"Don't even think of making her your target," Xion commented.

"Why?" asked Aeron curiously. So far, not a single woman had been able to resist his charm.

"Because she's getting married tomorrow."

"Oh, really?" asked Aeron, disappointed. "It's because she hasn't met me. If she had met me first, she wouldn't be able to love anyone else."

Love?

Unfortunately, Xion knew that tomorrow, Emma would not marry out of love. He was sure of it.

He didn't know what other agreements Therius and Emma had after her father was executed, but Xion could sense that Emma finally married Therius for political reasons. It was something he could never understand.

"It's good that you're here," voiced Xion, hugging Aeron's shoulder. "Would you like to accompany me for a drink? It feels bad drinking alone."

"Yes, I am a VVIP guest in a lounge nearby. We can drink until we pass out for the sake of reminiscing about the past," said Aeron with a laugh. He pulled Xion's shoulder to the left. "We're taking my assistant's travs. We'll get there quickly."

"I cannot drink until I pass out, okay? I promise someone I won't get drunk to attend a wedding," Xion muttered.

"Ah.. that wedding," Aeron was reminded of Emma again. "By the way, who was that girl? Your acquaintance? Who is she getting married to?"

Xion frowned. "Didn't you see Therius nearby? Emma is getting married to Therius tomorrow."

"Therius ...? Therius, your best friend? No, I didn't see him." Aeron pursed his lips.

Xion now remembered that Therius was standing behind Emma and hugged her from behind. Maybe that's why Aeron didn't see him.

"He was there. Therius was standing behind her."

"Ohh .. I didn't know. I haven't seen him for a long time. How is he now?"

Xion just laughed at Aeron's question. It seems that until now, Aeron still didn't know that Therius is Prince Licht, the future king of Akkadia.

"Him? Alright, I guess," Xion said lightly. He refused to elaborate.

When they arrived at the lounge where Aeron was a VVIP regular, the two of them immediately welcomed by hysterical screams from the girls who saw the arrival of two handsome young men in the doorway.

"Aeron!! Baby!! Come sit here with us ... !!" exclaimed the girls, trying to run towards him.

But Aeron's bodyguards were very efficient. They all held back the fans who wanted to lunge to touch and kiss Aeron. The young man just shook his head with a big smile and waved at them while throwing beautiful flowers.

It wasn't long before he and Xion had entered a private room with strict privacy and guarded by several muscular bouncers. Three beautiful girls dressed in sexy clothes immediately came to bring drinks for both of them.

"You haven't changed, after all these years. Still breaking women's hearts everywhere," Xion commented with a laugh. He clinked his glass to Aeron glass. "You are a singer now?"

"No ... I am not just A SINGER, but the NUMBER ONE SINGER in Akkadia. A megastar, most people call me." Aeron raised his index finger and wagged it in front of Xion. "And I'm offended that you don't know I'm so famous right now."

Xion rolled his eyes when he heard Aeron boast his popularity. "Sorry, yeah. I'm a mountain hermit, not interested in such things."

"I forgive you," said Aeron. "By the way, tell me more about that beautiful girl. Geez ... it's a shame that such an attractive girl is going marry Therius, that block of ice. It's unacceptable! Where's the wedding? I'll come and make the girl realize that she could get a better man than him."

"You mean you?" asked Xion while shaking his head. He chuckled in amusement. "You're still as cocky as ever."

"Ah .. that's the reality, really. I'm the nation's husband in Akkadia. Last year's popularity poll proves it. The only man who might be SLIGHTLY more popular than me is the crown prince, but we never see him. As far as I know, he is quiet and ugly. What made him score high in that poll was the fact that he will soon become king because King Cassius is old and sickly."

Xion nodded his head. "You're right."

Actually, Xion was tempted to tell Aeron that their schoolmate, Therius, was actually the crown prince and as they both know, this man was quiet, but he wasn't at all ugly. His physical appearance was not inferior to Aeron. He was just not good at handling female admirers, unlike Aeron, the womanizer. However, Xion managed to keep his mouth shut since he didn't want to reveal Therius' secret to anyone.

The two men then talk about their old school days that brought good memories and a lot of laughs. Apparently, after graduating from the academy, Aeron ventured around Akkadia and published a pictorial book about his travels that became a bestseller. It didn't hurt that his beautiful androgynous face was all over the page.

After he had enough of exploring, Aeron finally decided to enter the entertainment industry and his career immediately took off. His good looks, his beautiful voice, and his charm when dealing with female fans immediately made him the most sought-after man in all of Akkadia.

Not only in the Akkadia empire, but Aeron was also famous in the other kingdoms.

"I thought I had it all in life," said Aeron. "Still, it feels like something is missing. I don't know what it is."

The man looked pensive, staring at his wine glass.

"Hmm .. maybe you need to fall in love," said Xion with a shrug. "I saw Therius changed a lot after he met Emma. For the first time, I saw him happy. Now he's starting to smile a lot."

Aeron glared in astonishment. "Therius? Smiling? Jeez ... The end of the world must be near. The seven gods will end our time in Akkadia."

He remembered that schoolmate of his who was quiet and always looked serious. It was easier to catch a dragon than to make that boy smile.

Aeron remembered the only thing that made him win over Therius at the academy in terms of popularity was because Therius always looked cold and uncaring.

When the young man smiled, he looked very handsome. Especially if he smiled broadly and showed his dimples. Bah ... even Aeron might turn gay! Therius really looked like an angel when he smiled.

Luckily he looked like the devil more often than not.

***

"Thank you, for taking me to watch the Three Moon Fire festival tonight," said Emma as she stopped in front of her room and prepared to enter. "And.. for showing me the capital from the air. It was beautiful."

Therius nodded. "I'm delighted to be able to watch this special night with you."

The two of them stood by the door, not moving. The atmosphere looked very solemn. The light of the three moons above the Akkadian night sky was bright enough to allow them to see each other's face very clearly.

"What wish did you write on your lantern earlier?" asked Emma breaking the silence. Therius seemed very reluctant to leave her and go to his own room.

The young man looked at Emma deeply and then asked back. "How about you? What is your wish?"

If I can grant it, I'll make sure you get what you want, Therius said to himself.

Emma shrugged. "I want to meet my mother."

Therius smiled at that. This is a very simple request. He can grant it.

"We will go straight to Thaesi after the wedding. You will soon meet your mother," said the young man. He took Emma's hand and held it. "My wish is also simple. I hope you will be able to love me as your husband, when you are done mourning."

Emma was stunned at Therius' words. Apparently, the two of them wrote down a simple wish on the lanterns before releasing them into the air.

Emma didn't know if she would ever love another man the way she loved Haoran.

However, in her heart, Emma promised to try. If Therius continued to love her sincerely and treated her well, Emma had no reason not to return his feelings after she was done mourning.

"I hope ... on the next Three Moon Fire night ... I can follow you into your room and spend the night with you," said Therius with a husky voice.