11_ The Great Escape .

The Kanerria Dynasty was thrown into great confusion and mourning due to the death of their beloved Queen , Empress Aurora Huang.

An embodiment of Kindness, the Qing {Court ministers} said , A true example of graceful ladyship and respect , the Ho {Regional Lords} praised , An inestimable Jewel of serenity and peace narrated the Daifu's {Bureaucrats}. If these words were indeed true, Lucian thought ...

Why didn't they regard her this way while she was still alive ?

And why did no one ask the specifics on how she died or what was the cause of her death?

The funeral procession took place the very next day after her passing. Her handmaid, Ji-na had been put to death after being found guilty of the death of the Empress. An unknown witness had come forward to confess that they had overheard the Empress Consort planning to dismiss Ji-na from her service. Furthermore, the weapon used in the stabbing of the Empress was found on the accused room in the servant's Quarters. Desperately pleading her innocence to the Qing , they all turned a deaf ear to her plead and in the end she was sentenced to hanging , not before being paraded through the streets and stoned by passers- by.

Despite all this , The Heir prince of the Kanerria Dynasty was not quite Convinced, and still had his suspicions about his mother's sudden death. Li Huang looked saddened by the recent developments but Lucian couldn't help noticing that lack of sincere grief and sorrow in his eyes. Instead they were devoid of affection and had no concern about what had happened to Aurora.

Therefore it came as a great shock to the entire Kingdom living in Kanerria during the Huang Dynasty, when Court Messengers,were sent to each of the Nobles , Regional Lords and Trading Partners of the Dynasty , bearing a letter marked with the royal seal.

Junzi Siun Bao of the Regent of Lunzin Empire, was surprised when a conceited messenger from the Palace , dressed in the Regal colours of The Imperial dragon Surrounded by the blazing colors of red and golden yellow was brought into his Court as he was conversing with his advisors.

"What is your purpose here, servant?"Siun spoke degatorily.

The Messenger cleared his throat and then , taking out a scroll bearing the royal seal of the Emperor himself , he began :

"By the orders of Emperor Li Huang of the Kanerria Dynasty , You are hereby invited to the coronation of The crowned Heir to the throne , His Imperial majesty, Lu Cyran Huang that takes place in the next Three Days. Rules to be strictly followed at the Procession ; Only individuals of Noble birth and blood may gain entry , No weapons allowed ..."

And that it was how it was to be.

Lucian was to be crowned sovereign and invested with the insignia of royalty just three days after the death of his Mother and Li Huang would not be persuaded to see it any other way .

But Lucian had plans of his own....

————————————————————

It was the day before Lucian's coronation as Emperor Sovereign of the Kanerria Dynasty. The Imperial Palace was abuzz with different noises as everyone prepared for this great celebration . It was going to be the greatest one yet , the servants said.

But all festive spirits was soon cut short by a single cry.

"Prince Lucian was missing!

However Li Huang and few of his guards that had been sent out on the search for his son knew the truth and it angered him.

Lucian was planning to escape.

Li Huang knew so because this was exactly how he would have also executed his plans.

"That boy..."He swore violently as he paced across his chambers. He had ordered the guards to block every exit to prevent their escape but Li Huang also knew that Lu must had had an alternative route.

And that he was still trying to figure out.

Lucian crept across the shadows cast by the stone walls as he crept into the servants quarters.

Standing by the window, moonlight striking against her frame was Jian . Worry was her most expressive demeanour at that moment as she gazed into the darkness as if searching for someone.

She let out a little gasp when she felt someone's hand over her mouth. The stranger's grip lessened as she embraced him.

"Lucian..." She sighed in relief. "I feared the worst."

"Everything will be fine , my love." He whispered as they remained in a lovers embrace. "But I have to leave." He muttered.

Jian looked pleadingly into his eyes. "Don't go Lucian. What will happen to me...To us?"

Lucian looked away and let her out of his arms. "I have to. I can't remain here no longer , Jian. Hikaru and I are to escape tonight. I only came to reassure you that I had not disappeared." He moved towards the door but Jian held him back and pulled him closer to her . "A kiss then...So that I will always remember my only love and the man who captured my heart."

She pressed her warm lips against his and both felt the fire of urgency rise inside of them but pushed it back. Jian broke the kiss and turned away.

"You may go ."She said tearfully.

Lucian wished to comfort her but couldn't. He sighed and walked out of her room, closing the door behind him.

Once he left , the Proud Jian sunk to the floor and began to cry as her heart aged for her lover.

———————————————

Hikaru slowly pushed aside the huge drum filled with water that concealed a secret passage. It wasn't hard to know every secret collaborating in and out of the palace if you've lived there for almost your entire life. This was a huge risk that was being taken but he felt he owed it to Lucian. Ever since he was brought to the palace, Lu and especially Aurora was very gracious towards him despite the unrelenting cruelty of Li Huang .

Hikaru looked up at the moonlit sky .

Lucian was supposed to be here by now.

"Just a few more minutes." Hikaru muttered.

They had agreed that he would arrive once the moon was on the highest peak in the sky but if he failed to ...Hikaru was to proceed without him. The moon was slowly descending and time was running out.

Where was he?

-----------~——————————

Lucian breathed heavily as stared at his father, face heated with anger. He was surrounded by the guards and helpless no means of escape. His hands clutched his Sword tightly , unwilling to use it to defend himself. He was beaten , bruised and battered by the guards on the orders of his father, but never Did he unsheath his Sword. Because the anytime he did ...

Something bad happened.

"Surrender." Li Huang spoke.

"I would rather die , than yield to you!" Lucian snarled.

"If you have no fear of death towards yourself , maybe you'll feel for this thing." Li Huang dragged out the scruffy looking girl from earlier and placed his Sword at her neck.

"Let me ask again , return to the palace and reign by my side as Emperor or..." He let the sharp tip nick the skin , letting blood flow. "It dies for you to learn your lesson. Either way provides the same results."

"Leave her out of this." Lucian yelled.

"You made it a part of this when you disobeyed me , foolish child!" Li Huang said in a voice no longer calm. He pressed the sword close as the girl began to choke.

"Yield or Die."

Lucian bared his teeth and drew out his sword as the light in his eyes went out and all traces of humanity disappeared.

There was no going back.