~Aurora~

　　Amidst all the chaos, I still remembered the map of this palace to get myself out of this hellhole. However there was a lingering scent that I could never forget. Maia and my eyes widened when we recognised the scent that was around these corridors.

　　'Aurora, this scent seems fresh enough. He must be nearby.'

　　'What would I even do with that man, Maia. You know he is not the one for me.'

　　At least at this moment I do not want to be associated with him or see him. That was what I said to Maia and I seemed very determined to not meet the man.

　　Well…things do not always go my way and I had to succumb to the scene.

　　Fate has always had a way to test my patience. As I was running through the corridor I accidentally bumped into a tall man. Initially, I felt very irritated but at the same time I knew they white hair that bounced with the impact I had bumped on him. I was perplexed when I saw him once again. It has not been more than 2 days since we have parted ways. I looked around myself and spoke to him in a slow voice.

　　"Odin, what the hell are you doing here!? Were you not supposed to be at home? Don't tell me you also have come here to aid the Rotten Kingdom." I saw his eyes were full of confusion when I mentioned the name as 'rotten Kingdom'.

　　"Aurora I do not know what made you to be this irritated but I know that something is wrong with you right now." I don't know how to process his words. How could he be so right and point on…?

　　" Aurora I know this is not the best time for us to meet again but I also want to know why you call this Kingdom 'rotten'." I sighed at his words.

　　"Odin, don't even let me begin. There have been nothing but cowardly people around me. I recently encountered a very appalling situation yesterday. I don't want to talk about it right now but just know that I haven been in my best mood since I got back to my pack." I could tell that Odin was not buying my words.

　　"Okay, keep that thing aside. I thought you had gone back to your pack, Odin. Why are you here in this Kingdom at this moment. It looks like you have been here for a little time now." He noted my words as I looked at him for more explanation.

　　"Actually, I have been here since morning. The fire that you see in the palace was just an accident. Leif Lupus had actually started to conquer The Kingdom from the outer territory. His sudden actions were unpredictable and mostly ambitious. If I remember correctly I remember that you told me that Lupus had been your fiance, for a little time. It was before you were brought to this trial, right?" I nodded at him and confirmed that Lupus was indeed my fiance for a little time. Just a little.

　　After a while of silence between us I finally decided that I needed someone to vent to. It was as if Odin's presence bumping into me was a fated encounter. I sighed at the wall and asked him if he was ready to talk to me.

　　"Odin I know this is not the right moment to sit down and talk but I really needed to get a few things out of my chest. I don't know who else would listen to me. Please bear with me." He looked at me as if I was a ridiculous being.

　　"Aurora, you do not have to be so formal with me! Just say whatever is on your heart. I promised you that I will always be available for you, did I not?" I couldn't help but smile at his words. He was such a comfortable companion. He has always been such a good companion for me. Deep within, I couldn't help but feel that I was never a good friend for him. Few moments have passed by and I was wary that Emeric or Alexia would try to find me in the palace. Hence I could only do what any sensible woman would do in this situation: Hide.

　　"So, start speaking now." He urged. We were actually in the room that I was allotted to when I was a contestant. We sat on the bed as we looked into each other's eyes. When the time was right for me I started speaking to him.

　　"Odin, you have to know something about me." I could tell that he was trying to guess whatever I was trying to convey before I would start speaking about it. I know I was about to break his heart by speaking up right now.

　　"Odin, the thing is that I have started to love Prince Emeric even before you had confessed to me. I know this is probably not the right time and the right place to confess this about me but I just need someone to hear me out." As I opened my eyes I saw Odin staring at me with a blank expression.

　　"Oh…" that was all I heard for him after the next minute. "Odin, I know that this is probably not the right time and again I am sorry if I seemed insensitive."

　　" Hey, it's completely alright. You bother about these things too much, don't you?"

　　"Don't tease me at this moment. This is not the right time to tease me about it when I am actually trying to get things out of my chest. I don't want to seem selfish but at the same time I want you to listen to me. I have no one left to listen to my heart anymore. Sounds too sad doesn't it?"

　　I couldn't stop myself from talking on and on about my New Found Love. I just so happened to close my eyes and not notice the reactions that Odin was giving me. I went on and on about how we met, about our first encounter, and the past that I held with him. Odin wasn't ready to believe me that Emeric and I had met way before the trials had even begun. As I was trying to get my feelings out Odin was being a patient man and listening to me.

　　"...When I tell you that this man ignites a fire so bad in me I truly mean it." I was finally getting the things out of my chest. And never knew the burden of hiding things oh my heart would be down so much on me. I am just glad that I have found Odin right before I had a mental breakdown over what I just witnessed.

　　But at the same time I felt like a friend once again.

　　I knew that Odin had feelings for me but still, I had proceeded to talk about the Love Of My Life to him. I did not realize that I was hurting him all this time. But Odin being a good sport he just kept listening to me ranting. What have I done…?