She Becomes A Passive Villainess-NOT!

What Can You Give?

A few days after, Adira was called to the palace at the behest of the king, unbeknownst to anyone else—even Casimir or Silfor.

She walked inside his office when she heard him grant her permission after she knocked on his door thrice.

Anastasius smiled warmly and Adira relaxed instantaneously. She knew that there was no reason to be nervous in his presence but she still cannot help it. He was the king! The freaking king!

"Good day, Your majesty." She curtseyed and stayed still before Anastasius gave her permission to do otherwise.

"Child, come here." He spoke in his ragged and old voice as he gestured for her to walk closer to him and she did. She stopped just a few feet in front of his desk when he suddenly asked her,

"There is something I would like to ask you. Now, I don't know the extent of your feelings for Casimir, but, this, I need to ask. What can you give Casimir that's worth him rejecting the absolute power Iris Latifolia offers him?"

...

Adira was on her carriage—on her way back to her home as his majesty's words replayed endlessly in her head.

She had been too shocked to give him a suitable answer so she stood there, in front of him, silent and frozen. She didn't know what would have been the perfect answer and she didn't even expect herself to answer the way she did.

"Sir Thomas, can you please stop the carriage for a while?" Adira suddenly called out to her coachman and the latter obeyed immediately.

They were near one of the small lakes on Baron Niveria's land, as she had to pass there to get to her own fief, and got off.

Thomas wanted to accompany her but she shook her head and spoke softly,

"Can I please be left alone for a while?"

Since Adira had left without informing anyone, of course except for this coachman, she had no guards or Heise or Casimir with her. There was only her lonesome self.

She sauntered close to the lake and let the gentle breeze blow past her.

If I had to analyze what Casey's father wants, that would be for me to give up my position as his fiancee to Iris, right?

Because, she is the maiden of light. Of course, the logical thing to do would be to tie the next king to this power through marriage.

But... Will I be able to let go of him? What about the family that I dreamed for Heise? What about my heart? Do I choose the kingdom? Or do I selfishly choose myself again?

There were many thoughts clouding her mind. Ranging from worrying about how the same event from her past life, where she burnt the capital down, might happen again should she choose to be selfish again to what would happen if she chose the kingdom and left Casimir.

What can I even offer Casimir that can top the power to dominate the kingdoms? Sure, I did talk big and made a promise to myself that I would give him the world if he wanted it. But can I really?

Adira was walking deeper and deeper into the spot where the road split. And she was more confused the more she thought about it.

...

While on Triton's side, he was walking aimlessly around the Dalriada's castle's garden. The roses were already blooming and staring at them, he's reminded of Adira's beautiful visage.

Ever since Leon's words and Casimir swooping in to rescue Adira, he has felt more useless than ever.

What do I have to do so Adira would at least look at me or love me?

He thought to himself while mindlessly picking the rose and snipping it off its stem.

"Well, why don't you replace his highness? Literally." A voice suddenly came from above him and Triton fluidly pulled his sword out, immediately on guard against this intruder that he didn't notice, and crushed the rose on his hand on the process.

"Please, I'm not here to pick a fight with you, Lord Dalriada. In fact, I am here to help you solve your problems. You want the Lady Sylveris, no?" The hooded figure, who languidly swung his leg as he was perched up on a tree branch, said and chuckled.

Try as he might, Triton couldn't hide the interest that showed on his face. He didn't want to blatantly oppose the crown, all he wanted was Adira and be married to her. But she unfortunately became tied to it by being engaged to the first prince—Prince Casimir.

"I will be providing you an opportunity, my Lord. It is up to you whether you will take it or not."

"What is it?" Triton, finally giving in to the idea of a chance to snatch Adira for himself, asked although still doubtful of this person's credibility.

"On the eve, a fortnight from now, it'll be the Lady's seventeenth birthday. On that same night, a lunar eclipse will occur.

You only need to make sure that before the eclipse ends and the night clears, you are the first person she sees, hears and touches. You will see what happens then."

The mysterious person said before a strong gust of wind forced Triton to close his eyes involuntarily. The moment he opened his eyes, the person had already vanished and left no trace of him—of how he infiltrated nor how he left.

It left Triton to wonder why exactly that person came to him in the first place and what he wanted to achieve, but it was eventually drowned with his want to see what will happen on that night.

Would I be given the chance to love her and be loved in return? If so, that would be the absolute happiness.

Adira, I'm sorry but I love you too much. I still can't let you go.

He thought as he let the crumpled rose fall, petal by petal, from his hands. He had decided and he was gonna see it through. He was done standing aside and forcing himself to let go of her because of his family's "loyalty". Should Casimir choose to fight it out with him—and he will—he'll just have to snatch the woman and the throne from him.

I'm sorry Casimir. But I choose Adira over my family's loyalty to the crown.