"You will marry the crown prince of Hyperion!"

King Dylan announced in the immense court. Judith just stood there not knowing how to refuse.

Catching sight of her brother smirking with his trustworthy subordinates starts making her blood boil. The nobles, who knew the temper of their feared princess tried to stop Benjamin, Judith's older brother.

"Your Highness, please don't make matters worse. The Princess is almost on the verge of running amok."

As his eyes got locked with Judith's, he could feel the coldness down his spine. He was well aware that no matter how much he tried in the end, Judith would remain on the top.

King Dylan who was witnessing the tension between his two children, got up from his throne and said in a heavy tone.

"May the princess leave for Hyperion tomorrow dawn."

"That damned man of a ruler", Judith thought inwardly.

As she stepped into her chamber, she sighed and clenched her fist tightly thinking that all the hard work she had done to get this far was in vain.

The next morning, she got in the carriage and left for Hyperion Empire. On the route, she was thinking if the rumours that she heard about the prince back in her kingdom were true or just baseless gossip.

...*****...

As the carriage approached the imperial city, Judith was exhausted by the long carriage ride from the faraway east to the empire. She instructed the driver to stop the carriage near the bakeries.

"I haven't tasted the sweets of the empire so why not go and see around some cake shops!", she said in a low voice.

As she walked towards a luxurious-looking cake shop, the whispering of the locals reached her ears. The commoners who were well aware of the royal crest of Elhark on the carriage doors were aware of the appearance of the Witch of Elhark and gossiped in a trembling voice.

"Isn't she the one to be wed to the crown prince!"

"I can't believe the witch is marrying into the imperial family."

Judith frowned, trying to hold her anger in. She shook her head and sat back in the carriage, ordering the driver to take the carriage straight to the palace.

The doors of the palace unfurled, allowing entrance to the grand carriage. Judith stepped out of the carriage, her brownish-red hair flowing beautifully down her waist, her sharp eyes inspecting the behaviour of the knights earnestly.

The knights who were both feared of her cold eyes and were mesmerized by her looks stood at a safe distance from her. One of the knights came forward, he was the captain of the imperial knights and bowed deeply to Judith.

"The captain of the imperial knights greets Her Highness, the princess of Elhark".

"May I escort you to the garden, the crown prince has already arrived."

Judith nodded, when going through the palace she couldn't help but be charmed by the interiors of the place.

Entering the royal garden, someone caught her eye it was the famous crown prince, Hellard Rodgo Hyperion. Tanned skin, golden hairs, and golden eyes that fitted that of a lion were sitting elegantly on the chair.n

"He is good-looking!", was the first thing that came to her mind. (😂😂)

Judith sat across the table with Hellard glaring at her from head to toe. Disagreement was clear in both of their eyes. The pale white skin colour didn't even catch his sight with both parties raising tension it was clear that this engagement was bound to break. Hellard, after he was finished scanning his fiancee said with a straight face.

"It's an honour to meet the 'Witch of Elhark' in person!!".

"This bastard!", Judith held it in.

"Why would you say that? The small fleets I have under my belt are nothing compared to the mighty things you have done."

"Your reputation precedes you even in a small remote nation like Elhark".

She said with her eyes glaring coldly at Hellard.

"All my misdeeds combined are hardly a drop in a bucket compared to yours, you rude little bastard!".

Even though it was spoken in mind but Hellard didn't like how she was speaking to him without a hint of fear in her eyes. The crown prince, whom anyone didn't dare to make eye contact with is being glared at by a princess. A thought came to their minds at the same time, it was.......

"I should just kill you! ".

The atmosphere was still tense when Hellard's younger sister, Enisha stepped in. Her fluttering golden hair and amber eyes were the sign of Hyperion lineage.

"Brother!!", she let out in a cheerful voice.

"Enisha!!!", Hellard jumped from his seat, ran, and lifted her high in the air.

Judith was a bit surprised by the sudden change in his aura.

The face which has a bright glow was very familiar. The young princess approached her with a gentle smile.

