The man who sat on the throne was a charm for sure. He has the right twinkle in his eyes and summer air all around him. But there was something in the way he looked at her. His calculated glare while he's studying her face; observing her. The unreadable smile that rose up on his face as their eyes met, made Yurika felt uncomfortable.

“Z!” he called out and jumped off from the throne gleefully, but his eyes stayed on the girl. There’s something strangely familiar about her that he couldn’t really pinpoint; her whole appearance wasn’t that special but for some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“Finally you are here, “ he opened his arms and slapped his arms in a friendly gesture, “… and I believe this is Yurika?”

Yurika didn’t answer him. She unconsciously took a step closer toward Zeke as if she could hide behind him. Seeing her reaction Jace raised his brow.

“Yes this is Yurika,” Zeke quickly prompted to pull Jace attention back to him, “my girlfriend.”

‘Girlfriend?!’ Yurika protest screamed in his mind.

‘Sorry, just bear with me and follow through, please?’ He responded back with a subtle gesture.

“She isn’t that good with a stranger. So I guess she is worry on why do you want to meet her,” Zeke continued.

Jace chuckled as a response, “now, now, you know that I don’t like liars, right Z?”

Yurika gulped at Jace tone. She could sense that he somehow suspected something.

“You can’t claim something that isn’t yours,” Jace's eyes lingered on hers, the same smile still played on his face, “don’t you think so?”

She regretted her own honest reaction. She couldn’t fully blame on Zeke on it. If she wasn’t being angry at him and walled him out all the time before they arrived, they could have prepared her more.

“ I -I was just surprised. I didn’t know he will tell anyone about us being a couple,” she stuttered trying to fix the situation, “we are still newly dating.”

Jace frowned but then he brayed as if the whole act didn’t convince him at all.

“Oh, now that’s interesting. Do you even know how old is this man?” he said teasingly, “he could be your dad already.”

“I know, but love has nothing to do with ages,” she retorted.

Again Jace laughed out loud in delight. He walked up to her and closing up his distance. An amused smile lingered on his face but his eyes said something else. There was something dangerous lurked on the way he gazed her; deep straight in her eyes.

“So…. Does that mean you know our secret?” his brows went up curiously.

“S-se-secret?” She stammered unsure what was the best way to respond that.

“You must have known of the fact we can’t get older physically, “ Jace asked, “look at your so-called boyfriend he didn’t even look past 25 years old, and you said that you knew that he could be your father?”

Yurika gasped, she turned her head toward Zeke asking his help.

“She knew. I told her already,” Zeke took a step between Jace and Yurika, “forgive me my liege, but I told her everything.”

“Everything? I see…,” Jace sounded vexed. He then turned his back away from them and strolled toward his throne, but halfway he stopped.

“You know…, Marc has this interesting theory about you and her. Isn’t that true Marc?” Jace said with his back still facing Zeke and Yurika.

Yurika and Zeke finally realized the boy presence. Yurika eyes swept through the room and saw him stood lazily with his back on one of the pillar. His hands both hidden in pants pockets, the same glasses hanging on his now more matured face. Yurika remembered their first meeting; on how boyish was his look back then, but he had grown up in his early years in the elite group. She hardly saw him back then as Eireen. They had passed each other once in a while in the palace and only greeted each other with a nod. Well, she did get some training from him after the election. But she never really paid much attention to how much he has grown up. The everlasting youth gift started at the right time for him. His tousled dark brown hair was thick and lustrous. His face was stronger and more defined with sharp jaw covered with little stubble and angular cheekbones. His dark roasted coffee eyes were mesmerizing and deep; a nice pairing with his latte skin. His loose black silk shirt hardly able to hide his lean body and his expression was serious as always but not unkind.

He didn’t quickly respond Jace. He took off his glasses, calmly cleaned the lenses before he finally nodded

“You see, he thinks that you have found the one we search for,” Jace turned his body and pointed at Zeke, “and I think for some unknown reason you want to keep her for yourself.”

Jace took a quick glance at her and smiled meaningfully.

Yurika body tensed. She didn’t even dare to glance at Zeke. Her body temperature going down fast as panic started to flare up.

“The chosen one, the promised hero that Goddess of Life promised us. The one that will bring world balance back," He made a dramatic pause and stared directly at Yurika. “the one that will wield the true power of Fetu La Rossa, the crimson star of hope.”

She could feel her secret pocket started to heat up. The red gem reacted to her emotion.

