When he saw the sack about to fall on his head, Dion reflexively jumped to the side, dodging the pile of objects. "That was close."
Seeing an opportunity, the Crown Princess slashed Dion's leg with her sword. But he kicked her in the face instead. Luckily, Jillian caught Dion's leg before it hit her face.
The man used both hands as a fulcrum and kicked upwards, right under Jillian's chin.
"Uhhh-- I'm not gonna lose!!!" Blood flowed from the woman's mouth.
Dion rolled his body and kicked Jillian's sword away. He knew that the woman could not get up. Let alone retrieve her sword. Feeling exhausted, Dion just lay down and caught his breath. He didn't feel victorious yet, but at least he could silence Jillian until she could regain her strength.
But who would have thought, Jillian actually got up and sat on Dion's body and pulled on her collar, "Youuu---!!! HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE MY PEOPLE SUFFER?!"
"Until when... I have to do all this..." Her head began to bow and her face was covered by her long hair.
"What do you care, huh?" Dion smiled at the woman currently on top of him.
"In this war, we are not human. At this second, at this moment, do you know how many of your people have been killed? No. You say you care? No, you don't understand anything about war. This is war Jillian Gracelya!" He continued trying to push Jillian back so that she would surrender.
"Of course I know all that!!! I know it all very clearly, I saw it all even my own family became one of them. Do you know what it's like to hold so many lives alone without anyone?!" Her lilac eyes were glassy, as if she could no longer hold back her tears.
"Founding a kingdom without anyone? Then do you think your family founded it together?"
Jillian's eyes narrowed to stare into Dion's red eyes with a trembling mouth.
"Have you ever heard of... of a single princess holding her own little kingdom?"
Jillian smiled sadly at Dion, as her tears continued to drip down the man's face beneath her.
Before Jillian could finish speaking, her body went limp and collapsed. She had already lost quite a lot of blood, Dion swiftly caught the woman's body and embraced her. Dion slowly sat up as he sat Jillian on his lap.
"She's just by herself, huh?" His red eyes looked at Jillian who was in his arms. His eyes closed for a moment as he let out a long breath due to the exhaustion he felt.
"Yeah... I didn't think anyone would pick her up here either."
He still felt sorry even for his own rival, Dion carrying Jillian and intending to take her with him. But when he was just about to stand up, he simply fell down.
"Ah... I've lost too much blood--"
The blond man pulled out a pistol to signal for help to the sky, hoping that any of his troops nearby on patrol would come to their rescue.
BOOMM!!!
Dion let out a long sigh and lay back down, "I hope help comes quickly."
*****
After the great war and also the secret battle between Crown Prince Keinheart and Crown Princess Gracelya. In the end, Dion won the battle. Jillian was sent to receive her punishment in the Keintheart Kingdom. Everyone gathered in the main hall to welcome Jillian who came to receive her punishment.
From the large doors in front of them, Jillian walked in with her body in chains and several Imperial soldiers pushing her inside to face the Emperor. Crown Prince Dion was also next to his father's throne, along with his twin brother Theodore Alrix Keintheart. The man stared at Jillian's arrival before him. He still remembered the wound she had inflicted on him.
Jillian sat on her knees before the royal leader Keintheart as she bowed her head. Begging for forgiveness and perhaps any mercy that could be given. Although that sounded highly improbable. "My respects to Your Majesty the Emperor. I am Jillian Willona Grace, Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Gracelya, come to receive my punishment,"
"What do you expect after all this? Your death is coming soon, you know that?" the Emperor asked her.
"I know, Your Majesty. Therefore I will accept any punishment you give. However, before that... Is it okay if I make one request? My last request."
The woman lowered her head even more, "I know this is presumptuous for a captive like me. But I beg you to listen to me."
For a moment the Emperor was speechless, thinking that the woman in front of him was brave enough to say such a thing even as she was about to receive her death sentence. But before long, he opened his mouth again. "What is your request?"
"Let my people live a fulfilling life. Don't make them suffer, especially by paying high taxes. They are poor and only want happiness. Even they can only fulfill their daily lives very adequately. I hope Your Majesty will be kind enough to grant it,"
"And what do you think can be done? It could be that your people are causing dissension and damage to the kingdom and my people."
Jillian flinched slightly at that, she swallowed and said again. "T-they are good people, they have never rebelled for as long as my kingdom has existed. I can guarantee that, Your Majesty." Her head dropped further until it touched the floor.
"But this time their leader will die. Can you guarantee they will keep the peace without seeking revenge?"
There was a brief debate between the two. Jillian desperately wanted to protect her people, but it seemed that the circumstances were not favorable at the moment. She could only remain silent as the emperor seemed to disagree with her request. She didn't know what else to say. But that was all she could do, "At least... Please consider my final request, Your Majesty."
The Emperor was silent as he stared at Jillian, this was the first time a noblewoman had dared to go against his words. Until suddenly a minister who had been watching them, walked up to the emperor and asked permission to say something. The emperor allowed it and the minister whispered something in the emperor's ear. The emperor was seen nodding his head.
"Very well. We will consider it. But on one condition."
Hearing that, Jillian immediately raised her head slightly, "Of course, whatever and however the conditions are, I will fulfill Your Majesty."
There was a moment of silence before the leader finally said the conditions.
"You must marry my son Dion."