With my resolve hardened, I pushed away the thoughts of what Chrysta could be amused by. I just needed to act clueless for now, and hopefully catch her tail once she leaves to report to her master.

I began to read through the books for clues to decipher the warning given to me. I couldn't forget it even if I wanted to, it was so unnerving that it made a home for itself in my bones.

The words forever etched in my being.

I only wrote what could be clues or important information to remember. So far all I could seem to find on ancient beasts was that they were all wiped out for their power in the founding of the empire.

'It's obvious I am the pure and white rose, but why am I a rose?' I turned my gaze to an open book about nobles of the empire only to see the family emblem to the Eirlys duchy.

It was a rose.

My eyes widened, I was so dumb. I overlooked the simplest things. As soon as I realized that I began looking at all them emblems to nobles, but none were even animals. I closed my eyes while pinching the bridge of my nose.

I turned my gaze to a book about the royals, but once I opened the book I saw an emblem of a lion and sun.

'W-was the ancient beast the crowned prince?' My mind was racing why would he want me dead even before the events with Thea, I couldn't think of any reason for the king to want me dead.

I was just a girl who wasn't even involved with politics. This just confirmed my need to leave, and escape far away from the crowned prince. Just ending the engagement might accelerate the timing of my death, if he believes I am no longer in the palm of his hand. I could no longer just sit idly waiting for my death, I needed power someone who could stand against the crowned prince.

'Crap.' The only person who could stand against the crowned prince of this empire was the Emperor of the Solon empire, Axel Solon.

He became Emperor at a young age because of his parents early deaths, but he was the one behind his parents death. The book never stated the reason for him killing his parents, but he was portrayed as a selfish and dangerous person.

He hated contact, it made him feel disgusted that is until the heroine came along and he enjoyed her touch. He wanted her for himself, but unfortunately she was in love with Malik. So, Axel decided to wage a war against Malik for Thea.

He was the main villain of this novel, he was dangerous but I needed someone who had enough power to protect me from the crowned prince. If I decided to fight fire with fire, I wasn't sure if I would come out unscathed. I needed a way to meet Axel, but I didn't know if he would even spare me a glance or even worse send my neck flying.

It was a gamble but it was the clearest path as of now. It was as if I was trapped in a murky swamp, I had to be careful with each every step I took because one misstep and I'm done for.

"Miss, excuse me but what language is that?" Chrysta interrupted my thoughts with her question.

"Just something I picked up. Oh, look at the time. Father and brothers must be waiting for me." I quickly changed the subject, while keeping a calm appearance. She seemed to understand as she didn't ask any further questions.

I didn't want to be late for dinner so I quickly made my way to the dining room. As I was arriving Seth was too. He held the door for me while I walked in.

"Geez could you get any slower?" He mumbled just loud enough for me to hear.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his childish behavior, instead of making my mood worse it helped me keep my mind off of my impeding doom. A smile made its way on my face as patted his shoulder while making my way past him. I looked up to see a dazed Ethan looking at me, instead of looking away I smiled. My smile seemed to pull him out of his daze as he looked away.

As soon as I sat down food was served, helping avoid awkward silence between all of us. As I ate I couldn't help as my mind began to wander.

The little girl knew her mother hated when she would go into her room, but the girl hadn't seen her mother since she last went in a week ago.

Her pigtails were swaying as she crept to the room, that had music leaking out from under the door. She began to feel nervous as she crept closer to the door, as if her mother would come bursting through and scolding her for trying to come into the room.

The little girl began to grab the handle and twist it to slowly crack the door open. Once the door was cracked open, she peaked into the room to see if her mother was there.

She saw her mother leaning limply against the head board of the bed. The little girl slowly made her way across the room to her mother. Once she had gotten to the side of her mother she shook her to wake her up, but she realized her mother was cold to the touch.

The little girls hands dropped to her side, she knew that her mother was not just asleep. The little girl stood rooted in her spot, un-moving, as she watched her mother with a blank face. The girl could not find it in herself to cry as she remembered what her mother said.

"I wish to be remembered, in a beautiful way. Where when I'm gone and someone thinks of me they smile and feel happy."

The little girl couldn't cry but she couldn't find it within herself to smile either.

"-lina" I didn't know why I thought of that memory.

"Alina" I was snapped out my thoughts of the duke calling my name.

"I'm sorry father." I apologized.

"It's fine, I was just going to say that we will be having an audience with the king in two weeks." I was surprised at how fast he got an audience, but I guess it was the perks of being a duke.

"What about my probation?" I knew I couldn't leave the mansion since Alina caused a scene at a public event.

"Ah, your probation is lifted from now onward." I was surprised, I expected him to make this trip an exception.

"Are you being serious Father?" Ethan didn't seem pleased with the dukes decision.

"What I say is final." The dukes tone gave no room for argument.