Finding Stardust

The prince looked back at Emma, ​​and so the two of them stood silently at the end of the bridge, staring at each other.

''The Agreement is CANCELLED,' said Emma, ​​staring angrily at Therius. 'You can't even protect my father. How can I entrust my life to you and keep the agreement between us? The situation has changed. I will no longer pretend for you.'

Therius fell silent. He did not think that Emma would simply cancel the agreement between them. He knew how she felt, but the situation, in his opinion, was still salvageable.

'I'm sorry for what happened to your father,' said Therius. 'It is my fault that there is a traitor among my people. I promise to catch the person responsible for your father's death and hand him over to you. You can take revenge as you like. But for that to happen, I must be king. If you help me .. I will help you too. That's why I propose that we keep our agreement.'

Emma was eager to blame Therius for her father's death. However, she realized that Therius was also devastated by Kaoshin's death. She mustn't direct her anger to the wrong person.

The death of Emma's father had created another tension between Akkadia and its colonies and even broke another war.

Then .. did Emma want to take revenge for her father's death? Should she still pretend to be Therius' fiancée to help him take the throne so that later he can punish his cousin for Emma's sake?

Emma pursed her lips and snorted.

"I'll think about it," she said before she turned around and walked into the palace. Therius was forced to follow the girl's steps. Atila, who was amazed to see the two people staring at each other for a long time, could only guess what was going on between them.

Several servants in elegant clothes immediately greeted Emma and escorted her to walk to the dining room where the king received guests for this dinner.

Respectfully, a servant explained that in this palace there were two dining rooms. One was the huge banquet hall, used for holding banquets with many important people like noblemen, high officials, and ministers. The other one was the private dining room that could accommodate up to 20 people, reserved only for the king's immediate family. This was where King Cassius would receive them for dinner.

"Welcome, Your Highness," The two servants bowed deeply at the door to Emma and the newly arrived Therius. "King Cassius and Queen Ygrit will be here in a moment."

They invited Emma into one of the chairs in the exquisite dining table while waiting for the monarchs to arrive. Therius immediately sat down gracefully beside the girl.

Emma decided to ask Therius the details of this dinner using telemancy, but ... to her surprise, she couldn't talk to Therius at all using telemancy!

Had Emma lost her abilities?

"Therius ... there is something weird," said Emma in a hushed voice to the young man sitting beside her.

"What is wrong?" asked Therius attentively.

"I can't read other people's minds ..." whispered Emma. "Did something happen to me because I was sick?"

Therius shook his head. "You won't be able to use telemancy or other magical powers inside the palace. This palace is protected by anti-magic power. This is done to prevent a mage from attacking or harming my grandfather."

"Oh ... Emma nodded in understanding. "No wonder."

Inwardly, Emma was annoyed that she would not be able to read King Cassius' mind and find out what the Akkadian king thought of her.

They fell silent again. Suddenly, entered a young man dressed in royal regalia with a white accent. He took a chair across from Therius and stared at him for a long time with a grin on his face.

For some reason, Emma immediately disliked this new arrival.

"Hi, Licht. Finally, you are home. It must have been such a serious and long voyage," said the young man who had just arrived. From his casual attitudes and lack of honorifics, Emma could guess that this man was Therius' cousin.

Then ... this must be Prince Yared who was responsible for her father's death!

Emma stared at Yared with eyes burning with a vengeance. 

Just you wait ... I'll make you pay for my father's death.

I'll make you regret ever being born into this world!

"Yared," Therius replied in a cold voice. "Don't act so friendly with me. I already know what you did."

Yared just rolled his eyes and smiled sweetly. This young man wasn't as handsome as Therius, but he seemed to have an impeccable taste in clothes. He looked really good in his regal outfits and his cheerful demeanor made people immediately like him. He had a narrow face and small eyes, but his brown eyes were shining with intelligence. His lips were always smiling.

It was precisely this kind of person who was the most dangerous. They looked kind and friendly and always managed to find the perfect words to say as they had a sweet mouth, but behind your back, they would stab you mercilessly. Emma disliked Yared almost instantly.

"Cousin, you're too stiff. Aren't you going to introduce this beautiful girl who came with you?" Yared commented, still with a big smile on his face.

"You don't need to know her. Who is she ... is none of your business," Therius replied. He was very annoyed to see how his cousin was so good at pretending.

Heh, bastard! You know exactly who this girl is ... You just killed her father a week ago. How dare you smile in front of her now as if nothing had happened?

However, only a flat and indifferent expression appeared on Therius' face. He never let anyone else read what was in his heart from his facial expression. He only felt comfortable letting loose among Emma and Xion.

"Ahh ... I'm not like you. I don't treat people like they are all beneath me and forget my manners. I am a gentleman who knows how to respect women." Yared rose from his chair and walked over to Emma. He was about to reach out his hand toward the girl ​​when suddenly a chair was pushed hard against him.

He swiftly held the chair with one hand, so it didn't knock him. He chuckled in amusement.

Emma was completely unfazed by the argument between the two cousins. She didn't move in her place. She did not spare Jared and Therius another glance. When the chair was pushed aside to block Yared from approaching Emma, she didn't even blink.

Her attitude stunned Jared. He wasn't too surprised to see Therius pushed a chair to block him. He was actually more surprised to see this beautiful girl, looking so cold and unfazed.

Isn't this Emma Stardust, the daughter of Kaoshin Stardust and Princess Arreya? If so, then she is not yet 19 years old now. Isn't she too young to have this sort of attitude? 

Ah ... this girl is very interesting... thought Yared. He stared at Emma for a long time, and then he bowed down a little and pressed his right hand on his chest.

"Princess Emma Stardust, my name is Yared Kohara. I am Licht's cousin. I am sorry for being rude to you just now. I cannot convey my respect to you directly. My cousin has no manners." The smile on Yared's face disappeared, replaced by an expression of sorrow. "My condolences for your father's passing."

His voice sounded almost sincere. Emma remained in her place. She acted like the two young men did not exist, like air.

The only reason she came here was to talk to King Cassius. She didn't need to care about other things that were not important. If she turned towards Jared, she was worried that she would lose her temper and beat him up.

Even though she couldn't use magic inside this palace, Emma could still use her hands and feet to scratch and kick the man.

"His Majesty King Cassius and Queen Igryt have arrived!"