"So you were my brother's fiancée!!".

A warm smile spread across Judith's face. The little girl was none other than the mage who saved Judith in a war two years ago but she never expected her to be the third star of Hyperion.

Hellard looked at them with a confused look.

"What's going on, Enisha?", he asked with a poker face.

"Oh! We know each other from an incident long ago".

"Huh! But why are you so friendly with her, you have your brother here!"

Enisha made a face like she was saying 'Why is he acting like this?'.Enisha also joined them and when they were having tea, Hellard spoke up.

"If Enisha wants I can buy you a house made of sweets!"

"Thank you, Brother! I know you love me very much."

Hallard was acting like this just so that he could show off their sibling love to Judith.

Enisha turned to Judith and asked if the tea was of her liking and just when she was about to answer, Hellard intruded.

"Your brother is also drinking tea, Enisha!"

Judith's lips crocked because after Enisha saved her life she was naturally drawn to her but Hellard was just disturbing them.

"I know you're enjoying your tea. I saw you put milk and sugar in it."

(Hellard doesn't like bitter things including the sugarless tea nobles drink).

Hellard grasped the teacup firmly. Suddenly the garden doors clacked open and the second prince of Hyperion walked in gracefully, he was Hellard's twin brother, Rosiel Emelita Hyperion.

Judith got up and bent slightly to show her respect.

"I greet the second star of Hyperion! I am Judith Elhark."

Rosiel also nodded at her greeting and introduced himself.

"Rosiel Emelita Hyperion!", he said elegantly.

He walked behind the chair on which Enisha was sitting and said as he hold her shoulder.

"Shall we get out of their way, Enisha? We should let these two enjoy their time together."

"Where do you think you're taking her?! Enisha said she wanted to be with me!". Hellard intruded.

"Shut up! You should pay attention to our special guest!", Rosiel said in an irritated voice.

"I don't mind the princess staying here", Judith continued.

"Fate brought us together once again!".

"What's this about fate?", Rosiel asked with a bewildered look.

"She's saying right! We know each other from an incident long ago." Enisha said with a big smile which was enough to melt Judith's heart.

As Judith placed her hand on the table, Enisha narrowly touched her hand and said, "I will keep what we talk about a secret."

"You still remember!", Judith asked surprisingly.

"Of course!", Judith and Enisha looked at each other with flustered faces.

And for Hellard and Rosiel, after looking at those two with a face saying, "What the hell is going on?", faced each other and said.

"Huh?!"

...*****...

In the meeting room

Rodgo and the twins sat there with a bunch of documents.

"I can't believe Enisha treated that woman better than me!?", Hellard was irritated.

"They were so lovey-dovey! It was sickening!", he continued.

"It is something different this time, to think that Princess Elhark knows Enisha from before coming to the empire," Rosiel said while scanning the documents.

"She left early because she just came to introduce herself but when they're married Judith Elhark will settle in the imperial family for good and then......"

Suddenly, pictures of Enisha playing with Judith filled their mind and only one thing came to their mind.

"We won't be able to stand it!!!"

"We can take advantage of the fact that we are family," Hellard said with a mischievous smile.

"We need something to strengthen our bond with Enisha." It was Rosiel who was calmer than Rodgo and Hellard but was on the same level of jealousy as them.

Hellard remembered something in a blink of an eye and said in an excited yet irritated tone.

"One of my knights asked for a vacation as he was going on a picnic with his family."

Rodgo and Rosiel's eyes widened but then a wave of excitement wash over them.

"Yes! A family picnic!"

...*****...

Enisha who was looking through the documents with Lesina, suddenly felt a shade above her head and looked up only to find Hellard grinning.

"Why is he smiling like this?", Enisha thought

Following him were Rodgo and Rosiel wearing just simple shirt that was too plain for royal family members.

Rodgo lifted Enisha and said calmly.

"We're goin' on a picnic, Enisha!"

"What!? All of a sudden!"

