Danielle's eyes widened in disbelief as she turned to face her brother, Damien Von Zadkiel, who stood behind her. It had been a year and a half since she had last seen him, and the emotions that surged through her were a mix of relief, joy, and concern.
"Damien! You're alive!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mixture of emotions. She quickly stepped forward and embraced him tightly, holding him as if afraid he would disappear once again. "I thought I lost you forever. Where have you been? What happened?"
"Relax, sister," he said, embracing her tightly. "I was just gone for a short journey. You're making it seem like I was missing or something." He felt warm. It was like this whenever he was with her. Her love and affection for him were always true and unconditional.
"Where have you been all this time?" she asked, loosening her embrace but still keeping him close. "I thought you would miss the tournament?"
"How could I when my dear sister participates? What type of brother would I be?" He says in a deep and suave voice, not even looking at the others, though he was sure they were all looking at him.
"The kind of brother you are," she said accusingly.
'Okay. That's enough from her mouth.' He thought with the foreboding that his first impression was going to ruin if she continues rambling.
Before she can continue, he wrapped his hands tightly, suffocating her. "I'm glad to see you, sister. I really am." He rested his head on top of her head and rocked her a little.
His eyes widened when they landed on the spectators near them like he didn't even notice them standing there. He smiled gracefully, like a kind and noble one, befitting his looks.
Danielle's heart warms just from hearing those words from him. All the things she wanted to say melted away like nothing else matters, as long as he was with her. Forever.
Behind the audience, Calen looked at Damien with a sinister smile, like he expected him to cower in fear just seeing him. But to his surprise, Damien smiled wildly. "Calen, it's you. Didn't thought I would meet you here...with my sister."
Calen was at a loss for words, but he composed himself and said. "Not at all, dear friend, I was---"
"He's not with me. Aurelia invited him." Danielle burst inside his heart and pointed accursedly at her friend. Still her head against his chest.
"What? No, he just tagged along, saying something about helping beautiful ladies." Aurelia spoke out loud, defending herself. She was even thinking, why was she even defending herself? She could just accept that she invited Calen, but something in her mind was reeling. Like she knows this new guy or something, like a distant dream or memory.
Calen was at a loss for words.
"Oh? Didn't think you were that kind of man, Calen. Such a shame," Damien dramatically shook his head like he was wildly disappointed in him. Then his eyes land on Lumiere, then on Calen, again on Lumiere, and finally on Calen. "Ah," like he realized it at that moment.
"What no. No, no, no. I'm not a womanizer or a playboy or anything, I simply helped these ladies by carrying their bags since I thought they needed my help." Calen struggled with words, his demeanor perplexed, like he didn't think the accusations would be thrown at him.
"These ladies? You mean to say that my sister and...these ladies here," he pointed at Aurelia and Lumiere. "Is too weak to carry these bags? Calen, listen to yourself. My sister is going to participate in the tournament and you think she can't carry some bags? Come one man, where is the logic in that?" Damien said, his voice was clean and pure but Calen understood the mockery in them. And the eyes, the crimson eyes, that have a playfulness in them.
Calen's frustration grew as Damien continued to mock him, his words laced with playful sarcasm. He could sense the underlying challenge in Damien's tone, and he knew that this encounter was far from a coincidence. There was a deeper meaning behind their meeting, and Calen couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"Damien, it's not about strength or weakness," Calen replied, his voice firm. "It's about offering assistance and being a gentleman. I saw an opportunity to lend a helping hand, and I did so without any ulterior motives."
He glanced at Danielle and Aurelia, hoping they would understand his intentions. "These ladies are not weak. In fact, they possess strength and resilience that goes beyond physical abilities. I simply wanted to make their journey a little easier."
Damien raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued by Calen's response. "Is that so? Well, perhaps I misjudged you, Calen. It seems there is more to you than meets the eye." He said, eying the hero. "Danielle, has he offered you his assistance or did he simply snatch the bags from you?"
"He snatched the bag from Auri. I didn't give him." Danielle said, her head still buried in her brother's chest.
"Well, that sums up," Damien said, shaking his head again.
"As I said," Calen's voice was increasing, his frustration evident.
"That's alright, Calen. I understood. You are young and have...young feelings. It's quite natural to have those." Damien said, cutting Calen and moving past the subject. "Dani, whose your friends here?" Damien asked, ignoring Calen.
"This is Aurelia, the Princess of Spring Kingdom," Danielle said, lifting her head.
"Oh?" Damien's brows creased, and he elegantly bowed. "Princess Aurelia, it is an honor to make your acquaintance."
"The honor is all mine, my lord. You're Damien Von Zadkiel, correct?" Aurelia asked, her voice polite and delicate. "There is not a day in the academy where I won't hear your name from my dearest friend's mouth. I always thought you were a myth. It is truly a pleasure to finally meet you."
Damien looked at Aurelia for a moment, and it felt like time had stopped. His crimson eyes shimmered as he stared at her. It was a gaze that pierced her very soul, yet she didn't feel afraid. She felt familiar like this was a fated meet or something.
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