Chapter 251 - Awakening

Hours before that.

It has been days since they started the search for the princess. She has been missing for 11 days already and they still haven't got a clue on where she might be except for the one that she might be confined in a tower right now.

Carlos was already cured and healed thanks to the antidote Lillianna and Maribelle created though he still hasn't wakened up after 5 days. Diana only remained by his side and would occasionally come to his office and ask if they have found Alexandra already or something like that. She was anxious and she was probably suffering as days goes by with Alexandra missing. She looked like she wasn't herself as if she was lost and she was broken.

That's quite understandable and he just couldn't do anything. Reassuring her that Alexandra would be saved and would return safely just like what he did to her friends, Amanda and Maribelle, won't do anything. Aside from that, Carlos who is fairly close to her is still unconscious in the bed despite having consumed the antidote.

His children though, the eldest ones are also trying their best to help around like occasionally coming to his office and accompany him as they help him with his work. Though they wouldn't talk that much. He is also worried about how Chandler and Christian would react to this as they still haven't told them about it.

This is stressing me out so much. Everything was a mess.

Lillianna was still confined underground and he was still figuring in what he should do with her. It's too early to give her the punishment or something.

For the past days, he has been trying to solve and look for answers to his questions.

What is its purpose? Why did he take Alexandra?

Alexander recalled that Alexandra was a wielder of either Holy magic or Dark magic. Though that was being kept as a secret and only a few people know about it. Arthur who has some sharp senses have felt it though he wasn't able to identify if it was dark or holy. The same goes for Klaus and the other Elders who were also able to sense it but couldn't identify.

He figured that they were after her power.

However, it was sealed. Trying to break the seal for that power of hers would require some sort of forbidden magic or spell that would not only affect the user but the person who is being used at. That means Alexandra is in grave danger and they have to immediately save her.

If the seal would break early and some forbidden spell was used on her, then it would be really bad. To think that a child of his, a daughter, a female, was a wielder of either holy or dark magic (they are still not sure of it) was somehow unbelievable.

"Ah! The existence of your daughter! It will be a great one, she possesses such powerful and destructive powers! Why are you hiding her?! She's the clear epitome of destruction and power. If we got her and the dark wizard on our side, we will win this war!"

He recalled that incident before. The time before Mark escaped from the cell using some sort of dark magic which Klaus was able to identify. That voice of his resonated inside his head and bothered him. Up until now, he still hasn't figured what he was trying to say with that or was not sure of it. What does he mean by Alexandra being an epitome of destruction and power? What about the dark wizard that he has mentioned? Why did—

His train of thoughts was interrupted when he heard a knock coming from the door and he heard a voice coming from behind it after. It was Klaus' voice.

"Your highness, we have returned."

So early.

"Come in."

The door was gently swung open revealing three people. They walked towards his desk as Klaus closed the door behind him and stopped a few steps away from it.

"What's the result?"

This is the 7th day of their search for the princess. Klaus along with the other two Elders have returned quite early as it was just early in the afternoon. Alexander was sitting on the chair behind his desk as usual. Though his desk was quite messy with all of those papers and documents scattered everywhere accompanied by pens and other things that made him wonder how it made its way there. He was holding a sheet of paper in his hand, the information of Lillianna which Klaus wrote for him was seen in it.

Lysander was just standing beside his desk as always. Klaus' usual dead expression was a serious one. Well, for the past days, he always has that look on his face.

"We found it."

"You found what?"

"The tower. The princess, I could sense her mana there though it was being laced with something that's why it was hard trying to tell if it was hers or not. Though there were other two presences and mana in that place, one is unknown to me and the other one is surely Mark's."

Alexander placed the sheet of paper that he is holding before he stood up from his seat.

"We're going there in a few hours. Prepare. We should not waste our time and move already," Alexander said.

"Klaus, call Sir Albert and Calixander here. Sir Louise, you can go take a rest now," He said. The two just nodded their head before they disappeared from his sight.

"What about me?" Sir Friyedor asked as he pointed to himself.

