Read Emotional Rain :: Conqured

After the meeting had concluded, I was immediately called back to the palace. The maid who had imformed me claimed that my parents were ill. Instead of waiting for my ride to be prepared, I grabbed Akihiko's hand and teleported myself to the throne room - the crown did not only give me pretty pair of wings, it also gave me more advanced powers which no one can unlock.

Upon arriving, I saw my parents on their knees, which surprised me because my parents were the strongest in the whole planet. "So? How did you like my little surprise?" Tiana laughed, emerging from behind my parents. "They are too trusting so, I gave them a little gift." She showed me one of her talisman paper. When I read the words, I realised that it was one of the forbidden spells, which makes the other person's body - or bodies - more to their own will.

"Now as for you." Tiana came slightly closer, but did not bother much, making Akihiko stand in front of me, ears pulled back. "You already know about this talisman, and I am glad that you used the teleportation spell, because by the time you'd have arrived, your parents arould have been dead. And don't try using your magic on me, I can use this on you as well." I was out of options, I knew that Tiana wanted the crown. If I fight, she'll use her talisman on me, take the crown, and make us die in the dungeons. Or I surrender the crown and save my parents. Tiana was prepared, her talisman raised to shoot at me and Akihiko.

"You win." I sighed as I lifted the crown from my head.

"Wait." Akihiko interrupted. "You will give us around two hours to pack up and leave. And allow Manami to bid her brother farewell." I glanced at Akihiko, shocked that my brother is staying back in the palace and not joining us, but Akihiko remained silent to my question.

"I don't care about any of those things. Just give me the crown and remove these worthless people from here." I nodded, handing her the crown and helped my weakened parents up as my brother approched from the window to help me. A few more minutes of that talisman on them and they would have died.

***

"I seriously cannot believe that you support Tiana and my baby brother. You know her better than anyone, I cannot let someone like her in the family." After laying my parents on my bed, I turned around to scold Akihiko. "I thought that you were my bodyguard," I felt a lump in my throat. "B-But you betrayed me."

"I did not betray anyone. I need you to pack up your things, take the most important ones. In the meantime, Fiammetta," he nodded at my brother, "come with me."

I stared at the closed door before sighing and taking out the luggage to pack my things. 'How can we just abondon this place - my home - and go somewhere else? Leave the entire planet at the mercy of someone like her?' I wanted to fight back, for my people at least, but I was helpless. My parents were lying in my bed, weakened, while I was packing my things. Akihiko had easily acknowledged her as their new ruler, and I trusted that he already has a new plan, despite which I was unable to relax and wanted to act now.

After a while, Akihiko walked in with some luggages. Keeping them in a corner next to mine, he walked over and kissed my forehead. "Be strong." He whispered, looking deeply into my eyes. I looked away, but nodded.

"Now what?" I stared at my parents.

"Now, we wait for your brother, then we'll take off." He checked off the items packed.

"To go where? I don't think we have anywhere to go now." I pulled up my knees and hugged them. "I am sure that everyone must have found out by now on how I surrendered my crown without a fight. I shouldn't be their princess."

Akihiko sat on the floor beside me. He coaxed me to lay my head on his laps as he started to stroke my hair. "Different people face different obstacles. Yours is facing her. Your mother, on the other hand, faced different issues."

"How did you know?" I turned around slightly to look at him.

Akihiko smiled. "My mother was a nine-tailed fox. She was your mother's personal bodyguard. She used to tell me the stories about her life as a bodyguard, which made me become a bodyguard too." He pecked my lips. "Take a rest for now, we still have around 1 hour and 45 minutes more before we depart."

I frowned. "Why did you ask for 2 hours if our packing was done within 15 minutes." Akihiko simply smiled at me and kissed the tip of my nose.

"Rest, for now." I pouted at him as I turned on my side, trying to imagine what Akihiko was like as a little kid. Was he obedient, or was he the most mischievous child in town? As I tried to imagine, Akihiko's gentle stroke in my hair lulled me to a small nap.