"I wonder why the king wants to see you? M'lady," One of the maids spoke curiously as she was doing aderi's hair.

"Of course, they are gonna ask the lady to be one of their prince's brides!" The other maid in the corner squealed.

"I just hope it won't be that..." Aderi thought to herself.

Today the maids woke her up early, they bathe her in the most expensive soaps and shampoo. Along with the flowers that grew in the lacita's manor.

All that aderi could think of when she was being bathed is

"is this all necessary?"

"It's done, m'lady!" The maid who was doing her hair said. Aderi's hair was in a bun that had been braided first before whirling it into a bun. The maid also left some hair in the front to frame aderi's face.

"I also put the ribbon you requested in the back m'lady," the maid said, aderi nodded.

"Thank you!" Aderi said thanking the maids.

"It's our pleasure m'lady!" All of the maids said answering.

"I really need cael's support right now...I wonder how he is" Aderi thought about her friend Cael who disappeared after that day. The ribbon...his last gift to her was the only thing that can make aderi grow stronger when she is alone.

"Let's go m'lady the carriage is waiting," the maids said, Aderi nodded as she stood up.

°

°

°

"We're already at the main gate of the castle...the ride was fast" aderi mumbled to herself as she looked outside the window of the carriage.

The guards didn't stop her since the carriage she was riding was the carriage of the callista that has a flag with the callista's symbol on it.

°

°

"Welcome lady callista" the butler of the royal family greeted her when the door of the carriage opened.

"Thank you for greeting me," aderi said smiling as the butler helped aderi get out of the carriage.

"It's my pleasure...the king and the two princes are waiting in the garden, please...let me escort you," the butler said, aderi nodded and she followed the butler from behind.

"The palace is big...I didn't get the chance to explore and look around at the banquet, after all, there were a lot of people" Aderi thought to herself as she scanned that hallway while following the butler.

°

°

°

"Your majesty, lady callista has arrived" the butler announced. The king stood up.

"Please come forward lady callista," the king said happily.

Aderi did a curtsy.

"I greet the sun of the kingdom and the stars of the kingdom," aderi said while doing a curtsy, greeting the king and two princes.

"No need for that, come lady callista," the king said, a deli walked towards them.

The butler pulled a seat for aderi. Aderi sat and the butler left.

"Would you look at that...these two were glaring at each other before you came, now they are in good spirits" the king teased, aderi looked at the two princes, scanning them. Indeed the two look calm and innocent.

Aderi was sitting in front of the king, on her left was prince ronan and on the right was prince caelias.

"Ahem...anyway it's ashamed your father couldn't come...but I heard you both are getting along well" the king said, aderi nodded.

"Wow...word got out so fast" Aderi thought.

"Yes it is indeed a shame he couldn't come due to all of his work...and yes we are getting along well," aderi answered with a smile.

"Well...that will probably change when leni comes back, she is great at manipulating aderi's father in the novel" aderi thought to herself.

"Wait...didn't her father hate aderi?" Caelias thought looking shocked at aderi.

"Well...I guess my future father-in-law is now being nice to her" ronan thought looking at aderi with a slight smile.

"It'll be your birthday in 3 days, isn't that right?" The king asked.

"Yes indeed...I'll be celebrating my coming of age even though it is 1 year late in 3 days" aderi answered with a smile.

"Say...is it alright if the royal family sponsors your birthday?" The king asked.

"No need for that, your majesty..." Aderi said with a smile.

"Rumors will start that I'll be the future crown princess if they sponsor my birthday, after that banquet all sorts of rumors already spread" aderi thought as she quickly made an excuse.

"No I insist... I'll talk about it with your father...The Callista's and Lacita's are the two trusted families of the royal family, anyway" the king said changing the topic after clearing his throat.

"Would you two say something to lady callista? You two had just been staring at her" the king said scolding the two princes.

"Ahem...My apologies lady callista, anyway, Thank you for making time to join us for tea, lady callista" ronan said smiling.

"It's my pleasure, your highness" aderi answered with a smile.

"The ribbon in your hair is very eye-catching...it's the same one you wore in the banquet, am I right lady callista?" Caelias asked looking at the ribbon.

"Thank you, your highness...and yes it is indeed the ribbon I wore in the banquet" aderi answered.

"Weird....he's calling me 'lady Callista' now..." Aderi thought to herself.

An awkward silence followed after aderi answered. The princes were out of subjects to talk to aderi.

"Ahem...so, lady Callista, I was wondering...has your father picked your potential husband?" The king asked, another silence followed it, as aderi tried to think of an answer to the king's question.

"N-no...I don't think so, your majesty" aderi replied, the king smiled delightedly.

"Please don't bring up marriage!" Aderi thought to herself as she clutched her fists together.

"How about becoming the wife of one of my sons?" The king asked with a happy smile. Aderi's wish instantly broke.

"I knew it..." That's all aderi can think about.