"I apologize but I need your help this time, Sir Friyedor. We will only take a few people there but we need the strong ones. You are needed so that we would succeed in rescuing Alexandra, Sir Friyedor. I hope you will agree," Alexander said in a serious voice and Friyedor just blinked his eyes as he looked at him before his lips broke out into a grin. "How could I decline? Of course, I would help. Alexandra is already like a family to me!"

Alexander only nodded as a response then he went around his desk. "I'll be heading out for a few minutes, stay here. You too, Lysander. I'm heading to the underground prison."

He said as he walked towards the door of his office and opened it before he left the room. They might already know why he is going there. He's going to Lillianna and tell her about the news as well as Diana. He let out a sigh and he closed the door behind him but as soon as he turned around and was about to walk, he was greeted by a female.

Diana.

She was standing in front of him with her arms crossed and serious expression plastered across her face. He was about to open his mouth to say something when Diana did it first, interrupting what he was about to say.

"I'm going."

"What?"

"I'll go with you to rescuing the princess."

Alexander blinked his eyes multiple times as he stared at Diana. How come she knew about that even though I still haven't told her about it? He thought to himself.

"Sir Friyedor told me about it when I encountered him in the hallway earlier."

Ah, god.

"It's dangerous. It's better that you stay here and wait for our return along with the princess."

"No, I'll go. Nothing would change my mind, your highness. If it's for the princess, I'll go despite how dangerous the situation is."

Diana was aware that she was being disrespectful to the emperor and she might even get her head to remove because of it but she doesn't care.

"And why is that? You could just stay here and wait but why do you want to come with us despite knowing how dangerous it is? Do you wish to die or something?" Alexander asked her. His visit to Lillianna was getting delayed because of Diana.

"I have promised and dedicated my life to serving the princess. Protecting her until my very last breathe. I want to be there. I do not wish to die but if it's for the princess, I am willing to do so. I want to be there when she would be rescued. Just waiting here for her return would make me suffer. I hope that you will agree to this request of mine."

Diana's sheer determination and will along with the cold look in her face. Her tone of voice was serious and it seems like she won't back down and wouldn't stop until he agrees to her request. Alexander could only let out a sigh and ruffle his hair, agreeing to her request.

--

And that brings them to here now.

Lillianna also went with them. She was able to persuade the emperor with her words telling him that even if she goes or not, she would still die. If she goes with them, she could die but if she stayed there and wait, she would still die. No difference, she could just advance the schedule of her death by going with them. Probably.

Somehow, it's such a wonder how females like them are very brave.

Well, Gilbert also went with them but he was outside the tower. Surrounding the perimeter with a barrier that prevents them from teleporting and escaping from this place. He was with Sir Albert and Klaus. Calixander despite pleading and telling his father that he also wants to go was left behind, naturally. He was tasked to manage the palace as he and his assistant would be gone along with the others who played a big role in managing the palace.

Well, Sir Louise is there along with Rowan, so it's not that bad.

"Princess!" Diana has called out to Alexandra when they saw her laying on the ground being surrounded by two people. "Diana, you go get the princess along with Lillianna. Lillianna will just follow behind you. Then we will fight the two of them. Sir Friyedor will handle Mark while I handle the other guy along with Lysander. However, you two should only go after Alexandra we're fighting them and distracting them. We'll send everything quickly." They all nodded at his instructions.

Alexander, Lysander, and Friyedor took a step forward.

"Oh, it seems like we have some guests!" Mark stood up and looked at them. An amused grin plastered in his face as the short sword that he held in his hand disappeared and became dust.

Lysander has summoned his sword, Alexander chanted a few words and magic circles appeared behind him and multiple flaming arrows materialized in front of it. He was contemplating if he should use his weapon or not but then decided to just use some spells. Lysander would battle him with a weapon anyway so he's just using magic. Sir Friyedor did the same thing as Alexander did but this time, it was multiple blades instead of arrows.

All of those were pointed at the enemy that was assigned to them. Lillianna and Daisy just gasped in awe as they were standing behind them.