'Calm down. This doesn’t mean he knew I was Eireen, calm down. Control it, don’t let it exploded like last time, calm down Yurika.’ She chanted the words over and over in her head.

Jace walked back toward her but he stopped when Zeke stepped in between them.

“Z, move aside now, that’s an order!”Jace steely glared at Zeke. Marc watched them. He looked worried but didn’t dare to say anything. Lyall just ignorantly sat in one of the stairs near the throne and playing with his fruit knife.

Zeke stood his ground unmoving. His body towering Jace in an intimidating way, “No. “

Jace took a step back and preparing his attack, “are you disobeying your king?! MOVE ASIDE I SAID!”

Zeke said nothing. His head bowed in an apologetic way but he still stood between Jace and Yurika, he didn’t even on his defensive position.

“You dare to disobey me over this little wench!” Jace shouted angrily as he lunged at Zeke. He had charged his fist with a flame to deliver freezing fire fist, one of his best skills that would stun anything that in front of him.

Zeke body flew back like a punching bag the moment Jace's palm touched his abdomen. His back hit one of the broken pillars with a loud crack. Zeke made a painful grunt and for a few seconds he didn’t move, but then he staggering back up.

“Z!!” Yurika screamed at him.

Jace was preparing to launch another attack when Yurika rushed to stand in front of Zeke.

“What are you doing!! He is one of you right!” She yelled at Jace and took out her Katar, readying herself to defend Zeke and herself. She could feel how rigid was her whole body, how shaken were her fists, and the heat from the stone intensify to the point it was painfully burning her.

Jace stopped and looked at her. His eyes widen in shock seeing her stance.

“That position?!“ He muttered, “impossible! That can’t be! Who are yo—“

But before he managed to finish his line, a loud boom from the Palace Court Yard shaken the place. The door to the throne room hurled open and Amiera rushed in.

“We got an intruder!!” She shouted.

“What do you mean with intruder?!” Jace attention changed to her, while Lyall and Marc run toward Amiera.

“How strong is the person? Strong enough to—,” Lyall asked with a jittery smirk, “kill me?

“I don’t know, we were ambushed. Scry is the one dealing with the person,” Amiera explained, “he told me to deliver the news to you guys.”

Lyall cooing excitedly, “sweet~ strong one! let me join the fun!” And he ran out of the room like a happy kid.

“Are you hurt?” Marc asked concerned to see some blood on Amiera face.

“Nah, just some scratches. I’ll be fine, “she shook her head and patted Marc head, “don’t worry.”

He blushed and pushed Amiera hand away, “stop that, I am not a kid anymore.”

“Marc stay behind, don’t let these two leave your sight!” Jace ordered him grimly, “we still have unfinished business.”

Jace took one last look at Yurika. His eyes filled with mixed unreadable feelings, then he dashed off to the courtyard.

Right after Jace left, Yurika released the tension air that she has been holding on in a large huff. She ran toward Zeke and shakingly checked on the tall man who still stood near the pillar.

“Z, are you okay?”

The tall man grunted a bit before slumped down, “I am fine, don’t worry”

He then gave her a wide grin mixed with a wince of pain when he playfully slapped his bruised abdomen.

“Can you stand up?” Yurika worriedly inspected him and offered her hand to help him. The blow was pretty rough and she knew how strong Jace was. Even though she didn’t doubt Zeke strength, still to just received the blow without even defending himself was stupid and dangerous. No common man would have survived that kind of blow.

Zeke smiled giddily. Her concern and worries for him made him happy. Even though he would have some trouble sleeping with both of his back and abdomen bruised for the coming days, he didn’t regret taking the hit. Standing up with a deep grunt, he checked his back making sure it wasn’t broken.

“Yep, I am all good!” He tapped his chest proudly with a grin when he was sure that nothing was broken. Yurika, on the other hand, scowled at him.

“You are not an immortal you know! Unable to age doesn’t mean you are unable to die!” She snapped at him, “don’t you dare to make me worry like that, ever again!.”

Zeke chuckled a bit and patted her head as the response. The loud noises of clatter, clanged of swords, explosion combined with shouting were penetrating the room, seemed they really were in some kind of trouble dealing with the intruder.

“That’s interesting. I wonder who is the intruder,” Zeke pondered, then he glanced at the boy who was also looked anxious, glancing at the throne's door.

“Maybe we should go out and help?” Marc muttered unsurely.

But suddenly a thunderous blast hit the throne door room and sent it flying. A rush of wind gust barged in and a figure stood in front of the gap where the door used to be.