It didn't matter who the competitor was, Jun would be the one who would marry her.

No matter who else is in the way at the moment.

Ara twisted the shiny ring on her middle finger as she thought about Hunter. Even if Jun was the one she liked, Hunter would be the obvious choice. He was brazen and bold and far too much sometimes in his protectiveness, but over the weeks she'd realised that he wasn't a bad person. Protectiveness wouldn't get him anywhere, as sweet as his sentiment was. There was something endearing about a grown man as muscular and angular and intimidating as Hunter Lang being so naive that he genuinely believed he was going to be first to break through her 'icy shell' and be with her on an intimate level.

She'd had various sexual relationships starting in her late teens, the vast majority purely physical. Prince Min had been the first guy she'd ever slept with and she supposed that she always had a soft spot for him because of that and because of their secret relationship that could never be. It was improper for a member of the Royal Family to be in a relationship with The Witch because it risked compromising impartiality and it would cause chaos should the public or the Palace's inner circles find out.

She'd had a wild one night stand with a Vampire, a young Lord of the Republic of Indan who had been visiting as part of a delegation years ago over some issue she couldn't remember. She discovered that Vampires weren't all that strong either, despite what the media had made them out to be.

Ara wasn't super popular amongst the men in the Palace. She was very beautiful, no one would dare deny that, her looks often had her labeled a goddess amongst the Ranharan people for whatever that was worth. Her reputation, however, made most steer clear of her. One could get used to a beautiful woman, but it was far harder to get past said icy exterior and so most of her encounters were with men who knew her personally - knew her for who she was. Some encounters she had were for her own convenience, in order to learn information, out of boredom and sometimes for no other reason than to find out if she could.

She almost always could.

This time, though... she was unsure what the reason was.

Morning sunshine streaming through the curtains told her it was time to get up and go and so she picked up the arm that was draped over her waist and dropped it back on its owner who grunted, rousing him from his sleep as Ara went about getting dressed.

"Leaving already?"

"I'm busy, Your Highness."

"I ought to get up, too." Zhan yawned, rolling over and sitting up on his elbows. "Thanks for last night, Ara."

The Witch shot him a look as she fastened her robes, the deadly expression sending a chill down the King's spine. She wasn't disappointed in sleeping with him, he didn't do anything wrong to her - she consented to everything, but the whole experience left a bitter aftertaste and she felt weird. Disappointment? That Zhan was no better than Min or any other man she had encountered in the Palace? Was that it?

"Is everything okay?" he asked, running a hand through his hair.

No.

"Yes." she replied, "I'll take my leave, Your Highness."

"You can just call me Zhan." he protested, feeling embarrassed by her insistence on addressing him by title at all times. "It's just the two of us, you can call me Zhan when we're like this."

"Like what?"

The King gestured vaguely around himself.

"It's okay, really. You know me, Ara. Just call me Zhan."

Ara paused for a moment, her expression unreadable though certainly not positive.

"No."

With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of the room, the door shutting behind her with a loud bang.

"You must leave as soon as possible!"

"No."

"Why are you so difficult? It's not safe here!"

"We don't know that yet."

"You can't be that naive!"

Ara didn't bother looking up at the desperate General Lang who had come to find her as she read through reports.

"Of course not." she replied, running her tongue over her teeth as she grabbed a pen and began writing annotations.

"So you must go!"

"No."

"Ara!"

With a sigh, the Witch set down her pen and sat back in her chair.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

"Why won't you listen to me?"

"Who do you think you are that you think I should listen to you?"

"Do you really think that little of me? Do you hold me in such low regard as to refuse to even consider what I'm asking of you?"

Hunter flinched as the table shook when Ara's hands landed on the wooden surface. He took a few steps back as she went around the table to face him directly.

"Hunter, let me say this once because I will not repeat myself. I am The Witch in this nation and that means my strength and power cannot be contested. When it comes to running this country my own powers and visions are what keep everyone, including yourself, safe from harm and danger. Yet, for some reason, you've decided to come here to tell me that I ought to listen to you and escape as soon as possible and leave the King and nation open and vulnerable to harm from the outside, because you're afraid. If I am not here they will have absolutely no information about what is to come and I don't think that little head of yours has quite understood exactly how important I am to our future efforts, because if you took five seconds to think this through before barging in here and demanding I do as you say for no other reason that you happen to like me, then you would've realised how ridiculous you sound. Maybe you're the one who should get out as soon as possible and leave it to the rest of us so you don't get in our way and waste our time with your inane ideas."

"I-"

"Get out!"

Hunter was stunned.

Silence hung around the air before he simply nodded and quietly moved towards the door, softly closing it behind him as he left.

Ara let out a breath before returning to her desk and continuing her work.

"He really does care about you." the doctor said, sliding a cup of hot tea towards Ara. "You can't deny that."

"I'm not."

"And see? He wasn't so terrible after all." he added. "Cute as heck thinking he's going to be your first, though."

Ara chuckled as she raised the cup to her lips, blowing carefully on the steam before sipping from the edge.

"But I'm with you this time. I don't know what planet General Lang is living on where he thinks any war would have a chance at success without you."

"How about you?"

"I'm not sure yet. I suppose I'll go wherever I'm told." he sighed, wiping the table and sitting down opposite and handing her a bag of mixed dried leaves. "Here, these will prevent any mishaps."

"What's this?" Ara asked, taking the bag and opening it to sniff the contents.

"Well since the King is using his new position to the full extent I thought you ought to have them. It'll prevent and or cure any illnesses he might've given you plus preventing any babies."

"Is this new?" Ara asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not new, just the really powerful stuff I don't usually think you need. But, and forgive me for saying this, since we didn't expect the King to summon you we don't know where else he's been. A clean and healthy downstairs is essential."

A spray of tea landed over the Doctor as Ara laughed out loud at his prudishness.

"What about this other boy you're seeing?" he continued with a small sigh as he cleaned the lenses of his glasses. "The one you actually want to be doing the deed with? How's- look at you! Grinning like an idiot when I just mention him. Maybe he's the one, Your Holiness?"

"Wouldn't that be something." she smiled, staring out the window dreamily. "That won't be possible, though. He's only a teacher in a village."

The Doctor pouted as he put his glasses back on. "I'm sure Zhan won't be as rigid as his mother. Plus now Bea is Queen and it's not like she cares - it's like she barely exists, sure you never see her about."

"The people would lose faith. I'm the Descendant of Lu, I'm their guide and protector and that warrants a husband who is equally able to support that."

"Like a general."

"Like a general." she nodded, though gave the Doctor an equally displeased pout.

"Well, Your Holiness. I dare say this is probably the least of your concerns at the moment, but anyway - here's to hope!" they clinked their cups together and drank, the sky outside turning deeper along with the topic of discussion as they chatted into the warm night.