My Saviour

The throne hall was described very well in the novel as one of the halls with greater interior design in the Astranian palace. Besides this, the ballroom, the great hall, and the breeze hall was often discussed. Still, the throne room was the one that left me with a strong impression.

Venus had talked about the throne room's giant pillars where the history was recorded in sculptures. Also, the ceilings with the paintings of the great Astra-Dagresh war which is also the Astranian army's one of greatest victories were described in the novel as well. At the end of the book, Edward decided to record the new war and events between Astrana and Dagresh by building a new hall named the Hall of reverence.

I walked inside the throne hall with my four guards walking at four corners, each two feet away. I turned around as I gawked at the throne hall with excitement. But due to my monarch train dress, I couldn't rotate myself further and ended up confronting Victor who was standing behind me in the right side corner.

"Don't mess up your dress!" he talked as if he is my mom and I'm his three-year-old kid.

Before I could properly react to his impudence, Merlin who was in the front right corner promptly turned around!

"You... How dare you talk to Her Highness in that tone?" he turned as he gritted his teeth.

"You may be Her Highness lover..." Merlin started then realizing the situation he covered his mouth, looked around once, then reduced his voice. "You may be Her Highness lover. But you shouldn't talk to her in that tone" he whispered, making Nilo dumbstruck.

Of course, Nilo has no idea about Victor being my lover since he went to check around the palace that day. "When... When..." Nilo seemed to be trying to process the information. He must have never expected his sage-like superior being in love. Before he could direct a proper question Victor came to his rescue.

"If she turns around like this, she'll trip," Victor pretended to care for me for some reason.

"We won't let that happen!" Henry said.

"Yes, we'll never let that happen!", Merlin repeated.

"Then pick up the edge of her train and turn around with her," Victor told in a mocking tone trying to ridicule the two.

"You think we won't do that for Her Highness?" an enraged Henry lashed out at him.

"We'll do that if it is required," said Merlin. I couldn't even believe that these grown-up men behaved like kindergarten kids who are bickering for nothing.

"Enough!!!" I stomped my foot once. "Everyone is entering the hall. Behave!" I said.

That time, Edward, Queen and some of the other people entered from the other side of the hall. Since the king was on a journey to one of the neighbouring countries, he wasn't there. He wasn't needed for this ceremony either. I took a

Since the fangirl inside me hadn't died yet, I once appreciated Edward with my eyes. He was wearing a red tunic, white trousers, a white sash and a variety of badges. The golden crown over his blonde hair added to his majesticness. Beside him, the queen stood with her maroon gown, enchanting as ever. When I looked at her, I felt a bit of an inferiority complex. I thought it has to be my luck that nobody doubts how am I her child. She looked that confident and beautiful. I also found a shaman in a corner. He was probably trying his best to hide from me but finally fell in my sight. Of course, we had released him the day before to avoid suspicion.

With so many people around me, I grew nervous within a few seconds. I tried my best to walk elegantly towards the queen. Even I utilized the ramp walk experiences which I gathered by watching fashion shows on the television to do this properly. I tried my best to pretend like a princess. When I reached the queen, she came to me and asked, "Nana, is your leg alright? Why are you limping?"

So atlast, my catwalk turned into limping for some reason. I didn't know where to hide my face. I wasn't sure whether she lacked fashion sense, or my walk was indeed horrible but I truly felt ashamed since the possibility for the latter to be true was high. From that moment onwards, I chose to walk like a normal human being.

The ceremony seemed to be quite boring with us welcoming the ministers and other parties with a smile. All the time I was smiling at those guests. After an hour, I turned to Henry and signalled him with my eyes to proceed with the plan. I carefully noticed them as they were leaving the hall. I had already given a complex task of finding a non-existing piece of jewellery in my cupboard to Flora so I was sure she must be doing it in my room at that time. Also, I was sure she'll be late to join the ceremony. I believed this plan would turn into a success.

All the maids and manservants have assembled. I still couldn't find Flora in the crowd. The queen stepped up to the stage and started to speak a few nice words to welcome the guests. After that, as usual, she provided the crowd with some of her boring ideologies and advice. Later, she came up with some shockingly bad news.

It was not a piece of bad news for the rest of the population but Victor and me, it was a huge blow.

The queen who had taken the shaman's words so seriously must have decided to give the coins to every palace servant. So she announced that anybody who will not be receiving the coin will be punished severely.

This announcement confused the crowd. We all could hear the servants discussing within themselves.

"Dear citizens of Astrana, you may want to know how they will be punished," the queen continued.

'How?' my lips involuntary moved in terror.

"Flogging it is!" she said making my eyes go wide. I helplessly turned towards Victor. He was indeed looking at me with an 'unreadable, more like disgust' expression.

I knew the queen. She loves her children more than anything. If she intended to do something for their well being, nobody can mess that in front of her eyes. I originally thought that the queen won't notice Flora's absence. Also, had no idea the queen will take such a decision. I facepalmed internally irritated by my rash decision.

Flora, a fragile girl in her late teens... What'll happen to her if she went through such a cruel punishment? Besides we all don't know how many floggings it's going to be. The very thought gave me cold shivers.

I had always been selfish but I was not selfish enough to let an innocent girl get punished because of me. I understood that I had to somehow stop the plan so that I can save her. At that moment, I couldn't come up with a new plan so I chose to stop Henry and Merlin from abducting Flora.

"Hurry!" I immediately mouthed at Victor as I turned to Edward who was standing beside me.

"Brother, I need to go to my room!" I hurriedly told him as I started walking out of the room.

"Wait, sister. What's wrong?" he asked me blocking my way.

"I've got an urgent thing to do" I rattled off. By this time, Victor had already reached by my side.

"What is it, sister?" he kept insisting.

Finally, I chose to let my self-esteem go as I said "Nature's call!".

Edward was indeed taken aback. I understood that in that royal palace, it was not nice to confess something like this. But a nature's call is a nature's call anyway. So I was not ashamed.

He looked at me once then stepped aside. I was so scared to turn and see Victor's face since he seemed already angry so I hurried to the entrance. By that time, I heard the queen calling Edward to the stage to start the coin giving event!

I almost ran through the corridors of that palace to enter the vestibule. There were no people outside the palace except for the night guards. I had to walk to the right for about five minutes to reach the princess's palace. But with what I was wearing then, it would take more than fifteen minutes to reach the palace. Without any option, I started to run towards the princess's palace. What annoyed me the most was my dress indeed.

After a few minutes, finally, I have already reached the first floor where my chamber is. I ordered Nilo who had been closely following me to split and search for the other two. I had no idea where did Victor go. I didn't have time to ask either. I hurried and walked around the floor for a few minutes searching for my subordinates. Finally, I saw them. They were standing at the entrance of the chamber.

When I was about to call their name, I heard the queen calling my name from the ground floor. I froze with wide eyes. 'Why does she have to always appear to spoil everything?' I wondered.

"Athena!" she called again. Judging from the tone, I could say that she was incandescent because I left the event in the middle. If I need to save Flora, I had no better option than to hide somewhere before she could drag me back to the hall.

I turned around to shush Nilo who was standing a few steps behind me. I ordered him, "Go and hide somewhere" in a whisper. Then without any option, picked up the flare of my dress and started to run in the opposite direction.

Before I could find a suitable hiding spot, somebody with a strong build dragged me into an ill-lit passage. "Wha...!!!!" the person had already muffled me with one hand and enclasped my waist with the other.