Hanara started to use her name as 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 had if Zilant had not interfered.

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 dressed herself to enter Zilant’s Dragon Snow Knight and around the knights as a male. Thus, everyone else, other than those who knew her real identity, thinks she is a male.

When Zilant’s training ground opened for the new recruits, Enya slipped in wearing the plain clothes of a commoner. Her expression was unreadable, her steps measured, as if the line of nervous hopefuls meant nothing to her. Zilant stood in the hallway, arms crossed, while Cullen paced before the recruits, checking each name on the roster.

“Enya Fraye,” 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, hiding it with the bow and arrow. 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. The arrow cut through the air with a sharp hiss, so swift that the target shuddered on impact. The vibration echoed down the wooden post, making the recruits flinch at the sudden thrum.

She pulled another arrow, steadying her breath. Although she trembled and fumbled with the arrow, she swallowed hard to keep her composure.

TWO—Bullseye on the bullseye.

Then she pulled another arrow, smiling slyly next to the bow. This time, the wind nudged it slightly off, but she corrected mid-release.  A sharp eye needs no focus.

THREE—Bullseye on the bullseye on the first bullseye.

She stared at the arrows on the mark. Not bad. I would have to adjust for the wind next time.

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.

One knight walked to the target and grabbed the arrows Enya shot. He blinked, then stumbled back. The wooden stand had been pushed several inches into the dirt. 

What the hell… was that?

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.

Aiming for my neck? Enya observed carefully. Before his blade came within a foot, she shifted the angle of her sword, guiding his attack harmlessly aside. At the same instant, she positioned her sword near his neck, ending the training in a single, precise move. Everyone gasped. Ken trembled.

“You rushed in without thinking. That’s why you lost,” Enya said as she lowered her sword. Ken trembled with frustration. He tightened his grip on the sword and swung at her because he couldn’t touch even her hair strand. He decided to charge at her.

Ken smirked as he swung the sword down at her. Enya clashed her sword against his, looking at Ken’s facial reaction. She smiled.

“How dare you smile?!” Ken then applied body pressure with the sword, causing his sword to clash with the ground. Dirt and pebbles flew around them, one specifically slashing Enya’s cheek.

She paused.

She touched her cheek, feeling the sting. A single drop of red gleamed against her fingertip. Ken started laughing maniacally as he looked at her.

“Ain’t so happy about that now, are you? You puny little punk!” He charged once again. Enya’s glare narrowed, her eyes glowing with precision.

She evaded and kicked his sword out of his grip, and then she pointed her sword at his eye from curving it onto her waist. She wanted to slash his neck to have one less Dragon knight to deal with, but she stopped. 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’s chest tightened. That stance… I had seen it before. Impossible.

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, but she slowed down, waiting. 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 back to look at the papers that Cullen handed.

“This person is a commoner, yet why does his performance show that he has 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 softened, knowing that Hansel understood how birds’ 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. Just like mother’s… She swallowed silently in guilt.

Hansel blushed as he looked away.

What the heck?! We are boys! “Thank you… You also have pretty green eyes, too…”

Enya paused, looking at him, and then she chuckled.

“When you are and you find a woman that you want to spend your entire life with, introduce her to me.”

Hansel looked at her, shocked and delighted to hear a friendly comment, maybe a family one. He smiled and nodded.

“Thanks!” he said nervously. Enya nodded once. Suddenly, Zilant stormed in.

“Hansel,” his deep, cold voice struck through, snapping Hansel into anxiety. Hansel jolted and looked at Zilant instantly.

“Duke…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🪶 🔥 Princess, Don’t Waver ❄️ 🐉 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s Note:

I thought hard for this chapter… Despite being sick, I tried to finish this chapter, but here it is now.

I’m sorry for the late upload! Enjoy reading