Andrews was standing under the apple tree overlooking the small pond. The lake was at the garden's center with countless herbs, trees, and flower plants surrounding it. The air was pungent with the fragrance of jasmine. The lake was no natural basin filled with meltwater, but a luxury addition to the garden built by Ethan's grandfather. The lake was filled with colorful fishes such as the Japanese Koi Carp and goldfish. They were huge and numerous, each about as long as an adult arm. He gazed across the wind-ruffed surface to the lily pads in bloom, their white or magenta petals catching the breeze. He inhaled slowly. Peace. His little piece of heaven in the Winston family manor. While an unsettling look in his eyes, he gently grabbed an apple above him.
Under the sunrise, the apples glowed rosier than they do in the day's shine. The branches spread out as if so proud of the bounty they brought and sweetness given within each one. It was a party of colors, a perfect marriage of reds and greens, in blushes of baby pinks and dappled hues of chaos and order. It was a beauty that sprung from simple seeds blessed with mud and rain.
On normal days, this tree and the scenery around him used to calm his mind. He learned most of his runes sitting under the apple tree. However, at this moment, even the tree or the scenery couldn't even slightly calm his nerves. The hooded person was standing beside him staring at the beautiful glistening lake. The person was about Andres's shoulder height.
"Andrews" the hooded person spoke with a sweet feminine voice. Contrary to what Samuel was thinking, the hooded person was not a he but a she. The girl concealed all her feminine features with the oversized hood and cloak.
"What are we gonna do?" the girl asked. Her voice overflowed with worry and concern. Andrews gently patted her hand on his shoulder. He tried to hide his anxiety with a smile.
"One thing for sure, you cannot disobey your father. My family has enough problems as it is. We can't add another one to the list. Let's hope Noah can help us" said Andrews.
Because there were no guards inside the garden, the girl rested her head on Andrews's shoulder after he spoke. While they were drowned in their own train of thoughts, Noah entered the garden through the Archway. They failed to hear his footsteps as they were too concerned about the upcoming championship tournament.
A sliver of surprise could be seen in Noah's eyes when he saw the two of them. It was evident that the other person was a she as they both looked like couples in a park. Noah never thought Andrews had a girlfriend. He couldn't help wondering why Andrews chose not to tell him or anyone in the family.
"Andrews" Hearing Noah's voice, Andrews's body jerked as the girl immediately lifted her head from his shoulder. They turned back to see Noah looking at them with a frown on his face.
"Noah" Andrews swallowed a mouth full of saliva. Gradually sweat drops started to form on his forehead thinking how he's gonna ask Noah's help.
"Who is that?" Noah asked as the girl lifted her hood to show herself. The moment Noah saw her face, he was stunned. For a few seconds, Noah was speechless.
"Princess Katherine '' the girl in front of him was the princess of Kingdom Bradia. Noah's stomach churned seeing the princess in their garden with no royal guards around her.
The girl had a long face, a small nose, and small lips. Her hazel eyes were narrow with thin eyebrows. The golden silky hair was fluttering in the wind. There were no flaws in her beauty. Every inch of her body was perfect like it was sculpted by the gods themselves.
"Guardian Noah" The princess curtsied showing her respect towards Noah.
If this was any other day and different circumstances, Noah would have shown proper etiquette by kissing her hand.
"Princess, what are you doing here? Where are the Royal guards?" Noah asked, looking around once again.
"They are in love" Noah suddenly heard his teacher's voice in his head. The Supreme guardian chuckled.
"Noah, I don't know how to tell you..." Andrews's voice trailed off as he couldn't get himself to finish his sentence. He knew just by being here with no royal guards, Katherine has endangered herself. If the king found out that she left the castle with no one knowing to meet her secret lover, not only the princess but also the Winston family would be punished.
"We are in love" Katherine bluntly said. Her voice was clear with no hesitation.
"Does aunt know about this Andrews?" after a few moments of silence, Noah asked. Andrews slowly shook his head as Noah looked at Katherine.
