Chapter 581 - Five Hundred And Eighty-one: War Ravages
The third point of view:
"Your siblings were right?" Judy muttered as Isabella helped to untie him.
"Yes, they were but your mother was too blinded by commitment," Isabella muttered while undoing the knot.
"She just has a kind heart," Judy made excuses for her.
"A kind heart that is about to doom your kingdom," Isabella snorted, finally setting him free.
"I suspected that Albert was up to no good. I have investigations planned already, just didn't expect that he would strike this soon,"
"The man is smart. The accusation from my siblings put him at a corner and he knew he had to attack now when?your defense is low,"
Judy nodded in understanding and was about to carry his wife when Isabella stopped him, "No, leave her,"
"Leave her?" He wasn't pleased with that.
"Albert's men are already on the move, if I'm not mistaken, they've broken in already. Although they were prepared, the notice was impromptu hence they would need to gather their forces, you should stop them before they reach the ammo room - they would take some of the weapons and burn down the rest, "
"That's the plan. They want to incapacitate us - at least what's left of my men. I don't even know who to trust anymore,"
"You don't have to worry about Aunt Emily, I'll take care of her. Just go and do your work," Isabella said, yet added immediately, "At least get her on my back before you leave,"
Judy's mouth dropped open, "Are you sure you can do -"
"We don't have time anymore, just do it!" She hollered at him and Judy's feet moved into action. He carried Emily off the bed and carefully placed her on Isabella's back.
The instant Emily's weight landed on her back, Isabella felt as if her waist shifted out of her body and she staggered a bit. But the girl gritted her teeth and steadied herself before standing upright, piggybacking her aunt. This was a national emergency and her aunt's life was on the line. She had to do this.
Judy felt pity for Isabella, he knew Emily was a burden - she might look petite but she weighed a ton - but the girl bravely carried her as if she was lightweight. Although she pretended to be strong, her little stumbling gave her away.?Fine, after this was over, he would reward her immensely.
"What are you still waiting for?! Move your ass out of here!" Isabella boomed at him. She knew what he was thinking - she could see the sympathy in his eyes. But she, Isabella, doesn't need any pity. In this life, everything she does was of her free will and decision.
Knowing that Emily was now in safe hands made Judy breathe in relief, now he could focus on exterminating those betrayals. Watching Emily get hit was the worst nightmare he had ever experienced.
He had been helpless, subdued, and incapacitate by those assholes - those betrayals that had been by his side all this while - and watched his wife get hit as she tried to save him. Judy recalled the way his breath hung in his throat when the blood trailed down her head - his world had almost ended.
His hands formed a fist by his side, his jaw clenching, he would destroy them all. At once, he picked up his phone that had been tossed to the floor during the scuffle and called his assistant as well - hopefully, he hasn't betrayed him as well.
"Your highness," Archie's voice rang out.
Judy wondered if he sounded panicky because of guilt? He shut his eyes, has Archie betrayed him as well? He hoped not, he was the only person he could trust at the moment.
"Something seems off in the palace," Archie said and Judy released a breath he had been holding. Archie was still Archie.
"Sound the alarm, we're under attack," He finally informed.
"An attack!" he sounded shocked
"We don't have time anymore. Shut all the gates and guard the ammo room - if it's not late already. But most of all, inform the captains and select your beat and loyal fighters,"
"Yes, your highness,"
"And Archie,"
"Yes,"
"Do not trust anyone - not even one with my face. Right now, we're like sheep among wolves. Be careful," He advised him.
"I'll keep that in mind," the line went dead after that.
Judy waited and after some minutes, the alarm reverberated across the palace.
"Quite a relief," He was happy Archie had remained loyal.
Judy moved at once. Everyone knew what that alarm signified, the palace was under siege. It would wake his royal guards from their slumber and as well, alert his enemies.
Compared to the others, the queen's quarters would be difficult to penetrate - security is concentrated there-?but not impossible. If Lord Abert was hell-bent on committing treason, then he would have found a way of immobilizing his mother, the queen.
Not long after, what sounded like gunshots blast rend the night air. It has begun and they were all prepared.
In the palace, the guards' weapons only have ammo in them when they are aware of a potentially serious security threat. However, each has a thirty-round magazine of rounds fitted and a very sharp bayonet. And right now, they were making use of that and more - if they had successfully broken into the ammo house.
There was no time to waste, hence Judy took advantage of the secret passageways in the palace. That was the advantage of being a royal, it was designed especially for them in times like this.
It would take him about fifteen minutes to reach the queen's quarters but with the shortcuts, five minutes at the latest - depending on his speed. While on the move, his phone rang and he wasn't surprised to see it was Niklaus. He picked at once, just as another call from Emerald came in.
"What's going on?" Niklaus asked sternly. He was uneasy, Judy could sense that and he couldn't blame him. Niklaus had a lot to lose here - his wife, children, sister, and friends.
"Your children predicted right, the palace is under attack," there was a hint of bitterness in his tone. If only he had backed the kids, this wouldn't have happened. Well, his mother wouldn't have listened anyway. But then, there's no need to cry over spilled milk.
"What are your plans?"
"I need to get the queen. It's game over if Albert lays his hands on my mother,"
"Fine, then. I'll round up the guests and diplomats and lead them to a safe place. Albert is not a fool to touch the foreigners unless he wants Lincolnshire razed to the ground," Niklaus reasoned.
He has hurt your sister already, Judy was tempted to say. Since Niklaus was this calm, that meant he had not seen Emily yet. Judy couldn't help but shake his head, Albert doesn't know he poke the tiger by the tail.
Just like Niklaus, Emerald had the same question, deciding to help out in securing the lives of the other innocent people.
Judy directly got into his mother's room and rifles were pointed at him the instant the secret passageway opened.
"Oh, your royal highness," the five men in the room who recognized him lowered their weapon at once and bowed their heads.
"Kai!" The queen stood at once and walked over to her son, hugging him tightly. Judy could see from her face, she was scared.
"Mother," He hugged her back. If something had happened to her, how was he going to face his father? His mother was his responsibility now.
"Your highness, you have to leave now with the queen," the captain of that division said to him, " We don't know how many are out there or the loyal ones,"
"Hand me a gun," Judy hated to be defenseless. With a weapon, he was safer and sure of protecting his loved ones.
The captain reached for his waist and tossed a revolver strapped to his side to Judy who got it.
"You have to leave now. We'd buy you enough time," He said when the gunshots became louder - they were getting close.
"Thank you, I would not forget your great services," Judy assured them knowing they might not make it.
"It has been a great honor serving your highness and Majesty," They did one final bow.
Tears clouded the queen's eyes, this was all her fault. Had she not blindly trusted Lord Albert and arrested him for interrogation, all this wouldn't have happened.
"It's time to leave, mother, their sacrifices can't be in vain," Judy spoke with a lump in his throat. If he could stop it, he would, but this was war and war ravages.
The queen nodded and without a second look, they pushed on the candle holder and the wall caved in, revealing the secret passageway which they entered, the walls closing at once.
Immediately, his phone rang and it was Archie. He picked at once, "What's the situation,"
"We are late. They carted away with crates of ammo. However, we stopped them before they could set the rest on fire which means -"
"There's enough to engage them in a heated battle," Judy surmised.
He said, "Gather what's left of my men, set up the formation. If they conquered the rest of the palace, then we have to hold here,"
And pray to God.
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