Duchess Vienna recalled that memory and suddenly, it seems that everything clicked for once.
Now she understands the motive of that man.
"Please, stay out, Asteria," Duchess Vienna warned Princess Asteria.
Princess Asteria felt shocked at the sudden revelation of Duchess Vienna and if it wasn't Vita getting her to direct her to her room to prepare for the competition, then she must have stayed shocked and rooted to the spot.
She is still trying to get process everything, her mind blurry.
"Princess? You're going to see the competition now." Said Vita and Krajner were about to escort her when the ground echoed and the knights ran to protect her.
"Ah! There's a fire in front of the palace!"
She gasped, knowing all too well the person that has fire element magic.
It must be Lord Eros and if people find out his identity right now, she instantly was up on her feet.
"It's one of Duchess Vienna's men." Another knight came in, checking in to see if she was affected.
She sighed in relief. But then panicked.
Duchess Vienna…
His men?
Why?
This will divide the Ardis kingdom from Orthosdem imperium and will destroy their alliance…
She glanced at the book on her table. Was this also written there like what Duchess Vienna said it would?
Whatever the case, she must get rid of this soon.
She looked around, glancing at the windows to check all the visitors outside, "Where is the king and my brothers? Did anyone get hurt?"
"No, your highness. But the king orders us to take you to safety."
Asteria looked at Krajner and Vita by her side, "Let's go to the scene."
"But it's too dangerous, now your highness!"
She smirked, motioning for Krajner, "I have the strongest knight beside me. I am more than safe, right Krajner?"
"Yes, your highness."
With that, they ran to the hallway and reached outside were a loud audience was waiting for her.
The king, her father was in the middle protected by the knights, with her brothers and Prince Galician, along with the other nobles and their guests.
King Xander noticed her coming out of the door and he yelled, "Asteria! Step back! You must stay there!"
She ignored his orders, over of being coddled like a delicate flower, and looked at the scene behind.
There was Duchess Vienna, standing beside her husband Duke Raziel who was attempting to stop the long silver-haired black eye man, who was releasing light magic in every spot, entrapping the nobles, along with her father.
"Duchess Vienna!" Asteria yelled to catch her attention and the duchess turned to her and gasped.
"Did you burn the book now?"
She shook her head, "No."
"Good. If someone destroys it, others would have to bear the consequence and be trapped in the story. It had a spell."
Asteria gritted her teeth, she wouldn't ve in that position in the first place if Duchess Vienna didn't destroy it.
"If you didn't destroy it then I would have been good." She said to the duchess.
"Enough blaming each other." Said the duke and motioned for his wife, "Vienna, let's finish this."
She looked at them, "Finish? You'll kill your man?"
Duchess Vienna sighed, "He's our mage friend, He's Delphian. He helped me with that book last time. And we know it's not him inside but someone's behind controlling him to wreak havoc."
"Do you have any mage here? A strong one." The duke asked. "I need to have someone help me with locking him."
Lord Eros was the first thing that popped inside her mind but she gulped, no. This would endanger his identity.
She looked at Vita, "Call the strongest gifted we have here."
Vita nodded and ran away. It was all too hot now and Asteria could feel the sweat.
The man, Delphian, shot a whole fire at her and if Krajner wasn't quick enough to grab her and dodge, she would have been already killed.
"Your highness, be careful." Said Krajner."
"Ria! Goodness, hide now!" Said the king.
"Stop being reckless, Ria!" Said Prince Apollo, who was now worried too.
She nodded, then faced the man. It's obvious that it's her that he wants.
"Seems you want me." She spoke up and then asked, "Is someone controlling you now and wanting me to get killed?
One thing she noticed is how the only person who have been trying to kill her was not there.
Mistress Geneva.
She muttered a curse. That darn witch again. She needs to do something to her for always ruining her mood.
The man laughed, "Whatever you're thinking, it's not her."
Just then, the man dropped to the ground, and Duchess Vienna and Duke Raziel came to cleanse him of his magic.
Just then, Prince Griffith came out from nowhere.
"Princess Asteria, I'm glad you are fine!" He said.
She raised her eyebrows, "Prince Griffith, I thought you went back to your kingdom?"
"I came here to check up on you hearing this incident. Come, let's go-"
"Drop her hand." Yelled Duchess Vienna and ran to grab Asteria's hand.
"The real Prince Griffith has come home." Said Duchess Vienna, "That one is an importer."
Damn. And she almost came with him. How come she's easily gullible.
The imposter Prince Griffith in front of them smirked and said, "Duchess, what a coincidence we met again."
Duchess Vienna seems rooted to the spot hearing his voice. Her hand trembled as she grabbed Asteria's hand tightly but she stood still.
"I'm done dealing with you, Alexis, get out of here. Stop bothering people." Duchess Vienna's cold voice pierced the air. Duke Raziel came beside us, protecting us.
The man in front of us raised his hand up in surrender and changed his appearance. Now he looked different…he had long green hair and black eyes, "Oh, but the fun is starting."
"He can shapeshift into anything he wants and illusion, tempting your mind wants."
He then looked at Asteria, "Did the gift I gave to your liking?"
She gritted her teeth.
"Come with me, Asteria." In an instant, he was already beside her and whispered, "I know you are not from this world." She froze.
"Am I right? Or should I also reveal to everyone how you revived the one person they feared the most? The dark mage Lord Eros?"
The words that left Alexis's mouth were like a fire that melted Asteria right there and then. She gulped, never feeling as nervous as before.
No, this can't be it, this shouldn't even happen.