As Alexander stepped back, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of unease. His deep purple eyes, once vibrant, now seemed opaque and lifeless. I extended a trembling hand to touch his reddened cheek, desperately seeking a response. The weight of the heavy silence pressed upon us, and anxiety pulsed through my racing heart.
"Are... Are you okay?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. I lifted his head, urging our eyes to meet. The coldness in his gaze sent a shiver down my spine. "Please, say something," I pleaded, my hand still hovering over his cheek.
"The last thing I need right now is your pity," he whispered, gently removing my hand from his cheek. His words stung, and a sense of helplessness settled over me.
"You're shaking, afraid. I understand," he said.
Alexander stepped back and bowed, addressing me and the gathered crowd. "I'm sorry. I will take my leave," he announced, his head never lifting as he hastily exited the courtyard. The heavy silence lingered, leaving me standing there, my heart echoing the emptiness Alexander had left behind.
Marcus merely smirked, seemingly revelling in the chaos he had caused. "It seems my brother needs to be reminded of his place. This kingdom cannot have a weak ruler."
I shot him a disdainful look, my frustration with the Crown Prince boiling over. "You're a disgrace to the royal family," I declared, unable to hold back my anger.
My father's eyes flickered between Marcus and me, recognizing the escalating tension. "Let us continue with the festivities. Lady Sophia, would you care to join us?"
“No,” I replied, chasing after Alexander.
My hurried footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridors of the palace as I searched for Prince Alexander. The events in the courtyard replayed in my mind like a haunting melody. The flames, the abuse, and the profound sense of power emanating from Alexander – it all left me with questions that begged for answers.
The palace, usually a place of grandeur and luxury, now seemed like a labyrinth, each corridor leading to a new mystery. I pondered the implications of what I had witnessed.
As I turned another corner, the gravity of the situation sank in. The abuse Alexander endured was not a new revelation; it was a well-guarded secret. The royal family, led by Queen Julia and Crown Prince Marcus, would undoubtedly work to conceal the incident. Their image and grip on power were too precious to be tarnished by the mistreatment of the youngest prince.
My thoughts kept returning to the look in Alexander's eyes. His pale purple gaze held a mixture of pain, defiance, and something else – a spark hinting at his unleashed potential. It reminded me of the past, the flames that engulfed the imperial palace, and the encounter with the goddess Selene, cautioning me of what was to come.
The memory was etched in my mind, a fleeting glimpse into a past unfolding before me. The significance of that moment remained elusive, yet the intensity of those eyes lingered as I pressed forward in my quest for the troubled prince.
"Where is he?" I pondered, assessing the scale of the search I had embarked upon. "I visited the Imperial Garden. He's not in the study, nor is he in this room." After an hour of searching, I found myself in the depths of the palace's basement.
It was then that I noticed a figure approaching a massive wooden door. "You there! I have something to ask of you," I called out, urging them to halt. The person immediately turned toward me, and I recognized the figure.
"Sir Gregory," I exclaimed, reaching him.
"My lady," he replied, bowing courteously. "What can I help you with?"
"Where is Prince Alexander?"
The older adult gave me a long, scrutinizing stare. "He instructed me not to disclose his whereabouts."
“Why?”
“He seemed deeply distressed; I assume he did something to harm you.”
“He didn’t,” I asserted firmly. “He... misunderstood, so I’m desperately trying to find him.”
“There is something different about you,” Sir Gregory observed. “I admire your determination!” he exclaimed, bursting into hearty laughter. “The young Prince is fortunate to have you as a friend.” He stepped aside, gesturing for me to follow, and I did so willingly.
“Where are we going?” I inquired, looking up at him.
“To the armoury,” he replied. “That's where the boy is. Please exercise caution around the Prince; the darkness in his eyes weighs heavily. He marched in there and unleashed wave after wave of anger and flame.”
As we approached the armoury, the warmth in the hall intensified.
"Do you feel that?" Sir Gregory asked, smiling warmly at me. "Do not be afraid, young lady. If anyone can calm him down, it'll be you," he reassured.
I mustered a nervous smile, though truthfully, fear gripped me. The hall's warmth enveloped me, and it felt like the air was constricting around me. With each step, the heat intensified, like being cooked alive by the sun.
"Perhaps we should let him cool down a bit. The heat has grown more intense over the past hour he's been down here," Sir Gregory suggested, coming to a halt. "It's not safe right now, Lady Sophia."
"Please, Sir Gregory, I need your strength."
The man chuckled again. "Your determination, your resoluteness, reminds me of your mother." He placed his hand on the door. "Do not show fear when I open this door. I'll do my best to counter the Prince's flames with my mana."
I nodded. "Okay," I replied.
Sir Gregory gripped the door handles and pulled them open. A burst of fire and flame erupted, reaching the hall's ceiling, akin to staring at the gates of hell. I stood there, trembling with fear. "How am I going to defeat this?" I wondered, tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Lady Sophia!" Gregory yelled, "Now is the time!" He extended his hand toward the flames, countering with a jet of water from his palm, meeting Prince Alexander's rage head-on. Amidst the fire, I saw one figure, eyes burning with rage, staring back at us.
With Sir Gregory's urgent encouragement still echoing in my ears, I summoned my courage and stepped into the fiery domain of the armoury. "Now is your chance!" he had urged, a smile on his lips. "Don't take your time, though; the Prince is stronger than people realize."
As I crossed the threshold, the intense heat hit me like a wall, and there he was – Prince Alexander, standing at the room's center. A whirlwind of flames enveloped him, dancing in harmony with his every movement. His eyes, typically a deep purple, now glowed unsettlingly. The palpable aura of power emanating from him sent shivers down my spine.
"Alexander!" I called out, my voice cutting through the noise of the flames. The prince turned to face me, his expression a mix of surprise and irritation.
"Why are you here?" he snapped, his eyes narrowing.
"I came to find you," I replied, cautiously stepping closer. "Are you okay?"
He scoffed, the flames flickering with his agitation. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with."
"But I do concern myself with it," I insisted. "I care about you, and I want to understand."
Alexander glared at me, the flames intensifying for a moment. "You’re afraid of me. I can feel you trembling where you stand. I can hear the hesitation in your voice."
Sir Gregory, standing nearby, observed the exchange with a watchful eye. His presence added a layer of tension to the room, but I pressed on, undeterred by the turmoil around us.
"It’s okay; you didn’t hurt me, see? I’m fine," I pleaded.
He hesitated the fire in his eyes flickering as if in a silent struggle. Finally, he lowered his gaze and sighed. The flames subsided, leaving a weary young man in their wake.
"I don't want to hurt you," he whispered.
"You’ll only end up hurting yourself. See?" I urged, reaching out to him. I touched his cheek, feeling the burn marks that scarred his skin.
In that charged moment, as my fingertips grazed the surface of Alexander's hand, an unexpected surge of energy coursed through me, a harmonious dance with the tumultuous mana enveloping him. Startled, the Prince hastily recoiled, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Gregory," he commanded with a determined tone, "Please escort Lady Sophia back before His Majesty and the Duke initiate a search party for her."
"Let them come find me then," I insisted, my gaze unwavering. "Sir Gregory, may I have a moment alone with Alex, please?"
"As you wish, my lady," he acknowledged before exiting the room.
Now facing the Prince again, I could discern the pain etched in his eyes as he silently regarded me. "I don't fear you," I whispered, my voice carrying unwavering determination. "I never have, never will." I reached for his cheek again, only to see him pull back slightly. “Please,” I asked. “Let me heal you."
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