Chapter 28 - My Sweet

Astoria's POV

Adelaide has been staring at me since we arrived in her chamber. I wanted to say something but I don't think any of my words would be able to explain what I've done.

"How did you manage to get Moloch to your side?" Adelaide finally said something.

"I told him to do what I told him to do or else." Adelaide pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Or else what?" I gave Adelaide a small smile.

"I would destroy the demon realm with my knights. Moloch was not happy but hey, he did what I told him to do. He is now your servant." Adelaide sighs heavily.

"Oh my goddess- just what have you done?! Did you saw how my in-laws were as shocked as I was? They were not having it and didn't get me started with the nobles who were against this alliance! They will cut my throat!" I shrugged.

"They can try but I will cut them down before they could touch a single strand of your hair. I am your knight- your shield." Adelaide sighed before giving me a small peck on the cheek.

"I know- but your action will surely raise more suspicion. I have enough concerns-" Adelaide stopped midway of hee sentences when the butler came barging into the room. Bolton bow before revealed a truly terrifying news any parents wouldn't want to hear.

"The princess's upper torso was found at the lake by the Greenhouse. Your majesty- the princess is no longer with us." I turned to see Adelaide's reaction but she just laughed it off but her hands were shaking, reaching out to me.

I immediately grabbed a hold of her hand and help her up from her seat.

"Bolton, this is not the time to be joking around." Bolton kept his head low.

"The princess went to the Greenhouse to pick out a bouquet of flowers before she left for the academy. The maids that accompanied her were found dead inside the greenhouse as well. The princess however tried to flee but—," Adelaide let go of my hand and started running towards the greenhouse.

The first thing I saw was a group of knights keeping everyone away from the greenhouse. Adelaide ordered the knights to let her get through and when she did, she dropped to her knees.

"Alex- my sweet Alex— no ...," Adelaide pulled the princess upper torso close to her before letting out a cry that filled the whole greenhouse. The servants, some of the concubines, the knights and the emperor stayed where they were as the empress showed a side she has never shown before.

I looked away when Adelaide wailed in pain as she mourned the loss of her child. The emperor kneels next to the empress before hugging her side.

"My Alex- give me back my Alex! Alex ...,"

My feelings went numb as I saw tears running down Adelaide's cheek. I grabbed my sword handle before making my way to the knights.

"Search the area for the princess's lower torso. Do not stop until you find it." The knights got into groups of two and searched the area for the princess's remaining torso.

I decided to join the search and made my way towards the hill behind the greenhouse.

"Should we be looking for who did this?" Arthur asked as we went through the field of green.

"I have a few suspects in my mind. But for now we should search for the princess. The princess died a cruel death. It's the least we could do to give her a proper funeral as a member of the imperial family." Arthur nodded.

"But who would have the heart to do this to the future heir of the empire?" It's simple really.

"My suspects are the person closest to the imperial family- the former emperor and empress."

A few days later,

It's been a few days since the funeral of the princess. It didn't take long for the knights to find the remaining body of the princess as they searched the area. From the report, the princess was attacked by a talented swordmaster who has years of perfecting its blade work. And the investigator suggested that the person must be a swordmaster who is proficient in using magic.

"How is the empress today?" Bolton and Sarah shake their heads no.

"The empress refuses to eat and only drinks a glass of water. The emperor came this morning and tried to tell her majesty to take care of her health but she refused to listen and just lay on bed while hugging the princess's clothes. Perhaps you could do something, countess. We are worried for her majesty's well being." I nodded.

"I'll see what I can do." I smiled before entering the empress chamber.

"If you're here to tell me to eat, I swear I'll kill myself, Sarah." I cleared my throat and walked towards the curtain before letting the sun shine into the dark room.

"I'm not Sarah." Adelaide immediately got up from her bed and reached out her hand to me. I grabbed her hand before sitting on the bed, just looking at how tired this woman seemed to be.

"You've been crying while I was away?" Adelaide didn't say anything as she laid her head on my thigh and just closed her eyes.

"Losing someone you love and care for dearly must have hurt you a lot but neglecting yourself is not the way to mourn for your lost one. You need to have a proper meal. I'm sure even Alex wouldn't want to see her mother like this." Again, Adelaide didn't say anything.

"I'm tired. I am so tired facing everyone. Just because I am the empress, am I not allowed to mourn for my daughter? Why do I have to put a strong face while I'm dying on the inside? It's not fair that I wasn't given a chance to heal. And why do I have to keep believing that my in-laws aren't involved in my daughter's death?" Huh?

What does Adelaide mean by that?

"I did my own investigation. My in-laws are involved in Alex's death. They tried to blame Moloch since he is a well-known swordmaster who uses magic. But I know for sure Moloch didn't do it because he was with Seraphina the whole time." Adelaide seems a bit calm as she talks about this.

"Did you order someone to take care of the former emperor and empress?"

Adelaide chuckled.

"I did- but they were sent back to their graves just like my daughter. Astoria- they will soon remove me from the throne. Whatever the emperor tried to do to you, you have to face it head on. Can you promise me that you will never leave me?" I nodded.

"Of course." Adelaide smiled.

"But what do you mean by they will soon remove you from the throne?" Adelaide hummed.

"They will get rid of me. I am not relevant to the throne anymore since I refuse to follow their orders. Besides, my in-laws had spread rumors of me selling my soul to Moloch for greater power. The Holy Church will never keep their silence anymore." So is it my fault?

"And don't blame yourself for what happened. I understand the reason why you do what you did. Your only wish is to protect my well being- I understand that." Adelaide suddenly grabbed my chin with a smile.

"I didn't realize I missed you until you walked into my chamber. I can't think straight after losing my daughter. If you didn't order the knights to search the area, my daughter would have to be buried with only half of her body. Thank you for giving her the peace she needs." This woman-

"Why are you talking as if you're going to leave?" Adelaide seems confused.

"What do you mean?"

"You're not going to leave, right?" Adelaide shook her head no.

"No. Oh, are you beginning to fall for my charm, Astoria?" I don't want to admit it in front of her but-

"Yes, I do." Adelaide seems surprised by my sudden confession.

"I can't keep denying the fact that I have fallen for you. So please, whatever things you're planning to do, do not hide it from me. That way if things go wrong, I can think of the countermeasures for you. I am your shield. Remember that."

Adelaide smiled.

"Of course. But sometimes, things may not go how you had planned it out. And when that happens, all we could do is to survive the moment."

I heard commotion just outside the chamber door and I was ready to fight when the emperor walked into the chamber.

"Countess Aspen, I've been looking all over for you. You are given three days to get ready. Your services are needed by the border. It seems there is a hoard of monsters making its way into the empire." Why would the emperor himself come this far just to tell me this?

"Victor, leave. I need some time alone with my lover." The emperor sighed.

"Alex is my daughter too. I am grieving as well. So why can't I be here with you?" I was about to leave when Adelaide grabbed my hand.

"Because the people who ordered for her death is someone close to you. I don't wish to associate myself with someone who doesn't want to bring my daughter's killer to justice. Now, get the hell out, Victor." The emperor sighed.

From the look of things, the emperor knew that his parents were the ones who did it. So why is he-

"That man is a coward. He has no back bone when it comes to his parents. At this point I don't care what happened to the empire-"

Once again, we were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Just get the door off the hinges, will you! My God! What is it!"

This time it's the butler.

"The emperor wishes to see the countess."

Why?