Serene’s POV

"He will be alright. Not going to get executed for trying to protect his Princess." Artins Sensei had joined us, meanwhile, Vilarja was being escorted out by two guards as well as she threw one final menacing look at me.

"We need to discuss a few more urgent matters with your father. Why don’t you wait outside with Lavaria and Shumal Sensei?" Artins Sensei offered and I nodded in approval before making my way out.

Shumal and Lavaria Sensei were waiting for me as they offered me a hug. "Tell us what happened?" They were anxious as I offered them the details. Shumal Sensei gritted her teeth, "Vilarja is such a drama queen and can be so handful at times. I wished she had been more sensible at handling this matter. This will reflect shame for all the vampires. And, she got Grice killed. I can’t believe he is dead."

"Was that his name Sensei? You knew him?" A shiver ran through me as I recalled the last expression on his face before Kilamin killed him.

"Yes, he was from my neighbourhood. He was Queen Vilarja’s special guard. He was quite talented but I guess he underestimated your guard. No wonder your father chose the best to protect you." It was the first time in a long time I was seeing Shumal Sensei so serious. I lowered my head: "I am sorry, Sensei."

"Hey, hey! it’s not your fault. Ok, both of them were merely following orders." Lavaria Sensei patted my head. "I am pretty sure my father would never ask Kilamin to take a life."

"He will when it comes to his daughter’s safety. We are glad you are safe." Lavaria Sensei offered me a small smile. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

I saw Prince Zohun Li and Xin Li leaving so I excused myself and ran toward them. "Xin Li wait," I called and they stopped.

"Thank you, Prince Zohun Li, for your vote. I am much obliged." I didn’t have enough words to thank him.

"Princess Serene, my father has done so many wrongs that it will take up the whole of my life to make them right. I won’t follow in his footsteps and help execute an innocent person. My father did enough of that, including someone’s father who is dear to you." My heart skipped a beat, he was talking about Zeph’s father.

"Zeph spoke to Prince Zohun, although he detests the royal family, I assured him that Prince Zohun is different and will listen to him. He pleaded for your life." Xin Li informed me, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

"He did?"

"Yes, he cares about you we all do." Xin Li gave me a slight smile. "Princess Serene you are lucky to have so many caring people around you. Don’t let today’s events bother you. We believe in you. Hoping we will meet again." Prince Zohun took a slight bow as he got ready to leave.

"Xin Li, can you give a message to Ralph from me?" I whispered in his ear and he nodded before bidding farewell.

.........

We were back in our Realm, father didn’t reveal much about what they discussed afterwards. He just instructed me to remain inside the castle. So, Zian and I were cooped up in my room as I narrated all the details to him. Outside, the night had engulfed our Realm. When Agatha came to inform me that Kilamin was back. I needed to go see him. He had always lived in the castle but he preferred the lower part where the servant quarters were located. Father had invariably insisted for him to take a fancier room but he never agreed.

I had known him for as long as I remembered. He was an orphan, his parents had died in a battle with vampires. Father brought him to the castle and from a very young age, he went through rigorous training to become a soldier Fae. He was always lurking around me, watching me and Zian playing together from the shadows. He would fight anyone who would try to even lay an eye on me but he would never try to become friendly with me. A few years ago he started going on missions and I hardly ever saw him. Then he was raised in rank by my father due to his powerful magic and stone-cold determination. And today he had to kill someone just to protect me.

Zian offered to come with me but I told him I wanted to go alone. I made one quick stop at our infirmary before heading to his room. I knocked slightly. No one answered, so I knocked again. "What do you want?" He asked me from inside.

"It’s me Serene, I want to talk to you." The door instantly slid open. "I apologise, Princess, I didn’t realize it was you." He offered me a weak smile.

"Can I come in?" His face gave an expression of utter disbelief. I had never visited him before.

"Of course," he threw open the door. His room was so small and he had such limited stuff. A single bed propelled against the wall, a tiny wooden cupboard, a chair and a study table made up the entirety of his room. Everything was neatly organized and sparkling clean.

"Please, take a seat," he offered me the only chair in the room, I sat down and looked up at him as he stood in front of me wearing a black flannel shirt and trousers.

"Are you alright? What did they do to you?" I asked without hesitation.

"Nothing, I am absolutely fine."

"Don’t lie to me."

"I am not."

"Turn around and take off your shirt." His eyes widened at my request but he didn’t budge and tried to remain composed. I had asked Lavaria Sensei what will they do to him and he had told me that most probably he will be flogged, that was the most common punishment in Haxum Realm.

"I gave you an order." I wasn’t going to back down. "Princess, please." He pleaded.

"I want to see. I have to see, it’s my fault."

"You don’t have to and it’s not your fault." I knew he would never show me his wounds. I sighed and placed the medicine I had collected from the infirmary on the table.

"At least let me apply this. Will you?"

"No," his reply was fierce. I didn’t understand him. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. I was suffocating.

"Just try in your heart to not hate me as much as you do." He spoke again.

"I don’t hate you but killing him was unnecessary."

"I take no chances when it comes to the safety of my people and I have no regrets. I will do it again a million times if I have to." His words scared me, he had always scared me.

"You are unhinged Kilamin, there are other ways to protect people than simply eliminating the threat."

"There is no better way than destroying the threat once and for all. The sooner you will learn this, the better." It was useless to talk to him, he would never listen to me anyway.

"Thank you for today. I should get going now. Ask someone to apply the medicine to your back. Please." I got up ready to leave.

"Serene, one day you will understand why I always protect you and will keep doing it until I am alive." His eyes were so soft today, there was just care in them. He didn’t call me Princess this time.

"I hope I do, good night Kilamin. Apply the medicine." I instructed one last time before leaving his room.

"Good night," he said softly.