Arion's eyes were still closed tightly. His hands were also clenched tightly. His heart was beating so fast that it seemed to jump out of his body.
He swallowed nervously, 'What am I supposed to do now?'
He couldn't just stand there and wait for help to come. But he couldn't do anything but lie still either. The slightest mistake could easily kill him.
The sound of heavy footsteps approaching his bed made him gasp in surprise. He could feel the person standing right next to his bed.
The frivolous snorting voice of the first person to sneak in was heard, "So this is the second child of the Gewitter? Looks pretty weak."
Arion cursed inwardly, 'Damn!'
The intruder had approached him too suddenly for him to have prepared.
He forced himself to relax his stiff body. He adjusted his facial expression to be more calm. Fortunately, the minimal lighting kept the intruder from noticing him.
Another voice was heard snorting dismissively, "Of course, he looks weak, stupid. He's just a baby. He's not even a month old."
The man snarled angrily, "Shut up, Hans!"
Hans, who had killed the guards, also approached Arion. He watched Arion with an appraising look, "He doesn't look as special as his sibling."
The man next to Arion clicked his tongue unhappily, "What's so special about those kids? They're just useless little bugs."
A sigh was heard from the remaining intruder in the room, who was the calmest-sounding person so far, "You haven't looked at the information we've painstakingly gathered about them, have you, Herris?"
Arion held his breath in surprise, 'Information?'
Did that mean the intruders had been watching the palace inhabitants the whole time? Or even worse, they had a traitor within the palace who gave them the information?
Then the figure of the maid who came to Nova and the other nannies came to mind. Emily, the maid that Arion found suspicious.
Arion growled in his heart, 'It must be her!'
"Why am I reading that useless information, Dean? What a waste of time. I can snap those kids' necks with one hand alone," Herris snorted dismissively. With his strength, those small and fragile necks were nothing to him.
His eyes sharpened as he looked at the other babies who were still sleeping, not feeling any imminent danger approaching them now, "After all, my goal is only to finish off the descendants of those damned kings."
Dean shrugged resignedly, "You're so stupid. Relying too much on your muscles instead of your brain."
Herris snorted in annoyance, "Whatever. My job is to attack and kill, not to think. That's your job."
Dean sighed, trying not to lose his temper, "That's why I called you stupid. These kids could be a threat to you in the future."
Herris gave him a strange look, "Are you kidding? Those weaklings? Don't make me laugh!" He snorted. As if that would happen. They wouldn't even be able to throw a single punch at him.
Hans chuckled sarcastically, "Don't cry when that day comes."
Herris clicked his tongue irritably, "Whatever! I don't care!"
He gave Arion a sharp look before reaching out for the baby. But his hand stopped short of touching the blanket that covered the small body. He looked sharply at Dean who watched him calmly.
"You're not going to stop me again, are you?" Herris hissed sharply. His patience was about to run out.
Dean shrugged indifferently before crossing his arms, "Nope. Do what you want."
Arion felt his body crawl as he listened to their conversation, 'What are they planning?'
A broad grin appeared on Herris' lips, "My pleasure!"
Without waiting long, Herris grabbed Arion by the neck and lifted him up to face level. A grin widened as a cruel laugh escaped his mouth.
Unable to help himself, Arion opened his eyes with a startled gasp as he felt his body being lifted, 'What is he doing?'
Herris raised his eyebrows in interest, "Oh! Look who woke up from his deep sleep!"
Arion winced as he felt the grip on his neck tightens, 'Damn! I unconsciously opened my eyes!'
He raised his hand to try to free the hand that was gripping his neck, knowing that his strength was no match for the muscle-bound adult.
With a cruel grin, Herris brought his face closer to the face of the baby in his grasp, "Don't worry, kid."
He lifted him higher and tighter with a loud laugh, "This is going to hurt!"
The grip on Arion's neck tightened until he couldn't feel the air entering his lungs. He opened his mouth wide, hoping for some air to enter his lungs. But he couldn't feel anything.
His face began to turn blue as Arion's vision began to darken. He could no longer maintain his consciousness.
