"In a place like this? A visitor?" Eliza mused in surprise, as a mysterious figure stepped forward. Recognizing the newcomer, Crimson Queen began, "You are..."
As the figure revealed himself to be Prince Ashfield Vanderbilt, the esteemed first son of the Azure King. The prince's distinguished appearance stood in stark contrast to his father's imposing aura. He spoke, his tone measured and resolute, "I know where Princess Scarlet is."
The revelation stunned everyone within the confines of the Silver Prism Motherbase. Joseph, intrigued and wary, pressed for further information. "What do you mean?" he questioned, his voice tinged with a blend of hope and skepticism.
Ashfield began to speak, his voice weighed down by the gravity of his revelation. "The truth about Princess Scarlett's kidnapping... it was planned,"
Karina, the Crimson Queen, was taken aback. "What? By whom, then?" she asked.
"It was all planned by my father," Ashfield continued, his words causing a ripple of shock and disbelief among those present. The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of this revelation settled in.
Karina, maintaining her composure, calmly responded, "I see," her voice steady despite the turmoil within.
Ashfield, visibly troubled, questioned Karina's composed demeanor. "Your Majesty, how can you remain so calm?"
"It appears my intuition was correct," Karina replied, acknowledging Ashfield's disclosure. "Thank you for sharing this with us."
Expressing his regret, Ashfield stated, "I'm sorry about my father's actions."
Karina shook her head gently. "There's no need for you to apologize, Ashfield. You bear no responsibility for your father's deeds. It's not your fault."
"Yet, I was too weak... I couldn't stop him," Ashfield admitted, filled with remorse.
Encouragingly, Karina responded, "Then you need to strengthen yourself, Ashfield."
As a solemn silence enveloped the room, Eliza interjected, "Your Majesty, I suggest we begin our discussion now."
"Indeed, let's proceed with the discussion. Ashfield, please join us," Karina invited, seeking resolution amidst the unsettling revelation.
In the midst of the discussion, Eliza initiated, "My Prince, could you elaborate more on Princess Scarlett's abduction?"
Ashfield began to recount, "On that fateful night, Father had a discussion with them. He ordered the bandits to kidnap Princess Scarlett. Father aimed to force Karina, the Crimson Queen, into arranging Princess Scarlett's marriage to me."
He continued, "Naturally, I refused my Father's plan. He sought to expand his dominion, leveraging our destined lineage for rulership. Our bloodline, like the Crimson Queen, Azure King, White King, and Black Queen, holds unique traits known as the Will of Ruler."
Intrigued, Eliza inquired, "The Will of Ruler?"
Karina, the Crimson Queen, interjected, "Yes, the Will of Ruler signifies that when our bloodline merges with other ruling bloodlines, the subsequent generation gains amplified power."
Eliza nodded in comprehension.
Max and Kotu interjected, "Your Majesty, could you demonstrate the Will of Ruler?"
Karina ushered everyone outside the Silver Prism Motherbase. With a commanding gesture, she raised her hand, and the sea responded, creating a stunning display. The sudden sea movement left everyone astounded.
Karina explained, "This is the manifestation of the Will of Ruler."
She continued, "The sea mirrors my emotions." With another swift motion of her hand, the serene sea transformed into a raging storm, leaving everyone shocked and terrified by the sheer power exhibited through the Will of Ruler.
Karina continued, "This is just one facet of my Will of Ruler."
Curious, Max and Kotu inquired, "What about the others? Are there more manifestations?"
"I'm uncertain," Karina replied thoughtfully. "Every ruler holds their own unique Will of Ruler, yet none have chosen to reveal theirs."
Suddenly, Benedict, known as Crimson Queen, contacted Karina. "Yes?" answered Karina, her voice composed.
"Alright, sure," replied Karina, ending the call with a contemplative expression.
"It seems the time has come," Karina continued. "Azure King wants me to surrender, or he's threatening to launch an attack on the Empire of Crimson Land."
William interjected in shock, "What?! That man is insane!"
Joseph, concerned, asked, "My Queen, aren't the Rulers bound by a rule not to attack each other?"
Karina sighed, her tone heavy. "When it comes to that man, he no longer abides by such rules."
Karina continued, "Silver Prism, I need your help to stand against Azure King and rescue my daughter, Princess Scarlett."
Eliza promptly replied, "Yes, of course, we will join you."
"Thank you, Silver Prism. I will return to my Empire," Karina acknowledged before taking her leave.
As William prepared to leave, he turned to Joseph with a stern tone, "Hey, Joseph, I have to go. We'll meet later, and when we do, make sure you've got GENESIS under control!"
Joseph nodded in affirmation, "Yes, I will."
William then approached Jennifer, holding her hands gently. "After this is all over, I'll come find you," he assured her with a calm smile.
Joseph interjected, "Wait a minute! What's going on? Your tone just changed between me, Jennifer, and you?"
This caused everyone to chuckle at the unexpected turn of events.With a light grin, William clarified, "Looks like I have to head out. We need to repair BEOWULF after what happened during our last operation."
Meanwhile
Meanwhile, in a bustling marketplace, the news of Princess Scarlett's disappearance spread like wildfire. The front page headlines of the newspapers screamed 'Missing Princess Scarlett.'
"Hmm, so the Princess is missing?" pondered one civilian.
"I heard she was kidnapped," chimed in another passerby.
A third person interjected, "Kidnapped? Well, maybe her mother is to blame for allowing her daughter to get kidnapped."
The discussions swirled among the crowd, each person sharing their take on the unfortunate incident that had gripped the city.
At Empire of the White Land
Amidst the grandeur of the Empire of White Land, Cisseus, addressing Ariarathes Weisman, the revered White King, bowed respectfully. "My Lord, have you heard the news?"
