THE ROOM WAS dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on the walls. lucas' voice cut through the silence, his words laced with a hint of resignation. "i came back thinking i'd find peace," he began, his tone tinged with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "but i suppose i was mistaken." he concluded, his eyes filled with a weary resignation.

an awkward silence fell over the room, their conversation hanging in the air like a dense fog. antanasia's fingers clenched and unclenched, a visible sign of her uneasiness. finally, she broke the silence by asking directly, "lucas, will dad really live with athy just staying with him?" her voice trembled slightly, betraying the turmoil of emotions swirling inside her.

in the hushed stillness of the room, the question hung in the air like a heavy mist. antanasia's breathing quickened as she awaited lucas' response, her heart rate betraying her inner turmoil. seconds ticked by agonizingly slow, each one amplifying her unease. but suddenly, lucas' words cut through the silence, his voice laced with reassurance. "i've checked," his tone was reassuring, "as long as your sister is with him, nothing will happen."

antanasia found herself struggling to find the right words, her mind racing as she grappled with how to explain the situation to lucas. she knew she had to tell him the truth, but the weight of her burden seemed overwhelming. With a deep breath, she mustered the courage to speak, her voice hesitant and filled with apprehension. "lucas, there's something I need to tell you..." she began, her voice laden with a mix of regret and trepidation.

antanasia's gaze dropped, and her voice wavered slightly as she revealed the truth to him. the weight of the revelation hung heavily in the air, her words laden with a mixture of confession and vulnerability. "i was also under a curse when you weren't here," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of shame and remorse. the room seemed to grow quieter as the gravity of her situation settled upon them both.

the room fell into a tense silence as lucas absorbed antanasia's revelation. the atmosphere thickened, charged with a mixture of surprise, concern, and a hint of anger. lucas, his brow furrowed in confusion and frustration, spoke softly, "so why didn't you say anything?" his voice was tinged with a mix of curiosity and disbelief, his mind struggling to process the information.

antanasia's gaze remained fixed on the floor, her voice barely above a whisper. "i'm alright now," she murmured, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. "someone helped me during the time i was in the castina empire." her words carried a mixture of gratefulness and nostalgia, the memory of her aid clearly still fresh in her mind. as she spoke, her eyes flickered upward, briefly meeting lucas' gaze, the depth of her emotions hidden behind her soft expression.

as her gaze lifted to meet his, lucas' face softened, his features transitioning from a hint of frustration to a mix of relief and affection. he reached out, gently placing a hand on her head, and ruffled her hair softly. "you really worry me sometimes," he said, his voice laced with a touch of fondness and exasperation.

under the gentle touch of lucas' hand, antanasia couldn't help but melt, her body instinctively inching closer to him. as his fingers tousled her hair, a soft sigh escaped her lips, her gaze locking onto his with an unspoken yearning. in that moment, the air between them was charged with an unspoken intimacy, their hearts pulsating in perfect rhythm.

"i missed you, lucas." she spoke softly. a gentle smile tugged at the corners of lucas' mouth as antanasia whispered her sentiment. "i missed you too," he replied quietly, his voice filled with genuine warmth. his fingers continued to thread through her hair, his touch filled with reassurance and affection.

with a hint of affectionate teasing, lucas observed aloud, "you should get some sleep. i can tell you haven't slept, and those dark circles under your eyes speak for themselves." he studied her weary appearance for a moment longer before adding gently, "i'll be there when you wake up. i promise." he reached out to ruffle her hair once more, a small gesture of reassurance and comfort.

the weariness in antanasia's voice echoed her exhaustion, her eyes heavy with sleep. "will you really be here when i wake up?" she asked, her words barely above a whisper. lucas' expression softened as he met her gaze, his eyes filled with sincerity and care. "absolutely," he replied, his voice laced with reassurance. "I'll be right here when you awaken. you can rely on my word." his words held unwavering conviction, and his gaze conveyed his unwavering vow to be there for her.

with those reassuring words, antanasia felt her eyelids grow heavy, lured into the embrace of sleep. the fatigue from the day's events and the comfort of lucas' presence wrapped around her like a warm blanket. slowly, her eyes closed, and she drifted into the peaceful realm of dreams, her body surrendering to the restorative power of slumber. it was evident that antanasia was now deep asleep now, her soft breathing filling the room with a gentle rhythm.

lucas sat there, his gaze fixed on antanasia as she slept peacefully. he studied her face, her features now relaxed in the gentle embrace of slumber. his eyes traced the contours of her serene expression, the weight of worry and fatigue now lifted from her. slowly, he reached out to gently stroke her hair, his fingers weaving through the strands with a soft, rhythmic movement.

"sleep well," he whispered softly, his voice filled with a mix of affection and protectiveness. he watched her for a few more moments, his heart swelling with a mixture of fondness and contentment.

