Guinevere opened her eyes and wanted to roll them immediately.
Granger was looking down at her, his forehead wrapped in a bandage. "Lady Insanity is awake." He announced.
A second later, Alucard and Gusion came into view.
"You're just in time." Alucard said.
She frowned at them. "Stop looking down at me." She sat up in the bed and looked around.
She was back in the room she used, with Rafaela hovering near the door.
"What are you all doing here?" She asked.
"Waiting for you to wake up." Rafaela answered.
"What happened? How long was I unconscious?"
"Way to overexert yourself with that jump." Gusion said sardonically.
"You were unconscious for three days." Granger added then smiled his usual mischievous grin. "But I gotta say, the way you sliced those fingers...I thought you were just good at magic."
"I come from a family of swordsman." She reminded him. "What happened to the demons? Is everyone alright?"
"Yes." Alucard answered. His brows were more furrowed than usual, his jaws set.
Guinevere had always felt coldness from Alucard despite the fact that she never felt him disrespecting her.
That was just it. He was too respectful, too careful around her. Like he was avoiding any other connection towards her than being just a demon hunter protecting a member of the Imperial Families.
But that day, he felt more serious and more on guard, like he was preparing himself for something to come.
Unlike Gusion who had bandages around his arms and Granger who had a cast in his right shoulder, both had fading bruises in their faces, Alucard looked fine except for a bandage in his left arm.
She looked at him with wide eyes when she remembered what she did to him. "Did it work?"
"Did it work?" Granger repeated, incredulous. "He wiped the whole flock unscathed. And that's all because of your crazy idea."
She let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm still mad at you for what you did. It hurt so bad." Alucard whined, in his own cold way
"I already apologized." She defended.
"I definitely heard Alu's scream all the way to where I was." Granger said, smirking.
"That's enough." Alucard glared at Granger before turning to her. "We'll give you time to prepare yourself."
"Why? What's so urgent?"
"The Princess Silvanna is calling for a gathering for all the Imperial families." Rafaela explained.
Guinevere's brows furrowed, a thought coming to mind. But before she could voice out her question, Granger answered it already.
"Yes, your father will be there." He said knowingly and glanced at Gusion. "And the Paxley's, too."
Gusion's glare at him was sharper than the blades he held in his sheathe.
Granger just smirked and headed out of the room, with the other three following.
Guinevere changed into the only gown she had at the moment that she knew would be presentable to wear in the palace; the one Odette gave her.
She bathed herself and changed into them.
They were back at the Monastery's carriage, sitting at the same place as that time they headed to the City of Scholars. But this time she couldn't get herself to tease Granger about Rafaela when she was so nervous herself.
She knew she almost went home if it weren't for the attack, but now that she thought about heading back home with her parents right after the gathering felt like walking herself into prison without a sin.
It sounded stupid, with regret waiting for her in the near future.
"The two of you look like you've been forced to eat spoiled food." Granger stated halfway at their ride.
"What?" Guinevere and Gusion asked in unison, making Granger chuckle.
"You don't look excited about seeing your family. Don't you miss them?" Granger teased, receiving identical glares from the two of them.
"Can't you be any more noisier?" She retaliated.
"And nosier." Gusion added, just looking out at of the window with his brows furrowed.
"Lady Guinevere, you should be friendlier to us, to me right now. You won't be riding the same carriage as us after this." Granger reminded. "You know, if you really intend to go home today."
"Thank you for reminding me that I have only a few hours left to deal with your being annoying."
"But you know, it would also be great if you'll stay. We could really use a sharp mind right now."
Guinevere looked at Granger, now surprised.
In her stay at the Monastery, Granger was the closest one she had to being a friend. Despite the fact that she could definitely recognize those eyes filled with sorrow and pain, he was so good at masking it with humor and sarcasm that he could sometimes fool her into believing he was just this guy who had no intention than to annoy the hell out of someone.
But she knew he was more than that. She could tell it by the way his brows furrow when he thought no one was looking, the way his eyes melt into pain that moonless night up at the balcony.
And right now, he was making her feel that her running away wasn't just a stupid impulse. That ending up in the Monastery wasn't just mere coincidence.
