Hanara changed her identity to Enya and would now be addressed as Enya from this point onward.
Salem looked around the market, walking closely behind Enya. Enya didn't bother to look around and stared at the names of the stores, looking for Varen's alcohol shop.
"It'll be the tallest building. I've built it from scratch!" Enya recalled Varen's voice. She smiled when the tall building got closer. Then she halted, staring at Varen's business tower.
"Enya?"
"Didn't they say that there will be a circus tonight?" she suddenly asked, smiling. Salem was confused.
"Yes… Why?" Salem asked, frowning upon trying to understand her better.
"Let's join the circus. I have a good feeling about it tonight," Enya answered.
A circus? A good feeling? At the Square of the Dragon Empire?
Meanwhile, in a nearby city, Citalle, House of Lesingbard, Duke Zilant's mansion. Zilant, now twenty years old, stormed through the hallway and to his office.
"Duke," his steward, Lurth, bowed. Zilant slowly looked up.
"Report," he sternly said.
"The Phoenix heir's birthday is coming up soon. He requested to go to the Square," Lurth replied. Zilant faintly smiled.
"Very well. Prepare the carriage for the evening," Zilant commanded. Lurth nodded.
"As you wish, Duke," Lurth responded and left the room. Zilant sighed and turned to stare at the balcony, thinking, wondering.
"There were no ashes that day. If you had truly fallen, I would make sure I protect Hansel with my life. If you had not, then where would you be, Princess Hanara? I only wish to hand Hansel back to you," Zilant said to himself solemnly. Suddenly, a soft knock on the door snapped Zilant back to the present.
"Commander," Zilant's right-hand captain, Cullen, called. Zilant straightened and faced the door.
"Enter," Zilant replied. Cullen opened the door and handed the papers from his hand onto the table.
"When will the event open?" Zilant asked. Cullen bowed.
"In five days. Since the Square is having an event, we can only push it to this, hoping people will join," Cullen answered. Zilant nodded.
"Very well. It doesn't matter if one person joins. We need all we can take. Make sure to find a suitable and trustworthy one," Zilant stated. Cullen nodded.
"Yes, Commander," Cullen replied, then he turned around. Zilant paused.
"Cullen," he called. Cullen stopped by the door and looked at Zilant, hesitating.
"Yes?"
"Tell Hansel to get ready for a night stroll at the Square. Make sure to have two other knights nearby as well," he commanded. Cullen bowed and strided away to the side house of the residence, where Hansel resided.
Thirteen-year-old Hansel was reading a book in the tree, avoiding interactions with anyone. Cullen appeared from the hall and looked up.
"Lord Hansel," Cullen called. Hansel didn't answer. Cullen groaned. "Hansel?"
"Yes, Captain Cullen?" he answered this time, still reading the book. Cullen smiled.
"Commander has requested you to ready your outing clothes for tonight. The carriage will be ready to head to the Square," Cullen replied. Hansel beamed as he closed his book immediately. He jumped out of the tree with his bright green eyes and light blue hair.
"Really? I can finally go to the Square this time?" he asked. Cullen nodded softly.
"As commanded by the Commander himself," Cullen answered. Hansel squealed happily.
"Yes! I need to go fetch it… Thank you!" Hansel responded as he had already stormed to his bedchamber. Cullen watched him go and smiled warmly.
"Commander really cares about you…" he said to himself before returning to his post at the training ground.
Zilant and Hansel wore their outing clothes and stepped out of the residence. They walked to meet each other at the pathway for the carriage. Zilant looked at Hansel, hoping to see a smile of excitement. Although Hansel was awkwardly smiling, Zilant was pleased.
Then Zilant rode on the carriage with Hansel to the Square of the Dragon Empire. The circus was the brightest and crowded area to enter. Zilant and Hansel hopped out of the carriage with a hooded cloak on. Hansel stared and felt awe at the market, mesmerized by the lights and lively nightlife. Before he turned away, there was one that caught his eye the most, a dancing fire-woman standing on top of one stick. Enya.
A ribbon of red fire curled from Enya's hand, dancing in the air like silk. Some cheered, others murmured, suspicious of trickery. Enya caught a glimpse of Hansel's bright green eyes and smiled. She stood and kicked the fire with her heel before falling to the ground, landing on her toes.
"Remarkable!"
"By the stars, did you see that!"
Hansel's gaze stayed locked on her, a smile blooming without his permission. Zilant paused and watched Enya as she slowly turned to face them. Unrecognizable, Zilant grabbed onto Hansel.
