Allied Forces

Morning came from the Palace of Descovick.

Her Imperial Majesty, Alyssa came rushing to the guess room wherein Strelna, the Grand Duchess of St. Petersburg is currently staying.

The Grand Duchess arrived last night on the capital with her said to be reduced-in-half army and not in their greatness. She wanted to talk to her when she heard her arrival but Strelna's second-hand begged to give the night to his master.

She heard from him that the Queen of Lithuania caught them in Rybachy while resting from a long expedition going here. He also reported that the army which was originally a thousand two hundred in total was reduced to ashes and only five hundred plus the Grand Duchess survived the attack.

She knows how powerful Lyca is to have the defense in the capital's borders to strengthen against Lithuania but she never knew they would attack via Curonian Spit.

As she arrived in front of the doors of the guest room, she heard crying inside but kinda sounds like whining.

Oh, there she is!

She opens the door and a scene she expected welcomes her.

Strelna in her nightgown on the bed hugging a huge pillow saw her as she walked inside the room and now adding volume on her whining.

"SISTER!!" Strelna called as she whine hugging the pillow.

Strelna is her half younger sibling by the way. She and the Grand Dukes are all family-related but on different family branches that is why their loyalties are with them. The Prince of the Blood Imperial is the late King's nephew and so a cousin of Loren. These royalties are capable and powerful among others, that is why her sister being almost defeated by Lyca's army or maybe Lyca herself proves that the Queen of Lithuania is far beyond their capabilities.

She joined her in bed and pat her in the head.

"I heard what happened. You have to pull yourself together, Strelna. Remember you are a Grand Duchess" she said while brushing her hair with her hand.

The Grand Duchess stops having a sound on her cry but still tears continuously flow down to her cheeks. Strelna gazing down to hide her face was gently lifted up when she move her head to see her face.

"Your whining has been disturbing the halls of the palace, younger sister. The people here will think lowly of you, you should know that" gently she advised her.

The woman which is 800 years old, like a child started to cry again.

She rolled her eyes and gave a sigh. The only way to stop her from crying is...

"Besnosov and Yusupov are already here, Strelna" it is funny she saw that the face of her younger sister stops crying in a second.

"Wha---" now she is panicking.

"Why did you not tell that to me in the instant, Sister!"

Strelna came rushing out of the bed and sit in front of the mirror.

"Oh heavens! I look terrible!"

She can't believe this woman is still being attracted to the two Grand Dukes. It's a lost cause by the way since both of the gentlemen are married and clearly, after 400 years of trying to seduce the men, Strelna had not succeeded once.

"You be quick there. They are waiting in the garden. Discussion of how to oppress the Coup d'etat and the increasing attacks from the weak-blooded vampires will be brought up later"

She did not respond to her and Alyssa knew that these things does not interest her sister. Busy combing her hair while looking in the mirror and humming, her sister never matures and that gave her another deep disappointing smile.

---

Garden, Descovick Palace**

"The last time we have been here was only weeks ago right, Brother Beznosov?"

The Grand Duke Beznosov stop to sip his tea and sharply look at the person in front of him. They are currently spending their morning in Descovick's garden, drinking tea while waiting for the others. They have arrived five hours ago but unlike Strelna, with a few men from their armies.

Disappointedly, he sighed.

"What??" laughing awkwardly asked Grand Duke Yusupov though he knows why.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Grand Duke Yusupov, not to address me with that?" stressing the 'Grand Duke' there.

"Oh come on! Brother! Don't be such an old man!"

Grand Duke Beznosov is the ruler of the Volga region. The region has the longest river in Europe and is used for trading. The said Grand Duke also has the most powerful army compared to the Crown's Allied forces. Why? Beznosov is said to be the king of the Vikings, not only because these people are known to be barbarians but also berserkers of supernatural strength just only by being human. Imagine how powerful these people are if they are vampires-- That is the strength of Beznosov's army.

"I have the same advice to you, why still remain on your happy-go-lucky lifestyle?" he sipped his tea after dropping this bomb to Yusupov.

The man with the light aura shrugged which make Beznosov dislike him even more.

The Grand Duke of Pyatigorsk Yusupov Urusov is from the main family and the second cousin of the Empress herself. Though by the hierarchy, Urusov has the upper hand compared to Monastyroyv which is a branch family, Beznosov holds the adornment of the elders and in which has numerous achievements than the Grand Duke Yusupov has. But these things don't have any meaning to the Grand Duke of Pyatigorsk who likes to have a simple and quiet life. Every one of the noble clans describes him as a disappointment for having a dislikable personality.

"So, where are the other leaders?" Yusupov then asked his only companion to an early tea party.

"I have no interest in the leaders you are talking about. I am curious about that woman who threw herself into the party and stole everyone's attention and now we are at the middle of a coup d'etat" in a serious tone, Beznosov shows his curiosity verbally.

The carefree Grand Duke teases him after.

"The All-Serious-Viking is not interested in a woman. But you can't steal her from the Tsesarevich, she is His Highness wife"

He looked the man thru his eyes.

"Oh, scary" Yusupov backs down and gazes outside to avoid the tension he is giving in between them.

"The only thing I am curious about her is her skill to move every one of us according to her will"

It is true. Anastasia. He is sure that that woman is the reason for all these conflicts one by one rising up to their faces.

---

Anastasia's Chamber**

Anastasia woke up from her sleep soaked in her own sweat and gasping for air.

She is having the same dream again. The dream wherein a memory of the night the angel massacred her friends. She hugged her knees and buried her face into them while crying soundlessly.

She is being haunted by that memory.

Her being affected by that horrible night means that the second seal is wearing off.

The night she sealed herself to the lake together with the angel, she also sealed her heart. That means that she cannot feel anything aside from getting her revenge. Her emotions are not necessary for that. She won't let her feelings be the reason again why something horrible will happen.

Then why? Why and when do this heartbeat come again?

She tried her best to examine what happened in the last hours and days to identify the trigger.

She then gazed up and stops breathing for a moment when she realized when it started.

She sighed as if her lungs will be out of their cage.

It was that night when Loren returned not himself because of Elaine. That conversation, the man's frustration, disappointment, sadness, and longing for his fiancee crushed the seal. She remembered that after talking to him, her chest started to ache.

Then the Empress said about the frozen heart. She must have realized about the seal.

But why? Why does that break it?

The scene where Loren is crying in front of her starts to play on her mind.

"It didn't break. It melted"

She then came to a realization, as Loren was able to melt the frozen lake, he also has the power to melt the hidden seal she personally concealed. Without him even knowing what he has done to her.

Another realization came to her, she felt bad for him.

That night when Loren was crying in front of her, hating her for doing unnecessary things just to pin down and expose the Duke of Yekaterinburg, she kinda emphatized his feelings.

She realize, she was not given the time to cry back then. She never had the time to process and feel her emotions against Faramir.

Coming out of his name from her mind gave her a tremendous pain in her chest. It is like someone is crushing her heart right now.

Why?

Faramir, why did you betray me?

Her eyes became restless and her breathing started to get difficult as she feel the increasing pain in her chest.

Her tears started to show and flow out of her eyes. She can feel it like her eyes are starting to melt as she feels the warmth of the tears.

She can't hide it. She can't control it now.

Her memory of Faramir, laughing, or even just talking, enjoying each other's company came rushing and playing in her head.

The sound of her sadness come out from her lips.

"Why did you betray me?" she asked as if the human is with her.

She never knew that crying like this is one of the most painful expressions a person will experience.