The Conquerors Path

Carmel felt her heart tangle into a mess, the actions of her best friends opening up to a past situation that she kept ignoring, the truth he knew but she hoped she would never have to face. Carmel knew it was cruel but she was hesitant, she didn't want to accept their confession but she also didn't want to reject their feelings and make their relationship sour.

Carmel and Carmelia knew that the two of them were cowards, but they couldn't bring themselves to cut the two off completely. Due to the very reason that both Nix and Melvin had helped her and once saved her life together, and it's the main reason they became so close as friends. Carmel and Carmelia still owe them a life debt, and they can't simply let that go.

It's due to that very reason the two at times accept the stupidity and things Nix and Melvin pull off. Plus, there is indeed the fact that the three of them have known each other for a long time and have been good friends through a lot. Thus, it's hard for Carmel or Carmelia to simply just brush them away, the life debt and years of connection being something they can't just give away.

But even she has limits, and the two just keep pushing it and pushing it. It's now that Carmel is blind to it; she just doesn't want to believe the fact that this is the true face of her best friend. She felt a pang in her heart at that thought, the thought that she was blind to the fact of her best friend's true character and jealousy being something not easy for her to swallow.

Carmel knew it, she knew that behind her back these two at times tried to keep away other males who tried to close the gap with her, their jealousy being something that annoyed her but something she accepted. Plus, Carmel doesn't actually believe in love, she doesn't care for it and doesn't wish to have it either.

Thus, she keeps friends, ones close to her, but she and Carmelia would neither let the concept of love rule over her. And that's why she couldn't really grasp upon the idea of jealousy, that ugly emotion rearing its head and turning her best friends into... that.

Thinking till here, she looked behind, the two of them walking behind her, their eyes red, their expression for the worse, those little things making her heart feel cold. They rushed forth here to help her, and all they kept doing is the fact of making her late and disturbing towards Austin, who was kind enough to bring them here. Thinking of Austin, she looked to her side, the extremely handsome young man moving along with his horse with a cold gaze forward.

'Just what is the story between us?'

Carmel understands for the better that Austin had been good to her since the first meeting. He is displaying a very close level of relationship between the two of them, and the fact that he is a student of Eleanor only went forth to make Carmel more attached to him. The time she spent around with him was extremely relaxing and fun for her, she could see his clear eyes enjoying time with Carmel as Carmel.

The free-spirited adventure-loving hidden side of her being the one that likes to play around, not the princess side, a new sense of freedom filling her as she spent all those late nights and times with him, the thought of the food he makes only making her stomach dance and her mouth water, and these thoughts only made Carmel smile wryly.

'I can see why those two would get so jealous of this.'

Carmel mused, even though she wished to push back the concept of love has felt her heart flutter a lot when she spent her time with Austin, her hand now going to touch the hairpin-like feather on her head, its beautiful texture flashing through her hand, while the memory of Austin's broad back pressing against her while he helped her rub that beast's feathers passing through her mind.

And that was the first time in Carmel's mind that her heart beat that fast, those broad powerful shoulders hitting her back making her heart race so high that she felt light-hearted for a moment. And it's these contradictions that keep Carmel at bay, Austin acts like he wants to end it yet at times when she needs help the most, he wouldn't hesitate to help her. Just what is the story behind them?

Carmel can tell that a story exists, while she did briefly for a moment think of him having 'that' type of feelings for her, she quickly shook that off. If Austin was to have those feelings, it would be hard for Carmel to even say no. From the perspective of the future Empress, Austin will be an invaluable husband, and from the perspective of a woman, Austin is an amazing man that no woman can say no to. Just those goods made by his hands are more than enough to break through any hesitations that Carmel might have.

That is why Carmel knows that Austin is a catch that many women around the world would try to get their hands on, and she has yet to even hear any bad rumors of his behavior or any rumors of him dating anyone. Plus, Carmel knows her self-worth to understand that if Austin plays his card, she might perhaps not be able to fight against his seduction.

'Truly what is the story hidden between us?'

Even though Austin marched right beside her, she felt as if a huge chasm existed between the two of them, a huge secret that had yet to be made bare.

The night sky with shining 3 moons blinded the skies of the Silvie realm, its beautiful twinkling stars shining forth as the group made their way forth to the clearing from the forest, the horses trudging forth to face an open canyon with heat waves burst forth from below, sometimes it being cold, while at other times it being hot.

"Um... looks like we would need to take rest here, after this canyon it's just another hour to reach the tribe, so I recommend we rest here tonight, cause this canyon won't shut down until the morning."

Nini spoke out, her words earning a nod from Austin as he spoke to Carmel.

"What do you think?"

"I'm fine with it if you are."

Carmel spoke with her usual bubbly voice, the two below not even getting a say with Carmel ignoring them. They have now fully been excluded from the group, but now all the two can do is just go with the flow, they just hoping for just one chance to make their presence shine in front of Carmel.

"Why don't we set up then?"

With those words of Austin, everyone started to move, first, the horses started to be arranged well, the food for them being spent, and Austin also went forth to give the horses some life energy, earning their happiness and snorts, and with that the rest going to set their tents in a much more secure and secluded area.

With the statuses of all 5, it didn't take much time to set up very precise and experienced events with powerful enhancements, space, and protection, overall it didn't even take much effort, just placing an already developed cube, running it over with mana such that it expanded to give a very well-spent tent with lots of space inside.

"Why don't we all freshen up, then?"

Nini asked with a smile, the rest just nodding their head while they entered their tent, Austin entered him, this space inside looked more like a luxurious hotel as he took a seat in one of the chairs, he closing his eyes through the moment he did so he felt Nini's presence quickly enter inside his tent as he opened his eyes.

Though the moment he did this, he came to face Nini on the ground, kneeling like it's more natural, while that calm or easy-going face disappeared from her face, now one of pure fascination, love, devotion, worship, and many more complex emotions playing through her eyes and facial features as she spoke.

"Holy son..."