Chapter 126: Chapter 126 - Mad Princess (Part 1)
The morning sky above Seraiya Kingdom was dark and gray.
Clouds floated silently above covering the light of the sunrise.
As if the heavens themselves grieved.
Thousands of soldiers formed a neat formation just outside of the western gates of the kingdom’s capital.
The banners of House KingHeart were proudly fluttering in the cold winds.
Royal Knights were polishing their armor until it sparkled like silver.
Mage Corps were preparing the defensive spells.
The Wyverns were circling above, observing the western borders of Seraiya.
But even with all this military power...
Not a single war drum was beating.
The princess of Seraiya, Lilia, prohibited it.
Today they were not marching to conquer some territory.
Today they were marching to save a prince.
Lilia appeared on the western side of the castle, wearing not her usual elegant royal dress, but ceremonial armor with golden decorations.
Behind her back there was a blue robe, symbolizing her royal status.
She carried the ceremonial sword of king Aldric.
Since the day her father died she had never used it.
Arthur was standing near a white beautiful horse.
"You don’t have to go yourself."
Lilia carefully took the reigns from him.
"Yes."
"I do."
"If I send other people to risk their lives for the sake of my family..."
"I should at least be ready to stand next to them."
Arthur did not know what to say.
Lucas approached wearing his Commander of the Royal Knights armor.
"The army is ready, Your Highness."
She nodded.
"Remember."
"No one attacks unless I give the order."
Lucas stopped for a few seconds.
"...Understood."
The great gates slowly opened.
The march began.
The army marched for two days to the west.
The villages on the roadside greeted them silently.
The people in the streets were carrying the flowers.
Some of them were kneeling.
Some praying.
Some just looking with hope into the sky.
A old lady stepped closer to the horses of Lilia when her horse was slowing down.
She offered a bunch of white lilies.
"For the young prince."
"So he may return safely."
Lilia took them with her hands.
"Thank you."
The lady smiled through her tears.
"Please..."
"Bring him home."
Lilia bowed her head.
"I’ll do my best."
When the army was approaching the western borders of Seraiya Kingdom the landscape started changing.
The green hills were substituted by rocky cliffs.
The watch towers were watching the border road.
The busy trade road became empty.
Empty wagons remained where the traders ran away a few days ago.
Even the birds refused to sing.
The snowy mountains were visible on the distant horizon.
They were separating Seraiya from Tricus.
In between there were the ancient Plains of Ardent Dawn.
For many years...
The kings of two kingdoms were signing the peace treaties there.
But today...
The armies of two kingdoms were gathering on the same place.
The banners of Tricus appeared first.
Thousands of soldiers were behind the wooden barricades.
There were rows of archers on the hills.
There were mages waiting behind the formations of defensive spells.
The war machines were waiting silently.
And at the center of that army was standing Prince Victor.
He was dressed in black armor with silver dragons.
His look was calm.
Almost welcoming.
Lilia guided her horse forward.
Behind her there were Arthur, Lucas and a few soldiers of honor.
The rest of the army was standing a few hundred meters further away, just as Lilia ordered.
Lucas whispered,
"We are in the range of their archers."
Arthur responded in the same whisper,
"So are they."
The tension between those two armies was suffocating.
One mistake...
One scared soldier...
One flying arrow...
Would start a war.
Lilia stopped her horse in the middle of the gap between the two armies.
Prince Victor slowly rode forward alone.
For a few moments...
Neither of them said anything.
Only the noise of fluttering flags was heard in the wind.
Then Victor smiled.
"Princess Lilia."
"My condolences."
She looked him directly in the eye.
"I wish that we could meet under different circumstances."
"So do I."
His voice was polite.
Almost friendly.
This was much more disturbing than the open hostility.
Lilia took a deep breath.
"I didn’t come here as an enemy."
"I came here as Adrian’s sister."
Victor did not say anything.
She continued.
"My father is dead."
"Both our kingdoms have already suffered enough."
"I don’t want any other families to lose their dear ones."
The soldiers of both armies were listening to her in silence.
Lilia’s voice was ringing above the plain.
"If Adrian is alive..."
"Please let him come home."
"We can avoid more tragic events."
"We can choose the peace."
Victor looked into the dark gray sky.
"Peace..."
He said quietly.
"What an interesting thing."
Lilia stepped off her horse.
Gasp was heard among soldiers of both armies.
Arthur immediately reached to his sword.
"Your Highness—"
She gently raised one of her hands.
"It’s alright."
Slowly...
Lilia walked forward several steps.
There was no fear in her eyes.
Only determination.
She bowed her head.
The princess of Seraiya.
The temporary ruler of an entire kingdom.
Bow before the man who betrayed her family.
"I’m asking you."
"Not as a ruler."
"But as an elder sister."
"If there is any kindness left in your heart..."
"Please."
"Bring Adrian home."
Silence.
Even the wind was stopping.
Thousands of soldiers were watching the young princess bowing in front of the enemy.
No pride.
No arrogance.
Only hope.
Arthur clenched his fists.
Lucas looked away, he could not stand it anymore.
Their princess humiliated herself before the enemy for the only reason.
To save her little brother.
Victor was looking at her silently.
His face expressed nothing.
Seconds were passing.
Then minutes.
Finally...
He spoke.
"You still believe that the words can change the destiny."
