~Aurora~

　　"Prince Emeric," Suddenly, the voice of a guard outside seemed tense as he called for the Prince. Emeric, mildly annoyed by the disturbance looked at the door which was closed and replied,

　　"I am busy,"

　　"F-Forgive me, your Highness. But Lord of South Kingdom had called for your company. He has something to discuss about the incident. As well as some other confidential words. I was sent to fetch you, despite us confessing to the Lord th-that you're busy." I watched Prince Emeric roll his eyes. It looked very funny to me, his annoyance with disturbance. I'm sure he wanted to spend more time with me. Alas, his job requires him more than...I do.

　　"I'll be on my way in five minutes." Responding to the guard who sounded distraught all while speaking to the Prince, I heard faint footsteps walking away.

　　"I'm needed, Aurora."

　　"As you should be," his eyebrows crushed suddenly,

　　"Are you not upset that I'm leaving you?"

　　"Why should I be? You're a literal Prince, a ruler. People look up to you and need you all the time. When I'd become a ruler, an alpha of my pack, I would be busy as well! Wouldn't I?"

　　For a few seconds, Prince Emeric keeps looking at me as though he's enchanted. In fact, he was.

　　"Your teen mentality is far matured than most of your age. You're such a good girl, Aurora." My eyes widened when he placed an affectionate kiss on top of my forehead. I felt the heat of his lips. And all at once, his body was parting away from me as he made his way to the bathroom.

　　"Oh, by the way. You may spend a little more time here until you feel like leaving. I'll tell the guards to keep a watch." Standing by the doorframe, he suggested, "Oh, no thank you. I'd love that offer. But a friend of mine would be waiting on me to hear the details. Of course, I'm not revealing any confidential information."

　　Whoa...

　　At the mention of this, 'friend' Prince Emeric suddenly frowned as I couldn't comprehend why he'd do that. I blinked, and watched him nod curtly. That must be my queue to leave. And I did, without bothering to tell him of my departing. Well, he did agree to me wanting to leave early, at the moment.

　　And I raced back to my room.

　　"Phew..."

　　The events from before flooded into my head like water from open dam gates! The feeling of his warm, plump lips on mine were still felt on my lips! As if it happened just a few seconds ago! Oh lord...

　　However, tomorrow is the day I will finally be granted peace of mind. Alexia Thorn will be walking away from the kingdom and will be suspended from participation. Prince Emeric was kind enough not to curse all of her pack, and Leif's pack which she was actually representing!

　　Oh...Leif.

　　He is the main reason why Alexia was acting this way. But he is my problem to solve. Not Prince Emeric's. He had already saved me from Leif's clutches and brought me here to participate in the trials. Otherwise, I'd been wedded off to that crazy, cheating bastard by now.

　　Just a thought of him made me shudder in disgust.

　　Well, I'll be looking forward to tomorrow.

　　And it had arrived. Several hours of camera set up, stage set up later, the Prince of Whispering Pines Lycan Kingdom and fellow authorities have showed up on the high stage, in front of the large, situated audience. I was given an awkward little corner below the stairs to sit as well. I'm not complaining, but the distance at which I'm put, and the position where I'm right next to the last stair made me feel uncomfortable.

　　There was only me at this level.

　　On the top, was Prince Emeric.

　　Below him were witnessing lords, Princes and emperors of different nations and kingdoms.

　　Below their level were Kingdom authorities, adjudicator and Beta Roman.

　　Seated in the crowd, I could see Odin with his unique tuft of white hair. He waved at me, my eyes widened. The camera hadn't started recording live yet, and that gave me an opportunity to run to the balcony!

　　"Hi! I'll talk later!" I mouthed to him. Despite the distance between us, I'm pretty sure he could see me! He nodded, putting his thumbs up.

　　"Excuse me, Lady Aurora, Please take your seat." It was Beta Roman, out of all people.

　　"Pardon me, Beta Roman. I- I—"

　　"We understand. Take a seat," Saying, Beta Roman looked at Prince Emeric who had taken throne already. They nodded at each other, their communication has always been mysterious and discrete.

　　Sitting back on the most comfortable cushion, I breathed deeply and let myself get ready to face the camera. Soon began the international broadcast.

　　"...Alexia Thorn has been charged...guilty. Use of unauthorized substances, foul play and personal resentment towards Contestant Aurora Fangborn are her guilts. Defiant is not allowed to defend herself in the situation since there has been an extensive investigation on field as well as recorded data evidences. Prince Emeric was on the investigation team as well, which solidified her foul play at the Trial of Heirs.

　　As punishment, Alexia Thorn will be driven away from the kingdom to never return. Over that, her crimes are seen unforgivable as they have caused severe mental distress and physical shock symptoms within victim Aurora Fangborn. Despite knowing Aurora Fangborn has no wolf, Alexia Thorn had shown merciless act, due to personal grudges which will be listed as unidentified.

　　Victim Aurora Fangborn, do you have anything to say for or against the defiant?"

　　I took a deep breath after hearing all that, and rose to speak. The mic was almost instantly placed in front of me as I tried to locate the camera that will be shooting my video.

　　I located the red blinking light, and stared into it, hence beginning my speech,

　　"Alexia Thorn has been a good friend in the beginning, but in the clothes of a sheep. Our personal grudges aside, she's been a tactical and strong woman her whole life. Her aspirations came in the way and ruined not just our both, but the experience of Trial of Heirs for all contestants and people associated with it. Audience who are watching me all over the world right now...I know I haven't had the best reputation off late. I was just a child who lost her parents, gone with them was their love and care for me. I never knew...once they were gone, everything would seize so drastically around me.

　　If it wasn't for Prince Emeric, I wouldn't have been brought as a contestant in these trials. However, I wish all of us may look forward to the last trial. I will definitely give my best. As always. Thank you,"

　　Saying, I sat back down.

　　Just for a breath of a moment...I heard nothing.

　　'Did my speech go bad? Why is the silence so deafening to my ears?'

　　My thoughts were going hazy as I couldn't help but imagine the worst.

　　However...

　　Striking the sky with roars and applauds, the crowd beneath slowly rose to their feet and applauded. Was that all for me?

　　Why?

　　I haven't said anything special...

　　But later, I've learned from Prince Emeric that my focus was not on the present or the past, but the future that I was looking on to. The audience, in fact the entire continent thought I was a joke. Until I got this opportunity to present myself, who I truly have become.

　　And all of this...is because of Prince Emeric...

　　My Emeric...

　　I turned around before sitting, the camera was off of me. Prince Emeric had caught the moment and smiled down at me, filling me with secure emotions as I smiled back!

　　At the end of the day, after a long list of warnings were given to Alexia, we watched her walk all the way to the end of the kingdom.

　　The doors will never open to her. Ever again.

　　I didn't know why, but an incredible amount of satisfaction filled within me when she turned around to glare at me, one last time.

　　The list of warnings had included a restriction order upon her. When I feel threatened by her presence, I was allowed to inform any alpha of a nearby pack and put her into our pack's dungeon.

　　It's the power of alliance, was all I could say.