~Aurora~

　　And hence, the day after my healing, I was finally allowed to take a stroll around the dark forest. I needed to clear my mind after certain events. Especially...

　　Nevermind.

　　"Hey!" The evening was darkening into night, yet the kingdom was just as lively as it would have been in the morning. The streetlights made the man with bouncy hair jogging towards me like a silhouette. I smiled widely when I recognised him.

　　"What a pleasant surprise. Are you here to take a stroll around the dark forest as well?" I asked, despite knowing why he was here, at the gates of the kingdom anyway. With a soft smile on display, the white haired male nodded his head while looking at the guard.

　　"Two contestant passes, please."

　　"So," as we entered the shrubbery before the forestation, where we shall get lost without an aim, I wanted to start a conversation with him. Hopefully, this doesn't make it awkward.

　　"So?" He reciprocated me with a question as well, I narrowed my eyes.

　　"I know that smile. Stop being mischievous. Well, what do you consider for a friendship?" I asked him, completely naive about the topic.

　　"Pft! Stop talking as though you've not had friends before, Aurora. You are literally the most popular girl in the contestant list! Rich, with a story, strong and the youngest of the list as well! You've got it all, Aurora! And don't kid me, I'm not going to believe you if you tell me you don't have friends here. I saw you being flocked by a few a week ago!" The way he's displaying how observant he is of his surroundings really warmed me. But at some point, I will have to break it to him,

　　"You're a little wrong about the things you've seen, Odin. The people who surrounded me, they're just...wanting something out of me. If I remember correctly, they wanted my knowledge for the next quest. And when I returned to the library or...or the dining hall, they ignored me like I was a plague." I spoke slowly, and we walked slowly as well. Craning my neck to look at him, I noticed the way his smile had faded. It pains me to think of it as well, but at the same time, I didn't want anyone to know what I was actually going through.

　　"I'm sorry, Aurora. I...I didn't know."

　　"It's okay, Odin. You weren't supposed to know." I chuckled at the end, he rolls his eyes after comprehending my little joke.

　　"But, seriously. Consider me your friend from today onwards. I'd do anything to maintain our friendship. You're like...a caring, comforting person I'd need in my life, Aurora. You're special to me. And I—" Suddenly, something makes him stop his words as I look at him.

　　"What's wrong?"

　　"It's nothing. I thought I sensed something, or someone powerful nearby."

　　And he was absolutely right.

　　Someone has been staring at us from the distance. Alas, for him, Odin was powerful enough to smell out that there was indeed someone powerful nearby. Odin dismissed it as it might be quite literally anyone. Everyone was allowed to take a stroll around the dark forest. And half of the contestants who remain are top ranked, Alpha blooded. It was natural that he'd sense someone just with their presence.

　　But...I was so wrong.

　　It was not a mere stranger that was observing us. It was the host of Trials of Heirs himself.

　　"Where was I?" He asked himself, looking down at his feet.

　　"Ah. Well, all I wish to tell you is that, you're special to me. You've grown special to me as a person too. I'd like us to be friends even after the trials end."

　　"Of course we will be in touch, Odin—"

　　"Not just in touch, Aurora. I want our packs to form a treaty together. Have a friendly trade, everything that'll result in good deeds." His words made my eyes widen.

　　"How are you so sure that I'd win this, and become the alpha of my pack?"

　　"Because I know you will, Aurora. Besides, I've already got a job post available back at my home." The giggle came out of me. Suddenly, Odin came closer and spread his arms for me,

　　"It's your choice to walk in," He said.

　　Will this be the first time I'll ever be hugged after losing my parents...?

　　Looks like it is.

　　Controlling the tears that threatened to fall, I walked into his embrace. He closed his arms around me respectfully. I sensed no motives behind his actions.

　　What am I even thinking...?

　　Not every moment needs to be analyzed, right? Not every move from a man is skeptical, right?

　　I took a deep breath in, calming myself down.

　　"I hope you're feeling better now." He asked, "loads. You have no idea."

　　"Also, how excited are you for tomorrow's event!?" Parting from the hug, Odin asked me in a haste. I don't feel any particular excitement for tomorrow, since I've got no interest in attending, or drinking and partying.

　　I've been told I should attend as a winning contender, but at the same time...I've got no friends. The situation is slightly different, post this moment.

　　"I think I'll go, but I've got no good dresses to show up in." I confessed to a man, hoping he would understand.

　　"I'd do anything to convince you to join me at the party, Aurora. You see, it's supposed to be attended with a partner. And no, I haven't got a partner yet." He whispered the last word to me, and I smiled, feeling slightly flustered. Am I being asked to go to a party by someone!? It's been so long since this happened!