"Granger, don't pressure Lady Guinevere. She has no obligation to help us." Rafaela scolded.
"I'm just saying. It was her idea how to kill those demons, after all." Granger pressed and turned to Guinevere. "And don't let me remind you how helpless those demons were right after what she did to Alucard."
Rafaela's brows furrowed at Granger, but immediately softened. She couldn't help but agree with him.
Guinevere looked out of the window, her mind swirling, her heart was throbbing fast.
Then the carriage halted right in front of the golden gates of the Moniyan Castle.
"We're here." Alucard announced and jumped off the butler's seat in the front.
They climbed out of the carriage and saw several carriages with their House Crest painted at the sides, butlers waiting patiently in their seats.
"Come on." Alucard led the way inside.
Guinevere had only been inside the Palace twice during social gatherings that the Royal Family held openly. But it had mostly been nighttime and she didn't have time strolling around the place.
They walked along the front yard of the Palace leading to the towering domed building ahead of them.
About fifty towering Corinthian columns supported the Palace porch standing right over a thirty feet elevated platform with a curved staircases in the front, painted in white and gold elegance that looked dazzling and magnificent. Statues and gargoyles stood at the top like loyal guards guarding the place from evil.
They ascended the steps leading to the front porch, where Imperial families gathered and greeted each other after a long time of not meeting.
The double oak doors carved in delicate designs were wide open, giving sight of the high ceilinged Hall inside with another several columns on the sides.
Golden statues of ladies in linen dresses and armors stood at the sides, greeting the visitors with their stony smiles and glassy eyes.
As they entered the Hall, more families were there, eating pastries from the buffet table prepared at the corners of the place while conversing with one another.
Guinevere scanned the room for familiar heads, and spotted her mother and father at the front, talking to another empirial gentleman.
Guinevere immediately veered away from the direction. She was not ready to face them yet.
She almost bumped against Gusion, who also turned away from his direction. She hastily backed away and spotted a middle-aged man a few meters away from Gusion, surrounded by 3 more gentlemen in their full armors that looked similar to Gusion's.
Her eyes darted back at him and saw his avoiding gaze, completely understanding his situation.
"Don't stray away." Alucard told them and went to the side of the Hall to avoid the hustle.
Guinevere and Gusion followed, all too willing to put some distance between them and their families.
They came across a lady with long braided red hair flowing right down to her knees, a black eye patch was in her left eye.
"I knew I'd see you here." She said to Alucard with a smile.
Unlike most of the ladies in the room in gowns, she was wearing a blue trench coat tied around her slim waist tightly, tight black trousers and black knee-high boots covering her legs. A long sniper gun was strapped in her back.
"Lesley." Alucard greeted, stopping and making the others behind him stop too.
Guinevere turned to her side when Gusion bumped against her for looking around too much. "Stop looking at them." She said under her breath.
"I'm not." He denied. Guinevere caught the look of surprise in his eyes as he gazed in front of them. She followed his gaze and saw that he was looking at Lesley.
"Getting the best with that gun, Lady Lesley?" Alucard asked.
"Of course." Lesley boasted, and had the same surprised expression as Gusion the moment her eyes fell on him.
Alucard, Rafaela and Granger noticed and followed her gaze, too. Guinevere looked from Gusion to Lesley and back to Gusion as the air between the six of them grew dense.
"Lesley Vance." Gusion broke the silence. "It's been a while."
Lesley smiled, but unlike earlier, it looked forced. "Paxley. I heard you got casted away."
"I know. Just how you used to joke before."
"I know, right." Lesley chortled. "I guess you got more stubborn."
"With time." Gusion shrugged. "Old habits die hard."
"So you know each other." Alucard butted in.
"Yes. We used to play with each other." Lesley informed. "With guns and blades."
"That's some interesting games." Granger joined, reminding them of his presence.
"Let me introduce you to my companions. This is Granger and Rafaela, and Lady Guinevere from the Baroque House." Alucard introduced, gesturing them respectively. "This is Lesley Vance from Castle GrandRock."
Guinevere and Lesley exchanged curtsies.