"This is interesting," Mark said and Alexandra just watched everything. It seems like Mark didn't realize that the magic that he used to bind Alexandra to the ground wore off thus making her able to move.

"Andres, I'll take that guy. It seems like he is targeting me and you'll take on the other two. Make sure to keep an eye on the two girls behind them especially that one, she was the one that helped me but now it seems like she took the other side and betrayed us," Mark was referring to Lillianna.

The man that he was talking to only nodded as a response before they leaped forward to their enemies and so, the battle started. Alexandra who wasn't bound on the ground anymore lifted her body but she was weak, way too weak. As if all of the energy and strength in her body has left her but she still tried her best and she was able to sit up.

Damn it.

Though it seems like Mark and that man who was called Andres forgot about Alexandra and was way too focused on their fight.

A few minutes have already passed since the battle started, Andres, the person who was with Mark looks like he was being overwhelmed by Lysander and Alexander who was fighting against him. This is the first time that she saw her father fight as well as Lysander. The same is happening to Mark who is completely being overpowered by Friyedor. Friyedor looked like he was going to win.

Diana and Lillianna did their task and made their way towards Alexandra. "Princess!" Diana called out to Alexandra as soon as she arrived in front of her. "Diana," They were all way too focused in their battles that they just ignored the three of them. Well, it's not like they were in the middle anyway. The ones that were fighting were quite far away from them so it's fine.

"I suggest that we should be quick here and leave already," Lillianna said. Alexandra was somehow confused about why Lillianna was here and not Carlos but she didn't ask. She got no energy to do so and there are many more important things that she should focus on.

"Can you walk, princess?"

"Somehow."

Alexandra responded as she slowly lifted herself with the help of Diana as Lillianna looked around her with her guard raised. She was holding the hilt of the dagger that was given to her by the emperor as a weapon. She noticed that Alexander and Lysander are about to end their fight with the man named 'Andres' which is a good thing.

Alexandra was able to stand on her feet and slowly, they started walking with Diana behind her whose hand was resting against the small of her back and Lillianna slightly behind the two of them.

"Thank goodness, you're safe, princess."

Well, yes, technically.

Alexandra only nodded before she spoke. "It's quite a wonder on how the two of you are here."

"Well yeah," Was what Lillianna only said and Diana forced a smile on her lips. "I will do everything for you, princess. I already told you that, didn't I?"

Alexandra slightly tilted her head back to look at Diana and just smiled at her.

Panning the view to the battle that is going on. Lysander has landed the final blow on Andres and cut his head off as Alexander just watched him. Friyedor was fighting against Mark but it seems like it's going to end.

"Your moves are predictable," Friyedor said as the blade that he summoned went straight to the man's chest thus making it his victory. However, Mark laughed at this and coughed out blood afterward but still maintained that amused and happy look in his face which was quite disturbing. Friyedor furrowed his eyebrows and asked him, "What?"

Mark grinned and he summoned his shortsword, "Yes, I know that. But too bad, you might have not been able to predict this."

It happened so fast.

In just a blink of an eye.

The short sword has pierced straight Diana's chest.

Alexandra who was confused as to why Diana's grip on her back suddenly tightened and she looked back behind her then her eyes widened. The blade went straight to Diana's heart and she coughed out blood before she fell forward but Lillianna was able to catch her as she cursed repeatedly.

"Diana! Diana! Damn, damn, damn, shit. Hey! Diana!" Lillianna said as she also fell to the ground, catching Diana in her arms.

"Diana!" Alexandra called out to Diana and she kneeled on the ground. Without any warnings, any last words, Diana has closed her eyes and with that, she stopped breathing though there was a faint smile in her lips and a pool of blood started to form underneath her. Alexandra's breath hitched and she could feel a tightening feeling in her chest.

She heard something crack inside her.

The image of the door that was sealed with chains.

The chains have been broken.

The door has opened.

The feeling of mana rushing in and overwhelming her.

Darkness has engulfed everything as well as her.

And there she let herself be controlled as she gave in.