'I..can..not..breathe...'
Just as his consciousness was about to fade, Arion could hear the sound of electricity humming before the sound of an explosion rang out nearby. The grip on his neck loosened as his body floated up, a ball of lightning surrounding him.
Arion coughed hard as he felt his breath begin to return. Even his tears came out a little because of how hard he coughed. He slowly tried to catch his breath.
"Get away from him!" The screaming voice made Arion try to open his unconsciously closed eyes. He looked towards the open door and saw the figure of Nova standing with her hands raised, surrounded by yellow lightning.
Arion coughed weakly before exhaling softly, 'Nova?'
Behind Nova, the other three nannies stood waiting with frightened faces. They didn't have the magic and fighting skills Nova had, so they could only wait behind her. Their appearance was a bit messy. He don't know what they went through before coming here.
Herris growled angrily before charging at Nova, "Disturber!"
At the same time, Dean and Hans took the opportunity to grab the other 3 babies, who began to whimper in fear.
Nova quickly attacked the three with her lightning magic, hitting the intruders with such force that they were thrown and hit the wall of the room.
Nova held his hand, which burned from her breathlessness. She turned to the three people still standing behind her, "Quick! Secure the prince and princess!"
Without waiting for them to answer, Nova ran over to the lightning ball that protected Arion. Gently, she removed the lightning ball and gently embraced Arion.
A single tear slid down her cheek as Arion was finally safe in her arms, "Your Highness... Forgive me for being late," Nova said with a soft sob. She couldn't resist kissing the forehead of her prince who was weakly holding her clothes.
Nova deeply regretted not being able to protect Arion properly, and not being able to carry out the duties entrusted to her by her king and queen. If she had been even a little late, her prince could have died of suffocation.
Arion, still panting slightly, held on to Nova's clothes with his remaining strength and sank further into her embrace. His body began to shake after he felt safe in Nova's arms. He held back the sobs that wanted to come out.
He hadn't felt this sense of helplessness and fear of death in a long time. The last time he had felt it was when his old father had beaten him. At that time, he couldn't do anything. He could only watch and wait for death to come.
Arion held back his sobs by biting his lips tightly, 'I don't want to die. Even if my existence is just a nuisance in this family, I don't want to be killed a second time. I don't want to...'
Slowly, Nova started to get up, followed by the other three nannies, who approached her while soothing the baby in their arms, who was crying in fear.
"Quick! We have to--"
The explosion on the wall of the room where the intruders had been thrown cut off Nova's words. The three nannies screamed in fear as they took a few steps back. The baby in their arms cried even louder.
Arion shuddered in horror, 'They're back!'
Herris' figure jumped at Nova with a mad face, "Give him to me!"
Nova clicked her tongue unhappily, "You're the one who needs to get out of the way!"
Nova gave him a sharp look before casting her Lightning Magic in her right hand again, while her left hand hugged Arion tightly.
"Lightning Magic!"
Yellow lightning surrounded Nova before she directed it around the four of them.
"SHIELD!"
All the lightning gathered around her, forming a protective wall that separated Nova from Herris.
Arion stared at it in amazement, 'Nova can do that?'
Herris, unable to stop his body, crashed into Nova's barrier, instantly shocking him until he screamed in pain. His scream was so loud that it was probably heard by everyone in the palace.
Nova panted before covering Arion's ears from Herris' extremely loud surroundings.
"Let's go! This is our chance!"
The four of them immediately ran away, leaving Herris still trapped in Nova's lightning shield.
Before they could get far, Hans' figure jumped in front of them, making the four stop running.
With an angry face, Hans drew his sword and pointed it at Nova, who looked back at him sharply while hugging Arion tightly.
"You'll regret attacking me, old woman!" He growled angrily. He could still feel the sting in his body.
Nova gave him a sharp look, "Try me."
Arion trembled with fear, 'Please stop. I don't want anyone to get hurt because protect me.'
Seeing Nova's exhausted state, Arion cursed himself for being so helpless. He was nothing but a burden to Nova right now.
If only he had the strength.