"So you're the Lady Guinevere. I heard a lot about you from my brother. You seem well-known in the Magic Academy.."
"Does your brother study there?"
Lesley nodded. "His name is Harley."
Guinevere's eyes brightened in recognition. "You mean the kid who's so fond of cards?"
A smile tugged in the Lady's side of the lips, her eyes glinting in a different way. It was apparent in the way her eyes sparkled that she was fond of her brother. "That's him."
Guinevere smiled. "We're not really acquainted, but I do remember watching him do tricks in front of other students."
"He's so proud of his tricks." Lesley said and turned to the direction where a lady was calling her. "I have to go. It's nice to meet all of you."
She stepped away from them but spared a glance at Gusion before turning away. "Let's catch up sometime."
Then she headed away before Gusion could agree. Guinevere stared at where Lesley vanished among the crowd of gowns and armors, wondering how close she had been with Gusion to be as confident as to not wait for an answer to her invitation.
"I'm sensing something..." Granger said, leaning towards Gusion's direction with teasing eyes. "...like...some years of lingering emotions, , maybe?" He arched his brows at Gusion for a confirmation.
But the boy just ignored him and led their way, Rafaela and Alucard in his tracks, leaving Guinevere with Granger following behind.
"I'm sensing something else in here, too." Granger said to her as he leaned towards her this time.
"Not interested." She said coldly.
"I'm gonna tell you anyway." Granger offered. "Curiosity... And jealousy...?"
Guinevere raised her palms between hers and Granger's shoulders, then ignited a violet energy as she glared at Granger.
He looked away immediately. "Alucard, wait up!" He called as he caught up with him towards the front.
Guinevere extinguished her magic energy and followed behind, annoyed as to how the guy always seemed so good at pinpointing things that she was confused herself.
But she refused to acknowledge them and put them at the back of her mind.
Kimmy entered the Great hall, appearing in front of the platform upfront, with a brawny man walking alongside her, making her look even smaller than she usually was.
She recognized the man immediately.
Tigreal, the Warrior of Dawn, the Empire's strongest knight.
His presence was enough to make everyone in the room look his way, the chatters becoming low and fading.
"The Princess Silvanna is here." He announced, and turned to the back of the platform, where a lady came in.
Upon Guinevere's stay at the Magic Academy and during the two times she visited the Moniyan Palace, she had always heard people talking under their breaths about the Princess breaking so many traditions of the Land.
Princess Silvanna was known to be highly opinionated and stubborn, doing whatever she wanted to do despite her parents' objection.
She trained herself in combat under the mentorship of Tigreal, pushing herself beyond her body's limits.
She refused to wear gowns and sandals except for special occasions, raising brows from the people of the Land who were trapped in their opinions that Ladies should at all times be presentable in dresses.
So Guinevere was not at all surprised when the Princess entered the platform in her white trench coat outlined in gold and black fitted trousers, her boots up to her knees and a spear in her hand.
She stood confidently in the center of the platform, her gaze keen and firm as she scanned the room.
"Citizens and warriors of the Moniyan Empire, I welcome you to my home." She did a curtsy before proceeding her speech. "The Empire is where I learned everything I know today, and it is where everything I hold so dear at. So it is in my most deepest sadness that I announce how it is slowly weakened by evil forces at hand."
Murmurs and chatters started erupting in the room, anxiety filling the air.
"The Imperial Knights and I are doing our very best in raiding demon forces before they could even attack villages. But I admit in my humble judgment that a few had slipped through our guards and managed to deal damage within top sectors of the Empire. Yes, I am talking about the City of Scholars and the Monastery of Light."
More chatters became audible all around them, the noise becoming too loud that Tigreal slammed the bottom of his large shield against the floor, making a booming sound that got everyone's attention and silenced the room in an instant.
"The Princess Silvanna is still talking! I advice for you to react right after she finish her speech." Tigreal yelled in an ordering tone.
Silvanna nodded a thank you towards him before turning back to the people. "That is why I am asking every help I could get in securing the safety of the Land." Princess Silvanna said, her voice now booming across the Hall. "Fighters, scholars, and mages will be highly welcomed in joining the Imperial Knights to vanquish demon forces lurking in the darkness of our very Land's woods."