"Stay close. I don't want the crowd to separate us," he whispered. Hansel looked at him and nodded.
"Okay," Hansel replied, turning away with him. Enya watched Hansel leave, pouting at the possible reunion that they would have if Zilant did not interfere.
Biscuits... Enya glared at them, walking away together, cursing Zilant on the inside playfully. Zilant felt his ear itch as he walked away.
After the night ended and the empire slumbered for the evening, Enya returned to Varen's Tower of Alcohol. Salem entered the study room.
"Enya, there are posts about the Dragon Snow Knight recruiting knights," Salem said, informing Enya. Enya's face beamed upon hearing this. She looked at Salem, who was surprised at the sudden smile.
"Let's go buy some men's clothing tomorrow," Enya suddenly said. Salem frowned.
"Oh no… Perhaps Varen should know…" she said to herself. Enya's smile widened.
"I will take this opportunity to get closer to Hansel. Don't worry," Enya replied. Salem groaned as she slapped her forehead.
Varen! Help! You didn't tell me that she was a troublesome princess. The night slowly silenced.
From this point, Enya crossdressed to enter Zilant's Dragon Snow Knight, and around the knights, she dressed as a male.
When Zilant's training ground opened for the new recruits, Enya entered with a smug face, common outfit, and confident attitude. Zilant stood in the hallway, watching the new incomers lining up. Cullen stood before them and checked the identity of everyone.
"Enya Faye," he called. Enya walked up and lowered her head slightly. "Show us what you can do."
"Very well," she answered. She walked to the weapon stands and grabbed the bow and arrow. The new incomers snickered at her.
"How simple… Archery? Anyone could do that."
"What does this scrawny boy take us as?"
"Maybe we shall teach him a lesson later."
Enya smirked as she stood in front of the target. There was a marker on the ground. She looked at it and then looked up. She deeply exhaled as she didn't really focus on the target. She didn't have to focus. She released the arrow—
ONE—Bullseye.
TWO—Bullseye on the bullseye.
THREE—Bullseye on the bullseye on the first bullseye.
Everyone was stunned. Zilant was speechless. Three bullseyes, stacked on top of each other? Enya put the bow down and looked at Cullen.
"Here," she said before returning to her position in line. Some stared with envy, some were in awe, and others were jealous and annoyed.
Once everyone was done with training, it was time for the new recruits to train by sparring against each other. So many of them wanted to challenge Enya, but she did not care who. Once she was called, everyone smirked, waiting for their names to be called.
"Ken," Cullen called. The biggest and buffest man stood with the biggest smile.
"I get to teach that little prick a lesson," Ken said loudly. Enya nonchalantly stared at him without posing with her sword, ready. Ken grabbed a sword and stood before her. Zilant watched to see her reaction, but there was none. The new recruits were delighted, hoping that Ken would shatter Enya's confidence. However, she stood there without quitting.
"Get ready!" Cullen shouted. Ken posed in his fighting stance. Enya just stood there like a wall, irritating Ken.
"Does he even know how to use a sword?"
The new recruits snickered.
"Go!" Cullen continued, staring at Enya. Ken lunged forward with his sword and pointed it at Enya. The very second he reached Enya's foot away, she moved to the side and pointed her sword upwards at his neck, ending the training within a second. Everyone gasped. Ken trembled.
"You rushed in without thinking. That's why you lost," Enya said as she lowered her sword. Ken irritatingly trembled. He tightened his grip on the sword and swung at her because he couldn't touch even her hair strand. She evaded and kicked his sword out of his grip, and then she pointed her sword at his eye from curving onto her waist. Ken gasped, raising both hands up in the air.
"I lost…" he murmured. Enya smirked as she walked away. She put the sword back, thinking she had done well. Cullen stared at her, anxiously staring at her.
Cullen squinted. The boy's stance… he'd seen it before. It couldn't be—no, that knight was long gone. Enya stood by the sidelines, adjusting her gloves. She turned slightly to look at the new recruits, who were all still staring at her. She suddenly felt a bit annoyed.
After the training was done, Enya walked towards the gate, ready to leave the training ground. Zilant watched her from afar, considering what was on her sleeves. Cullen appeared and lowered his head.
"Commander, here is the progress of the new recruits. Out of all of them, he stands out as the best," Cullen said, looking at Enya. Zilant leaned his head to look at the papers that Cullen handed.
