Celestria struggled violently, her wrists held firmly behind her by Aurelian's unyielding grip.
"Aurelian! Have you lost your mind?!" she screamed, thrashing against him. Disbelief painted her face, he was really doing this. Binding her hands so the Empress could claw her face.
But Aurelian only tightened his hold, twisting her arms further behind her back.
"I warned you not to harass her," Aurelian said, voice calm but laced with unmistakable danger. Then he turned to Ceres, and his tone shifted, warm, indulgent, almost tender. "Empress, scratch her face now. As much as you like. Until you're satisfied."
Ceres stood before them, staring at the pathetic scene of Celestria restrained and humiliated.
But her mind… was somewhere else.
A memory flickered in the corners of her mind, one from a lifetime ago.
That night beneath the stars, when Zeus went down on one knee before their friends, their families, the entire world. Ring in hand looking into her eyes as he vowed, "If anyone ever tries to fight you, I'll be right there, holding their hands while you scratch their faces."
And he meant it.
Ceres knew that if Zeus were here, he would've kept that promise, without hesitation, without shame.
But as she stared at Aurelian doing exactly that… it didn't warm her.
It hurt.
Her chest tightened.
Because it wasn't Zeus.
And even now, no matter how Aurelian looked at her, no matter how he tried to offer her vengeance, her heart ached in silence.
"Empress?" Aurelian's voice reached her again. He'd seen it. The flash of sorrow in her golden eyes. It was fleeting, but it was there.
Ceres inhaled, steadying herself.
Then, her expression cooled.
"I changed my mind," she said, her voice now emotionless, brittle. "It's boring."
Without another glance, she turned and walked out of the room.
Delphine immediately followed, silent and loyal.
Waiting at the doorway was Legion, standing like a shadow. He fell into step behind them the moment she passed.
Only once Ceres was gone from sight did Aurelian release Celestria's wrists.
SLAP.
Her palm collided hard against his cheek.
Gasps echoed throughout the room.
"How dare you do that to me?!" Celestria shouted, eyes burning with fury. She lifted her hand to strike him again, but this time, Aurelian caught her easily.
His grip was brutal.
"I told you," Aurelian said, voice like ice, "no one will protect you if you harass the Empress. And what did you do? You couldn't even last a day before doing exactly what I warned you against."
He tightened his grip on her wrist until Celestria winced.
"Did you know your brother Celion is standing right outside?" he continued, his tone sharpening. "Did you see him come in to defend you? No. Because not even your own blood will save you from the consequences anymore."
Celestria turned, and sure enough, Celion was there.
Silent. Watching. Stoic as stone.
Aurelian threw her hand aside like it disgusted him and strode past her, his fury now aimed at his siblings. His gaze raked across Aurora and Augustus, dark and seething.
"I know this was all your idea, Aurora," he said, deadly calm. Aurora involuntarily swallowed.
"You brought these women here to emotionally attack the Empress."
"That's not true, " Aurora started, but Aurelian cut her off with a short, bitter laugh.
"You can lie to everyone else. But not to me," he said, stepping closer. "I know you. I know exactly what you're capable of."
He raised a hand and gently cupped her cheek, like he used to when they were children.
But there was nothing gentle in his eyes now.
"Be content with your title as princess. Stop using underhanded tricks to claw your way to the Empress crown. Especially when I already handed you the real power, you control the council. That should be enough for you. The Empress has no interest in it. So behave."
Then his grip shifted, his hand sliding from her cheek to her jaw, gripping it firmly.
"That crown," he said, voice suddenly colder, "is the only thing chaining the Empress to Aquilonis. The only hold I have on her. The only thing keeping her mine. And I will not allow anyone, not even you, my sister, to sever that chain."
His stare burned into her.
"Do you understand?"
Aurora could only nod stiffly, because for the first time in her life, she realized Aurelian was no longer the older brother who doted on her.
Because in Aurelian's eyes, she saw it.
Obsession.
And it had a name: Ceres.
Aurelian's grip on her jaw tightened for a second longer, sharp and punishing, before he released her with a forceful shove. Aurora stumbled back, breath catching in her throat, but he didn't spare her another glance. His cold gaze turned to Augustus, issuing a silent but unmistakable warning.
