"IT SEEMS like Soleil Rosenberg is infatuated with my son," Yumi said in a frustrated voice while talking to Auro Moonchester using a spirit stone in her earring. Now that "I can't stand that woman. She thinks she has a chance with my precious Nystrom."

Although it would benefit them if Soleil Rosenberg really fell for her precious Nystrom, she still hated the idea.

As a mother, she would naturally hate everyone and anyone who would want to take his son away from her. And to be honest, she really thinks that no one would be good enough for Nystrom.

Not even Soleil Rosenberg--- the "favored" child.

Auro Moonchester laughed. "Isn't it the plan? We're going to use Kalel to get closer to Soleil Rosenberg. And once she trusts my brother enough, we'll make Kalel capture her heart literally."

Soleil Rosenberg was the child who swallowed the sun.

Since a Mana-user's Core was in her heart, they were pretty sure that the power that she got from the sun was stuck in her heart. Thus, they needed to get it from here. But it was hard to get close to Soleil Rosenberg because she was well-protected by the Fire Mage clan.

And now that Winchell was here, it was going to get a lot harder to get near that woman.

She didn't want to admit this but if there was a Beast God who could be on par with Nystrom, it would be the Red Phoenix.

"To be honest, I don't agree with my darling's decision to send the other Beast Gods back to earth and use them to make a fake prophecy," she said with twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "He even manipulated the Sun God to send a message to the Fire Mage's Sun Priestess to make Soleil Rosenberg gather the Beast Gods."

"Why do you hate that plan so much?" Auro asked her curiously. "It worked. Thanks to that prophecy, Soleil Rosenberg came to my brother on her own. We know how soft-hearted she is, and so we used it to our advantage. From the very beginning, we already expected her to take pity on my brother because of his poor condition."

"And for that reason, you never helped my poor son get out of that filthy "room,"" she snarled at him. "I haven't forgiven you for that, child."

"Yumi, you know that it was a part of our plan. I even got permission from Lord Kyro to do that," he reasoned with her. "Stealing Soleil Rosenberg's heart isn't going to be easy. That's why we've been preparing for this moment all these years. Please understand my decision."

She didn't want to admit this but Auro's plan really worked.

It was a good thing that Nystrom didn't hate his "brother." But then again, his son wouldn't be able to hate Auro and that prince should be grateful to her for that.

"Fine, I'll let that slide," she said. "But Auro, you don't plan to make my son marry that wench, do you?"

"Why are you worried, Yumi?" he asked. "Do you think Kalel will fall in love with Soleil Rosenberg?"

"Of course not," Yumi said, then she smirked. "My son doesn't have that kind of emotion."

"That's true," Auro agreed with her in an amused tone. "After all, you and your poison made sure that the only love that Kalel will ever learn is love for his family."

***

SOLEIL knew that she had to clear her mind.

And thus, even before the sun rose, she was already training in the forest that surrounded her residence. She liked training there because of the cramped space that she liked using to improve her agility. Especially since her chosen weapon was a dagger.

Just like what she was doing now.

She imagined several enemies around her. Then, she moved quickly to cut their throats using her dagger. She also made use of the terrain well by circling the trees around her to avoid an imaginary enemy.

Then, all of a sudden, she felt a presence behind her.

Her instincts kicked in and when she turned around, she went after the throat of the person who sneaked in behind her.

"Oh," Kalel said in his usual monotone voice. The blade of her dagger hit his throat but he didn't get hurt. After all, he protected his neck by covering it with a thick layer of ice. "I almost died."

"Liar," Soleil said with a soft laugh, then she pulled her dagger away from his throat. "A simple attack like that won't kill you."

"It would have killed an ordinary person though."

She just smiled as an acknowledgment that it was true.

Then, she got distracted by Kalel's outfit. He wore a fitted black shirt that emphasized that gorgeous body of his. He looked lean but he was actually a bit muscular. It was obvious how solid his body was.

God, are you testing my resolve?

"Why can't you look at me in the eye, Soleil?"

"I'm sorry but I need to concentrate," she said while using her hands to fan her suddenly hot face. "If you're here to train, then I'll take my leave."

"We can train together."

