After dropping off Lilia at her apartment, they headed home. In less than a 30-minute drive, their car pulled up at the compound. Everyone was by now exhausted and drained so they all headed straight to their rooms to freshen up and catch a good rest for the morning.
Aims was over at her study table when a knock from the door invaded the serene silence that engulfed her comfort. Her gaze swiftly swept to it expectantly.
" Come in, it's not locked~,” She said, waiting on the intruder. Prince's face came peeping through the half-opened door, and he smiled.
“ Hey...still awake?” He conveyed, heading over to her end. Aims just nodded to it, and her gaze returned to what she was doing. “ You need to get some rest now~ we'll have to head out early morro for the shop before lectures.”
“ I will pretty soon~ need to go through a few stuff before.” She assured. 
With a kiss on top of her forehead,  he wished her a good night and headed out~ Aims watched with smiles as his back faded out of sight. After she'd updated Mart on her home, she plopped into bed and soon she snoozed into sleep.
                                          LILIA'S  APARTMENT
Kingsley was already asleep by the time she walked in. In an attempt not to wake him, she'd silently slid into the shower to freshen up.
Adorned in her half-exposing sleek pink floral nightwear, she gently plonked next to him as she supported her back with the pillow– leaning over the wall. She critically scanned through a couple of pictures she'd taken earlier at the event; her face pulled in a sneer.
As Prince's popped up, she zoomed in~ a scoff instinctively escaped her lips. She knew exactly when and how to use him to aid her plot, it's just a matter of time. She smiled and dropped the phone on the nightstand next to her, cuddling over to Kingsley which woke him.
“ Hey...you're in~,” He asked and she nodded with a faint smile. “ I didn't want to wake you when I got in..” she said.
Wrapped in his arms, he kissed her as they nestled into sleep.
                                              ***************
When the first pink claw marks of dawn faded into a pale blue morning, they had headed out. Prince and Aims helped Nina at the shop for a few hours before the clock kicked in for their departure.
Aims was the first to head out after a farewell with Nina. She kept calling out to her brother as she settled into her seat. “ Let's get going already, bro~ we'll be running late.” She echoed from the yard. 
“ Coming...just a second.” He answered, landing a farewell kiss on their mother's cheeks. She chuckled. “ See you later~ don't forget to take good care of yourself while we're away, huh?”
“ Sure~ sure, go now before she starts screaming her lungs out  ” She giggled, shooing him away. “ take care of your sister, okay?” She shouted at his back as he was about to exit the door.
“ I'll surely do that.” He soon faded out. “ Alright,  nagging Princess...we're leaving now, happy?” Nina heard him say and instinctively chuckled, heading back to her duty.
“ I bet you know, Prince charming~ I don't want to miss my first lesson.” She teased with a tagged-out tongue, making funny faces that made him chortle. 
“ Silly you...” He poked at her head and they both laughed. Soon, they'd hit the main road, zooming out of sight.
                                    SCHOLARS UNIVERSITY
Aims was the first to the first to slide out of the car the moment it hauled to a halt at the parking lot. “ Only 25 minutes to go~” She muttered, heading off in a brisk. “ Will see you later, bro...got to go now, I have a class to catch." 
She turned and threaded her way through the sea of students headed off toward the hallway.
“ Make sure to come search for me after lectures, alright?” He howled.
“ Sure~ alright ” Her back faded with her last words.
On her way into her hall, she heard a familiar voice call out to her. With a swift backward turn, she welcomed her with a broad smile.
“ Hey, Lilia, happy to have met you again...are you in this hall as well?”
“ Ah, nope,” She chuckled. “ I'm in Arts class.”
“ Oh, really?~ That's nice,” She expressed with pleasure but from her looks, Lilia knew she had more to say, and she waited for it. “ Umm, Li?”
“Huh?" She expectantly scanned at her and her gaze intuitively pulled into a sheepish smile.
“ About yesterday~ ” She sighed. “ I'm so sorry for how Prince reacted towards you... I–”
“ Hey~ no need for that.” She had cut in before she could say any further. Her still eyes lined with a smile. “ He's just being protective of you, Aims~” She chuckled. “...you already know what brothers are like, right?"
They both laughed at her words–indeed, brothers could sometimes be extra with everything even if there's no cause for alarm.
“I guess due to his unfamiliarity with me, he was taking caution. I believe we'll soon get along." Lilia had affirmed and Aims just nodded in approval. Just then, she caught sight of the unfamiliar silhouette next to her.                       She briefly scanned at him and back at Lilia with a questioning stare that screamed, “ Who is he?”
“ Oh!” She chortled, pulling him a little closer to her side, and this gave Aims a clue about their status. She just scanned at the two and smiled. “ ~ Meet Kingsley, my fiance. ” 
Aims wasn't expecting a fiance status but a boyfriend– hearing her say that got her surprised for a moment and she giggled at her guess. “ Was expecting a boyfriend?” She said and they all laughed. “ Such a surprise but hey, nice to meet you, and congratulations on winning over this stubborn Princess.” 
“ Ah... Thank you, she really is” He added and they chuckled. “ Nice to meet you too. I've heard a lot about you.” 
“ Should I say it's an hour?” She said wittily and they shared a laugh.
After a few more pleasantries, she asked to excuse herself since she had already run late. With a farewell,  she headed in. Lilia rolled her eyes– her face was grim, even a little angry.
“ Are you coming?” Kingsley called a few steps away from her, realizing her absence. Lilia nodded with a yes and soon, they'd headed into their hall as well.
                                             ***********
Aims stared at the familiar figure in front of the class not batting an eye– she sat frigid. Her eyes were tear-stained and her face grim. Her heart burned with pain and anguish ~ a sense of unease pricked at her.
" Hey, Aims, are you alright?" Jasmine asked, concerned.
“ That...Man” The tears slowly tripled down her eyes. “~ that evil man killed my family.” She said, in a tear-choked voice. Jamsine's eyes instinctively widened in awe.