Chapter 127 - Planned

Abigail pov

I looked at the girl who was becoming a mystery to me day by day. She wanted to be a knight for sure just a few moments ago, and now! She was not ready to go to the stage. Though her words were fact, it did not look like she was telling the truth.

If i didn't know that the emperor was her father, i would have thought there was hatred in her eyes towards the man and she did not want to kneel in front of him.

Yet there was something I missed. But before I could hinder further, her name was announced once again. I took a deep breath as I held her hand.

"What do you think you are doing?" she asked me with anger as i pulled her towards the stage.

"Helping you in being a knight. What else?" I asked , rolling my eyes, though she could not see since my back was towards her.

"I do not want to go there. Leave my hand." she tried to detach her hand but i didn't loosen my grip. She could have taken her hands easily if she would have used her whole power. But then others would have known.

We were surrounded by a lot of higher nobles, knights of the royal palace and the royal family.

It was looking like we both were coming together holding hands like good friends. Leo looked at me and moved towards me to help her when I shook my head. He looked at me tilting his head and then sighed and stopped.

'Well that was easy!' When I denied him, I was not hoping that he would listen to me.

"You will have to pay for this, Abigail" she threatened me in a scary voice and it would be a lie if I said I was not afraid. 

But then, she would realize in the long run that I was trying to help her out.

Soon we reached the stage and stood in front of the emperor. His eyes were set on us the moment we entered the room. As if he was doing some kind of calculation in his mind, he kept looking at us. He only smiled when we both stood in front of him.

"Would you wait for your turn, sir Abigail?" he asked me with a warm smile and I bowed my head and nodded.

I took a few steps back and stood in the sidelines while Josephine was standing there in front of them. But instead of kneeling she stood tall and looked straight into the eyes of the emperor.

"Your oath, Sir Josehpine." said the man holding the book. Only then did she turn towards the side.

"I promise to work for the welfare of the nation and I will always be ready to sacrifice my life for the peace and prosperity of the empire and its people." though there was nothing wrong with her oath. She totally skipped the part where she had to promise that she would protect the royal family and serve them from her body and soul.

There were many who had the same question on their face, but no one said a word as she finished her oath.

She again stood in front of the emperor who took his sword and tapped her shoulders. Once again she did not kneel in front of them. Why do I feel that they could kill each other rather than protect?

Once she was done, my name was called and the process repeated. I took the oath seriously as I promised the world and myself that I would always protect the royal family. 

After that I kneeled and the emperor tapped the sword on my shoulder.

I stood in front of him and then bowed my head showing my gratitude. But just when I stood straight I heard the noise of a crack and soon the chandelier fell. I held the crown prince who was standing just below it and moved to the other side. But the impact was strong and we both fell.

We both were on the red carpet that was for the guests. His hands were holding my waist and my hands were on his collar that was almost pulled by me.

I took some shallow breath as if I was deprived of oxygen for long while he continued to look at me with complicated eyes.

When the other knights moved towards us, only then did he move his hands and wwe both stood up straight.

"Are you okay, your highness?" the knights asked him and he nodded.

"Abi, are you okay dear?" asked my father and behind him was worried Nickolas.

"I am completely fine, sir Nickolas, Commandant Gerard.'' I replied with an official bow and my father's eyes hardened. He moved back without saying a word and so as Nickolas, though he was looking worried rather than angry.

"Once again, thank you, sir Abigail" said William as he was taken away by his three knights.

I could only nod as I stood there alone. Soon, the chaotic atmosphere turned serene again. But my eyes continued to repeat the same scene in front of me.

There was no surprise in his eyes when the chandelier fell. He was only looking surprised when he thought that I had held him and saved him. As if he was not expecting to be saved. There was something wrong with his eyes and the way he reacted.

Or was i overthinking. I looked at the broken pieces of chandelier once again, it was big enough to kill two to three people who would have been standing below it. 

I moved and looked at the rope which was being inspected by my father.

It looked like the rope had turned weaker with time. It didn't have any sharp cut marks. Yet there was something I missed. It was too much to be a coincidence to be an incident.

The royal family was already taken away and since I was the last candidate to be announced as knight, the program ended right there. But before I could go home someone tapped my shoulder.

"......."