Chapter 24

24 “Stay Away”

Back to the present ~

Surprised by a sudden knocking, everyone looked up to the door and saw prince Dominic entering with the priestess.

“I greet the little sun of our empire, Your Majesty the crown prince. I am priestess Liana, who came from the Arendell temple to deliver the new prophecy.”

Cathain observed the priestess who had her whole face covered except her caramel brown eyes as she came in after getting his permission.

Somehow, he felt like he has seen her before but couldn’t remember where.

“So, what brings you here, priestess?” Cathain asked.

“I came to knew about the sudden collapse of the saintess, so am here to help.”

Priestess Liana replied with a calm voice but Cathain was rather shocked by her reply.

‘Saintess?’

.....

But priestess Liana ignored Cathain’s shock expression and continued with her words,

“The saintess must have collapsed because of awakening her holy powers so suddenly and it’s normal as she is still quite young.”

Although Alexander still had his doubts about the priestess but her words somehow helped him explain the situation of Eleanora’s sudden collapse to others.

If any outsider comes to know about her sudden weak body, they might use this against her to harm her.

And there is no way that Alexander will allow that to happen.

Liana kneeled down beside Eleanora and took her hands to kiss it gently.

Everyone looked at her with a dumbfounded expression as they didn’t understand what she was trying to do.

“I greet the holy saintess Eleanora Ariande Dalton. This servent of yours will serve and protect you till her death.”

Although Liana’s greetings seem to be normal but it gave a suspicious vibe to Alexander.

Why would a priestess, who never meet her before swore the loyalty oath to a young girl?

The loyalty oath is unbreakable till one of them dies and you can only vow to one person.

Then a faint golden light started to glow on her hands and Eleanora’s body started to absorb it.

“Ele...”

Alexander anxiously called her name as he was a little afraid about Eleanora’s safety.

After absorbing the holy powers from Liana, Eleanora blinked her eyes a few times before the light in her eyes came back.

Everyone in the room had their heart beat stopped as they held their hopes on Liana.

A few moments later, Eleanora finally opened her mouth and tried to speak as her eyes fall on the anxious Alexander.

“D-Daddy?”

But soon she completely fall unconscious as her head was hurting very much as well her body.

She was feeling like, something new was running throughout her cold ice mana, which gave her a warm feeling but pain at the same time.

“Ele! What happened?”

Alexander widened his eyes and asked in a panicked voice.

“Don’t worry duke, she is just sleeping.”

Liana paused for a moment before she stroked Eleanora’s hair and spoke again...

“Sleep well, Saintess.”

After she finished speaking, Liana kissed her head.

Amd Cathain glared at Liana. Why is she being so intimate with Eleanora?

Can’t just holding hands work? Does she really need to kiss on her forehead?

Then Cathain paused his thoughts as a sudden realisation hit him.

‘Why am i thinking like this? What’s wrong with me?’

The frown Eleanora had on her forehead calmed down and she fall into her father’s embrace to sleep.

“Her divine power needs some more time to settle and merge with her ice mana, so she will probably sleep for two-three days.”

Liana replied and got up to stand beside Dominic.

“Thank you so much, Priestess. Our Dalton Duchy will never forget your help and you are always welcome.”

“It’s what i am supposed to do, Duke.”

Liana politely bowed to Cathain and Alexander to express her gratitude.

Soon, Dominic Left with Liana as they thought they needed to give Alexander and Cathain a little time to talk privately.

They had sensed the awkwardness between them.

So it was only Alexander, Eleanora, Cathain and Brayden left into the room.

Cathain was relieved to see Eleanora becoming normal again and sleep soundly.

Alexander was stroking Eleanora’s hair when he suddenly opened his mouth to speak.

“Your highness, the crown prince.”

“Y-Yes?”

Cathain jolted as he thought he was caught as he kept staring at Eleanora’s sleeping face.

“Am sorry for today’s incident on behalf of my daughter, if there is something you want, you can just directly contact my aid Raynor. The Dalton’s will do their best to fulfil your request.”

Cathain frowned as he heard him. Does he wants to call off today’s event like the lake incident too?

Just by giving him the high grade mana stone?

He doesn’t know why this father-daughter pair os treating him like this.

Alexander never spoke more then necessary so they seldom talked with each other.

But now, Alexander’s looks was like he won’t mind to kill him even if he was the crown prince.

“Duke, i didn’t saved her for a reward... She is my-”

Before Cathain could utter the word ‘Fiance’, Alexander cut him off.

“Given the circumstances, the safest thing for me and the duchy would be to make Eleanora the empress...”

Alexander paused on his words and Cathain felt something terrible was about to come.

“But i won’t.”

Alexander said with a firm and serious voice and somehow Cathain felt his blood boiling with anger.

“What do you mean by this, Duke? It was the god’s decision to sent her as my partner, for the future-”

“I want my daughter to be happy and safe, which she won’t be once she becomes the empress. I will train and make her the next heir of the duchy. She can help the empire prosper like this too.”

Before Cathain could say something else, A knock came and a knight informed that their carriage has been prepared.

“Duke, The carriage is ready.”

“Okay.”

Alexander gave Cathain no chance to talk and stood up while carrying Eleanora on his arms.

But he stoped when he reached the door and suddenly looked behind,

“Stay Away From My Daughter!”

Alexander left with Eleanora and Cathain just stood dumbstruck.

‘Just what did he meant by his last sentence?’