Chapter 67

ALARIC'S POV

There are only two minutes left till the dance starts. The orchestra has been set up on stage. Everyone is still talking to each other but staying close to their partners.

Amadeus has turned sixteen which makes him eligible to be in the dance. He seemed excited but he faced an issue. He doesn't have a partner ready for the dance.

I would participate too but my age has proven otherwise. Serena and I sit down at a table while we wait for the young nobles to start their dance.

"Do you think Amadeus will find a partner?" Serena asked me while leaning over. "It's his first dance after all. I hope someone takes him for the dance."

"I'm sure he can find someone," I reassured. "He's the birthday boy after all!"

She chuckles softly. "I'm sure he will! He seemed eager to be on the dance floor,"

My focus was not on the dance, however. My focus was more on where Artorius was. It has already been quite a long time since he left the ballroom. He is yet to return and the dance is about to begin.

I already knew he wouldn't come back. Zenith must be fighting him as we speak. That or he is still looking for Vincent in such a vast castle.

The chances of him finding the two are slim but not zero. But I doubt even a genius like him can figure out where the two are.

I made sure that not even a hint of them fighting would be noticed by anyone. They are at the left wing of the castle, too far to be reached in five minutes. No one can run there in five minutes, defeat my best man and return in time and unscathed.

"Why are you smiling so awkwardly?" Serena asked with her eyebrows furrowed.

I panicked and laughed. "N-nothing! I was just thinking of something," I explained.

She twitched her lips for a second. "That smile of yours was really ugly!" She cried out.

Just then, a disheartened Amadeus comes back to us with a frown on his face.

"What's wrong, dear?" Serena asked. "Why the long face?"

He curled his lips in. "Everyone has a partner already," He says with frustration. "I'll just spectate like every other time."

My heart sank seeing how down he looked. "Why couldn't you find anyone? I asked.

"Everyone either has a partner or doesn't want to dance. It's just bad luck," he explained.

Perhaps I can use this opportunity.

"Who said?" I said with a smile. "Look there!"

I pointed towards Kathlyn who looked around frantically, looking for Artorius as the dance was about to start. She had high hopes of dancing and wouldn't want to miss out on this opportunity. Serena said how happy she was to be able to attend the party and most excited about the dance.

"K-Kathlyn?" Amadeus exclaimed in shock. "But she should dance with Artorius, no?"

"Do you see Artorius at the party, my dear?" I said, looking at him with mellow eyes

Amadeus looked around the party, trying to spot the red-haired king. "Not really…" He muttered. "Where is he?" He turned and asked me.

"He said he had to clean up," I explained. "He spilt wine on himself by accident at dinner. He must be late."

"Still," Amadeus insisted. "I don't think I should be the one dancing with her.

"Why not?" I asked. "I'm sure Artorius would be glad if you took her in place for him.

Amadeus raised an eyebrow and thought. "Hmm… Maybe you're right," He answered back.

"Go on then!" I urged him. "Go ask her for the dance."

He gets up from his chair and looks at me with hopeful eyes. "I shall shoot my shot!" He said before walking off, exuding confidence with each step.

I watched him approach her and felt content. This way, even if he somehow returned to the dance, he would have no one to dance with.

KATHLYN'S POV

He was nowhere to be seen. He said he would be back, but he hasn't returned. There are only a few minutes left.

Everyone who wanted to dance took their place in the open area of the ballroom. It had always been my dream to dance in such a formal setting, especially inside the castle.

It made me hopeful for once. I thought my dreams would come true. The dream of visiting the capital and having dinner at the emperor's castle. It all felt so… unreal.

But perhaps I got my hopes too high. Visiting the capital and having dinner at the ballroom should've been enough. I got greedy.

I looked down at my lap, disheartened from my dream being shattered. I gently caressed Amelia's fur as she turned her head to me, staring at me with glowing yellow eyes.

Her eyes looked at me with the same sadness I felt. Did she understand my feelings?

"Uhm… Excuse my rudeness," A soft voice caught my attention.

Amelia's head turned to the voice that caught my attention. I quickly looked up as I recognized the voice.

"O-oh, your majesty," I said out loud. "May I help you?"

His eyes shot wildly in all kinds of directions. "I was just wondering…" He muttered.

"Wondering? Do you want to ask me something?" I asked him.

His face turns red as he tries to speak up a bit more. He held eye contact with me and it made my heart beat faster.

"A-are you alone?" He said shyly. "Y-you were sitting alone a-and I thought you would like to dance with someone."

