Lucia's guards held and tied Sylvie's hands.

She really felt disappointed that Sylvie didn't have a change of hearts. She was hoping that at the last moment, Sylvie would prevent her from drinking the poison. She was wrong. Some people were just too consumed by anger.

"What will you do to me?" Sylvie laughed. It was that of a crazy person. Her laugh was so unlike her that Lucia felt uncomfortable."Do you think I'm afraid of death Lucia? I'm not! Execute me if you want but you will not see fear in my eyes. You already took everything from me that nothing remains."

Lucia walked towards Sylvie in a hurried manner. She lifted her hands and slapped Sylvie. It was so hard that a whacking sound rang across the room. Lucia felt pain in her hand but her current heightened emotions dulled the pain.

Lucia leaned on the table . "I told you already, don't blame me for your father's exile. I already knew that you were acting all along, but I never expected that you've gone crazy"

Sylvie laughed again. Her pitched laughter was so uncomfortable to hear that Lucia wanted to cover hear ears. "Crazy? That's right, I'm crazy. I was crazy even before my father left me. He was the only one who kept me sane. When your father exiled him, he also took my sanity. Look at me Princess Lucia Vanadis. This is who I am, my real face without a mask. You said that you treated me as your friend. Well Lucia, am I still your friend now?"

Lucia could not bare seeing Sylvie this way. She may not want to admit it right now, but not only did she view Sylvie as her friend, Lucia also viewed her as an older sister.

"Imprison her in the dungeons and inform King Leopold of this. Also tell him that I want to have an audience with him as soon as possible. Tell him that it's urgent" she told the guards.

They then dragged Sylvie out of her sight and left the room. Since the dining hall was reserved only for the Vanadian delegates, Lucia was left alone. She looked at her unfinished meal and sighed. After what happened she couldn't finish her meal now.

*****************************************************************

"Your Highness, we have a problem" Normally Amir would kneel and salute first to Skall, but this time he didn't. Skall could feel the urgency of the matter.

"What?" Skall asked as he braced for a shocking news

"The spy failed in assassinating Princess Lucia." Amir's voice was low "It seems Lucia knew that we have been spying on her."

Skall folded his arms and looked at Amir "What do you mean she knew? So you're saying that she allowed us to spy on her?"

"Yes, that's what I'm saying. But that's not the problem Your Highness. Our men reported that she commanded her guards to seek for an audience with King Leopold. Luckily, our men intercepted her guards. Your Highness, it will be catastrophic if King Leopold will know about this"

Skall pounded his hand on the table "Your plan not only failed, it backfired!" he shouted. "I trusted your abilities Amir since you never failed me before. But why the hell are you failing me now?"

"I told you that my plan was risky. That's why I asked for your consent." Amir defended. He then took his dagger and put it in front of Skall. "If you no longer want my services then punish me with death. If it pleases you, then kill me with your own hands. But I suggest you don't. We still have many things to do."

Skall took the dagger and examined it. It was the dagger he gave Amir as a gift a long time ago. "Your reaction was exaggerated. You know I won't do that." He handed the dagger back to Amir "So what what do we do next?"

"We need to go through with it"

Somehow, Skall had expected this answer. Since the die had already been cast, they need to finish the deed. Nevertheless, he still asked Amir to clarify the plan.

"You mean"he took a coin and fiddled with it again. "send my guards to kill Lucia?"

"Yes. We need to. She will tell the King about this. For now we intercepted her guards, but tomorrow she will have her audience with King Leopold. Who knows what King Leopold will do after knowing that we tried to assassinate Lucia. He may even give up on us because he may think that dealing with us is too risky. If we kill Lucia and blame it to King Leopold, then the other Kingdoms will shun Castonia. He will have no choice but to accept our friendship whether he likes it or not. "

"Okay" Skall nodded his head. He understood. Desperate times call for desperate measures. "Send all the men and make sure she's dead."

************************************************************************

"Princess we're under attack!" Captain Bisham opened the door with a panicked look.

Lucia frowned. She doesn't understand. "What?" she asked

"The guards you sent to request audience with King Leopold were killed. It's the Wismarines Your Highness. The others are keeping them busy as we speak. We need to leave now!" he spoke in a fast but clear manner.

Lucia still couldn't believe what she heard from Captain Bisham. She was taken aback by the Captain's revelations. She did not expect this to happen. But she needs to make decisions now.

"I need to send letters to Solon and Holm first. I need to inform my father and Freya about this."

She then grabbed a knife from the table and ran with the Captain to her room. Behind her, she saw that the Royal Guards formed a shield wall and held the Wismarines at bay. She could hear the sound of men fighting and dying.

This was all because of her foolishness. She never thought that the Wismarines would go this far. Killing her would invoke King Leopold's anger. But they still did it. Lucia must give credit to Skall's guts.

After reaching her room, Lucia hurried to the table and wrote two letters. One of the letters was addressed to her father, informing him of the situation. She also begged her father not to declare war with Castonia. They need to think clearly about this first. Sometimes aggression and impulsiveness were not the answer.

She also wrote a letter to Freya. There was only one place to go now and that is Solon. She needs to flee to Solon and seek Tim's protection.

Outside, the ringing of steel against steel became louder. The Wismarines are close. Even if the Royal Guards fought to the death, they were still outnumbered and could only buy her a few more minutes. She felt guilt that the Royals Guards had to die for her. They were all good and loyal people. They were her family here in Nirvana.

Her hand moved fast and finished the letters. She then tied the papers to two pigeons and sent the birds to their respective destinations. She could only hope that her letters reach Holm and Solon.

Lucia did not waste time and escaped the palace with Captain Bisham. The only one they could trust right now is the merchant Escanor.

Halfway to the merchant's home, the Captain noticed people following them and informed Lucia about this. They took detours and shortcuts but the pursuers were good. In the end, they decided to just run at full speed.

It was tiring but they reached Escanor's house. The pursuers were still following them. Captain Bisham pounded the door so hard it almost broke.

After a short while, Escanor opened the door with creased brows "What the hell are your doing!" he shouted. But he then covered his mouth after seeing Lucia "Your Highness?"

"We need your help Escanor. The Wismarines are trying to kill me. I don't have time to explain but we really need your help."

Escanor was stunned for a while but then he let them enter the room. He peeked outside one last time and then closed the door.

"I don't know the full extent of your situation Your Highness, but I will help you." He reached to the top of his cabinet and grabbed something. It was a big and sturdy lock. He then locked the door.

"Thank you. We are escaping to Solon and I suggest that you come with us. We have been followed so they already know about your affiliation with me. For that I apologize."

"Think nothing of it Your Highness. I want to see my brother again anyway." He smiled "Luckily, I have three horses hidden in a secret location."

Escanor pushed his bed and revealed a secret passage. "In here Princess." He gestured.

Lucia was surprised Escanor had a secret passage inside his room.

"Let's go then" Lucia approached the secret passage. It was small, but it was enough to fit a person.

But behind them, someone pounded on the door. "Open the door merchant. Hand over Princess Lucia and we will not kill you."