"I... I'll let my father think about it" aderi replied not knowing what to answer. The two princes beside her were looking at her with hopeful eyes.

"You are already gonna be an adult...you should be the one to pick your husband, am I not right?" The king asked, aderi was cornered.

"Uh...o-of course, although my father needs to approve of my future husband, so...that's why my father should be involved with my talk of marriage" aderi replied with a forced smile.

"That's fair..." The king replied.

"Your majesty! Pardon me for the interruptions...but the king from Bisoplain sent a representative, they are in the throne room right now" the butler of the kingdom said, the king sighed in disappointment.

"My apologies, lady callista but I have to take care of this...boys entertain lady callista," the king said as he stood up and left along with the butler.

"Lady callista...would you like to join me for a walk?" Ronan asked as soon the king was not in sight anymore.

"Thank you for the offer prince Ronan...I shall accept your offer" aderi replied.

"I'm not really in a mood for a walk but, maybe in our alone time I can ask him for help finding out the contents of the vitamins my father is taking..." Aderi thought to herself as ronan offered aderi his hand so she could stand.

"I'll go with you two" caelias said standing up.

"I asked lady callista first..." Ronan replied.

"Shall we go now, lady callista?" Ronan asked, aderi just nodded.

"Leaving now probably is the best option before they fight..." aderi thought to herself as she and ronan left.

°

"Really now...why does he have to be the first to ask her" caelias who was left behind was jealous and frustrated.

"Should i...reveal my identity already? Will she...hate me?" Caelias suddenly thought about revealing his identity.

"I need to catch up to them, I can't let him stay with aderi for too long!" Caelias said as he quickly fixed his composure and went out to look for the two.

°

On the other hand, ronan was giving aderi a tour of the castle. Ronan would always take the oddest route, turning to every hallway that has a turn.

"This is the outside hallway that leads to the throne room," ronan said as he and aderi walked. Aderi was already tired from all the walking, the castle was huge and she was wearing heels, ronan was also a fast walker so aderi was barely catching up to him.

"We shouldn't be here...after all the king has some business inside" aderi spoke up, and ronan nodded.

"I agree...what was I thinking leading you here," ronan said chuckling to himself.

"My mother is so gonna yell at me if she finds out," ronan said looking down, his gaze was filled with worry.

"If I may ask, why you are worried?" Aderi asked looking at ronan with curiosity.

"I..." Ronan opened up his mouth but he was struggling to find words.

"It's fine if you cannot tell me" aderi replied as she placed her right hand on Ronan's right arm, comforting him.

"My mother would be disappointed...she's too obsessed with me being perfect" ronan said as he looked down.

"Am I...triggering this scenario now?! But...shouldn't this scene happen on aderi's 18th birthday!?" Aderi asked herself as she looked at ronan with wide eyes.

"You..." Aderi opened up her mouth as she tried searching her memory for the same thing the real aderi said in the novel.

"Forget it I don't have it memorized!" Aderi thought to herself as ronan is already looking at her with a confused look.

"You don't...have to exceed someone's expectations...be you, and uh...someone's...standards, you shouldn't try to match them, perfect is something we like and love, so matching someone's definition of perfect is ridiculous, cause perfection doesn't exist, it only exists when we find something we like, cause liking something and someone makes them look what we call perfect" aderi said blurting out everything she can think of.

"So just be you...tell your mother your way of doing things or achieving things" aderi added, ronan was so touched at what aderi told him. For the first time, he felt like he shouldn't always act perfect. For the first time, he felt someone acknowledges him, for his real self who doesn't act perfect.

Although, Little did aderi know, that what she said is what triggered him to fall for her.

Ronan is the character who is looking for someone to understand him, for someone to love him, for him. Not pressuring him to be perfect. Although who can blame aderi, in the novel ronan only looks up to aderi. No love or affection for aderi was mentioned.

"I felt like I was cheering up my best friend...I wonder how she is doing" aderi thought to herself as the scene reminded her of her best friend in the other dimension...or past life.

"How about you lady callista? What is perfection to you?" Ronan asked.

"Perfection is something you are pleased with...cause we automatically think that it was perfect...that's how I will define perfection, although, perfection doesn't exist, it is something we just make up to the things we are amazed by" aderi replied also unsure of her answer.

"So...what shall we talk about now," ronan asked chuckling. As he loosens up.

"Now it's my time to ask him for help!" Aderi thought to herself as she was about to take out the little bottle in her sleeve.

The night before she created a little pocket inside of her sleeve, just enough to fit the bottle. She attached a piece of garter that can hold the bottle without it falling, It acted as a sort of pocket.

Right now she is wearing a flowy long sleeve dress, so the pocket she created wasn't noticeable.

"Your highness, I was thinking if you could he-" aderi was cut off by someone screaming.

"RONAN!" caelias yelled as he marched towards the two.

"What do you want now? Didn't your mother tell you not to interrupt people when they are talking?" ronan asked as he went back to his "perfect" personality.