"I assume the king also have no idea about any of this"
She remained silent, "thought so" Noah sighed.
"Just hear us out Noah" Andrews knew he had to tell Noah everything before he asked his help. With a long sigh, Noah nodded. He knew he had to hear Andrews out before making up his mind about what to do with the situation. Besides, he wondered why Andrews chose this moment to reveal his love. If Andrews was in love with the princess, he could have asked his father and asked the king of her hand. Instead of doing that, they decided to meet in secret.
For another fifteen to twenty minutes, both of them explained from where they met first to how they ended up here. Apparently, they had met at the annual rune master's gathering and this was not the princess's first time leaving the castle without her guards. She attended the gathering in disguise. According to both of them, it was love at first sight. Noah wasn't surprised by that because Andrews was a talented runemaster as well as good-looking. It was understandable that the princess fell in love with him.
After their initial meeting, they used to meet often without both families noticing. While Andrews was infected with star pox, she went to Ozer searching for a cure.
Noah was really moved when she said she would have taken her own life if Andrews had died. She said she would rather die than marry another man in her life. When Noah asked why didn't Andrews ask his father to go to Bredia and ask for her hand, Noah received a surprising answer. Although the Winston family was prestigious enough to ask the princess for her hand in marriage, King Bredia was adamant about marrying the princess to a warrior who could protect his daughter. The princess said that her aunt, King Bredia's little sister was assassinated by the Grim Reapers in front of her husband who happened to be a runemaster. King Bredia blamed his brother-in-law for his sister's assassination. In King Bredia's eyes, it was because he was weak and had no combat skill that he failed to save his wife. Since that day, the king promised himself that he would never marry his daughter to a runemaster or anyone without the skills to fight and save his daughter if her life was in danger.
"So you're telling me the King has planned to marry you to the winner of the main championship tournament?"
Now Noah realized why they revealed themselves as lovers to him. Noah hated to admit it but he knew there's no way in hell that Andrews could win the tournament for Body Strengthening cultivators let alone the tournament of the Core Formation cultivators. Even Noah hadn't reached the Core Formation stage yet. He was still at Body Strengthening stage level 10 and it would take him another couple of weeks of cultivation to reach the Core Formation stage.
"My father is willing to offer the Bradford barony to the winner so the winner would become a baron before marrying me"
"Court politics" Andrews sighed.
"Andrews must win this tournament, Master Noah. My father will give my hand to the winner the same day they announce the winner. I'd brother die than give my hand to another man, not in this life" As she said, she flicked her wrist. A small vial of green liquid appeared in her hand. Noah could smell the pungent smell coming from the vial.
"Poison" Noah recognized the liquid with a single glance.
"If Andrews dont win this, I will drink this and die" tears started to roll out of her beautiful eyes.
"And I will follow you to the afterlife, Kathy"
Yet again, Noah was stunned by their words. He couldn't even imagine his loving aunt losing her son. The loss of Andrews would devastate the family and Noah would never let anything happen to his family. Andrews was like a brother to him so how could he let him die?
A sliver of resolve emerged in Noah's eyes.
"I'm not supposed to tell you this but the tournament has been postponed a week from the set date. The committee will announce the news at the end of this week. This gives us exactly two weeks to come up with a plan"
"Postponed, why?" Andrews asked. Although this did not solve their problem, seeing Noah agree to help them gave Andrews some strength.
"The scholars are still working on the device to determine one's cultivation level"
"It must be god's blessing that the tournament has postponed" Katherin wiped off the tears as a sliver of smile filled with hope emerged on her face.
"Master Noah-"
"Please, call me Noah princess. We are gonna be family" Noah placed his hand on Andrews's shoulder. This was his way of showing his support. Noah's smile filled both of them with confidence and hope.
"Noah, this might help us" With another flick of her wrist, a parchment appeared in her hand.. Noah noticed the symbol of veena on the mark.