Chapter 59: "Tangled Webs of Fate"
The king's statement about denying a marriage proposal hung in the air, signifying a lost opportunity for an alliance. Prince Rogba quickly clarified, "We didn't need it; it was the first princess who declined. Father, I'll communicate with the king of that kingdom." With determination in his eyes, he dispatched a guard with the urgent message, watching as the guard hastened away, the weight of their kingdom's fate resting on the swift messenger.
In the midst of the unfolding crisis, the first princess rushed to embrace her brother. "Brother, I've heard the war is not going well," she said, her worry evident in her eyes.
"It has shocked everyone. It was a sudden attack. As for our brother, I sent him home from the battlefield," Prince Rogba responded, trying to reassure her amidst the chaos.
"Immediately after waking up this afternoon, he hopped on his horse and headed back to the northwest," she informed, concern etched on her face.
"Why didn't you stop him? He could be in danger. Regarding the Ajé kingdom, we are seeking their help, and you are the linchpin for their support," Prince Rogba urged, understanding the gravity of their circumstances. "This is our kingdom, and I am ready to fight for it."
As emotions ran high, Arẹwa made her entrance, embracing Prince Rogba tightly. Their connection was profound, marked by emotions and a touch of romance. They reluctantly released each other, their gazes drifting towards the similar hand beads adorning their wrists. Before emotions could take over entirely, the first princess coughed, breaking the emotional reverie and reminding them of the task at hand.
"The King calls for your attention," a guard reported, the urgency in his tone amplifying the already tense atmosphere.
With a sense of dread settling in, Prince Rogba proceeded to the throne room, unsure of what he would find. Upon entering, he witnessed a horrifying sight: the king was standing and facing the throne, Rogba was shocked and staring at the lifeless body of the guard he had sent to deliver the crucial message to Ajé kingdom.
"Oh! How did this happen?" Prince Rogba inquired, a surge of panic rising within him.
"The guard materialized here to report failure to deliver the message to Ajé kingdom, he was attacked on his way. He collapsed immediately he materlize in. This suggests that the enemy forces have surrounded the kingdom from the outside," the king explained, his voice laced with concern for the dire circumstances they now faced.
Prince Rogba signaled to the other guard, instructing them to carefully remove the fallen guard's body. As the lifeless form was respectfully taken away, the king's eyes met Prince Rogba's, seeking a solution in this desperate hour.
"We need a plan. Jagud Invaders must be trapped in the north, but if they manage to take the northeast or west, it won't be an easy war anymore," the king stated, acknowledging the critical juncture they were facing.
The fate of the kingdom now rested on their shoulders, entangled in a complex web of alliances, deceptions, and sudden attacks. Each character grappled with the weight of their decisions and their ability to navigate this perilous landscape. The stakes were higher than ever, and time was slipping away, pushing them to make strategic moves and decisions that would ultimately determine the destiny of their realm.