I avoided looking at him and silently wished that we would proceed.

But fate is cruel.

Lukas began to smirk and it brought bad feelings on me.

"Heh. You're stalking me even in the palace?" Was his next statement to my utter shock.

I blinked at him.

"E-eh? No, I'm not!"

"Really? Why are you always around then, hmm?"

I'm always around? But I just saw him right now? This is only the second meeting though? What does he mean by that!

"I don't know what you're saying, Your Grace," I replied in a formal tone.

If he could just stop...

"You even went to my guild yesterday. How is that not stalking?" Lukas pointed out.

'Huh? His guild? Did he mean the mercenary guild? It's his?! Oh my goodness...'

"T-that's..."

I'm completely flustered. I have no idea it was his! And I'm not stalking him!

Eon glanced at the two of us simultaneously, looking curious.

"You know each other?" He asked after a while.

"Not really," I immediately answered. "I had only returned something that belongs to His Grace. That's all."

Lukas's head tilted to the side as he looked down at me with amused eyes. This man... He's playing with me!

"But you held my hand..." Lukas stated that made my head bigger.

What is this sudden change of behavior?! Wasn't he cold and indifferent before? Why is he doing this now?

'Why are you saying strange things all of a sudden!'

What is he trying to insinuate with that? Holding someone's hand is already scandalous in its own way, you know! It's like seeing a noblewoman's knees!

"What?" Eon muttered at my side while looking at me.

"That!... Ugh... I was only--" I wasn't sure what I was going to say so I struggled to get out the words and ended up not finishing it.

Eon stared at me for a bit before he turned his attention to Lukas and spoke.

"I'm sorry Your Grace, but we're actually on our way to meet the Empress. If you would excuse us..." Eon then bowed at him before practically dragging me away.

I was still somewhat ruffled from the talk just now and probably have the reddest face out there.

Was Lukas always like that? What the hell...

I wanted to glance back and see what he was doing but Eon had beat me to it.

"Nads. What is he saying about you holding his hand? When did that happen?" He pressed on after we're far away.

He looked so serious that I started explaining myself for no reason.

"I-It's because I was giving him something, so naturally, I touched his hand. That was just that!"

Oh geez...

I glanced at Eon and saw him still sporting a grim expression.

'Wait-- Is he mad?'

He then suddenly frowned while clicking his tongue, as if he's super annoyed and had kept grumbling under his breath. I couldn't catch it though.

"We're here," he announced just as we reached the entrance to the palace garden. "Her Majesty is waiting for you. Go in."

I throw him another glance, feeling curious about his sudden change of mood before finally going in.

The garden here in the Empress's palace is more on tulips and some dandelions. She likes them because she feels refreshed whenever she looks at them.

I don't blame her. Seeing those colorful flowers can totally lift one's mood.

Just now, my uneasiness from that sudden encounter with Lukas just melted away after seeing such scenery. It calmed me down.

Though I am still a little bit confused as to what just had transpired at the walkway.

I took my time advancing towards the gazebo in the middle of the small pond and enjoyed the fresh breeze.

It sure is peaceful in here, and the garden is truly beautiful!

It made me want to have a fish pond too with a floating gazebo. Ah, how nice could it be?

My eyes then went forward as soon as I climbed on the connecting bridge. There were two knights standing guard at the bottom and did not question me. They already knew who I was, for I am a regular here.

I saw three, no wait, four people in there. Two of them were sitting while the rest remained standing at the side. They were both the Empress's ladies in waiting, and I wondered who the other person would be.

Her Majesty had her back turned to me so I could only see the one sitting in front of her.

It was a man. A handsome one if I may add. He's neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince, so who is he?

Just then, the man noticed me approaching and looked up to meet my curious eyes. I saw the brightest pair of golden eyes I had ever seen in my life. They're like two suns, and it was glued on me.

The golden-eyed man suddenly smiled as if he was pleased. It only made him look more good than he already was. His mop of ash-blonde hair was neatly pulled back, long enough to reach the top of the collar of his white robes.

There was also one dangling gold earring on his right ear and would have probably the insignia of the infamous group of magicians.

My heart started to beat like crazy inside my ribcage as I stared at him. He was also doing the same, all the while smiling.

There was only one man here who owned that pair of golden irises, and a man who could share a table with the royalty.

"Janus Cromwell..." I whispered breathily, already feeling light-headed.

'Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit...'

One after another, they kept coming!

I suddenly want to turn around and run. Run as fast as I could to avoid him.

'Holy shit... It's Janus! It's truly him! Oh gosh... Oh goodness...'

Obviously, I am having an internal panic attack. My breathing was heavy because of the fast beating of my heart. Add the fact that I was literally screaming bloody murder inside of my head.

'What is with this sudden development? Why am I seeing him here? Why am I seeing everyone?'

Maybe I could still turn around and escape. I mean, Her Majesty has not seen me yet anyway, so maybe...

"Your Highness, your guest had arrived," Janus suddenly informed her while still smiling indulgently.

-- Nope. She knows now. I can't turn back now.

Damn it!

The Empress then moved to look at me who had stopped walking and had probably looked like I was shitting myself or something.

"Nadia! You're finally here! Come and I will introduce you to someone," she said and beckoned me forward.