Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
A melodious female voice came from behind the door.
Opening the door, the space opened to a spacious and luxurious room, and a woman drinking tea alone by the window overlooking the city of Xilaris.
A woman dressed in black commoner clothing came inside and got down on one knee in front of the woman overlooking the city.
"For what have you come Calista, did I not tell you to keep a close eye on Calux?"
"Princess.. I have come with important information regarding the young master of the Voidbane's."
Finally, Karina showed some emotion and rapidly look towards Calista.
"Out with it!"
Calista sighed internally, this young lady really was too obsessed.
"Calux Voidbane came through the portal a few hours ago, I tailed them until they reached the manor where they will be staying, at least that is what I heard from their conversation, they'll be living together, and to be frank.."
"They appear fairly close. I didn't see any intimacy yet, but their way of speaking to each other, looking at each other, and how they behave... Well I don't feel they have a normal relationship."
Clink.
Karina accidentally crushed the tea cup in her hand in anger.
"You are telling me, that my fiancé, is living with another woman and they are fairly close?"
"Princess... I would like to remind you that your family cance-"
Boom!
"DON'T! IF I SAY HE IS MY FIANCE THEN HE IS, I STILL HAVE NOT LET HIM GO!"
"Agh!!!! Who does that bitch think she is! That's it, I'm going to visit his manor, this can't keep going like this."
Calista could only sigh internally, while she watched the Princess stand up and leave towards her dressing room.
Why can't she just let it go.. Can't she understand she was the one who spoke the words that broke their bond?
Honestly, I can't say I understand the princess..
..
"Young master, Princess Karina is outside the manor requesting an audience with you."
A maid told Calux while he was meditating and watching over Seraphiel's breakthrough.
Sigh.
"I'll meet them in a few minutes, let me get a change of clothes."
After giving Seraphiel a glance and seeing everything was fine, he went over to his room and changed into a more casual attire.
He wore a loose fit white shirt, black leather long pants, and black leather boots.
Very casual, but on him, it looked as if he was a Prince from another kingdom.
The maids turned heads when looking at Calux's casual attire.
It was important to note that the maids from this manor had not seen Calux in years, and when he came in he was in his leather armor, now however, they were looking at Calux in a more noble manor, and well they couldn't help but look.
Stepping into the family room, he saw the princess sitting down along with her guard, Calista, and when Calux came inside you could see the excitement on Karina's face.
Calux on the other hand, maintained a poker face, not allowing any emotion to leak out.
"What can I do for you Princess?"
Calux cooly spoke while sitting down on the sofa across from her.
"Why so formal Calux? Aren't we close?"
Calux gave a questioning look before speaking.
"Princess, we aren't close, I thought my mother made that clear when she came a few weeks ago."
Karina tried to maintain her smile but you could hear the grinding of her teeth if you paid close attention.
"Calux... I wrote you a letter and apologized, I told you my circumstances, can't we start over?"
He was honestly stunned, how can someone do what she did and just casually say this remark, it was baffling to say the least.
"Let me get this straight, you throw away our relationship, say you're going to marry someone else because I'm essentially trash in your eyes, and then when I awaken and everyone sees my talent, then you want to take it back huh?"
Karina panicked at his words, she didn't want Calux to think she was here because of his talent.
"It's not like that! I told you!"
Crossing his arms, he just laid back against the sofa.
"Well it's unfortunate, because that day you destroyed everything we had built. Your words did more damage than you imagine, and honestly I don't trust your words."
"To me, you're just being opportunistic, at least that's how it looks. To make it worse, you think making an apology is just going to reset everything, I really hope you don't believe simple apologies don't fix things like this, at least not with me."
Karina wanted to speak, scream, and make him understand but he continued.
"I don't give second chances, I'm not saying I hold a grudge, I really don't anymore thanks to Sera I've been able to trust again."
Hearing the name she didn't want to hear, she gritted her teeth, but he wasn't done.
"Did you know, you were the only person I considered a real friend growing up? Excluding the fact that we were promised to each other, I had so much trust in you and your character, that when you acted like you did, it broke something in me and made me want to close my self off and just stay alone."
"Sera however was able to change that view, she has helped me trust again and finally gained a real friend, but being able to trust and make friends doesn't mean I want to rekindle whatever we had before, therefore I request you just continue with your plan to engage Max Cullingham, he'll bring good talent to your family."
Those last words hit Karina like a bucket of cold water.
Calux had literally used the person that his father talked about in the meeting here, she hated it!
She hated Max, his family, and even her family for putting her in this position.
She tried to calm down, and politely asked, "Oh.. And where is this Sera you speak of?"
Calux was surprised by her calm, when suddenly a the manor shook for a few seconds before settling down.
"Well, it appears she just finished her breakthrough to C- rank, guess there will be three C- ranks in our exam, unless someone else managed to also rank up after my last review of the awakeners."
As if it wasn't enough before, now not only Karina, but Calista was also baffled.
What was going on here?
How did Calux and Seraphiel rank up to C-rank in the two and a half months since awakening?
Had the Voidbane family found a secret and were using it to rank up quickly?
"If I may ask, I may understand that your family used perhaps every resource in hand to get you to your rank, I mean your family has slayed more S rank rifts than the whole Kingdom combined, but what about this Sera you mentioned?"
Calux looked at Karina, he knew that she should have investigated, he knew she knew she was a commoner.
Before he could answer, the door was knocked twice.
"Calux are you in there, can I come in?"
A beautiful voice was heard through the door, and Karina was instantly annoyed, she was going to retort to say something but Calux actually invited her in.
"Come in, I'm speaking to the Princess."
The door opened slowly and a beautiful woman with emerald colored eyes and long black hair came into the room.
She scanned the room and smiled at Calux while walking over to sit beside him.
Once sat down, she finally introduced herself.
"Greeting Princess, my name is Seraphiel Orithis, it's a pleasure to meet you."
She smiled, but it was a predatory smile.
A smile that said, 'I know but you want, but with me here you aren't getting it.'