Chapter 214 - Disasters (2)

"I always see 6 of them walking around that area and they would always appear out of nowhere and would come out of an alley. At first, I thought that they just love to shop around there but I find it suspicious that I see them every day and would vanish into thin air all of a sudden even when I have my eyes on them. They suddenly appeared the right time when the kids have started to vanish. The ones that took your daughter, they look quite new to me so I thought that they were her parents, y-your highness."

The man with a huge build, who was standing in front of the wooden desk and Alexander was sitting on the chair behind it with his personal knight standing beside the desk, was known as 'Peter'. Despite his intimidating and brooding build and appearance, there was a hint of fear shown in his face and he was sweating, his hands were also cold. Of course, who wouldn't be scared when they are standing in front of the ruthless and cold emperor of this land? And to think that his daughter was kidnapped and he saw that happen though he was oblivious of what was truly happening there.

The eldest prince, Calixander, also told him that their father truly loves and treasures the princess, his youngest daughter, and their youngest sibling. So returning to the palace and learning about his daughter getting kidnapped when they just went out to have some fun after a while was the worst and last thing that he wants to hear. The emperor didn't say anything and just stared at the man with a serious and cold look on his face, his legs were crossed and he was leaning back on his seat.

The atmosphere of the room was cold and tense, it was hard for the man to breathe. This is the first time that he saw the emperor close up and the first time that he talked to him face-to-face as he didn't come from a noble family who gets invited and has the privilege to attend parties, banquets, and balls held by the royal family.

He has always wanted to meet the emperor.

And his wish came true in the way that he doesn't like at all.

Carlos couldn't handle the guilt and he decided to step forward, bowing his head as he clenched his fists. He grabbed everyone's attention and made them turn their heads to look at him.

"I sincerely apologize. All of this was my fault. If I was being careful back then and if I was closer to the princess when the commotion happened, this wouldn't happen. I will accept any punishment."

His pride as the princess' personal knight, the vice-captain of the royal knights, to think that he was able to put the princess in a dangerous situation because of his carelessness. If only he was able to grab hold of the princess during the commotion and if only a tomato didn't hit his face making him take his eyes off her for seconds.

He still has his head down low and has no intention of raising it until the emperor will tell him to do so.

He heard and felt someone step forward, standing beside him. No, wait, there are two people, one on each of his sides. They also lowered their heads. "I am also at fault here. I was beside Alexa the whole time yet I wasn't able to keep her close with me when the commotion happened. We were being pushed and separated from each other. I will accept any punishment," It was Calixander also bowing his head to apologize. Of course, he was also angry at himself for letting all of this happen. It was not only Carlos who was angry at himself.

Christopher also bowed his head but he didn't say anything though it was clear that he also wanted to apologize. However, Alexander just stared at them. There was no change in his expression and his lips were still pursed into a thin line. Peter, who just stood by and watched the scene, were quite shocked about what is currently happening. The eldest prince, the next emperor of this land and is also known as a cold and perfect person, lowered his pride and admitted his mistake. This was quite new to him. He knew that the people inside this room were all astounding and amazing people.

They don't look and feel human at all.

But right now, they feel like one.

Especially the princes and the emperor, they rarely show their emotions and are seen as perfect people. To think that the prince would make a mistake that would cause the princess to be kidnapped.

Finally, after moments of unbearable silence and not moving in his seat at all, the emperor opened his mouth but a sigh slipped past his lips before he spoke. "Raise your hands, let's talk about your punishments later," They did as what they were told to do.

"What commotion are you talking about? You have been mentioning that multiple times," The emperor asked, he looked stress. With all of those stack of papers in his desk that he still hasn't finished and the kidnapping cases happening for days that were kept secret, and along with those kids who were kidnapped was Alexandra. All of those were probably too much for him, which is what Peter thought inside his head.

"Earlier when we were walking around, even before we got separated from the princess, thieves appeared and stole some goods from a stall not far away from us. They were a group and they made a mess, they stole some things as they would run, dragged someone away, and use them as a shield or push them to the people who were chasing after them. They would throw some things in order to distract the people and somehow, almost half of those people in there decided to chase them down. It became quite a big commotion or ruckus," Carlos was the one who explained everything about the commotion.

"Then that's where you got separated from Alexandra?"

"Yes, your highness."

Their father let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Aren��t you worried, father?"

"Of course, I am worried. But I asked someone to trail behind you when you were outside. He was tasked to protect Alexandra and follow her around. He's probably with her, right now."

"Who?"

"You know him."

Before Calixander could say anything, his father spoke once again as he stood up from his seat.

"Lysander, call Klaus here. I need him to do a few things and after that, summon all of the officers of the royal knights and the strongest knights of both yours and Carlos' division. We're going to plan our rescue for Alexandra and the kids who were kidnapped."

"Understood, your highness," And the knight beside him suddenly vanished after he spoke. Alexander turned to look at Peter and looked at him up and down as if observing his appearance.

"You look like you can put up a fight, can you use a sword or use magic?"

"I was trained with using the sword and I can fight."

"Good, you're coming with us."