　　I've come a long way from the person I used to be. This time, unlike all the other times I judged a man who invited me to places, I responded quite well.

　　"Of course I will come to the party. But I have a condition." I see his eyes sparkle like stars under the moonlight.

　　"What is it!?"

　　"You've got to come shopping with me in the afternoon."

　　"Deal!?"

　　"Deal."

　　And so, as per the deal requirements, Odin has been assigned as my bag carrier and a patient little advisor for my dress. The shopping areas in this Kingdom are quite formidable. They're elegant and affordable at the same time. I wonder how their trade with humans even works.

　　Hats off to the Prince, I'd say.

　　"How's this one?" Holding up a peach dress with the softest, flowy material I've ever seen, I gave the man a tight lipped smile. Looking at my expression, Odin cleared his throat,

　　"T-There might be other dresses of your liking, Aurora. We've got plenty of time for you to c-choose." I take it that he isn't a good liar like myself. We chuckled as we walked out of the store. I'm pretty sure the assistance staff was cursing at us!

　　"Where to now? Why are girls' shopping so hectic, dude? We guys see a dress and just pick it out of the hanger and purchase it!" I wasn't even looking at him as I responded almost quickly,

　　"That's why boys and men don't look attractive in their choice of clothes, Odin."

　　"....Right."

　　"Let's check out that one!" I pointed at a store. Finally, after several searching missions, we've accomplished our goal! Mission and the deal was hence, successful.

　　"Ugh! I'm tired as hell."

　　"You wanna crash in my room?" I asked Odin who was still by the doorstep. He placed the bags inside and I looked at him, anticipating his answer.

　　"Don't be ridiculous. I know you won't be comfortable with me here. Besides, I have my own smaller room to crash into. I have to sleep, Aurora. I'm tired as hell." He complained as I chuckled.

　　"Alright then. Have a good nap. I'll call to wake you up." I said, almost yelling as he involuntarily started walking out into the corridor!

　　"Better not to be too early!"

　　"Okay!" I giggled once again. Closing the door behind myself, I began preparing for the big event lined up. The celebratory party for us participants!

　　Several hours later, we were allowed inside the common hall which seemed bigger than usual. It was decorated grandly, chandeliers lit up the ceiling for the first time. The grand piano which levitated in the air with the help of a floating bench was one of the most intriguing scenes of today. I kept trying to figure out if it was the witches who assisted the stance. But no, the pianist and his instrument were quite literally hanging from the ceiling with the help of dense strings!

　　All in all, the party was way too grand.

　　I've never attended something this marvelous and eye-catching.

　　"Hey. Is that the late comer and the spoiled brat together?"

　　"Don't tell me they're the pair for tonight. Two black sheep from the same shed, I bet." I heard a group converse about us when we made our entrance. Surprisingly, we were the ones who made it late, because Odin slept through tons of my phone calls to wake him up!

　　"They're laughing at us. All because of you!" I said, nudging the man as we walked to the center.

　　"I'm not even looking at them, Aurora. Look this way," as he said, I followed his direction and looked at the men who were staring in our direction. If I had to be precise, they were staring at ME.

　　"I can't handle this kind of attention," I confessed to Odin.

　　"I've warned you, Aurora. With you in this gorgeous dress, you'd be a head turner." And he was right with that.

　　The dark green, almost Jade shade A-line dress with pearls to match with was my costume. I wore textured high heels to match with my dress, colored green as well. My look was a head turner, but I honestly believe it is also because I was matching with Odin.

　　I felt obliged to help him with buying a suit as well. It so happened that our color preferences matched for the night, and we agreed on going with it!

　　The fabric of his suit made me jealous. While I was clad in satin that made my skin feel like slime, sweaty from within, his was a textured mixture of denim and rayon. Honestly, it wasn't impossible for that combination to exist. But it looks so comfortable on him!

　　"Love the suit, man." A contender said to Odin as he replied with a wide smile thank you. I, meanwhile, didn't get any platonic compliments as such. I didn't even have friends. Whom I thought were friends...weren't real.

　　"You look stunning, Aurora. Even if the words don't speak for them, their eyes speak for themselves." I looked at the eyes of men and women around me after Odin said that. Indeed...

　　And then, I looked up at Prince Emeric.

　　His eyes were slightly red, his face blushing. In his hand, he had a drink as he quickly turned his head away as we made eye contact.

　　It is no surprise to me, because I know he's been staring at me since the time I've entered the hall with Odin.