─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
"MOVE! GIVE ME SPACE!" I heard a muffled voice.
I felt a heavy pressure every so often on my chest with blows of cold air enter deep into my mouth.
"DAMN IT! SHE IS NOT REACTING. YOU, GO FETCH THE IMPERIAL DOCTOR, AND TAKE HIM TO MY BEDROOM CHAMBER AT ONCE! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! DAMN IT! WHY ISN'T WORKING?! I AM COMMANDING YOU TO WAKE UP!"
I could hear the trashman's voice tune in, and out as he yelled. Why can I not open my eyes? Everything is pitch-black. I am unable to move.
The sudden pressure on my chest continued along with the random blows into my mouth.
Am I not dead? I can feel my body halfway, yet I sense of… numbness?
A sensation of warmth rushed into my body, causing my eyes to shoot open. I quickly turned over to my side. A deep pressure came to me as my body rejected the fluids from my mouth. I gasped for air as tears streamed down my cheeks. I began to tremble as I looked at my surroundings.
A crowd of people circled me, including the trashman who was hovering over me stared at me with deep concern.
He picked me off the ground and gently carried me in his arms as I continued to tremble. He began to run at top speed. The clouds quickly covered the bright sun, resulting in droplets of water, falling from the sky. The gentle drops of water soon became heavy and constant. The wind became stronger by the second. The leaves on the trees began to move towards the wind's direction.
"Your Majesty! Let me fetch a horse for you!" A yell came from behind us.
"THERE'S NO TIME!" he yelled nervously.
Where are we going? Why did it rain all of a sudden? It never rains when I am outside.
"Quick! Escort the imperial doctor into my room!" he commanded as we entered the imperial palace. I could hear thunder and the heavy rain hitting the window with full force.
My vision became blurry once again as he placed me on his bed.
Many voices chimed in all at once, keeping it hard to keep track of all the countless voices.
Suddenly, I heard a woman's voice from afar.
"I can heal her, your Majesty."
A blurry silhouette hovered over me.
A voice of a woman? Who is she?
The trashman's large hand gently covered my eyes.
"Sleep deeply." He commanded.
I quickly fell into a deep sleep. A sudden calmness fell over me. I could finally breathe once again. My lungs are no longer burning. My heartbeat is a rhythm. What a relaxing atmosphere.
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Xavier exited the imperial bed-chamber and began to pace the imperial halls back and forth nervously as he began to bite one of his fingernails.
The imperial doctor stepped out of the imperial room and reassured Xavier that the princess will recover in a few days.
After a few exchanges of words, the imperial doctor left.
"Your Majesty, a word?" said a female voice from behind.
Xavier clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. He nodded and followed the imperial mage.
They both entered the imperial room, where Amara laid peacefully in a slumbering state.
The imperial maid turned around and bowed.
"Your Majesty, I changed the princess into her nightgown and dried her hair as best as I could." Explained the imperial maid.
Xavier nodded and dismissed the maid. He quickly walked up to her and reached his hand towards the sleeping princess's forehead. After realizing what he was doing, he stopped himself from touching her and placed his arm down back to his side. He faced the imperial mage with curiosity.
"What are you doing here? State your reason at once." He demanded.
"From what I have gathered from a few rumors, the princess drowned in the imperial lake and soon after, you rescued her from the lake. There seems to be a gap in this scenario. Are you hiding something, your Majesty?" questioned the imperial mage.
Xavier's facial expression grew cold and frustrated.
'What exactly are you implying? Are you perhaps accusing me of something?!' Xavier yelled with an angry expression.
"How could I ever assume such a thing, Your Majesty. It just does not add up to me. The lake is quite large in terms of size. However, it is not deep. Well, not deep enough to where the princess was found. The guards and maids were forced to stay far away while you, and the princess had a picnic by the lake. You left her alone with an incompetent knight and maid while you had business to attend, am I correct?" She continued.
Xavier's eyes turned a crimson red.
Xavier clenched his jaw once more and furrowed his eyebrows as he fixed his glare at the imperial mage.
"I will not be talked down to. You must have forgotten your place, witch. Keep in mind who you speak to unless you wish for death." He threatened.
The imperial mage smiled and walked towards Xavier.
"Your Majesty, calling me a witch is quite the insult. Also, getting rid of me will not only be an inconvenience to the empire, but it is prohibited to do such a thing. If I were to be exiled, harmed, or killed in any way, it would be considered treason within your own grounds. Even for you, Your Majesty. It clearly states it in the Giodivonian Laws and sacraments. Unless I commit treason, my life remains unharmed. You may be powerful in terms of having the title as an emperor, and gaining a strong reputation to the rest of the world. However, I myself - hold great power due to my skill in mana. We are equals here. Not to mention, my family has served the imperial family since the beginning of time. Before you display such an aggressive, and hurtful threat, please bear in mind the debt you owe me." The imperial mage smiled as she walked around Xavier.
He took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. He bawled up his fists and popped his neck as a sign of frustration.
"Let it go. It was many years ago. You got what you wanted from me. I owe you nothing." He responded in an aggressive voice.
The imperial mage giggled as she removed the hood off of her head, revealing ruby-colored eyes and curly, red hair.
"It is a shame, is it not? A cursed prince from birth, who has it all. Extremely good looks that can hypnotize, mana-ability, logic, wealth, and power. A cursed prince who was a shining emerald to everyone. A promising future to the throne with approving gain from nobles all over the country, except for one thing. The one thing he could not have, he turned to… me for help. An alibi? Happiness? Love? Perhaps all three. Desperate you were. The emotionless prince, who was practically in tears, came to me for many favors. That's right. Help from a witch. That is what I am to you, right?" The imperial mage teased, as she smiled, exposing her evil nature.
"...Enough." Xavier lowered his head while clenching his jaw in frustration.
"How about your secret? Do you still see bloodstains on your hands, Your Majesty? Do you still have trouble sleeping at night? How about your brother's face? Does he still haunt you at night? You only come to me to delete your problems. However, you never pay me a visit to at least repay me for my hard work. Tsk tsk." She continued.
"It saddens me that even your happily ever after did not last long. At least your beloved gave you a present before she left this world, Your Majesty. Just look at the princess. A spitting image of his majesty. Do you regret it?" She questioned as she walked towards the princess.
"Stay away from her. That is an imperial order." Xavier commanded as he grabbed the imperial mage's arm and pulled her towards him aggressively.
"You bury dirty secrets, Your Majesty. Only secrets you and I are aware of. You are fortunate to have kept that child alive. She may at least cleanse your demon-like soul." Replied the imperial mage as she leaned her body against his, looking up at Xavier.
"It is time for you to go. If you are done with the child, I would like you to return to your tower and leave us be." Xavier commanded harshly, as he released his grip from her arm.
Frustrated, Xavier escorted the imperial mage out of the imperial room.
"Your Majesty. If by chance… you decide to go to war with Sulunder, I would like to take advantage of that favor you owe me." She smirked as she turned around and looked up at him.
"What is it now?" He exhaled heavily.
"I would like to meet the princess once she is awake. You understand… right, Your Majesty?" The imperial mage explained.
Xavier saw Ezra running towards them from the corner of his eye. He began to panic and looked back at the imperial mage.
"You stay away from that child, you hear me? You get near her and I have no choice but to cut your life short." Xavier whispered aggressively.
The imperial mage smiled and nodded.
"Be careful with that child, Your Majesty. Your life depends on it."