Screams painted the church walls along with spilled blood as the invaders crashed in, decapitating heads as they pleased and slashing everyone on sight they deemed as an obstacle. Smoke crawled into space, filling up the room and suffocating those who were already dying. A fire has broken out from the roof, and missed arrows are littered on the ground with burnout heads that smell like gunpowder. Dodging the ones with fire, Prince Akemi led his sister out of the church along with the other nobles. The knights guarding the ceremony were immediately fending off the relentless criminals risking their lives just for the two to leave as unscathed as possible.

“Hanako… are you all right?” Prince Akemi questioned, pulling his fallen sister up from the ground, who tripped while rushing to his side. Underneath his hold, she was trembling with fright. Emerald eyes filled with nothing but fear and shock.

“I’m fine, B-brother…” she coughed, holding on to his arm. “But we must get out. It seems like the church is about to collapse any second!”

Bloodstains and soot covered his suit, the prince never imagined this was how this day was going to go from bad to worse as he led his sister outside. Not only was the ceremony canceled, but the king-to-be who also happened to be his groom was lying under rubble as the church’s roof collapsed. But deep down, he was slightly thankful the marriage was put to a halt until the court could find someone to replace the dead duke. Thoughts on making it back to the palace alive, Prince Akemi panted as he climbed the horse provided to him.

“Your Highness, we need to get back as soon as possible. I heard the palace is under attack, but it is still the safest place. We’ll somehow barge through.” The knight patted the horse’s rear, opting for the animal to gallop off with the rest. Princess Hanako followed suit, the two guarded heavily as they rode with the knights back to the castle. What greeted them was numerous guards attacking the opposing men, the screams and war cries filled the air. Just one glance at the path back to the palace made Prince Akemi uneasy. Not only was it treacherous, but his sister was also with him. If any harm was to come down upon her…

“Whoever did this would pay…” he seethed, tightening his hold on the reigns. “I applaud them for having the nerve to attack the palace, but they would pay dearly.” Thoughts heading to their opponents across the sea, Prince Akemi deemed it too impossible for them to reach Soleil in just a day. From where they are, it would take a week to get here. Unless they had planted moles and rebels in the city before then, this would not have happened.

“Your Highness, we’ll make a path. Don’t give us any heed and go full speed, don’t look back!”

Sacrificing their lives and holding back the pain, the knights barged through the crowd, attacking them with everything they had. Yelling at the horse to speed up, Prince Akemi silently prayed as they passed the path made possible by the brave knights and into the awaiting palace gates. “It is I! Prince Akemi! Open the gates!”

The iron gates then opened, the heavy clanking of metal grinding together as it was lifted. In a matter of seconds, the two siblings were now safely inside the castle. What awaited them inside was utter chaos. The nobles who managed to escape the burning church were now inside, crying or demanding who could have murdered their future king. As soon as the prince entered, eyes were immediately on his and they flocked around like moths to a flame.

“Prince Akemi! Thank goodness you’re all right. The whole ordeal must be very traumatic… Someone, someone please tend to the prince and princess!”

“Prince Akemi, what are we going to do? Half of the court is killed in the church by the invaders! What do you think we should do?”

“Where in the world did they come from? If they were from the bastard’s kingdom, it would take days for them to get here! And that’s not all! They have to stop our army.”

Amidst all the questions thrown at him, Prince Akemi sat down and stared into space. Blaming himself for asking the goddess a way out of the marriage, Prince Akemi asked himself in the depths of his troubled mind.

Is this my fault? If I didn’t ask for my fate to change, would this pandemonium never occur? Would the lives lost today be brought back? Goddess Amaterasu, I didn’t ask for this!

“Brother, are you all right? You look pale as ice!” Princess Hanako took the wet rag soaked in warm water, wiping the blood splatters from her brother’s handsome face. “Are you hurt?”

Not wanting to cause more trouble, the prince took the cloth and smiled. “Yes, I am fine. You should tend to yourself, Hanako. You have soot all over your face.” Rubbing the black powder off his sister’s delicate face, he couldn’t help but curse at himself for letting her witness all the bloodshed. Her screams of terror did not go unnoticed by him.

“I’m all right, Brother. It is you I’m worried about…”

Yet she is still acting strong despite what happened.

“I’m fine. Really.” Prince Akemi patted her shoulder, shaking the dirt off her ivory dress. “No need to worry about me.”