"I will be sending troupes to raid every woodland of the Land of Dawn, making sure no forces would get past those woods and into villages and homes. Everyone who is interested to offer their help will be welcomed by Tigreal and Kimmy, who will be doing the splitting of troupes by the end of this day."
"That is all I am asking from you. I will protect the Land of Dawn at all cost. So please," Princess Silvanna did a ninety-degrees bow. "put your faith in me."
There was silence in the Hall for a few seconds, awe and respect ringing through the air as they watched the Princess bowing to them.
Then a few recovered quickly than the others and started clapping their hands, making a series of effects until everyone was doing the same.
"Hail the Princess!" One yelled.
"HAIL THE PRINCESS!" The rest of them followed in chorus.
After the chants of praise, Alucard turned to them. "Tigreal just signalled. Follow me."
Guinevere and the rest followed Alucard out of the Great Hall and into a corridor adorned with the portrait of generations of the Imperial family's ancestors.
They ascended a spiral staircases with marble handrails painted in gold. The upper floor was empty unlike the lower one, pedestals with heads with different facial expressions stood right next to every column along the corridors.
Alucard stopped right in front of a double oak doors and pushed it open.
It was the Library of the Palace, larger than the Monastery's, its ceiling higher, and its books more in number.
Inside were Kimmy, Tigreal and the Princess Silvanna herself talking in serious tones, a map laid over the table right under the Princess's hands.
"Alucard." Tigreal said and scanned the rest behind him. "I see you've brought a team."
"Yes." Alucard agreed as he walked towards the table and then bowed at the Princess.
The rest of the followed.
"You may rise." Princess Silvanna said.
"Is this your way of rejecting my offer? Again? Even before I could mention it?" Tigreal asked Alucard, glancing at the rest of them.
"You know fully well that my calling isn't aligned to the field you are offering me."
Tigreal smirked as he rested his elbow over the top of his shield. "I know you heard how strict I am with my soldiers and is just avoiding being ordered."
"You can take it as you please." Alucard gave way and immediately changed the subject. "Allow me to introduce my companions. You already know Rafaela and Granger." He gestured Gusion who was standing next to Guinevere. "This is Gusion from the Paxley House. A competent user of magical blades, a rare combat style that he mustered greatly."
Gusion did a bow at the Princess and her knights.
Then Alucard gestured a hand towards Guinevere. "And the Lady Guinevere. Exceptional in using offensive magic spells. Not to mention she is highly intelligent."
Guinevere darted her gaze at Alucard, surprised and overwhelmed at the words he described her right in front of the Princess and the strong knight.
He had always been so distant that she did not expect such kind words coming from him.
She thought he was just this cold demon hunter who cared nothing but keep his honor. But he had just proven himself to be more than that.
And he had proven more to Guinevere that she should do what she wanted to do.
Kimmy, who was standing right next to Princess Silvanna, had a serious expression in her face. But she winked at Guinevere when their eyes met, making the latter smile.
"As I've heard from Kimmy, they are the ones who helped you at the Monastery of Light's attack." Princess Silvanna said.
"Yes. That is why I brought them here. I am certain they could help protect the land."
Silvanna nodded without hesitation. "I have no further argument. If you acknowledge their skills, then it means they are exemplary at it."
A few more people entered the room; Lancelot together with the Lady Odette, the girl named Lesley, Lolita and Bruno together with Diggie.
As soon as they entered, all of them divided the patrolling boundaries of the Moniyan Empire.
Lesley, Lolita, Bruno and Diggie took the boundaries from the City of Scholars up to the Castle Grandrock and Castle Aberleen. Lancelot and Odette had the Castle Gorge down to the Azure Lake.
Alucard and his team had the Monastery of Light down to the Azrya Woodlands to patrol, while the Princess with her Knights would be patrolling the Dark Forest.
They also discussed Diggie's stolen portal-maker invention, which was already perfected by him in the last few days and made five replicas of it to give to the troupes.
