CHAPTER 164: ON THE GIRL’S SIDE

Meanwhile, back at Elreth, Azalea, and Khione’s location, their super train had just pulled into Angel’s City. Unlike Lux and the others, they did not join together. As expected for royalty, a sleek white limousine was already stationed by the platform, its golden crest of the imperial family gleaming faintly under the moonlight. The chauffeur bowed deeply upon seeing the third princess before swiftly ushering the three young women inside.

Their ride carried them smoothly through the glowing streets of Angel’s City. Soon, they arrived at their destination—a villa owned by the royal family, not too far from the heart of the city. Unlike the sprawling estates and towering palaces usually associated with imperial wealth, this villa was subtle yet breathtaking. It was crafted almost entirely of enchanted glass that shimmered under the soft glow of crystal lanterns, reflecting the night sky like a mirror. Surrounding it were cascading waterfalls that fed into graceful fountains, their waters flowing in intricate arcs as if dancing in the air, scattering droplets like diamonds across the villa’s garden.

Khione sat back against the seat, her eyes closed, saying nothing to the other two. Her silence was heavy, deliberate, a wall of frost between her and her companions. Meanwhile, Elreth and Azalea leaned toward the glass window, quietly admiring the scenery. It had been quite some time since they last visited Angel’s City, and even for them—daughters of noble houses who had seen many of the empire’s wonders—the serene elegance of this villa left them momentarily enchanted.

~A few minutes later.

Dinner at the villa was a quiet yet elegant affair. The dining hall itself was built of curved glass walls that opened to the night, giving the illusion that they were eating in the middle of a starry sky. The waterfalls outside provided a constant, soothing murmur, their silver streams catching the glow of the moon as if the heavens themselves poured light into the estate. The long table gleamed with polished silverware and porcelain plates, each dish carefully prepared by the villa’s chefs, who had arrived beforehand to ready the place for the princess.

Roasted sea bass caught fresh from the empire’s northern coasts was served alongside crisp vegetables grown in enchanted soil, their flavor richer than any ordinary harvest. Platters of thinly sliced beef simmered in spiced sauce rested on golden trays, while delicate pastries filled with honey and cream concluded the meal. Crystal glasses of red wine, poured by silent butlers, reflected the dancing light of enchanted candles that floated above the table.

Elreth and Azalea conversed lightly, their tones alternating between soft laughter and sharp remarks as only old rivals-turned-friends could manage. Khione, however, barely spoke a word. She ate in silence, her posture upright and deliberate, her gaze often lowering to her plate rather than meeting anyone else’s eyes. Even when Elreth teased Azalea about how the wine might make her cheeks flush redder than her hair, or when Azalea threw a biting retort back about Elreth’s fiery temper, Khione remained detached, her fork and knife moving with cold precision.

The air around her was different—aloof, untouchable. Though she was sitting at the same table, she seemed distant, locked in her own thoughts. Every so often, she would glance at her phone, her expression unreadable, and then return to her meal with that same icy composure. The other two weren’t shocked nor distressed by her behavior, it was her usual self so there was nothing to worry about.

When dinner finally came to an end, Khione rose before the others had finished their laughter. She wiped her lips delicately with the silk napkin, thanked the servants in her usual curt way, and excused herself without offering much explanation. The sound of her heels echoed lightly against the marble floor as she left the dining room, disappearing into the glass corridors that led toward the villa’s upper floor.

Her room was one of the villa’s finest. It overlooked a waterfall that cascaded directly past the balcony, the sound of rushing water blending with the night breeze. White curtains swayed gently with the wind, and the entire chamber gleamed with soft silver-blue light that filtered in through enchanted panes of glass. Khione slipped off her shoes, placed her phone on the bedside table, and stretched across the large bed. Yet even in the silence of her private room, she couldn’t keep her thoughts from drifting elsewhere—to him. She frowned at herself, unwilling to admit it, and turned away, burying the feeling under her usual layers of frost.

