The two spent some time in the private garden, quietly enjoying each other's company under the large, golden trees. Soon, Aelius saw that the sun was starting to go down, indicating that the golden hour is about the start, and nobles will now flock to this private place.

"We should go now, Calypso," Aelius said as he stood up. He offered his hand to Selene to help her get up, but Selene was watching the start of the sunset, ignoring his offer.

"Give me a few minutes to watch this," she said. "The sunsets in Lunaria are lackluster at best. This might be the only time I can watch this in peace."

Aelius leaned against the golden tree they are under. "Why would you say that? You can visit Solaria anytime and watch the sunset" he asked her.

"Can I?" Selene scoffed. "You have no idea what my life is going to be like after…"

"After what?" Aelius asked, staring at her with curiosity.

Selene looked at him and smiled a sad smile. "Never mind. It doesn't concern you" she replied. "Come on, let's go. Help me get up." She said as her smile grew. Her smile might be happy, but her eyes betray what she really felt.

Aelius wanted to pry a bit more, but he knows that it really doesn't concern him. He is a stranger to her who just happened to help tour her group around Solaria.

The two went to the exit of the garden, with Selene looking back one last time at the setting sun.

--------------

They joined the rest of the group outside the Hanging Gardens entrance. "Where did the two of you go?" Kai asked them. "We didn't see you when they announced that we had to leave the public garden"

"Really? We were at the back. I had Cyrus tour me a bit more around the garden since there were a lot of people there." Selene lied smoothly. She cannot let the others know where they went. They might think something indecent happened.

Mikael eyed her sister and then Aelius. "If you say so…" he replied to the two. "But next time, no leaving the group." He said sternly.

Aelius nodded his head in agreement with Mikael's request. As a big brother himself, he understood his concern. He would be wary and concerned if a Mira even disappeared for a second with a stranger.

"So, Cyrus…" Sola asked, her voice laced with a hint of flirtation "Where are you taking us next?"

"Your home for tonight." He replied matching Sola's tone. "You guys needed to rest before tomorrow, and you, pretty lady, look like you need it," he said with a smirk and playful eyes.

Sola was stunned by Aelius's reply for a second. No one ever talked to her that straight before. When she gathered her thoughts, she laughed and playfully slapped his arm.

"I think you and I will be fast friends." She said as she laughed. "Lead the way, pretty boy"

Aelius laughed at Sola's reply and led the way to the inn the group will be staying. Sola went beside Selene and Kai and whispered, "He's great. I like him"

"Like him for yourself?" Kai asked playfully.

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"No, no. Not for me." Sola said as she waved her hand in derision. "I think we're too alike. If we became a couple, we would burn the place down within a few minutes of fighting."

"That is true," Kai replied back.

"But, I like him as a friend. He seems nice and laidback." Sola said to the group. "He might even help us adjust once we come here after Selene's wedding?"

"Wait what?" Selene cried. "You're staying here after the wedding?"

"Why not?" Sola replied, shrugging her shoulders. "And, do you really think we would leave you here alone with no friends? I don't think so."

"We will go, where you go. And in a place like this, you would need all the help you can get." Kai said to Selene.

Selene was dumbfounded by her friend's response. "But I would never ask you to uproot your lives just to make mine better"

"You don't have to," Kai said. "We are willing. Besides, I would like to know the healing ways Solaria uses. I heard that while they still use Aqua as the main power, their application is very different from Lunaria.

"And I'm getting tired of the same old boys there" Sola added. "I want to see and touch someone new," she said with a devilish smile.

Selene only smiled at her friends. She was grateful for their sacrifice, but it burdened her heart.

--------------

The inn Aelius chose was at the heart of the city. The walls of the rooms were made from marble, the floors from jades and the ceilings were inlaid with tiny sparkling emeralds that look like little stars when you lie down.

"I already took the liberty of booking your rooms. I asked the innkeeper to put all of you in the best rooms they have possible." Aelius said with pride.

"This is not going to break your bank right? We can pay for ourselves." Selene said, worried for her new friend's pocket.

"Don't worry Calypso, I have plenty enough to spare. I have too much actually" Aelius replied. "I offered to tour all of you, and that includes making sure you stay somewhere comfortable and feels like home. All you need to worry about is your food and the souvenirs you will bring back to Lunaria."

The group was thankful for Aelius's generosity, which made his heart swell with happiness. 'I should do this more often' he thought.

Once everyone was settled in, he bid them goodbye, saying that his master needed him back by dinner time. He told them they would meet again tomorrow, with a new destination.

--------------------

Aelius went back to the Hanging Gardens and sneaked into the private garden where he took Selene in. He sat down under the golden tree, he tried to understand the feeling he had earlier – the calmness in his heart and unfamiliar happiness bubbling beneath it. The woman, Calypso, was breathtakingly beautiful, and her eyes the most expressive he has seen. The way she speaks and acts brings happiness to his heart. The more he watched her, the more he wants to will time to stop so the happy feeling he has won't go away. He was deep in thought, ruminating on what is happening to him when his reverie was disturbed.

"I knew it. That was you" a slithering voice suddenly said.

Aelius stood up, and looked in the direction of the voice, behind the tree. There a woman was peeking.

"Come out." The prince ordered.

The woman slowly revealed herself. Hair as black as soot, cascading in soft curls, a body with curves at all the right places, with her emerald green dress clinging to her curves. Lips as luscious as roses, and her snake-like eyes as green as jade, it was no other than the Verdant princess, Ayna.

She walked towards the prince, her hips swaying. 'By the gods, she looks like walking sex' Aelius thought as he stared at the woman, his eyes roaming. He was already familiar with her body because Ayna was his most favored bedmate before his duties of being Heir took over.

"You haven't called for me in months," she said, her voice seductive, as she traced Aelius chest with her finger. "Did you replace me with that girl earlier?" she asked.

Aelius shook his head. "No one can replace you" he softly replied, as he caressed her face in his hand. "However, I am the Heir now. I don't have time to play with you anymore"

"Are you sure about that?" Ayna whispered as her hands glided across his body. She can hear Aelius's fast breath and low growl when her fingers delicately danced from his belly down towards his pants.

She leaned against his body, "You say you don't have time" and whispered in his ear, "but your friend down here says otherwise". She gave a deep chuckle that made Aelius mad with lust.

"Your room. Now" he growled at the woman, who took his hand and guided him towards her chambers. Aelius's mind was now lost in a deep haze of hot fire desire and lust, consuming his being. His feelings of calmness and happiness earlier were forgotten and buried deep in the dark recesses of his mind.