The day of the Peace Treaty finally came. The ceremony began with an air of formality and tense anticipation. As August gave his welcoming address, I glanced at the Themon delegation, particularly at the Second Prince. He stood confidently, but something about the King's absence made me uneasy. The timing of the King's sudden illness just before such an important ceremony felt suspicious, as though something was being concealed.
I focused my attention back on August as he concluded his speech, his words ringing with strength and diplomacy. The hall erupted in polite applause, and now it was the Second Prince's turn to speak. He stepped forward, his expression calm but measured, and I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.
The Prince's speech echoed the promises of peace and stability, yet there was a coldness in his tone that set me on edge. Despite his words, I couldn't help but sense there might be hidden intentions behind them.
Finally, both parties exchanged affirmations that neither nation held any intention of reigniting the war. The ceremony seemed to be progressing smoothly on the surface, but my instincts told me to remain vigilant. Something about the Prince's demeanor, coupled with the King's absence, made it hard to fully trust the peace we were celebrating.
As I gazed out of the window, the distant glow drew my attention. It was subtle at first, flickering faintly in the dark, but it was undeniably getting closer. A strange feeling settled in my chest—it was not a light I recognized from the palace grounds or the nearby city. I had been to this very spot countless times before, but this light was foreign, almost out of place.
The ceremonial hall buzzed with the sounds of conversation and clinking glasses as the final courses were served, yet I found myself distracted by the approaching glow. It flickered erratically, almost as if it were alive, pulsing with an unnatural rhythm. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but I forced myself to stay composed, not wanting to alarm anyone.
Still, the uneasy sensation persisted. I glanced over at August, who was engaged in conversation with one of the Themon officials, and then at the Second Prince. Both seemed entirely unaware of the strange light, engrossed in their diplomatic exchanges.
"Offense magic..." I faintly whispered. I turned back to the window again. I suddenly remembered where Lys trained me in blocking his magic. This was just the same.
"Guards! Form defense position now!" I suddenly shouted shocking the people inside. The escort knights quickly assumed their positions, forming a protective barrier around me and August. The atmosphere in the room shifted from relaxed to tense as the knights prepared for any potential threat. Guests looked around, confused and alarmed, as whispers of concern began to ripple through the crowd.
However panic surged through me as the realization hit. The trajectory of the attack magic was unmistakably aimed at the second prince from Themon, not at us. My heart raced as I considered the implications of this unforeseen threat.
"Prince Aamon!" I shouted, my voice barely piercing through the cacophony of the hall. My mind went blank as I slipped through the guards defense as I ran towards him.
I need to protect him. August was so happy that the 10 year war has finally come to an end. If something happens to the second prince, then the war with Themon will continue again and they would blame him for killing the prince.
"Nerina! Come back!" August shouted, trying to move away from the guards but they won't let him. "Let go of me! Can't you see your Empress is running away?!"
I ignored him as a tear fell down on my check while holding the necklace he gave me.
Before the attack magic could hit the prince, I crashed myself into him as I protected his body with my own.
SWOOSH!
I felt the searing pain as the attack magic struck me, my body propelled through the air with a violent force. The impact was brutal, and I struggled to keep my consciousness as I flew away from the prince, the world spinning around me.
As I crashed onto the ground, the pain was almost unbearable. The impact left me gasping for breath, the air knocked out of my lungs. I tried to move, but my body felt heavy and unresponsive. I could barely make out the sounds of chaos around me as the guards and knights scrambled to protect everyone and locate the source of the attack.
I looked at the second prince who was just laying there looking at me with a dumbfounded face, seeing him unharmed brought me comfort and smiled at him.
With my eyes half closed, I can feel August beside me trying to wake me up. I used my last ounce of strength to caress his face with my bloody hand and giving him my sweetest smile, "I love you, my ice king." With that, I slowly succumbed to darkness. My arm falling to my side.