"Yeah! We should also spend time like this, it will be fun!", Hellard said mischievously.

But to think that the Imperial Family, can make a person faint just by glaring at them is now afraid of a foreign princess because they were well aware that this time their opponent was a princess, who is feared all over the continent.

And just like that the royal family, who has never even had a walk together, planned a family picnic just to seize the youngest from the Witch of Elhark

The picnic spot was a countryside town named Terpene. The atmosphere there was bright and near the shore making it the perfect picnic spot. Enisha was dressed in a light summer dress with Rodgo and the twins wearing shirts without any fancy decorations.

"Brother! Dad!", Enisha said as she was playing in shallow water, and it was enough to make their hearts swell with love.

Enisha made her way toward Hellard.

"Hellard, look!!!", Enisha showed him the fish she just caught with excitement.

"Oh!! Want me to roll up in some sushi!", he proudly claimed that when he was at war, his knife skills improved a lot.

Enisha with a sulked face freed the fish back into the water. Before Hellard could analyze what just happened here he received a punch from Rosiel straight in his stomach.

"How can you say something like this to our little sister?!"

Rosiel approached Enisha and said in her ear.

"If Hellard says any nonsense again hit him hard in the stomach."

Hellard after hearing this can do nothing but regret his words from a moment ago.

After returning to the imperial palace, what waited for them was a pile of documents and tons of meetings to attend, of course, Enisha was having fun.

...*****...

[5 years later]

"I want to go to the academy!"

"No! Not at all!!", Hellard cried.

"There's no need to attend the academy, Enisha."

You send Cahil to the academy without my permission, and now you want to stop me from taking education!", Enisha was irritated.

Their horrified faces were a must to see.

And that's how Enisha left for Henore Academy which was in the east.

Enisha and Judith always shared letters and gifts as the academy was close to Elhark.

Time flies, and soon it was Enisha's 18th birthday.

(Judith and Hellard's wedding was scheduled after Enisha's coming-of-age ceremony according to the novel)

...*****...

[3 years later]

After Enisha's 18th birthday celebration, the palace became busy in preparation for the royal wedding.

Hellard was depressed! 😂

[Hellard's pov]

Just thinking about marrying that crazy woman is making me sick!

It's all because of Rosiel! I just made a little fun of him after Arcus's left-wing mage almost sent him to hell and he arranged a marriage for me as revenge. After all, he is after the dowry.

The door creaked open and Enisha entered the chamber and Hellard's mood got better after seeing Pruney.

"You still thinking about the wedding!?", Enisha asked as she sat on the corner of the bed.

"What? No, not at all! Me worrying about something as small as marriage!?", he shrugged.

"Listen, Brother! Judith's not that bad and you both have so much in common. I don't think anyone will be more suitable for you than her."

"Hmm~ Ok, fine!", he was not pleased by the explanation.

"Oh! I forgot the seamster has come to take measurements for the wedding uniform."

"I am coming! You go first!", Hellard smiled with thumbs up.

As soon as Enisha left the room, Hellard's mood changed as if the wind washed over his face.

No matter what you say Enisha I can never like that woman even if we have much in common.

He stared at himself standing in the mirror with a cold face.

...*****...

[At the Elhark Palace]

[Judith's pov]

I can't believe this day finally came. I will be married in a week and yet Benjamin is still trying to kill me in any possible way. On top of that, the royal son(Judith's nephew) is pissing me too much these days but I am controlling myself as I don't want any extra trouble.

"Oh, Aunt! What are you thinking so deeply? About the crown prince!?", the royal son asked playfully and Judith lost it.

She grabbed him by the shoulder hard enough to make him cry in pain.

"Piss off or you will attend the wedding with one arm broken!!"

The royal son shivered in fear and ran with his tail between his legs. Judith sighed in anger.

What does that bastard think that if he is the royal son he can do whatever he desires!?

Soon it was the day of the wedding. Both regions were celebrating the union of the two most powerful nations on the continent except the bride and groom.