AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Thank you for all the lovely comments :) Reading them spurs me on to write even more! I really appreciate them :3
This chapter is sort of like a filler, and also an AU Chapter. I needed something to fill in the space between the attack and the next chapter that I've planned, so the flow won't be too awkward... But the chapter itself is just a little awkward haha. Phantom's appearance and actions in this chapter doesn't happen in the storyline... I'll leave a brief explanation at the end of this chapter to avoid spoilers.
Enjoy~!
UPDATE 18 JUNE:
Conference Adjourned! was originally Chapter 5 before the major edit. The new chapters are 3, 5, 6 and 9.
"A conference?" Aiolos growled. "Is it really necessary?"
Aria pursed her lips, glaring at her advisor. There was once a time when she felt that he was the best man in the world, but in light of recent events, she really wanted to wrap her slender fingers around his neck and throttle him to death. It was starting to seem as if Aiolos had lost all his rationality ever since the Black Mage surfaced and threatened their peace. Lately he was going out of the way to disagree with all her decisions. It never was the case before.
"I think," she articulated with a slight strain in her voice, "that the people in Ereve deserve to know what we're up against."
"And reveal that you had a lapse in judgement?" Aiolos retorted.
"People make mistakes, Aiolos. Even me."
"What will people think when they find out that the Empress has been dallying with a thief? The Master Thief, no less!" he countered.
"Please, Aiolos," Aria's frown deepened, "will you let it up for just one second? Phantom has been nothing but a pleasure to be with, and my dallying with him has not been detrimental."
Aiolos opened his mouth to further reiterate his argument, but the Empress raised a hand to silence him. They have been fighting over the same issue ever since Phantom had entered their lives, and even if he wasn't sick of it, she was. She was sick of him reprimanding her for her decisions like she was a child who didn't know what she was doing. Aria may be a young Empress, especially considering the age her predecessors ascended the throne, but she was no idiot. She could think for herself.
Nothing bad has ever arose from knowing Phantom. In fact, it was a pleasant change in her daily routines. An eye-opener, if you will.
She took a confident step forward, then another until she was out of the shadows and onto the podium. Surrounding her were rows and rows of people, all gathered here in the palace square to hear the latest on their struggle with the Black Mage.
There were more important things to address than a petty fight with her advisor.
"Citizens of Ereve," she called out, her voice resonating through the amphitheatre. A hush fell over the crowd, and Aria could feel all eyes on her.
"I have called for a conference today to relay some disturbing news. My fellow people, we have been trying to appease the Black Mage the past few weeks, but as you know, he is getting impatient. I am aware of the disturbance he has caused in Ereve," Aria said, gesturing around her with her arms.
"He has not outwardly declared a war on us, but I'm afraid it is imminent. Yesterday, while I was venturing out in the streets of Ariant," she paused, not wanting to cloak her mistake from her people, "I was attacked by one of the Black Mage's commander."
There were gasps of surprise, and cries of outrage. Foul play, they yelled. Aria could feel the tension increase.
"Rest assured that I am well, thanks to the protection of a certain man whom we know as Phantom," she assured. "If not for him, I might have met my end at the hands of the commander."
Again, there were outcries. But this time, it was split between the crowd announcing their distaste of Phantom, and wonderment at the fact that the Master Thief had saved the Empress' life.
All of the sudden, a huge gust of wind blew through, and the amphitheatre was filled with the flutters of cards. Aria brought her hand to her eyes as she squinted. This was not part of the plan.
"What is this?" Aiolos yelled, meeting the confused replies of the palace guards. Even Aria herself didn't know what was going on.
"Did you plan this?" he directed his bewilderment towards her, and all she could offer was a confused shrug.
As the wind died down, silence fell like a shroud. The citizens gaped and pointed in shock at the sudden intrusion. He stood tall, a serious look on his face as he met Aria's gaze levelly. The smell of roses wafted towards her.
"It's Phantom!" someone exclaimed.
There was no doubt that it was indeed the Master Thief. The cards, which were slowly fluttering to a rest on the floor, were a dead giveaway to his identity. However, the upper portion of his face was cloaked in the shadows created by his hat. Only smirk could be seen.
"Phantom," Aria blurted out, staring at him incredulously. Only she could see the mischievous glint in his eyes. What an entrance.
"People of Ereve!" Phantom addressed the crowd with a gallant sweep of his arms. "Yes, it is I, the Master Thief, Phantom."
Murmurs swept through the amphitheatre.
"What the Empress has said is true: we were indeed attacked by a Commander of the Black Mage. Thank the heavens that the Empress escaped the attack with barely a scratch!"
Aria heard Aiolos hiss beside her. She resisted the urge to smack him.
"Are you going to take this lying down?" Phantom shouted. "Are you going to let the Black Mage get away with such an offense?"
The crowded yelled back their discontent.
"I swear on the heavens, I will give you the word that I will protect our Empress to the grave!" he declared. "I will formally announce my decision to court the Empress, and to protect her from the evils of the Black Mage."
A burst of applause rang through the room.
Aria had to get her guards to hold Aiolos back.
Phantom turned back to look at her, a grin on his face. She gaped at him like a fish out of water, in shock at his declaration, and also at his audacity. She expected nothing less than flashy from him, but this was going a bit too far.
The crowd was getting rowdy. Most were declaring their commitment to protecting Ereve. Some were swooning at Phantom's loud declaration.
He covered the distance between the two of them, gazing down at her with a smoulder in his eyes.
"What is this?" she hissed. "Was this necessary?"
Crap, she was starting to sound like Aiolos.
"Absolutely," Phantom smirked. "I've been waiting for forever to do this."
With absolutely no warning whatsoever, he tipped Aria's chin up and gently guided his lips towards hers. She resisted initially, but soon found herself giving in.
"CONFERENCE ADJOURNED! CONFERENCE ADJOURNED!" Aiolos screamed, struggling in the grip of the guards, who were confused. Were they supposed to continue to hold on to him, or let him go?
It was with reluctance that Aria had to pull apart from him.
"Not now," she whispered softly, smiling shyly as her lips tingled from where they touched his. Stepping away from Phantom, she faced the crowd again, a blush creeping up her cheeks as the full weight of what had just happened came crashing down on her.
"I thank you for your time," she called out. "Conference adjourned!"
(A/N: I apologise for the abrupt ending. Next chapter will be better, I promise! Also, Phantom never has the opportunity to declare his love for Aria because she died before he could do so; which explains why I said that this chapter was AU. It doesn't affect the Nexon storyline though, although now Aria is sure of Phantom's love for her. xD)