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THE CROWN PRINCESS found herself once again buried in a mountain of paperwork, the weight of her responsibilities palpable. despite knowing that her sister and father were together, she had chosen to stay behind, focusing on the work she had missed during her time in the castina empire. her commitment to her duties was evident as she declined the opportunity to join them, asserting the need to finish her paperwork

as the crown princess' dedication to her work continued, her maid, amana, approached her with a concerned expression. "your highness," amana interjected gently, her voice tinged with a hint of worry. "might I suggest you take a brief respite from your work? a short break might rejuvenate both your body and mind, allowing you to work more efficiently thereafter." she spoke, her words laced with care and concern.

antanasia lifted her weary gaze from her work, her eyes reflecting exhaustion and determination. "amana." she began softly, her voice laden with weariness, "i appreciate your concern. however, i must finish these papers. i cannot afford to rest until i complete them." her words were resolute, emphasizing her commitment to fulfilling her responsibilities despite the mounting fatigue.

amana let out a weary sigh, her tone tinged with resignation. "i'm afraid you’re pushing yourself too far,” she said, her concern evident. “if the warlock witnessed your state, i have no doubt he would express disapproval. he would likely advise you to rest and take care of yourself.” amana’s words carried a mixture of worry and urgency, hoping to persuade the driven princess to prioritize her well-being amidst her relentless work ethic.

her words gave antanasia pause. there was truth in her statement—if lucas were to witness her exhausted state, he would undoubtedly be displeased. with a resigned sigh, the crown princess reluctantly agreed, "very well, amana. i shall step away from my work for a brief moment." she pushed back her chair and got up, stretching her cramped limbs. "but only for a few minutes," she murmured, her determination not fully diminished.

amana nodded, a small sigh of relief escaping her lips. “thank you, your highness,” she murmured. “a short respite is better than none at all.” her voice carried a mix of concern and understanding. the crown princess glanced at the piles of papers on her desk, her mind still buzzing with thoughts and responsibilities. however, she knew amana was right - taking a momentary break was necessary to regain her focus and energy. even if it was just a few minutes.

just as the crown princess was taking a much-needed breather, the door suddenly flung open, jolting the crown princess from her thoughts. to her delight, her friends stood there, their presence instilling a sense of joy and excitement. it was a reunion with individuals deeply missed, a moment of heartfelt connection.

“what brings you all here?” she inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity and anticipation. valkyria let out an exasperated sigh, her voice laced with mild frustration.

"we've been quite concerned, as your sudden departure without any farewells left us all a bit worried. that's why we've all come here today." she spoke, her words carrying both concern and a hint of annoyance at the lack of proper farewell.

antanasia's gaze flickered between her friends, a wave of guilt washing over her. "ah... forgive me." she said sheepishly, acknowledging her oversight. "i should have let you all know of my departure, and for that, i apologize." her voice was tinged with apologetic sincerity, a hint of regret in her words. she genuinely regretted not saying goodbye to her friends, but now that they were here, she savored the joy of their reunion.

“you know, some people never change," quipped royin with a knowing grin. "it seems you're still set on tiring yourself out." his words carried a mix of playful teasing and lighthearted admonishment. it was clear that he knew the crown princess's tendency to overwork herself and was gently admonishing her for not taking better care of her well-being.

in response, the crown princess let out a gentle chuckle, acknowledging royin's remark. "perhaps you're right," she admitted with a touch of humor. "i do have a tendency to be a bit of a workaholic." she appreciated her friend's concern and knew that she needed to find a balance between her responsibilities and self-care.

yua's voice broke the momentary silence, her tone filled with curiosity and worry. "we've heard that the emperor has fallen ill," she mentioned, her eyes shifting to antanasia.

the mention of her father's illness sent a chill down antanasia's spine, a flicker of worry evident in her gaze. she responded softly, her voice tinted with a mix of concern and vulnerability. "yes... unfortunately, dad hasn't been well."

royin's voice sounded with a touch of unease as he addressed the room."we're also quite concerned about akari," he expressed, his tone laced with a sense of worry. "she hasn't been seen anywhere, and we haven't been able to locate her at her manor. it's unlike her not to show up after a long absence." his words carried a hint of puzzlement and anxiety, reflecting their collective concern for their missing friend.

antanasia's expression remained serious as she responded, her words measured. "i can assure you that akari is safe and sound." as antanasia responded, a visible sigh of relief seemed to sweep through the room, knowing that their dear friend was safe. the tension seemed to slowly disperse, replaced by a sense of relief and contentment.

however, a flicker of curiosity remained, as no one knew the reason for Akari's disappearance. "we're immensely relieved to hear that akari is well," yua spoke earnestly. "but we still wonder why we haven't seen her around." antanasia's gaze dropped for a moment, as if contemplating her next words.

it was clear that she knew the reason behind akari's absence, but for some reason, she hesitated to share it. she took a deep breath, her expression turning remorseful but resolute. "i apologize for the lack of information, and i understand your curiosity. however, i cannot disclose the reasons for akari's absence at this time." her tone was firm but filled with a mix of guilt and reluctance.

as antanasia's words hung in the air, a mixture of understanding and disappointment washed over the atmosphere. while her friends accepted the lack of information, a small sense of unease lingered. they trusted antanasia's judgment, but the secrecy surrounding their dear friend's disappearance left them intrigued and perplexed. however, they respected her decision and chose to wait for her to reveal the truth when the time was right.

deep within antanasia's heart, she knew that the situation was far more complicated than she was willing to admit. the truth was that she and akari had quarreled as soon as they returned to the obelian empire. the argument left akari distraught and unwilling to bear the sight of the crown princess for the time being. in response, akari had fled to an undisclosed location, seeking distance and solitude from her sister. antanasia was aware of the pain her words might inflict, yet she couldn't bring herself to reveal the depth of their conflict to her friends.

antanasia's anger towards akari was justifiable. she had recently learned that akari was someone with whom she had a close friendship in her previous life. antanasia had trusted akari above all others in the past, which made her present betrayal felt even more deep and personal.

"how... troublesome."