8 Chapter 7

"I am asking you what do you mean by you leaving?" Prince Darius asked seriously that made Laria staighten her back. He is so handsome up close. His blonde hair and red eyes is completely the opposite of Hadean. His beauty will make you kneel in front of him. Of course, not with our another full of prince.

"Greetings, your Majesty!" Laria quickly bowed her head. Fierro could not bow his head, but Laria glared at him.

"If you cannot, you do not have to do so," Darius sneered and that makes Laria and Fierro confused. "A bug like you with bright red hair color dares to fly around my lady?" That makes Laria's jaw to dropped in the floor.

"Who are you calling a bug?!" Fierro who could not read the situation continue making a fuss and Laria was about to hit Fierro when the arrogant attitude of Darius mocks him more.

"Yes, an annoying bug that causes all the chaos within my Kingdom!" from mockery into a serious mode when suddenly a large number of master knights appeared and was about to hold Fierro when Laria interrupted.

"Wait! What do you mean by this?!" she glared at Darius, and her green eyes are piercing through him. 'Does this mean that he knows the truth?!' but nothing is certain yet so she does not panic and instead keep her graceful demeanor.

"He is my guest! How dare you!" she speak and protect Fierro from behind. That make Darius groaned.

"Laria, don't make this hard for us," he spoke slowly, and whisper to her, "You do not want to get you whole family executed." The confident aura now that she is exuding is gone, and she turned extremely pale when she saw her sisters running into her.

"Elder Sister!" her forehead tighten more to see that her graceful younger sisters were running, when a noble lady should not! And that is when she realize that Darius knows the truth and is arresting the current prince. She is in critical condition! This really could get her whole family arrested... and what's even worse? They might get executed! But how did he know?

Laria glared at Cosco, her aide from afar. That traitor!

When they arrived, they kneel in front of the crown prince and beg for forgiveness.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince! Please forgive our elder sis!" they begged and all crying.

"Idiots! Rise! A noble lady should not kneel in the floor like that!" Laria was trembling so hard right now. But she is keeping her pride and head up high. Think... think... think!

But what makes the situation worse is the arrogant Prince Fierro. He crossed his arms and uttered, Loki, and make the fire spirit came out.

This makes Prince Darius eyes twitched.

"I will not let you capture me!" he declared and is ready to fight when Darius raise his sword and in a blink of an eye, beside him.

"Know your place," Prince Darius is now annoyed by the brat. Truly, what is Laria thinking by helping a Prince of another empire?! What is more, the beloved wielder of King of the Dragons Spirit.

He is so mad. So mad that he wanted to take his head off for putting her beloved Laria in danger. What if her brother Kaizer was the one who knew if first? That bastard will make sure to eliminate Laria and make her younger sisters his consorts.

"No!" Fierro pushed Prince Darius and activated a spell, 'Whirlfire' and continue attacking Fierro. But he dodge it and smirk.

"Is this all you have?" he asked to Fierro, and Loki is now blazing with anger. Fierro is only 17 year old boy, and could not shelter well the spirit. If it uses more energy than usual, this might took a toll on Fierro's body.

"Let's stop, Fierro, this is your limit," Loki said but Fierro's pride is instilling. Laria, on the other hand, take her sisters in a safety and the master knights are protecting them now.

But Fierro as stubborn as he is, did not listen and use every ounce of his aura against his opponent.

"You really are a bastard," Prince Darius said as he took head on the last attack, he smiled because his armor is still impenetrable. The armor that Laria devised. And Laria was shocked also. It was her first research magical item, and gifted to him when he was 15 years old.

Fierro lost his consciousness and Prince Darius asked the guards to take him.

"Laria, I believe you are responsible for your actions," that made Laria nodded. "I believe you would offer me a cup of tea." that made Laria looked at him, "...in the Sunflower Garden."

That place is a very special place for them. That is where they first meet. Although it was plain grass land back then, him, Laria, and Prince Hadean, the visitor in their palace back then was the one who planted sunflowers back then. And Laria is so fond of that place that she built a tea place, been waiting for Prince Darius to came back but he did not.

When he came back from being the delegate in the West Empire, it was like he is a brand new person. And so they grew very distant from each other.

A very warm place. But Laria surely cannot enjoy reminiscing. Every action of Darius is making her extremely anxious.

While preparing the tea, she made sure to send a letter to Princess Kylie for help. And if ever the princess betrays her, she made sure to prepare a home in the outskirts of the Kingdom for her sisters if she gets executed. She knows very well the consequences of her actions so she is very prepared.

"Be my empress," Laria does not know what look she have now but certainly it is not good, "just kidding," and Prince Darius laugh.

"Ah.. haha..." she faked a laugh.

"Seriously, you are too tense." he murmured and sips in the tea. Laria averted her eyes. Of course it is good to be the empress, but she knew very well her plans. She supports Princess Kylie, and she wanted to manage the Marquessate well. Also, she does not want to share her husband to other consort.

Unlike the royal family, the nobles like them are not required to take a concubine.

When everything was settled in the Marquessate, she wanted to marry and live happily ever after. But this man keeps bothering her. Did he not the one leave her? Isn't he the one who wanted to conquer everything and forget about their little love?

Noticing her silence, he spoke again.

"There will be a war between us and the East Empire," that made Laria's attention goes to the prince, "And since you are one of the cause of it, you have to compensate the empire very well."

"I'll do anything in my power!" she said.

"Anything?"

"Yes! Yes!" she said, "Except for marriage, of course," that made Darius rolled his eyes.

"I know that, what I want is for you to make a large number of this armor," he pull out a piece of paper, " A hundred thousand---"

"A hundred thousand pieces?!" she was shocked at how many is that. She could not---

"This is a war because you hid their Prince, the East Empire is accusing us of taking the Prince as hostage,"

"But we did not! If we give back Fierro, won't this settle everything?"

"No, I doubt it," Prince Darius gazed at her. She looks so beautiful thinking and resolving problem with me. It's a loss that she does not want to become my Empress because of that stupid incident. He said in his mind.

"It's as if they were planning to eliminate him from the start, and wanted to took possession of us," he smiled, "I also send a letter to the West, but they are being threatened by the East too. Though, I am still waiting for a reply, this is no small matter,"

"B-ut? Aren't the king supposed to resolve this matter? Just what did you do?" Laria asked and he laughed.

"He is a big coward. And Kaizer, that bastard has taken this opportunity to get the nobles on his side," he said nonchalantly.

"You should prepare now, Oh, and also, your carriage," he paused, "We will be needing a lot of that. Rest today, and I'll be expecting you presence in the palace tomorrow,"

Laria could not do anything but blink until the Crown Prince completely dissapeared from her sight.

A war is breaking. She is lucky that Prince Darius still cares for her. She can feel the warmness and peace when they were talking.

If they succeed this war, she might reconsider his offer.