The camp buzzed with rumors long before the trumpets sounded.
Aiden stood near the stables, brushing down Shinomi's black steed, when he heard the whispers.
"She's coming. The Queen."
"Lady Celestia herself? Here?"
"Must be politics. Peace talks again?"
Aiden's chest tightened. Celestia.
In the novel, her arrival marked the turning point—the moment when Shinomi's icy composure began to melt, not from affection, but from old wounds. She had betrayed him once, and now, she'd come crawling back.
And she always knew how to get under his skin.
---
Aiden watched from the shadows as Celestia's carriage arrived.
She was even more beautiful in person than the illustrations in the novel. Long flaxen hair curled around her shoulders like sunlight. She stepped from the carriage with practiced grace, eyes scanning the encampment like it belonged to her.
Soldiers bowed. The wind quieted. Then her gaze fell on Shinomi, standing at the center of the square.
He did not kneel.
"General," she greeted with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
"Your Majesty," Shinomi replied coolly.
Their eyes locked. Tension cracked the air.
"I heard my presence was requested," Celestia said, stepping closer.
"No," Shinomi said. "Your messenger forced his way into my court."
She tilted her head. "And yet, here I am."
Aiden swallowed thickly as he watched from behind a stack of barrels.
In the novel, Celestia would soon begin trying to rekindle things with Shinomi—not because she loved him, but because the main lead, King Alaric, had started slipping from her grasp. Alaric was passionate, fiery—but unstable. She wanted power. Shinomi offered stability, admiration, devotion… even if she had once thrown it away.
And now, Aiden was in the middle of it all.
---
Later that night, Aiden was summoned again—this time to deliver fresh wine to Shinomi's quarters.
He knocked once, then entered silently.
To his surprise, Celestia was already there. Sitting on Shinomi's sofa. Laughing.
And Shinomi… was silent.
But not angry. Just unreadable.
"Oh," Celestia said, turning to see Aiden. "You must be the new servant." Her tone was curious, just a hint amused.
Aiden bowed quickly. "Wine, Your Majesty."
As he set the bottle on the table, she stood and circled him slowly. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"
"No, Your Majesty," Aiden lied.
Celestia's eyes narrowed slightly. "You carry yourself strangely for a servant. Noble blood, perhaps?"
Aiden forced a calm smile. "I was raised among nobles. I remember the proper ways."
"Interesting," she said.
Then she turned back to Shinomi. "Do be careful, dear. Even servants carry daggers in their hearts these days."
With that, she exited—her perfume lingering like poison.
Aiden turned to Shinomi, expecting anger or dismissal.
But Shinomi looked at him differently now. Not suspicious. Not cold.
Just… thoughtful.
"She doesn't scare you," he murmured.
"No," Aiden replied.
"Why?"
Aiden met his eyes. "Because I've already chosen the person I believe in."
Shinomi looked at him a long time. Then nodded once.
"Good," he said. "Because when she starts to bare her fangs… you'll need more than belief to survive."
---