"She did, but speaking of mothers...your mother is looking for you!" Caelias said. A sigh can be heard from ronan.

"Lady callista I'll meet up with you later...please stay here," ronan said as he walked away, aderi just stood there awkwardly with caelias.

"Pardon me lady aderi, but we cannot just stand here, can we?" Caelias said as he held aderi's hand gently once Ronan was out of sight.

"Please, follow me," caelias said as he walked, aderi followed caelias. He was still holding her hand and aderi was just so confused, everything happened so fast.

°

°

Caelias took aderi to the other side of the castle. Right now they are in another garden, but this garden has a pond.

"This is my garden, please feel free to look around," caelias said as he let go of aderi's hands. Aderi was amazed at the view.

"Wow...the view is spectacular!" Aderi said amazed at the view.

"Everything in this garden is designed by me...the flowers are all planted by me and being taken care of by me," caelias said with a proud smile.

"Wow...I didn't expect you were good at gardening, your highness" aderi said with a smile.

"Well... as you said, I am mysterious" caelias laughed, and aderi blushed in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry if I said that, your highness...but it was my utmost honest assumption" aderi apologized. Who knew her words in the tea party already reached the prince himself?

"Well...if you are sorry...care for a dance?" Caelias asked holding out his hand. Aderi was hesitant but accepted the offer.

"I promise this time I won't be mysterious...so ask away m'lady," caelias said as he and aderi continued to dance. There was no music but they still danced perfectly, matching each other's rhythm.

"Why do you call me "lady aderi" when we only just have met?" Aderi asked about the thing that has been bothering her.

"Are you sure we only just met?" Caelias asked with a sly smile.

"I thought, your highness, won't be mysterious anymore?" Aderi asked disappointed at caelias.

"Why don't you think about it more, m'lady?" Caelias said as he turned aderi around.

"That's not fair, your highness...you are speaking in riddles," aderi said as she placed her hand on his shoulder again as they continue to dance.

"It's only a riddle if you don't know the answer, isn't that right?" Caelias asked, aderi sighed in disappointment since he was right after all.

"Your highness...can I ask for a favor?" Aderi asked.

"I gotta ask him now, since I missed my chance on ronan, I should turn to caelias instead" aderi thought to herself as she looked at the curious prince.

"Anything for you, m'lady" caelias said with a delighted smile.

Aderi stopped, making their dance interrupted. Aderi took out the bottle from her sleeves.

"Can you please help me find out what the ingredients in this medication are?" Aderi asked. Caelias looked at the medication curiously. He took the bottle from aderi's hands.

"That's weird...it didn't list the ingredients in the bottle" caelias said as he examined the bottle.

"Exactly, your highness!" Aderi said.

"Where did you even get this?" Caelias asked aderi with ciruousty.

"My stepmother had been giving these to my father...when he wasn't taking these, he...acts normal. But when he did he started acting aggressively towards me" aderi said opening up to caelias, hoping he would believe her.

But her worries are for nothing since caelias already trust her from the very beginning.

"That is indeed strange...give me days to know the ingredients of these, please...trust me, I won't disappoint you, lady aderi," caelias said smiling.

"Thank you so much, your highness!" Aderi said happily.

"But... I'll help you on one condition," caelias said with a smile.

"And what is that, your highness?" Aderi asked, she was so desperate that she was willing to do anything.

"Call me...caelias when we are alone, and let me call you, just aderi when it's just the two of us," caelias said smiling. Aderi was confused since she was expecting caelias to ask her for money or something.

"That's...all?-- I mean, sure! It's a deal!" Aderi said agreeing.

"I want to hear you call me caelias, aderi," caelias said.

"Caelias..." Aderi said, for her, it feels weird to call him Caelias and not 'your highness'.

"Very well... I'll search the ingredients of these as soon as I can" caelias said with a smile, aderi was relieved to hear that.

"Thank you so much caelias!" Aderi said thanking caelias.

"CAELIAS!" suddenly ronan arrived. Caelias quickly slipped the small bottle into his sleeve.

"What now?" Caelias asked annoyed.

"You took lady callista! I knew I shouldn't have left her with you!" Ronan said fuming in anger.

"Is that why you are here?" Caelias asked, ronan sighed as he looked at aderi.

"Father is calling for the three of us to come back, he is finished with his business" ronan said.

"Let's go lady callista," ronan said as he tried holding aderi's hands. But caelias slapped his hand.

"Don't touch lady callista without her permission" caelias said.

Aderi stood there awkwardly.

"Didn't you also hold my hand without my permission earlier?" Aderi thought to herself as she looked at both boys who are fighting.

"There is no point in arguing, shall we go, your highnesses? We wouldn't want his majesty to wait now, would we?" Aderi asked, both boys nodded as they followed behind aderi as they went back to the main garden of the castle.

The day ended with the king saying that he will talk to aderi's father about marriage. But aderi felt a weight on her shoulder was lifted now that she and caelias are in an alliance. She is just hoping he would keep his word.