The speech ended, and the heroes spent some time simply talking and hanging around waiting for the preparations to be completed and for the journey to begin.

As this was happening, the heroes were surprised to see the princess moving their way with both of her personal guards in tow since she was at the auditorium.

They assumed she was probably coming to wish them well on their journeys ahead, but after sharing a few polite greetings with the others, she requested to pull Caleb to the side for a quick conversation.

The others were confused, as they had no idea when those two had actually become so close. Some of the heroes who are also in the princess’s faction thought it possible they might be discussing something related to faction strength....

But there was no longer a need for a faction, what with Victor out of the picture. So, what exactly could those two be talking about in the corner of the auditorium where they have now moved to?

As the heroes talked amongst themselves, most teasing Ava that someone else was probably gunning for her man, since Caleb had become just as hot and even more so than most of them. Another thing that surprised the heroes, but they would only address in passing.

Where the rest made playful jeers about what they might be in a conversation about, two ladies were not so amused.

Ava simply grew quiet. Well, quieter than she usually used to be as she watched them in the distance. While Erica looked like she had swallowed a fly, and even as Broddy was trying to initiate a conversation with her, her eyes never left those two.

Someone else was having a completely different reaction from the rest, as his thoughts spun...

’I knew he was scum..... Just you wait, Caleb!"

’I will open Ava’s eyes to who you truly are..... And then destroy you!’

Jacob thought scornfully as images of Caleb and Ava flooded his mind for the one hundredth time that day.

He shook his head vehemently, assuring himself that once he successfully removed the source of this affliction.... It would surely end, and he could finally be with Ava with that person out of the way.

For some strange reason, he couldn’t explain, seeing Ava being taken like that by his enemy made him want her even more.

After almost five minutes of conversation between Caleb and the princess in the distance, Caleb walked over to the rest of the group with the usual soft smile on his face, and it was Erica who first asked him what the princess wanted.

All turned curiously to know the reason, because the princess’s current status in the kingdom wasn’t a small one; she was the future queen. Even Andrew, who was always focused on his blade, turned in curiosity.

Zorat, knowing such a question would come, simply refused to answer any of their questions, citing that it was the princess’s private matters. He saw no reason to indulge in their curiosities when it did not benefit him in any way.

However, his response was quite unsatisfactory for two ladies, who made a note to be extra wary of this princess. It was as if their thought were in sync, but while one knew the other felt that way, the other had no idea, and was under the belief that she alone had her man to herself.

Soon, they were informed that all preparations had been made, and all the heroes proceeded to the front of the palace gates, where a golden carriage awaited, and inside was no doubt the saintess.

Flanking both sides of the golden carriage were a total of six imperial knights at the grandmaster realm, three on either side on their horses.

To the back of the carriage was a team of twenty master realm knights, all in their shiny silver armor and looking very ready for action.

At the front, the heroes are to lead the march with the pathfinder to the side, and after extensive lessons on horse riding, all were now very good with their steeds.

With them all in their hero gear, emblems, and rings, the line-up of heroes was a sight to behold.

Of course, Zorat took no such lessons on horseriding, but he looked just as masterful with the beast as the others.

Most of the other heroes assumed he must have prior experience from their home world, but Ava knew better....

She knew Caleb had no such history of horse riding, which somehow made the fact that he could currently ride a horse so well all the more impressive.

Whenever memories of what they had done two days ago came to mind, Ava could not help but blush pink in shyness as she adjusted on her horse, holding the reins tighter and casting furtive glances at Caleb.

Ever since their passionate encounter two days ago, they have never really gotten a chance to talk about things, yet.

Ava had, in fact, gone to pay a visit twice to Caleb..... But both times she was in her stealth mode. So, it was much less of a visit and more of stalking, but she did not see it that way.

With the crazy rate at which her stealth skills were growing, she could basically go unnoticed wherever and whenever she wanted.

But the strange thing was, on both occasions she had paid her ’boyfried’ a ’visit’..... She could not find him anywhere in the cabin, just those two women; she usually got the urge to slit their throats.

But knowing they were of some importance to Caleb, after all, she’s seen their dynamics several times, she always reins in that thought just like she’s currently doing with the stead in her grip.

Ava has been living with a secret all her life. A secret that not even her most beloved had been aware of.

She saw life quite differently from others, and the concept of compromising when it came to the very few things she wants or cares about sounds outlandish.

She believes her person should always remain her person, and her person alone.

And the idea of even putting a definite end to whatever or whoever would try to come in the way of that... Sounds absolutely normal and natural to her.

Like she’s done in the past.... She’ll make certain her Caleb is always with and for her.....

Forever.