My heart started to beat faster as he asked me out for the dance. It was my second time being asked out for a dance, and it would be the new emperor too.

I looked around my surroundings once more, hoping for that one possibility to come. But it seemed I was out of options.

Just then, his eyes looked behind me as I heard footsteps muffled out by the sound of chatter. His jaw opens wide as his eyes widen.

"Sorry, I'm late!" Artorius' voice exclaims from behind me.

He held my shoulders and gently massaged them. It made my heart start to race.

I swiftly turned around to see him standing before me. Sweating and panting profusely. He was out of breath and looked exhausted.

'Goodness! What happened to you!" I shouted out. "Are you alright?" I asked him out of concern.

He wipes his forehead with his handkerchief. "Yes, I am," he tells me as he notices Amadeus. "Oh, your majesty! I didn't notice you." He says with a smile.

"A-Artorius!" Amadeus uttered loudly. "Sorry to bother you!"

"Why? What happened?" Artorius asked.

"I-I was going to ask out Kathlyn for the dance," He tried to explain in a hurry. "She looked alone and my father suggested I should."

He nodded and listened along to what he had to say. "Hm, I see," He thinks and says. "It's fine if you want to dance with her. I won't mind!"

Artorius walked over to Amadeus who looked back and forth between me and him. He was trying to make a decision quickly but he couldn't.

"N-no! You should take her for the dance," He answered back.

"Let's ask Kathlyn then," Artorius said while eyeballing me.

I was taken aback by him. "M-me!?" I exclaimed. "W-well…"

The dance would begin shortly. I had to pick a partner. My lifelong friend or the newly crowned emperor who also has his birthday today.

I curled my lips in as I tried to make the toughest decision so far. They both glared at me with curiosity.

My heart beats faster and faster. I had to make a decision now or never.

The choice was easy.

"Well, truthfully speaking," I said. "I'd like to take Artorius."

Artorius giggles happily. "The decision has been made!" He exclaimed while looking at Amadeus.

There is no one I can pick over Artorius. No matter who that person may be in rank, no one beats Artorius that easily.

Amadeus looked disheartened but kept a happy smile on his face. It made me feel bad for picking Artorius over him but it would be worse to pick him over Artorius.

ARTORIUS' POV

Damn, what a relief.

I only made it back in the nick of time. Zenith had stalled me for far too long. That bastard is going to pay later.

Felix had found some staff who were investigating the open front door and handed Vincent's unconscious body over to them. I was not sure about his decision but it was for the best.

I met him before running full speed back to the ballroom. He took Warrior's Ballad's handle and sheathed the broken blade inside its scabbard.

"The dance will begin shortly," I told Amadeus while pushing him gently on his back. "I can get you a partner in an instant."

"How?" He asked me with a skeptical glare. "Who do you think is free to be my partner?"

I looked over the tables, looking past Lady Serena and Alaric and looking at a lonely queen who sat with her head propped on her hand.

"Do you see Alyssa there?" I pointed towards her. "Let's go and talk to her!"

I nudged him forward and started to walk away from Kathlyn. I looked back at her and nodded, reassuring her I will be back as I promised.

We walked past the old emperor and empress who gave me a gentle smile. Alaric however, was hiding how he truly felt. He was not expecting me to come back, for sure.

I nodded and smiled back at the two. Lady Serena trusted me with Amadeus and saw me as his older brother.

"Go, talk to her," I pushed him forward.

Though I might've pushed him a bit too hard. He stumbled on his feet but kept his balance. Alyssa luckily didn't notice him nearly fall and was staring the other way.

I crossed my arm and stared at the young emperor asking out the young queen for a dance. She will agree for sure.

"Pardon me," Amadeus says to get her attention. "Lady Alyssa?"

Alyssa quickly whipped her head, recognizing his voice in an instant.

"O-oh, your hi- majesty!" He exclaimed. "Sorry, I was really surprised to find you here."

Amadeus lets out a soft chuckle. "Oh, haha!" He laughed. "I'm sorry to spook you. I just came here to ask you something."

"What is it?" Alyssa turned her head in curiosity.

"Would you care to dance with me?" He asked while putting his hands forward.

Alyssa was shocked to see his sudden request. "O-oh?" She said while holding her mouth. "I'd be delighted to!"

Bingo.

She takes his hand and stands up from her chair. She noticed me staring at the two of them. We made eye contact which was my sign to take my leave.

"What a wingman," Amelia chimed in through telepathy.

