~Aurora~

　　"She's not a good state, I believe. We shouldn't bother his majesty at the moment. He's busy with canceling the Trial. Oh lord, don't even ask me about the crisis he's facing at hand. Other kingdom rulers and emperors are way pissed at his majesty. But they should also come to understand that even if it wasn't a woman, Prince Emeric would react the same way if he found someone taking the wrong path to success. You folks don't need to worry about Prince Emeric, nor the one who was a victim."

　　"What about the culprit then, Beta Roman?"

　　"Oh, her. We've always had a bad feeling about that woman. She wasn't too nonchalant over showing her displeasure with Lun— I mean, Contestant Fangborn. She will be reprimanded very soon."

　　Leaning my head against the door, I heard their conversation which was impeccably loud for no reason. Especially Beta Roman who was speaking as if he was speaking to a crowd. I couldn't think much of it.

　　Slowly, I've come to realize a lot about Prince Emeric. His involvement into these matters as a Prince was talked about a lot of other men passing by my room as well. That's right. I've been eavesdropping from a weird stance (inside the VIP healing ward) and listening to strangers talk about Prince Emeric. They were under the impression that I was still asleep. Or even thinking I couldn't hear such a low voice because I don't have a wolf!

　　I sighed out loud, returning back to the bed after eavesdropping for the entire fifteen minutes.

　　So...

　　Prince Emeric did find Alexia Thorn as the culprit behind the misfortune that happened to me in the trial. I'm just glad he caught her and not anyone else. Alexia is a terrific deceiver, almost too terrific to be normal. She could put the blame on anyone else. In my mind, I could only think about her pushing the blame onto Mr. Han. He was our teammate for the mission, after all. The trial of heirs would suck if she still had her position in the final list.

　　However, that makes me wonder.

　　If this trial was canceled, how would the adjudicator and Prince Emeric rule in the final list for the final round?

　　This was the fourth trial.

　　The trial of heirs ends at five rounds...

　　Oh, I'm curious about this.

　　Suddenly, a headache started spiking up. It was draining my energy by a lot. I was running out of patience, too.

　　With the revelation of events that just happened with me...I need to share this with someone. Someone who I trust with my entire being.

　　The artifact's location was a sealed memory in my head. The witch who helped my parents seal the memory must have taken something from them. I will have to meet with her at some point in my life to clear things out. I just needed to know to what lengths my parents have gone to preserve our pack's secret.

　　Was it that powerful?

　　Is that artifact desired by the whole world, those who know of its cursed existence?

　　What should I be doing as the heir of Darkforest Pack to keep this secret safe? To present this artifact to someone who is actually, truly deserving of it?

　　So many questions!

　　On top of that, my head has been exploding with thoughts of other events as well!

　　I really need to talk to someone regarding this.

　　But...who?

　　Beta Roman is the most trustworthy person around me at the moment. But he is a mere beta. I am not discriminating, but a beta does not have it in them to look out for other people as good as the other ranks do. He could try and attain the artifact by force, too.

　　Okay...I shouldn't deem him as someone trustworthy if I'm having such thoughts of his deception then.

　　Who else would suffice...?

　　Odin?!

　　No...no way.

　　He's the Heir to Stormchaser pack. His pack would only want to gain more access to power, like any other person in this world. If not him, his pack would certainly pressurize or even torture me to bring the truth out. I shouldn't even reveal to him that I remembered where my pack's artifact was hidden!

　　Who else...?

　　Who else would...?

　　Ah!

　　Prince Emeric!

　　Let me think about it...

　　Prince Emeric has genuine feelings for me. He has proven that a lot of times already. But I have turned him down for all those times. He is a great ruler and doesn't show a shred of lust for power.

　　He might be my best bet. That's because he would ACTUALLY listen to what I have to say.

　　Other than that...his comforting words and wisdom that he exudes should calm me down as well.

　　But if I run out of the ward right now...would they try to trap me back inside? I haven't healed completely yet. The toxins might have left my body, but its aftereffect is still there. I am currently recovering from severe mental shock as well.

　　Should I make a run for it?

　　That's right.

　　I'm desperate at the moment. I need to talk to Prince Emeric!

　　From what I've heard just now, I can assume Prince Emeric is stuck at the courtroom to discuss penalty for Alexia's betrayal and malpractice.

　　"Phew..." breathing out sharply, I adjusted my feet as I held the door knob tightly. I was ready to swing it open at the speed of light!

　　"Whoa— hey! HEY! That's contestant Aurora! Catch her!" A guard yelled, and I swore I saw Beta Roman's shocked face before I ran to the other direction. Oh shoot...

　　I don't recognise this corridor at all!

　　Keeping my head down, I just kept running until I could smell a familiar scent and feel his familiar aura around!

　　Just then, I recognised the corridor that was filled with ivory pillars and windows that brought ample light into the area. I had run right in front of Prince Emeric's personal study. Where he manages all royalty related stuff.

　　I started sprinting even faster, having recognized the area. From here, the courtroom would be easier to run to!

　　Thinking about it just like that, I briefly looked behind me as I ran across the long corridor to find the guards chasing me down like there was no tomorrow! I couldn't explain anything to them, even if I got caught!

　　Hence, it was better if I didn't stop until I found Prince Emeric!

　　Suddenly, a group of gasping people distracted me from my thoughts, mid-run.

　　The gasps didn't come from the guards chasing behind me. Clearly.

　　Whipping my head back to the front, I had to jolt to a stop, because...

　　"OOMPH!" My legs didn't have inbuilt breaks like vehicles do. Hence, I crashed into a built chest of a tall person.

　　A chill traveled down my spine.

　　Because I've realized who held me tightly by my arms after I've crashed into him, and who were the other people who gasped at my idiocy.

　　I couldn't dare to utter a word in this awkward situation. Craning my neck up, I saw what should scare any other woman or a man in my position.

　　His cold eyes, gaze almost like a glare, bore down on me.

　　I gulped pretty loudly, before saying...

　　"I...I can explain, Prince Emeric."