Seated upon his imposing throne, Ariarathes Weisman acknowledged, "Ah, I see... The Princess has gone missing."
Cisseus, with a sense of concern, inquired further, "My Lord, do you have any idea who might be responsible for this?"
Ariarathes Weisman, deep in thought, closed his eyes in contemplation. After a moment of silence, he opened his eyes, revealing a calculated resolve. "Yes, it was all part of a premeditated plan."
Cisseus, absorbing this revelation, simply acknowledged, "I understand..."
Ariarathes reassured, "Do not fret; the appointed time will come, sooner or later."
Ariarathes commanded, "Cisseus, reach out to Azure King's domain and contact his son, Prince Ashfield Vanderbilt, i would like to meet him."
Cisseus nodded respectfully, affirming, "Yes, my Lord."
At the Empire of Crimson Land
As Karina, the Crimson Queen, returned to her empire, her people eagerly awaited her arrival. Stepping into her palace, she settled upon her throne, lost in contemplation. Abruptly, a clamor from the streets caught her attention. Curious, she rise from her seat and made her way outside. There, her people gathered, expressing their concerns, "My Queen, we've heard of Princess Scarlett's abduction. We stand ready to do everything in our power to rescue her!"
As Karina raised her hand, the streets fell into an expectant hush. She addressed her people with unwavering composure, her voice cutting through the silence. "Thank you all for your concern. Be assured, we shall find her soon. But in the meantime, I ask each of you to prepare yourselves to defend our land."
As murmurs of concern rippled among her people, Karina continued, "War looms on the horizon."
The response was immediate and resolute, "My Queen! If that for Princess Scarlett, we will protect this land with all our might!"
Their rallying cry echoed through the streets, declaring their allegiance to the Crimson Queen, resonating with loyalty and determination in the face of impending conflict.
At Empire of Azure Star
In the grand halls of the Azure Star Empire, Ashfield Vanderbilt returned, greeted by his father, Alastair Vanderbilt, a formidable figure seated known as Azure King on his throne. Alastair inquired, "My son, where have you been?"
"Simply taking a stroll, Father. Clearing my mind and contemplating our next steps," Ashfield replied, concealing his true intentions.
Alastair's voice boomed, "I see. There's no need for contemplation anymore, my sons."
Puzzled, Ashfield questioned, "Then, what's your plan, Father?"
A sly grin crossed Alastair's face as he unraveled his scheme, "The media already spreads news of Princess Scarlett's abduction. Once this turmoil peaks, I'll orchestrate her 'rescue.' The world will see the Crimson Queen as a negligent ruler and mother. I'll swoop in as the hero who 'saves' her, boosting my reputation."
With a chilling laugh, Alastair outlined his strategy further, "My prestige will soar, and I'll spin the tale that you adored her daughter, paving the way for our marriage. Ha-ha-ha!"
Ashfield's silence betrayed a mix of discomfort and disbelief, as his father's Machiavellian machinations unfurled before him, leaving a foreboding sense of manipulation and deceit lingering in the air.
As Ashfield reclined in his chamber, a sudden notification pinged, signaling a message from Cisseus. The mail bore an urgent request, "Dear Prince Ashfield Vanderbilt, first son of Azure King, I apologize for this intrusion. Ariarathes Weisman, the White King himself, wishes to meet you. Please honor us with your presence at the Empire of White Land tomorrow."
The unexpected summons from the revered White King stirred intrigue and curiosity within Ashfield, hinting at a clandestine meeting that might hold pivotal significance amidst the escalating turmoil surrounding Princess Scarlett's disappearance.
The Next Day
As Ashfield stepped into the Empire of White Land, Cisseus welcomed him with a respectful bow. "Welcome, Prince Ashfield. Thank you for coming. My Lord wishes to share breakfast with you. Please, follow me."
Guided by Cisseus, Ashfield entered the dining room. Ariarathes, the White King, rose from his seat to greet him. "Please, take a seat," he offered warmly.
As they shared breakfast, Ashfield, with reverence, queried Ariarathes, "My Lord, why have you suddenly invited me here?"
Ariarathes began with a matter-of-fact tone, "Regarding Princess Scarlett, I am aware it was orchestrated by your Father."
Ashfield, taken aback, stammered, "How? How could you know?"
Filled with astonishment, Ashfield exclaimed, "Foresight? Is that your manifestation of the Will of Ruler?"
Ariarathes continued, "The Will of Ruler? I see you are already familiar with that. Surprising, for someone of your age to be acquainted with such knowledge."
"Ashfield," Ariarathes spoke with a perceptive gaze, "I sense your inner turmoil. You wish to stop your father but lack the courage."
"I can teach you how to awaken your Will of Ruler," Ariarathes continued.
Hearing this, Ashfield's curiosity peaked. "How can I awaken my Will of Ruler?" he asked eagerly.
"There are two paths," Ariarathes began, his tone grave. "The first is arduous; it demands maturity, bravery, and a deep understanding of your people. You must practice and grow."
"The second path," Ariarathes continued, his voice lowering, "is a harsh one. You must commit a grave act: to kill your own father. By ending the Azure King's life, his Will of Ruler will pass on to you."
Ashfield was left speechless, grappling with the weight of the choices presented to him, torn between the complexities of morality and the daunting path laid out before him.
"Ashfield," Ariarathes continued, his voice carrying an air of solemnity, "I can assist you, but it comes with a condition."The weight of Ariarathes' words hung heavily in the air, hinting at an offer that came with a significant price, leaving Ashfield intrigued yet apprehensive about the impending condition.