, instead, it was the Council President who was waiting for her. Aliyah saw the girl cross her arms as she stared at her like she could see her soul.

Aliyah felt really awkward under her gaze so she decided to break the silence, “Ah, they told me the Council Vice President was calling for me.”

“Who are you to Devin?” Aliyah could hear the anger in the President’s voice when she asked her.

What’s happening? What did I do that made her angry? Aliyah looked quizzically at the girl infront of her. Was it because of that cockroach?

“President, I don’t really know him that well.” Aliyah decided to probe first. She needed to know what other problems that cockroach had brought her.

“You don’t know him? Then why did he request you to be his partner for the event of the 5th night of the School Festival?!” the Council President suddenly threw some papers on the table and stared angrily at me.

5th night of the school festival? Wait a minute… if I am not mistaken, there was no scheduled activity on the first and second night. On the 3rd night would be the Night Party/Concert, on the 4th night would be the camping and bonfire event, as for the 5th night… the fireworks display?!

“Ah!” Aliyah couldn’t help but be surprised when she realized what would be the event on the 5th night. The fireworks display night was rumored to be the night for lovers, whoever confesses their love would have a high chance of receiving that love in return. As for couples, they will be granted happiness and abundance of love.

“What are you screaming for?!” the Council President’s shout snapped Aliyah back into reality. She slowly turned her head to her.

“President, you got it wrong… I know nothing about this.” She could only plead not to be blamed for this mess, but in her mind, she was already stabbing the cockroach to death

“Hmp. If I ever see you near Devin, I’m telling you, I’ll make you regret ever coming to this university.” She then walked out of the room and closed the door with a loud bang.

Aliyah pat her chest as she calmed her heart, ‘That was scary, I’m really going to make that cockroach pay.’

~o~

“Aliyah, why are you not eating your dinner?” Kheifa noticed her granddaughter staring at her food and not eating at all. She’s been acting really weird this past few days and it’s making her really worried.

“I’m not that hungry Grandma.” Aliyah replied. She couldn’t tell her that she had been planning several ways on how to deal with a certain cockroach who put her in a troublesome situation.

“You can go to your room and take a rest then. I’ll put the excess food in the fridge. You can just reheat once you get hungry.”

“Thank you Grandma. I’ll leave first then.”

Once Aliyah left the dining room, Nyk turned to his grandmother. “Grandma, I think it’s happening too soon. What did go wrong?” Nyk’s voice was filled with worry for his younger sister.

Kheifa sighed as she looked at her grandson, “Even I don’t understand either my child. We have kept the truth from her for so long to delay her awakening, I am not sure what has gone wrong. Soon, she’ll realize the changes in her body.”

“I guess I just have to protect her and watch over her more closely from now on.”

~o~

“Aetheria, what’s the meaning of this?” Her Highness, the Sovereign of Life was surprised to see her daughter inside her Palace Chamber. This daughter of hers was gentle and delicate but now she had rebelled against her.

“Mother, it’s not what you are thinking. You are being deceived by the Secret Order Mother. Please listen to me!” Aetheria begged her mother while the servants are holding her down. She was caught sneaking into the Palace Chambers thus the Knights of the Secret Order cuffed her and were on their way to lock her up.

“Your Highness, I beg you please listen to my Lady. Don’t lock her up.” Norielle dropped on her knees and bowed her head to ground crying and begging for her Ladyship.

“Norielle, you were once a wonderful maidservant, very efficient and trustworthy. I regret to have let my daughter take you away from my care.” the Sovereign of life shook her head in disappointment. “Knights, lock the two of them!”

“Mother!!!”

“Your Highness!”

~o~

Aliyah abruptly opened her eyes, ‘What was that? Why does that dream seem so real?’ She could feel her heartbeat racing fast. She decided to go to the kitchen to get some water. When she was about to go back to bed, she suddenly heard a voice.

“Don’t leave me, Norielle.”