Then, without a word, Aurelian turned on his heel and strode out of the room, Celion following silently behind him like a shadow.
They headed straight to the war planning chamber, where the kingdom's high-ranking mages, knight commanders, Captain Hugo's team, and a few key figures were already waiting.
Among them, Ceres, calm, poised, untouchable.
She sat with Delphine beside her, Legion at her back, and Seiryu standing like a silent pillar of divine power behind her. The weight of her presence should have been reassuring, yet the entire room felt cold. Stifled. Tense.
Not just because of the impending arrival of the Demon Lord's son.
But because of her expression.
Though her face remained composed, it was clear she was in a foul mood. Her eyes were distant, her responses curt. She only spoke when necessary, her voice neutral but devoid of its usual warmth.
Aurelian's jaw clenched the moment he saw her. He knew the reason. Knew who had ruined her mood.
His siblings.
They would pay.
The final strategic meeting began swiftly. Tomorrow would mark the movement of all noncombatants to Seiryu's hidden labyrinth beneath the Holy Church, an enormous sanctuary carved with celestial magic, supplied with food, water, and protection spells.
In the middle of the meeting, a surge of light shimmered in the corner of the room as Prince Azul arrived via teleportation, accompanied by a squad of elite Narf Fighters. Their presence was a silent but powerful gesture, one of allegiance. One of preparation for war.
As the room exchanged nods of gratitude and battle-ready affirmations, Ceres remained a silent pillar at the center. When the discussions concluded, she didn't linger. She stood, bowed briefly, and left without a word.
No farewell. No glance at Aurelian.
By then, Aurora and Augustus were no longer present, lucky for them, because if they had been, Aurelian might not have stopped himself from starting a bloodbath. He was seething. Seething with the urge to punish them for putting that look on Ceres's face.
He stormed down the corridor and made his way to the Empress's private wing. His fists tightened as he approached her door, heart pounding with anger and something heavier, desperation.
He knocked once. Twice.
Delphine opened the door only a sliver. "Her Highness doesn't wish to be disturbed, Your Majesty," she said gently. "She's resting."
Aurelian's voice was hoarse. "I just need a moment."
"She's… tired. And she asked for no one."
Delphine's tone was apologetic, but firm.
Aurelian swallowed the lump in his throat. His pride wanted to push through, to force the door open, but he didn't. Instead, he nodded stiffly and turned away, leaving a part of his soul behind that door.
Tomorrow, he told himself. I'll talk to her tomorrow.
But tomorrow came, and with it, chaos.
Everyone was busy. The knights, the guards, the mages. Everyone worked tirelessly, except the nobles, those who still believed there was no real threat, that this was all a fabrication. Aurelian could only sneer at their arrogance.
Captain Hugo's squad, along with the Holy Knights, began leading the noncombatant commoners toward the underground sanctuary.
And Seiryu's labyrinth defied all expectations.
It was no dark maze of stone and terror. In truth, if one didn't know better, they might think it was simply another realm. A false sun glowed in the enchanted sky, bathing the vast chambers in golden light. The floors were warm, the ceilings high, and gentle wind flowed with the scent of meadows. There were five levels in total, each one more serene than the last. A haven, not a prison.
The Empress herself arrived, walking among the people, reassuring each one with grace and quiet strength.
"This is only temporary," she said gently, kneeling before frightened children and embracing them one by one. "This is to make sure you will be safe. Nothing will happen to the labyrinth. I give you my word."
And the people, her people, believed her.
They hugged her back. They cried, and they whispered blessings. And in that moment, the only thing they could give in return was their promise:
"We'll pray for you, Your Highness. For the kingdom. For your safety."
They bowed before her. If they could not fight for her, they would pray for her. For Aquilonis. For victory.
For their Empress.
And yet, behind her noble mask, the shadows clung.
As the sun set on the final day before the demi-human Prince's arrival, Aurelian still hadn't spoken to her.
He had watched her from afar, trapped behind duty and timing, like a soldier on the other side of a battlefield. And he hated it.
They didn't know what tomorrow would bring. The air itself trembled with anticipation. But he couldn't let the day end like this, not without speaking to her, not without hearing her voice directed at him.
Yet Ceres… it was as though she intentionally avoided him.
And that tore him apart more than any war ever could.