She turned to him, surprised by his invitation.

After all, she was used to making the "first move."

What's happening?

It had only been three days since Kalel arrived in their nation. Since then, he locked himself in his room to train his ice Mana. He would only get out of his room during nighttime when the weather was a little cooler than it was during the day.

Thanks to that schedule of his, she managed to avoid him. Moreover, she had been too busy these days anyway. She prepared a banquet for Winchell, and she organized several ceremonies so that people all over their small country could meet the Red Phoenix.

"Are you avoiding me, Soleil?"

She almost choked on her saliva because of his unexpected question. Was she that obvious? "Why would I avoid you, Lord Kalel?"

"I don't know," he said, then he tilted his head at one side while observing her intently. "You tell me."

She gulped hard.

But to be honest, wasn't it a good opportunity to tell Kalel her honest feelings? After all, she already decided to give up on her because of the prophecy that Solenn saw.

"Lord Kalel, I think we're better off as friends," she said with a soft laugh. Her chest was hurting but she decided to carry on with her "resolve" that she might just as well call a lie. "I was being naïve before. Now that I can see that you're out of my league, I guess we should just stay as friends."

"Did my mother scare you?"

"No," she said while shaking her head firmly. "I just realized that what I felt for you was just a silly crush." She laughed awkwardly while scratching her cheek. "Maybe I'm not yet mature to consider a serious relationship."

"Are you sure about that?"

She clenched her hands and nodded. "Yes. Let's just be friends forever."

The prophecy said that her future husband would either be a blessing or a curse to her. She told Solenn and her clan that she would kill her future husband to protect their people. But when she realized that it was going to be Kalel, she knew that she wouldn't be able to kill him. She was that soft-hearted to people that she loved.

So to avoid a tragic end for her and Kalel, she promised herself that she would never marry her. That was why no matter what happened, they had to stay as friends only.

"Alright, I understand," he said bluntly. "I won't bother you again."

"Huh?" she asked, surprised. "You're already giving up?"

Well, she'd like it if he pursued her a little bit…

"You already said no to a possible relationship between us," Kalel said casually. "I'm not that kind of guy that would force himself on a woman who doesn't want him. And I respect your decision." He bowed to her, then he began to walk away from her. "I will try my best to be a good friend, Soleil."

She couldn't utter a reply because of her shock.

When she was certain that Kalel was already gone, she allowed her knees to "die" on her. The next thing she knew, she was already kneeling on the ground. It was her who turned Kalel down, but why did it feel like she was the one who got rejected?

"This is what I want to happen though," Soleil whispered to herself. "But it sucks to know that Lord Kalel doesn't like me that much…"

***

"SOLEIL, I don't like your chosen weapon. A dagger requires close combat after all. I don't want you to get near your enemies especially if they are men."

Soleil, still hurting from "breaking up" with Kalel even though they didn't have a relationship yet, turned to her brother with an annoyed look on her face. "Are you going to choose my weapon for me this time, Brother? I'm not a child."

Winchell, seated on the chair beside her bed, looked surprised at first. Then, he laughed loudly. "Oh, someone is having a tantrum."

She just ignored her brother and buried her face in the pillow.

All she wanted was some peace and quiet in her room. That was why she locked herself up in the chamber. She planned to sleep even though it wasn't even dinner time yet.

But Winchell had to barge in and disturb her when she just wanted to rest.

"Go away, Brother," she shooed him away. "I want to be alone."

"Let's go to Mount Sola."

She raised her head to look at her brother. "What?"

"We need to train. You're still so weak," her brother said bluntly. "And I want to give you a gift."

She got up while holding a pillow near her chest. "My answer depends on what gift I'd get to receive if I agree to your plan, Brother."

But to be honest, she was already tempted to go with him.

She was the one who invited Kalel to their nation. Kicking him out because of her personal feelings would be rude. But if she left the country to train with her brother, then it would be a valid reason for her to avoid him completely.

Maybe training with my brother will mend my broken heart…

"I want to give you your personal guards," Winchell said seriously. "My flame will give birth to them and we'll call them 'Keepers.'"

Soleil blinked several times, amused. "That sounds interesting, Brother."

***

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