I chuckled in my mind. "Perfectly aligned, right?" I replied to her as I walked past Alaric's table once more.

This time I glanced at Alaric. He looked at me with his arms crossed and a small frown, hanging off his lips. I couldn't tell if he was frowning from seeing me or because he just gave up his title as emperor.

Either way, I could now relax and enjoy the party for once. Since I came here I was on edge from the start. As soon as I saw Alaric in the foyer, I knew he planned something extra for me as soon as we made eye contact.

"Excuse me, milady?" I asked Kathlyn.

"Yes?" She said while looking at me with a sweet smile. "May I help you?

"I was wondering if would be so kind to take this dance with me,"

She chuckled at my act. "I would be delighted to," She played along.

Kathlyn put her hands on mine as Amelia jumped onto the table. She grasped onto my fingers with hers and I pulled her closer.

FELIX'S POV

Even though I didn't fight, my clothes were covered in blood and sweat. My white shirt had stains of red on them that dried out quickly.

Vincent's unconscious body lay before me as healers try to heal up his wounds. Vincent had lost a lot of blood and collapsed due to exhaustion and blood loss. He was in a dire situation.

Bright white lights blinded my vision as they turned up the intensity of the lights higher to get a better view of his wounds. Vincent's wounds were deep, especially the one on his torso. It might've cut through his vital organs.

We were inside the infirmary room of the castle. Luckily all healers were still present at the moment and they rushed to his aid as soon as we walked in.

Healers tried their best to try and fix him up. He was still alive, just barely. His breathing was shallow and his heartbeat was too slow. If this keeps going on, we might lose him.

The healers patched up his wounds and tried to get his heart to start beating faster. They gave him chest compressions but it was no use.

We were running out of known ways to help him, it might be too late.

"Get the tube!" One of the healers shouted out.

He was handed a long and limp tube that he used to put inside Vincent's mouth. He put the other end inside Vincent's mouth and put it deeper inside.

"Keep giving him chest compressions! We need to keep his heart beating!" The healer said before putting the tube in his mouth.

He started to blow into the tube to give him oxygen directly. He took deep breaths and put all his might into blowing into the tube.

The healer was trying so hard that his face slowly turned blue from all the breathing. He seemed dizzy but continued to give him oxygen till his facial colour was noticed by the other healers.

"Move!" One of the other five said. "You will faint at this rate." He shoved him aside.

He began to blow into the tube as well. The chest compressions continued with the oxygen.

I watched from the doorway of the infirmary, seeing everyone rush to save his life. Sweat formed on my face as the air inside the room grew heavier and heavier.

"S-sir," one of the healers on standby called out. "Are you also injured by chance?" He asked me, noticing the blood.

"No, I'm not," I told him. "My shirt was stained while carrying him.

"By the way," He said while holding onto Warrior's Ballad. "This sword is broken."

He unsheathes Warrior's Ballad, or whatever was left of it. I nodded in response and he put the sword back inside.

"Don't worry about it," I told him. "It's our duty to take care of this sword."

He walked back to the scene and watched in horror, just like every other on standby staff.

Suddenly, Vincent gasps and spits the coughing tube out of his mouth. He continued to cough as he tried to get up and spit out blood.

"Lay down, sir!" The healer whose face was blue exclaimed. You're still injured! You need to rest a few days before going back to duty.

Vincent got a hold of his coughing and looked around his surroundings. A staff member brought forth a glass of water for him to drink to help his coughing.

Vincent quickly drank up the water before laying back down on the bed. A wave of relief washed over everyone in the room, seeing that he was alive and healthy still.

"It's a success!" One of the healers turned and told me, pumping his fist in the air.

The room was full of smiles and delight as a near-impossible situation turned out for the better. Everyone was glad for the success of the emergency and hugged each other.

I walked into the room this time, a dumb smile plastered on my face and eyes nearly in tears. I had held back my emotions so far but it all came crashing down from seeing Vincent wake up and be alive.

They cleared the path and watched me walk up to his bed, stained by the blood that he just coughed up. Vincent was breathing deeply and looked at me when he saw me walk up to him.

"Hey, Felix…" He says softly. "We succeeded…"

"We did… we succeeded thanks to you," I muttered out while holding back tears.

He smiled at me with happiness. Drops of tears slowly started to come out from my eyes, rolling down my cheeks and dropping on the floor.

"Crying makes you look so ugly," Vincent insults me. "You're a grown-ass man!"

We both shared a chuckle as the healers left us in the room alone. I looked back at them as they left, the heroes that saved Vincent.