A Wedding to Remember Pt. 3

Lenard Geldstein, Month 11, Day 10, Year A.F 652. The city of Rosalia, Kingdom of Rosalia.

A tunnel opens up beside the halls and the guards made a formation behind us, prepared to fight for our escape.

My legs ache as I hear the sounds of explosion and screams erupt behind me, I run as the guards take us both to a secure location with Orvin following closely.

It seems the plot to dethrone Father was deeper than we ever realized. Something more than obvious from the nobility's reaction, their cooperation and shouts as they unsheathe their swords behind me.

Another explosion rocks the palace walls. It seems magic has entered the field of battle. The shouts of panic echo even within the tunnel halls, the foreign guest most probably in panic as they hurriedly tried to exit the worsening conditions inside the capital.

"You Majesties, Please hurry. We have a designated carriage on where you can be evacuated."

I look down at his words, my mind in a whirlwind. With the current situation, Athan would take control of the capital.

A weight settles on my chest as the realization of what happened makes me realizes something. Is there even any reason for me to resist? It's obvious that the capital will fall. Once it happens, they'll have the initiative.

Even now, our escape remains dubious, with my life on the line and the Kingdom's stability with it. Should I even try?

A hand takes me off of my pessimistic thoughts and I look at Eribeth, her white dress stained in dirt as she grips my hand with a smile. A bright smile, despite the last few moments being one of the most dangerous we've ever been in and on a moment that should have been a wonderful memory.

"Let's run." Her smile lifting off a bit of the stress the situation dumped on me.

I nod quickly as we hurry, the sounds of fighting going further away. A fact which makes me smile, because it could only mean that the men left have done their duty in stopping anyone in following.

A small light blares in front of us, the exit of this tunnel, a way outside the chaotic capital and a way for me to build up my forces and retake it.

As we inch closer, the view becomes clearer. In front of our once exit stood a battalion of men. I raise my eyebrow in shock as Eribeth grips my hand. I look at her to see fear and anxiety, an expression mirroring mine.

Orvin squints his eyes as his hand lights up, magic concentrating between his fingers. Our eyes lock as what we discussed before was enacted.

Though before our guards could react violently, I raise my arm as the men around me stop at my command.

I walked forward as everyone follows behind me, each step echoing through the tunnel.

"What is the meaning of this!"

The guards standing at our exit part ways as a man enters with a stride. "Prince Lenard, please come with us for your safety."

I raise an eyebrow. "Safety? as you see here, I'm already being escorted to my safety. So if you could kindly leave, it would be a pleasure."

"Prince, we are merely following orders."

"Whose!?"

"His Highness has ordered for your presence."

I laughed, "Truly?" with a shake of my head I walked back to my guards "Do not insult my intelligence."

The guard sighs as he order his men, "Take Prince Lenard and Princess Eribeth under custody, Ki-"

An explosion stopped him mid-sentence as the guards unsheathe their swords, ready to take advantage of the chaotic situation. This quick series of events took the battalion by surprise.

I ran forward as I take the sword of one fallen soldier. I grip Eribeth's hand as I hold her behind me during our escape. A soldier run to me and I take a slash, i look up to the incoming barrage fizzling out from Orvin's counters.

Enough firepower allowed us to pierce through just enough to reach the other side. Unfortunately, once we did, we realized how dire the situation is.

Another battalion stood there, heading directly towards us. I look around me. The chaotic mess of battle left me and my men tired.

With the oncoming soldiers, I sigh in exasperation, though Orvin raises merely raises his arm, intent on taking down the oncoming battalion.

But before he could do so, the sounds of fighting erupt behind it as blood spurts about and the battalion in front of us end up in a mess of panic.

Orvin looks at me and I nod as he releases his magic, engulfing its front lines in a blaze of glory. My breathing quickens as I take this chance to push forward.

"What is happening?" A wind blasts away the smoke and fire and Eribeth mutters behind me as she watches the scene unfolding in front of us.

It was a view of death and carnage, a line of men, brutally bloodying their swords against the wounded soldier, groaning from pain and screaming from despair from the brutality the humans in front of them seem to prefer.

Some shove it down their throats while other repeatedly stab a demon screaming surrender. I take a step back as Eribeth hides behind me.

I look behind me as my guards do their best to stop the tide. Orvin steps forward, intent on taking the men in a fight.

Though before any confrontation can occur, a woman walks in front, her red hair as bloody as the scene before me.

She bows to me. "My Prince, we have prepared you a way to exit this chaos."

I look at her in suspicion as the men beneath her command brutally eliminate any soldiers remaining.

"Who are you and who do you work for!?" I shout to her, hoping to at least discern who she works for.

"She works for me, My Prince." A voice spoke to me from behind the men.

A familiar face comes forward. His brown hair and average features were that of someone who has helped him immensely in forms of wealth.

"Michael!" I look at Eribeth and Orvin as I pull them forward.

I smile at her concern as I whisper at her, "I know who he is, he's an ally we can trust."

The both of them nods hesitantly as I walked forward, "You do not know how relieved I am to see you."

He bows deeply. "I live to serve, My Prince."

The battle grow closer from behind as I immediately pull Eribeth with me, hurrying towards our evacuation point.

"Im sure you can take of it from here."

He follows behind me as he whispers at the woman, "Of course, Mary here will do quick work of them and shall guard you to safety."

"Good, then let us hurry."

Athan Geldstein, Month 11, Day 10, Year A.F 652. The city of Rosalia, Kingdom of Rosalia.

"Well, this has been quite a mess." I mutter to myself as I watch the once lavishly decorate palace turn into a chaotic battlefield.

They carted the various guests that were wounded to medical rooms. Their groans of pain and various shouts of outrage didn't bode well for the future.

"The amount of foreign outrage this will cause is going to be disastrous."

The various guests and diplomat caught in the crossfire held considerable power in their origin countries.

"That may be so, but the injuries taken today came from rebels, during the attempted assassination of our king."

Uncle spoke beside me, his expression menacing as he watches the men open the tunnel where my brother ran into.

"Do you really think they'll fall to something so obvious?"

He looks down at me as he smiles. "Either they believe that or they cut ties to the next powers of this continent."

A laugh escapes me. "Father isnt dead, yet you proclaim dominion over this kingdom?"

He grabs my shoulders as he urged me to walk with him, in the direction where father was recuperating. We walk in silence for a few minutes, his deadpan expression filling me with anxiety.

We stop in front of Father's personal bedroom, one which was lavishly decorated, his condition filling the room with medical personnel, all taking care of his worsening condition.

A guard sees us both and salutes as he opens the door.

Once inside, i saw my father, his paling skin from the loss of blood was more than apparent. Then his weary eyes look back at me.

It filled his eyes with anger as he weakly pointed to me, "You-"

Uncle interrupts him, "Your Majesty! I am overjoyed to hear of your survival."

He walks closer as he walks to his side, the personnel around us making way as I follow him.

"I would be more than happy to take care of this nation, in such moments of distress."

I look down at him with a smile before bowing and feigning my submission.

"And as your son, I would be more than delighted to return this nation back to stability."