16

Aurora paused for a moment at Aron's proposal. The young man's words and gaze had further intensified the turmoil within her. But just then, a flash went through her mind. She remembered that strange conversation she had with her father the night before.

While talking to her father, she had mentioned the strange attraction she had felt since her first days in the palace. It was as if she had suddenly become captivated by this man who had entered her life. Lord Vancroft had listened carefully to his daughter's words and said that anything was possible in the world of mages.

"Aurora," her father had said, his voice worried, "That is the kingdom of mages. Anything can happen there. Be careful and try to keep your emotions under control."

Then, Lord Vancroft had taught his daughter a simple but effective magic test. She would cast a spell on a mana stone, and if magic from that person was affecting her, the stone would darken. This test was like a warning system for Aurora.

Every time she was alone with Aron, she had remembered this test. And now, during Aron's proposal, she took the small mana stone out of her pocket and secretly cast a spell. The stone slowly began to darken.

Aurora's eyes widened in astonishment. Aron's charm was actually due to a spell. The young man was using magic to seduce her.

At that moment, everything fell into place. Queen Layla's sudden interest, Aron's unexpected closeness... It was all a game. The Queen was using Aron to keep Aurora away from Prince Rohan.

Aurora was filled with anger. How could she have been so naive? How could she have been so easily deceived?

"Aron," Aurora said, her voice icy, "Thank you for your offer, but I refuse."

Aron frowned in surprise. "What? But Aurora, I am very serious about you—"

"Stop lying, Aron!" Aurora exclaimed. "I know you cast a spell on me! I am also aware that you are a pawn in the Queen's game!"

Aron didn't know what to say. He had been caught.

Aurora looked at Aron with disgust. "I despise you! Don't ever come near me again!"

Then, she turned her back and quickly walked away from the garden. Her heart was broken and angry. She didn't know who she could trust.

As she left the garden, she encountered Prince Rohan. The young man approached Aurora with concern.

"Aurora, are you alright? What happened?"

Aurora looked at Prince Rohan. She needed to talk to him alone.

"Rohan," Aurora said, her voice trembling, "There is something important I need to talk to you about."

Prince Rohan's face grew serious. "Of course, Aurora. What is it?"

Aurora looked around. "We can't talk here. We need to go somewhere more secluded."

Prince Rohan nodded. "Alright. Let's meet in the library after midnight, after the ball."

Aurora accepted Prince Rohan's offer. Sitting in her room that night, her heart was filled with both excitement and anxiety. She would tell Prince Rohan everything. But she wasn't sure how he would react.

When midnight came, Aurora went to the library. Prince Rohan was waiting for her. The moonlight cast a dim light into the room.

"Aurora," Prince Rohan said, his voice worried, "What happened? Why did you want to talk to me?"

Aurora took a deep breath. "Rohan, there are some things I need to tell you. But first, you need to promise me that you will believe me."

Prince Rohan took Aurora's hand. "I believe you, Aurora. Always."

Aurora smiled at Prince Rohan. Then, she began to tell him everything that had happened. Aron's spell on her, Queen Layla's plan, and the magic test her father had taught her... She explained everything in detail.

Prince Rohan listened carefully to Aurora's words. Surprise appeared on his face first, then anger.

"This... this is unbelievable!" Prince Rohan exclaimed, his voice trembling. "My mother... how could my mother do this?"

Aurora took Prince Rohan's hand. "Rohan, calm down. I know this is very difficult, but—"

"Calm down, Aurora?" Prince Rohan shouted. "My mother cast a spell on you and tried to deceive you! This is unforgivable!"

Aurora tried to calm Prince Rohan down. "Rohan, I know you are very angry, but we shouldn't act in anger. We need to do something clever to thwart the Queen's plan."

Prince Rohan took a deep breath. "You're right, Aurora. We shouldn't act in anger. But what will we do? How will we get rid of Aron?"

Aurora thought. "You should talk to your father, Rohan. Tell him everything and ask for Aron to be dismissed. Have a new tutor appointed."

Prince Rohan liked Aurora's idea. "This might work. My father is very kind to you. Maybe I can convince him."

That night, Prince Rohan and Aurora made a plan to thwart Queen Layla's scheme. Prince Rohan would talk to his father and ensure that a new tutor was appointed for Aurora.

The next day, Prince Rohan appeared before his father. The King greeted his son warmly as usual.

"Rohan, my son, is there a problem?" the King asked.

Prince Rohan told his father everything that had happened. Aron's spell on Aurora, Queen Layla's plan... He explained everything in detail.

The King listened carefully to his son's words. Surprise appeared on his face first, then anger.

"This... is this my wife's doing?" the King asked, his voice trembling.

Prince Rohan nodded. "Yes, Father. My mother used Aron to keep Aurora away from me."

The King took a deep breath. "This is unforgivable. I never thought your mother was capable of this."

Prince Rohan took his father's hand. "Father, please help Aurora. Dismiss Aron and appoint a wiser tutor for her."

The King looked into his son's eyes. He had noticed Prince Rohan's feelings for Aurora. He had also seen his son's jealousy and anger. But at the same time, he could sense the respect and admiration he had for Aurora.

"Alright, my son," the King said, his voice softened. "I will help Aurora. I will dismiss Aron and appoint a new tutor for her."

Prince Rohan hugged his father gratefully. "Thank you, Father. You will make Aurora very happy."

The King smiled. "I will make you happy too, my son. I know you love Aurora."

The next day, the King summoned Aron to his presence. When Aron appeared before the King, there was a worried expression on his face.

"Aron," the King said, his voice cold, "You are dismissed from your duties."

Aron frowned in surprise. "What? But Your Majesty, I have performed my duties to the best of my ability."

"Stop lying, Aron," the King said. "We know you cast a spell on Aurora and that you were a pawn in the Queen's game."

Aron didn't know what to say. He had been caught.

The King gave Aron one last chance. "Leave the palace immediately. If you ever try to approach Aurora again, you will face the consequences."

Aron nodded fearfully. Then, he quickly left the palace.

As Prince Rohan watched Aron leave, he felt a sense of relief. But at the same time, he wondered about Queen Layla's reaction.

When the Queen heard that Aron had been dismissed and a new tutor had been appointed for Aurora, she was filled with rage. She summoned her servants and asked them what had happened.

The servants in the palace said that Aron had lost his job because of Prince Rohan's jealousy. "Prince Rohan is jealous of Lady Aurora," one servant said. "He couldn't stand Aron getting close to Lady Aurora," said another.

Queen Layla was even more furious with the servants' words. Her son had thwarted her plans. But the Queen was not about to give up. She began to devise new and more dangerous plans.

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