Meanwhile, Elreth and Azalea remained downstairs. With Khione gone, the tension that often lingered between the three eased like smoke dissolving into the air. Elreth stretched back in her chair and grinned, waving for another bottle of wine. Azalea, though usually composed, didn’t decline, her pointed ears twitching slightly as the aroma filled the room.

They moved to the lounge near the villa’s indoor glass atrium. There, a low crystal table stood surrounded by plush sofas, the sound of water trickling from a fountain at its center. The two young women poured themselves another glass of wine, their reflections shimmering faintly in the glass walls around them.

The wine was strong, rich, and carried the warmth of aged oak. Elreth drank boldly, laughing at her own jokes, while Azalea sipped with elegance, though her cheeks soon took on a soft flush. They began playing a game of strategy with small crystal tiles, each one glowing faintly with runes when placed on the board. The game was one they had often played as children when brought together by imperial gatherings.

"Still slow as ever, Azalea," Elreth teased after winning the first round with a smirk.

Azalea arched an eyebrow, smirking back despite her blush. "Says the one who only ever wins by being reckless. One day, your flames will burn you out."

Wine loosened their words, turning the night into a dance of taunts, laughter, and playful glares. The villa’s servants kept discreetly to the background, ensuring fresh glasses and quiet music strummed softly by enchanted instruments in the corner.

Hours slipped by. Outside, the waterfalls glittered under the starlight, their constant flow echoing through the glass villa like a lullaby. The two girls remained in the lounge, half-drunk but enjoying the rare chance to simply relax. Their laughter echoed through the halls, carrying even faintly up to Khione’s room where she lay awake, eyes closed, pretending not to hear.

By the time midnight passed, empty bottles of wine rested forgotten on the table, and Elreth was sprawled across the sofa with a half-smile, while Azalea leaned back against the cushions, her silk golden hair spilling freely around her face. They talked until their voices grew soft, until even their teasing dulled into lazy murmurs. The night embraced the villa, and at last, silence claimed it—save for the rush of waterfalls and the distant whisper of the sea beyond Angel’s City.

Morning came softly to Angel’s City, the villa bathed in the pale glow of dawn. The glass walls caught the first rays of sunlight, scattering them into thousands of shards of gold and silver that played across the marble floors. Outside, the waterfalls sparkled brighter than they had the night before, each stream of water glinting like strands of liquid crystal as the sun rose behind the towering mountains. The city itself, visible in the distance through the glass walls, was stirring awake—white towers reflecting morning light, boats crossing the glittering sea around the island, and the faint hum of life beginning anew.

Inside, the villa was unusually quiet after the laughter and clinking of glasses that had filled the night.

Khione was the first to rise. She had not slept deeply, her mind restless even as her body demanded rest. She sat by the balcony of her room, already dressed in a flowing white morning gown that shimmered faintly like frost under the sun. Her long pristine white hair caught the light as she brushed it in silence, eyes drifting toward the city’s skyline. She held a porcelain cup of tea, the steam curling upward like faint wisps of snow, but her gaze remained distant.

Her phone rested on the small table beside her, untouched since last night. A faint frown tugged at her lips as if she wanted to reach for it but refused. Instead, she sipped her tea slowly, her expression unreadable, the coldness around her intact but thin—fragile, as though one word could shatter it.

Downstairs, Elreth stirred awake with far less grace. She groaned, tossing an arm over her face as the morning sun pierced through the glass walls of the lounge where she had apparently fallen asleep. Her crimson hair was a tangled mess, her dress from the night before crumpled. She blinked her orange eyes blearily at the empty wine bottles scattered across the crystal table, then gave a lazy grin.

"Damn, that was good wine," she muttered, stretching like a cat.

Azalea was already awake, of course. Despite drinking nearly as much as Elreth, she had an uncanny ability to compose herself quickly.