The doors of the Royal court pounded open, startling the Holy Roman Emperor and the Crown Emperor who were conversing while dressed in mourning clothes. They knew exactly who had shown up but they waited to confirm it with their eyes.
Heinrich entered with a face so annoyed that they couldn't believe it was him; it had been ages since he had pulled this sort of expression.
Killian followed him like a sheep, not knowing what this action was going to achieve. He clearly didn't understand the authority that Heinrich held in the palm of his hand.
Without any greetings, Heinrich asked in a low tone. "Where is Sofia?"
The deluded Holy Roman Emperor seemed fearless, "Receiving the punishment she deserves." He shrugged.
The Crown Emperor slowly took a step back, fearing the sight of Heinrich alone. Heinrich curled the side of his lips and scoffed.
"Is that so?" He asked the Holy Roman Emperor with amusement.
Killian frowned, not being able to understand the sudden change of expressions.
Heinrich walked towards the Royal guard standing by the Crown Emperor. He put his hand on his sword and swiftly unsheathed it in front of everyone. With a sword in his hand, he fearlessly walked up to the throne, right in front of the Holy Roman Emperor, and slowly put the sword against his throat.
Not a single soul moved during his treacherous acts; not even the Royal guard who was supposed to protect the Holy Roman Emperor.
"What is this preposterous behavior?!" The Holy Roman Emperor confidently shouted. "This is treason!"
Heinrich exhaled, "I put you on the throne myself. How will removing you from the throne become treason?"
Killian's eyes widened at the statement. What exactly was Heinrich to be able to alter an entire Kingdom just like that?
"You will pay for this…" The Holy Roman Emperor gulped, losing confidence slowly.
"What? Are you going to call your puny army and try to get me killed?" Heinrich asked, "I would love to see you do that."
The Holy Roman Emperor started to sweat, "What do you want?!" He shouted, "I am trying to avenge my dead wife! Can you not even let me mourn in peace?!"
"It does not matter to me how Sofia was involved in your wife's death." Heinrich said, "She belongs to me and your opinion does not matter. Bring her to me or die. Right here, right now."
The Holy Roman Emperor held onto his pride, "How will you answer the world about my death?! Huh?!"
"Do you think the world would dare question me?" Heinrich asked as he scoffed. He looked back at the Crown Emperor, "You tell me. Will the world question me? Or will everyone fall onto their knees at my sight?"
The Crown Emperor instantly fell to his knees, "I will obey you for life, Great Father!"
"Ferdinand!" The Holy Roman Emperor called his son out loud, "What are you doing?!"
Heinrich pressed the sword against the Holy Roman Emperor's chin to make him look directly into his eyes, "Are you blind? He is saving himself from me."
From where Killian stood, he could see the Holy Roman Emperor's hands shaking uncontrollably.
"G-Great Father," The Holy Roman finally addressed him with fear, "A-Allow me to rectify my mistake." He said as he stuttered.
Heinrich pulled the sword away instantly. "Write what you need to."
The Holy Roman Emperor quickly grabbed a scroll from his table and wrote his orders down to release Sofia. He stamped it with the Emperor's stamp and handed it over to Heinrich.
"Killian," Heinrich called him.
Killian swiftly walked up to him and received the scroll.
"Go to the prison, get her out, and go straight to Aldrich and no one else. No need to wait for me. Saving her is your priority." He quickly ordered him.
Killian nodded, "Yes, Master." He turned around to leave the Royal court when he heard the sound of Heinrich clenching the sword once again.
Killian turned his head to take a peak only to witness Heinrich swinging his sword against the Holy Roman Emperor's wrist without thinking twice.
"AH!!!" The Holy Roman Emperor screamed as his hand fell off and rolled on the ground.
"G-Great Father?!" The Crown Emperor murmured in an interrogative and fearful tone.
"Who is to say he will not betray me again?" Heinrich asked before noticing Killian still standing there, "Killian, go."
Shocked to his spine, Killian quickly turned around and left the Royal Court. He walked to the prison, trying to contain whatever he had just witnessed, and focused on saving the Princess. He walked to the prison, guarded by a lot of Royal guards. Showing them the scroll, he was granted instant entry.
When he reached there, he was shocked to see the Princess drowning in the flood of her blood, unconscious. Throwing the scroll on the ground of the Royal guards, he rushed to the Princess, untied her from the chair, and picked her up. The Royal guards verified the order and stepped aside.
"I know a good physician!" The Royal Guard from earlier said. He had also gone to Killian to relay the Princess's message earlier.
Killian considered trusting him for a split second because of the dire condition the Princess was in. But there were other things on his mind.
"I have been given an order," Killian said and walked away from there with the Princess in his arms.
The blood from her abdomen uncontrollably dripped down on the white, snowy ground. It almost made Killian question whether it was safe to take a long journey to Aldrich or not. He shook his head and decided to trust Heinrich - probably the only time he was willing to trust Heinrich.