Alucard held theirs and slipped it in his pocket as they exited the Library and ascended back down to the Great Hall where fighters and mages and scholars were enlisting theirselves to the Knights assigned.
They came across Gusion's three brothers, who looked astounded to see them.
They were incredibly tall, just like Gusion, with stance as confident and proud as he was.
The one in the middle nudged the other two upon spotting Gusion, but the shortest one among them pointed her and said something as soon as he recognized her. They must be wondering why their younger brother was with the Lady who was arranged to marry one of the Paxley's, most probably one among them.
Guinevere merely nodded a greeting at them as they passed by them and then looked at Gusion. He had stony expression in his face as he looked straight ahead and pretended not to recognize anyone.
She wondered how he must feel, meeting the people whom he grew up with and forcing himself to ignore them. She wondered how much must he have been wounded to have such a cold expression in his face.
Her thoughts were cut off by the feel of Gusion's arm blocking her way as they stopped and sliding towards her wrist to grab them and instinctively pulled her closer to him.
She looked up at him in puzzlement as she followed his protective arms and then followed his gaze.
Heading close to them were her parents, who looked wide-eyed worried at her.
"Guinevere, darling.." Her mother said, her brown brows furrowed in anxiety as she looked at her daughter.
Her father, on the other hand, stood still, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword as he scowled at her.
Granger and the others turned to her, and she knew she wasn't going to get away by running anymore.
So she slid Gusion's hand off her wrist and drew near her parents.
"Mother. Father." She greeted, her head hung low and her gaze on the floor.
"Where have you been, Guinevere? We were worried sick thinking what could've happened to you." Her mother cried.
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
"You had been a very irresponsible young lady." Her father fumed. "You are coming with us now."
Guinevere dropped to her knees right in front of her parents, ignoring the nosy glances of people around them and the surprised looks of her companions.
Granger's eyes widened as he looked down at the kneeling Guinevere. Gusion even stepped forward to pull her back up but Alucard grabbed him by the arm and stopped him, knowing that the Lady should take it on her family by herself.
"I am sorry, Father, but I must ask again for your understanding this time."
"What are you talking about?!" The Lord Baroque barked. "Get in the carriage now!"
"I can not get home yet. In exchange and compensation of my rebellious attitude, I would swear to go on with the engagement as soon as I go back."
Guinevere's heart sunk at what she had said, but she knew it was the only way to calm her father at the moment and make him agree to what she wanted to do.
She looked up at him after a few seconds of silence from him.
Her father had a disappointed scowl in his face, an expression she had not seen since that time she had an argument with him when she was younger and said swordsfighting were for the dull of mind out of anger.
He looked away and grunted in displease. "You always do whatever it takes to do what you want."
"Please, Father." She begged.
Only then did Lancelot arrive at the scene and saw her. He quickly pulled her back to her feet and pushed her behind him. "Father, just let her do it."
The Lord Baroque stared at her for a while, his eyes cold and commanding but also hesitating and calculating, while all she could do was desperately wish for an approval.
"I trust you'll keep your end of this agreement." He said and left.
"Guinevere, dear. Why couldn't you just come home?" Her mother begged, drawing near her and holding her hands, desperate and reluctant.
"I'm sorry, Mother." She said, sincerity ringing in her voice and dripping in her gaze as she looked at her mother's eyes.
Her mother sobbed but composed herself immediately, the anxious scowl still in her forehead but her lips now firm and suppressing her sadness.
She knew her daughter well enough to know that no amount of begging or commanding would budge her from a decision she already made.
So the woman nodded her head and held her daughter's face in her palms. "Take care of yourself. And come home. Soon."
Guinevere smiled sadly and nodded. "I will."
Her mother ran her hands through her daughter's hair one last time and let go, hanging her head low in sadness as she followed her father out of the great hall.
Lancelot turned to her. "What did you promise him?"
"That I'll carry on with the engagement once I get back."
"Guinevere..." Lancelot's brows furrowed as he stared at his sister, knowing fully well it was the last thing she wanted to do in the world.
But Guinevere forced a smile. "It'll be fine." She assured, more to herself than to his brother. "It should be."