Lilia slowly raised her head.
"I believe that people can."
For a second...
Victor’s eyes became softer.
Then this moment disappeared.
He turned his horse to Tricus lines.
"Very well."
"I will show you your answer."
He raised one hand.
The huge gates behind the Tricus’ army slowly opened.
A heavy wooden platform appeared in front of them.
Lilia’s heart was starting to race.
Arthur’s instincts screamed that something was going very wrong.
Lucas put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
On the battlefield...
Uncomfortable silence appeared between two armies.
The negotiation was reaching the turning point.
And nobody realized that the last hopes of the princess which she brought to the border were about to be tested in the most cruel way possible.
The massive wooden platform halted between the two armies.
Silence fell heavily upon the Plains of Ardent Dawn.
Lilia’s heart raced.
Desperately, she sought her younger brother among the figures on the platform.
Then she spotted him.
Prince Adrian.
His clothes were ruffled from several days of captivity. But he stood erect, looking up proudly, as soon as he noticed the banners of the Seraiyan army.
"...Sister..."
His voice was too weak to reach her.
But Lilia recognized the movement of his lips.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Adrian..."
She made a step forward.
Arthur automatically reached out.
"Your Highness..."
She gently brushed by him.
"He...he’s alive."
Relief flooded her face.
For one fleeting moment...
Nothing else mattered.
Her brother was alive.
That alone made sense.
She looked at Victor.
"Please."
"You’ve proven your point."
"Let him go home."
Victor stayed atop his horse.
His face was expressionless.
He slowly looked across the thousands of soldiers on both sides.
Then he chuckled.
Not loudly.
Not crazily.
Just enough for everyone to hear.
"You Seraiyans are really funny."
The smile on his face had no warmth.
"You talk about honor."
"You talk about peace."
"You talk like kindness brings you kingdoms."
His gaze settled upon Lilia.
"Your father thought trust would unite nations."
"And where did it get him?"
" You Sister , Eleanor .... I abused everytime . I remember that your kingdom is happy . "
" And I have little gift for you . "
One of soldier brought a sack with the clothes. Little stains of blood on them were not fresh, but old ....
Victor raised his hand, then took out the head of Princess Eleanor.
He happily showed it and was spinning the head of her dear sister.
" I cut her long before... I killed your father. "
" You see , she was going to reveal my plan to your beloved father . "
" So I have to do it...." Victor spat into the face of Eleanor.
" Bitch...."
Then threw the head of her on the ground.
Lilia’s hands were trembling.
She kept silence.
Victor opened his arms wide and pointed to the battlefield.
"Look around you."
"Two armies."
"Thousands of soldiers."
"And still..."
"You came here with hopes that your words will save someone."
Several Tricus nobles started laughing behind him.
Their laughter resounded across the plain.
Arthur tightened his jaw.
Lucas grasped the hilt of his sword with such power that his knuckles became white.
But Lilia paid no attention to it.
Her eyes were fixed upon Adrian.
She raised her voice.
"Adrian!"
"We’ll take you home."
The young prince turned his gaze towards her.
Though there was still fear in his eyes...
But he smiled.
It was small.
Weak.
However it was definitely courageous.
Lilia smiled through her tears.
"Just hold on for a bit longer."
Victor slowly turned his gaze towards the platform.
His face became colder.
"So..."
"This is the hope of Seraiya."
No one uttered a word.
No one moved.
There was an oppressive silence on the battlefield.
And—
Then—
Victor ordered silently.
The soldiers on the platform executed the order.
With the swing of the sword he cut off his head.
Spurting blood...
Details lost in the distance of the battlefield and the commotion of the war.
The body of the Prince fell kneeling.
His head dropped.
What was important was not the action itself...
But its horrible end.
Adrian’s smile vanished from view.
The platform went quiet.
For one instant...
The whole world seemed to stop.
Not a bird sang.
Not a breeze was blowing.
Not a single armor clinked.
Not a banner moved.
Lilia stared in front of her.
Her lips slightly parted.
"...Adrian?"
There was no answer.
The silence that surrounded her told it all.
A white flower fell from her hand and lay on the ground.
Arthur’s head dropped.
He closed his eyes.
Lucas stood still, shocked by what happened.
In the ranks of the Seraiyan army...
Old veteran soldiers, who survived many wars, silently took off their helmets.
Some lowered their heads.
Some clenched their fists.
But many just looked in disbelief.
No one voice was heard.
The grief was too deep.
Victor looked across the silent battlefield.
His voice clearly resounded in the still air.
"Take this back to your kingdom."
"This is the fate of those who think that mercy equals power."
No one responded him.
Not because they agreed with him.
But because grief stole away their voices.
Lilia stood still.
A tear fell from her cheek.
Then another.
She crossed the border with hope.
She hoped that compassion could touch his heart.
Instead...
Hope was shattered before the eyes of two kingdoms.
Arthur slowly stepped to her side.
"Your Highness..."
His voice was almost inaudible.
Lilia remained silent.
Lucas approached her from the other side.
For the first time in his life as Commander of the Royal Knights...
He had nothing to say.
The western wind suddenly came.
It took the last white flower from Lilia’s hand.
Above the battlefield...
The dark clouds gathered on the horizon.
The negotiations were over.
Not with the peace.
But with the silence so profound that it will be remembered for ages to come.