"This person is a commoner, yet why does his instinct show that he had been trained by a professional? No commoner would have such a chance in this empire," Zilant questioned. Cullen bit his tongue, suspecting the same thing but for a different reason. Enya slowly turned to the side, and she saw Hansel running to her.
"You! I saw that you were amazing at the training ground!" Hansel beamed. Zilant squinted his eyes cautiously at Enya. Enya smiled and lowered her head to him.
"Thank you for the kind words. I'm just a new recruit. Everyone is amazing in their own ways," Enya replied. Hansel shook his head, glancing over his shoulder before leaning in.
"No. Like your eyes weren't even focused on the target, but you knew you were able to shoot it without looking," Hansel revealed. Enya smirked, knowing that Hansel understood how bird's eyes worked.
"I ask you to keep that a secret. Many others will…" she paused, leaning forward. Hansel leaned forward. She pointed her thumb at her neck and slashed it to the side. Hansel's eyes were wide open. He nodded excessively.
"You're right! People here are like that…" he frowned. Enya leaned back and observed him. He was not able to lighten up after saying that. She smiled softly.
"You have pretty eyes. Shines like spring," she complimented. Hansel blushed as he looked away.
"What?! You're a guy? Thank you… You also have pretty green eyes, too…" he replied. Enya chuckled.
"It matches your hair color. Any woman would want that combination," she stated. Hansel flushed red even more.
"But… I'm not of age yet," he said, flustered. Enya smiled.
"When you are and you find a woman that you want to spend your entire life with, introduce her to me. And if she breaks your heart, I'll shoot her arrow-style," Enya replied. Hansel looked at her, shocked and delighted to hear a friendly comment, maybe a family one. He smiled and nodded.
"Thanks!" he said. Enya nodded once. Suddenly, Zilant stormed in.
"Hansel," he called. Hansel jolted and looked at Zilant instantly.
"Duke… You were here?"
"What brings you here? You normally don't come out," he asked curiously. Hansel gulped, fiddling with his fingers, avoiding Zilant's eyes. Enya glared at Zilant.
"I…" Hansel stammered. Zilant waited. Enya sighed in frustration and stepped forward.
"Why does it matter? He just came to cheer on the new recruits. Are you condemning him for that?" she asked, butting in between them. Zilant glared at her coldly. Cullen saw the challenging eyes of Enya against Zilant. He rushed between Enya and Zilant.
"You speak boldly… for someone so new," he said to her. Enya smirked as Cullen tightened his jaw.
"New recruit, this is our commander. You shouldn't be talking to him like that," Cullen said, hinting for her to step down. Enya scoffed, baffling Zilant and Cullen.
"Oh really? So just because your status is higher, I should let you intimidate someone who can't even speak freely around you?" she retaliated. They were shocked at her stubbornness and bravery. Or was it reckless? Hansel felt touched that Enya was doing this to understand him.
"It's okay… He's my guardian…" Hansel replied. Enya turned around, softening up.
"If a guardian makes all your choices for you, that's not care — that's control. Slap his hand next time. No one should be controlling you," Enya firmly stated. Cullen's jaw dropped. Zilant squinted his eyes further.
"And what makes you think I'm controlling him?" he asked suddenly. Enya turned to glare at him.
"Why don't you take a good look at him yourself when you interact with him? When he was with me before you, he was a happy fella. The moment you stepped in, he felt… awkward," Enya answered. Cullen couldn't close his mouth and looked at Zilant and Enya's daring eyes. There was definitely tension between them. Hansel and Cullen nudged against each other, stepping away from them.
"I've never seen Commander like this…"
"He seems really pissed off…"
Zilant broke the silence with a deep sigh.
"Hansel?" he called. Hansel straightened up.
"Yes, Duke?" Hansel answered. Zilant turned to him.
"Return to your quarters. Your tutor will be here soon," Zilant reminded him. He nodded.
"Okay… Bye," he said to Enya. Then Hansel stormed back to his quarters. Enya bowed to him respectfully, then turned away without respecting Zilant. Cullen froze, shocked.
"Commander… He–"
"Enya Faye," Zilant called out. Enya stopped, knowing that she had to get on his good side.
"Yes?" she asked as she turned to him. Cullen tightened his jaw.
You crazy, disrespectful piece of little crumb!
"What exactly are you trying to prove, Enya Faye? Careful. That tone has cost others more than just favor."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🪶 🔥 Princess, Don't Waver ❄️ 🐉 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~