"Argh!" Alvar grunted in pain as he collapsed on the floor of his throne room. His armor faded into particles of light, revealing his bloodied body.
"Father!" Vera appeared in the throne room while clutching a pendant on her chest. Normally, ordinary people would never be able to teleport around in the palace, but because of special privileges and treasures, it was possible for a few select people, including Vera, as she was the Crown Princess.
"Ugh..." Alvar wanted to speak but his vision spun and a line of blood trailed the side of his mouth. He had been badly injured by Leon in their battle.
"I'll bring you to a safe place now." Vera said and placed her hands on his shoulders before teleporting them. The scenery around Alvar changed from the grand throne room to a dark underground room. He was confused for a moment before feeling several cuffs suddenly lock around his limbs.
"Vera! What is this? What are you doing?!" Alvar's heart thumped as he realized the situation he was in. The cuff were made of a special material that blocked out mana manipulation. As he was right now, with his exhausted self, he had no strength left to break the bindings and escape.
"Forgive me, Father. But I am only doing what is necessary to ensure the continued reign of Rivera. If my plan is to work out, then you need to be taken out of the picture." Vera said, her voice carrying a hint of sadness, but resolute. She did not regret what she had done, nor did she regret what she was about to do.
"What are you talking about?! Since when have you been planning this?!" Alvar's eyes went wide and red with anger and confusion.
Vera did not answer him but turned around and picked up a pitch black spear that was two meters long and only a few inches thick. It had been carved out of the same material that made up the cuffs around Alvar's limbs.
"No... It can't be. It... Don't tell me you are with those despicable traitors..." Alvar's eyes shook and his voice lost its edge.
Without giving him an answer, Vera struck. She stabbed the spear into Alvar's abdomen, avoiding any vital spots and letting it pass through him and stab into the ground below. At once, all the strength left Alvar's body as even the mana that was stabilizing his condition was suppressed, leaving him in a state that was not much different from a dried out body. But his body was strong enough to keep him alive through only the most basic functions. That was what Vera wanted.
"We will see again soon, Father. By then, I will be Empress of Rivera." Vera said and turned her back, vanishing.
Alvar's head hung weakly as he realized how miserable his defeat was. He had been so cleanly tricked by his daughter whom he held dearly and defeated. Now, here he was, locked up and chained.
.
.
"Sigh..." Vera sighed tiredly when she reappeared in the throne room. She had waited for the day her father would return injured from the battlefield so she could use that opportunity to exploit his weakness and execute her masterplan.
"I wonder who beat father so badly." She said out loud.
In the next moment, her expression changed as she felt the ambient mana in the sky above the palace begin to shift and turn turbulent. She instantly teleported to the highest point of the palace and looked up into the sky.
Dark clouds circled, forming a vortex high up in the sky. In the center of the vortex was a familiar figure that Vera had long been waiting for.
"Ah, Leon! It's you." Vera felt a weight lift from her chest. She now understood that Leon was most likely behind her father's pathetic state when he had returned to the palace.
Leon looked at Vera and seeing as she did not try to hide her relation to him, he knew that Alvar had most likely been taken care of.
Whoosh!
Over a dozen bright lights lit up in the distance as the strongest protectors of Nylenor sped over as quickly as they could. When they saw Leon in the sky, their hearts tightened with apprehension.
"Princess! Please, retreat into the palace. We will take care of this!" The strongest of the protectors, the Supreme General of Rivera, said urgently.
"Stand down, Uncle Ralph." Vera said. The Supreme General was none other than her blood related uncle.
"What?" The white bearded Elf was confused.
"The war has officially come to an end. News will reach the frontlines in due time. His Excellency Leon has come here to discuss the terms of peace." Vera said with a stern tone, already embodying the authority that she would hold as Empress.
"Where is Alvar?" Supreme General Raphael was confused. He did not understand the sudden changes and chose to ask for his brother.
"Father has grown feeble from his injuries in battle. He is currently not in a good state to see anyone. I have taken on the role of Rivera's highest authority from him, and shall be ascending the throne as Empress of Rivera as of this moment." Vera responded confidently.
Silence ensued as everyone let the words sink in. Soon enough, everyone's eyes widened. No one was a fool among them. They knew that there were many disagreements on Alvar's stance towards the rebels between the Emperor and his daughter. Now, from what Vera said, it seemed as if she had usurped the throne in her father's moment of weakness.
"...You wish is my command, Empress." Raphael did not want to see the blood of any more innocents spilled. He bowed from the middle to show his respect to Vera.
Seeing the Supreme General do so, the other protectors also did the same, although there was a bit of hesitation ad resistance in their hearts. They knew that there was nothing they could to to salvage the situation. Not with Leon present.
And so, the war between the Rebels and Empire of Rivera had come to an end!
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m