A round of screams was heard again, this time closer. Acting swiftly, the prince grabbed her hand and pulled her with him. Down the hallways that were filled with servants bustling about to care for the wounded, Prince Akemi knew where this was all going. If the enemy is trying to get in, that means that their goal is to take over and kill as many nobles as they can to gain power. As much as he didn’t want to separate from his sister, Princess Hanako should live and he should fight to the very end.

“Brother, where are we going?”

“I’m letting you leave while you still can.” Catching a glimpse of the familiar blond beta running aimlessly, he yelled. “Kei! Over here!” Upon hearing his name, the marquess ran up to them. Even he was covered in filth and dried blood.

“Thank goodness you’re both all right! I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it out alive.” Shifting his gaze between the two, he asked. “If you’re looking for medical attention, most of the nurses are in the dining hall.”

“No, we’re not seeking any doctor.” Placing a hand on the beta’s shoulder, Prince Akemi squeezed it hard “Kei, could you accompany Hanako to the private port?”

Marquess Kei blinked. “What? To the private port? Why should we go there?”

Prince Akemi clicked his tongue. “It’s no use for her to stay here and see all this monstrosity. Whatever happens, she could always come back here and take the throne. Please, Kei… please say you will.”

“And what about you? Are you coming?”

Hearing screams near the palace entrance followed by an explosion, the three walked further away in the direction of the stables led by the prince. Dark smoke could be visible in the sky, the castle has now caught on fire. Turning down the hallway, he was stopped dead in his tracks when Princess Hanako refused to budge. “Hanako, please don’t be difficult. I don’t want you to get involved—”

“Brother! Why didn’t you answer? Don’t tell me you’re staying behind!” Princess Hanako sobbed, yanking her hand off her brother’s grip. “You’re not thinking of fighting, are you? We should just leave it up to the knights! Let’s go—”

“Listen to yourself, Hanako.” Prince Akemi spoke in a low tone, void of emotion other than solemnity. “You’re the princess of Soleil. We must protect this kingdom and we shall do it until we die. But you’re too young and I want to be useful.” Pulling her hard, he blocked out her round of protests as he dragged her out to the stables. “So just listen to me and go with Kei. Don’t worry about me, I can take care of things here.”

“Brother! No! I don’t want this, not like this! Please, if you’re staying, then I’m staying as well!”

“Hanako…” Marquess Kei sighed. “Your brother wants to stay because he needs to. Who will run the kingdom while you’re both gone? Right now, your brother still has his duties to fulfill—”

“No! I don’t want to go!”

A blunt object suddenly hit the marquess’s head from behind, the impact made the beta choke out a groan in pain before falling to the floor. The two turned in shock, wondering who was responsible for knocking out their friend. A tall alpha woman holding a long sword was what their eyes saw, appearing out of nowhere with her icy blonde hair flowing down her shoulder. She was tall, taller than the prince who took a step back at how intimidating she was. Her cold calculating green eyes glanced between the two before lifting her sword, plunging it to the groaning beta on the ground. Earning a scream from the princess and a hostile glare from the prince, the alpha tilted her head to the side, as if interested.

“You…” she pointed to Prince Akemi, her soft voice contrasting her brutal actions. “You’re Prince Akemi. An omega. And you…” Turning her finger at Princess Hanako, she continued. “You’re Princess Hanako… Mhm, you haven’t presented yet, I see.” Much to Prince Akemi’s surprise, she let her sword go and reached her hand out. “If you want to live, come with me.”

“As if I’d do that! Who would listen to the words of a murderer?” He didn’t know he was shaking, the shock from seeing his childhood friend easily stabbed not leaving his mind soon. “Are you with the intruders? Where did you come from? Who are you?”

“Too many questions, I can’t answer them all.” She took a step forward, prompting them to take another step back. “But I can help you, he can help you. Come with us.”

“Hanako,” Prince Akemi whispered to his sister who was trembling in his arms. “Run when I tell you to. Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you, okay? Just grab a horse and go to the private port. If I’m not there, go on without me. Hanako, are you listening?”

“Brother—”

“Just do what I say!” He urged, eyeing the sword. “In the count of three, you run. One, two…” Pushing the young girl in the opposite direction, Prince Akemi dashed forward in hopes of taking the weapon. The sound of her footsteps fainting as she went. In one split second, he had the sword in his hand and slashed it upward, hitting the alpha woman. The next moment, he was forced down to eat the dirt. Her foot was against his back.

“Pity…” The alpha sighed, burying her foot at the back of the groaning prince. His twitching eyes met the blank empty ones of Marquess Kei. “Your efforts in letting her run away would go to waste.” With a resounding whack, Prince Akemi greeted the spinning world before blacking out.