--

Currently. In Alexandra and Harrison's location.

"There you are, you idiot!" Harrison made his way towards Alexandra with an angry look on his face while emitting this dangerous aura. Alexandra gulped hard as she stared at him, taking a few steps back. They grabbed everyone's attention and Amanda stared at them with pure wonder and curiosity in her eyes.

"Are you an idiot?! Wait, you are one. Why did you go and run off with some people that you completely don't know? I just went away for a moment to look for your brother but then you also disappeared. What in the world are you doing? Why do you keep on running into some trouble? Do you have a death wish or something? Did I already tell you to always be careful when you are outside the palace? I know that you are an intelligent girl and you always take risks but this is way too much, you even got yourself kidnapped! Really, you always make me worried!"

Alexandra just watched him go on and on as he scolded her making multiple hand gestures and his tone of voice sounds like he was completely annoyed and angry by what she did. She can't blame him, she also thought that what she did was completely stupid and she should have run away instead of fighting against them. But then, how did he know that it was me?

"You know me?"

"What's with that question? Is it not obvious? I really want to smack you on the head right now. Why do you always end up in danger? I just disappeared and went away for a moment so that I will look for your brother and reunite the two of you but here we are, inside a damn room, kidnapped."

Alexandra was confused at this moment, too confused that she doesn't know what to think of. What is he saying? He knows that it was me right from the start. And he also said that when he went away just for a moment to look for my brother, I also disappeared? It was like he was telling me that he was there the whole time, she thought to herself, and realization dawned upon her.

"You, were you following me the whole time that I was outside?"

"Yes, I did but it was not because of my own accord. Someone told me to do so."

"Who?"

"Is your mind not working properly? It's your father, duh."

[A/N: Harrison using the 'duh' word like he is the sassiest person you ever met.]

"What do you mean it's my father? Could you just explain it properly? How and when did that happen? You're making me more confused."

"Do I really have to?"

"Of course, you have to! You're leaving the most important details aside, you just suddenly popped out of nowhere telling me such things while scolding me. I didn't even understand a thing at all, I can't even sort out and understand my thoughts. Ah, my back hurts!"

"Haah? What's with that? What do you mean your back hurts? Are you an old lady?"

"What did you say, you old man?" Now they were bickering and fighting as Alexandra endured the pain in her back while ignoring the confusion and rumbled thoughts inside her head.

"U-Uhm, excuse me," As they were somehow having an argument or something, they got interrupted by Amanda who stood up and spoke.

"What?" They both said in unison, turning their heads in her direction at the same time with the same look on their faces.

"I-I think it's much better if you two calm down first before you talk. You two are grabbing everyone's attention and scaring them," Amanda said as she showed them an awkward smile. Harrison and Alexandra looked around them and saw all of them looking at them, slightly frightened and some were confused. Alexandra could only let out a sigh before she grabbed Harrison's collar and dragged him to the other side of the room, to that one spot where there aren't many people as they are going to talk about something private.

--

"So you are saying that while you were escaping, you bumped into my father who was walking around the courtyard by himself. Then some things happened and you two talked then he decided to tell you about me going outside with my brother and asked you if you can follow me around and like to protect me? And you were just invisible the whole time?"

"Yeah, like that."

Gosh, she could only massage her temples.

"Then how did you find me here? How did you know that I was kidnapped?"

"I just know and you suddenly vanished. Your presence was weak, I can't even communicate or send you a message and I could sense your mana in that alleyway and saw your pin there though I didn't take it because that could be a clue on what happened to you for your brother."

"Then were you also the one who dragged me out of the commotion?"

"Yeah, though we got separated from your brother and we ended up here."

"Ah, I see. But how did you end up here? Like how did you have yourself kidnapped?"

"Easy, look for a suspicious person and ask them for help then they will knock you out though I have to pretend to faint because their magic didn't work on me. Though I don't know how they were able to know that spell."

"You made it sound so easy," Alexandra sighed and felt an aching pain in her back but she endured it. She was still feeling it since earlier, the kick was way too harsh for her. Harrison looked at her and stared at her cheek, it was bruised and there was dried blood on her lips, her dress was ruined and dirty, and her hair was messy. It looked like she really did fight with the people who are about to kidnap her.

Harrison held his hands out and cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look at him. Alexandra, though she looks strong, she looks tired and scared. This was the second time that her life was in danger, the first one was when she almost died because of that monster in the lake and now she was kidnapped.

"What?"

His face went closer and Alexandra just stared at him with pure wonder but she could feel her face getting hot. He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes, his breath fanning her face. She knew that Harrison does and say something that will make her flustered, this was different. Affection, assurance, warmth, gentleness.

"I'm here, you don't have to be scared."

"Mm," She just hummed and nodded, letting herself relax in his touch.

"By the way, who gave you that bruise on your cheek and why is your back hurting?"

"It's those people who took me, we had a battle then the guy was about to punch me however I dodged then he just decided to kick me in the stomach sending me flying back to the wall, that's probably where my pin fell. Then the girl slapped me."

And there was silence before Harrison spoke in a murmur which she heard.

"I'll kill them."