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Chapter 112: Stripping The Crown

Phantasia: The Princess Knight

King Augustus was not stupid, he clearly saw the malice that flashed in his son's eyes. He took a step off the stage and disappeared, reappearing in front of Crown Prince Adrian. King Augustus looked at his son who seemed to know he was caught. He let out a sigh and said: "Adrian… You have disappointed me… You will stay here, we will have a talk after I get the next test started."

Alicia who was standing behind Blake was extremely confused as to what was going on. She, herself had no idea that Crown Prince Adrian actually wanted to harm her. Blake turned his head to look at the confused Alicia, grabbed her little hand, and pulled her over to where Princess Catherine was standing.

A few minutes later the test of strength began. One after the other the squire hopefuls all entered to take their next challenge. After the last person entered the Illusion World, King Augustus waved his hand and created a barrier around him and Crown Prince Adrian. This barrier blocked both sound and sight. So those on the outside could not hear or see what was going on inside the barrier.

"Give me a good explanation on why you just tried to harm Alicia!" King Augustus's eyes were filled with anger.

"Royal Father! You are going to reprimand me for some girl who came out of nowhere!?" Crown Prince Adrian's calm facade dropped as he shouted his question.

"A girl who came out of nowhere? She is your sister! Whether you like it or not, she is now my daughter and your sister! Even knowing this you still had thoughts of trying to harm her and even acted on it! Not only in the presence of others but also in front of me! Do you think I am stupid? Do you think everyone here is stupid? Did you feel threatened? Are you feeling threatened by a girl who is just over ten years old!? You are twenty three years old Adrian! Twenty three years old and you acted against a damn ten year old! You are the Crown Prince of my Alastine Kingdom! But today, you looked no different than a damn bandit! What the hell is the matter with you!? Let me tell you this… You are lucky that you did not do what you had in mind today. Otherwise, you would not have been able to live to see the sun rise tomorrow!" King Augustus was so mad as he yelled his whole face was red and veins were popping out of his forehead.

"I wouldn't see the sun rise? Royal Father, are you threatening to kill me if I harmed some little bitch? I'd like to see you tr..."

*Pa!*

A loud crisp clear sound of skin hitting skin could be heard echoing throughout the Barrier. "Call her a bitch one more time and I will pull your tongue right out of your head! That little girl has done nothing to wrong you. She is a fair and upright little girl. She strives for nothing more than to be a knight. Her ideals and path in life have nothing to do with the crown. She didn't even know I had adopted her until just recently and here you are slandering her and calling her names while having thoughts of getting rid of her. Is this the son I raised? What the hell happened to you? If this is the kind of person you want to be then fine. But I will never hand over the rule of my kingdom to someone who acts like a lowlife. As of this day you are no longer the Crown Prince of my kingdom. You will need to spend time under confinement to think about what you actually tried to do here today. Don't even think of trying to escape. You will be under heavy guard. Also… It would not be me that you would need to have to deal with if you harmed Alicia… You have been warned."

Crown Prince Adrian… Now Prince Adrian stood rooted to the ground, his mouth open. He had still yet to recover from his shock of being slapped and then he was slammed with more shocking news one after the other. He really had no retort this time. But he also did not understand what King Augustus meant with those last two sentences. While Prince Adrian was in his daze King Augustus waved his hand dispersing the barrier before motioning to a group of guards to come over. After giving some instructions the guards seized Prince Adrian and left the training field.

Prince Philip, who was still standing there, was confused as to what was going on. He had never seen his father this mad before. And from the looks of it, it seemed that his brother had done something seriously wrong! Prince Philip nervously called out "Umm... Royal Father..."

King Augustus heard his name being called and turned around. "What is it, Philip?"

"Royal Father can… can I take the test too?" Prince Philip asked.

"Of course, you can! Go over to the Illusion World and one of the mages will let you enter." King Augustus smiled.

Prince Philip's mood perked right up as he happily said: "Thank you Royal Father!" Any thoughts about what had just happened to his brother flew out the window.

----

Turning back time a little bit, Alicia entered the Illusion World once again. She was still in the process of trying to figure out what had just happened. All of a sudden, Blake and her father were standing in front of her. Alicia did not have much time to continue thinking when she felt an intense blood lust and killing intent, smash down on to her. Reflexively she swung her hand up to block the incoming attack.

*Clang!*

The sound of metal against metal was heard as sparks flew out. "You damn Dorians! You all shall die! Hahaha!"

Chapter 113: Test Of Strength Part One

Phantasia: The Princess Knight

[Please check out my other two novels, Magical Love: Learn To Love In Another World and Ito Ai: A New Dawn]

The smell of iron filled the air, the ground damp in a red fluid. Clashes of metal against metal could be heard all around. This would also be followed by many cries of war. Alicia found herself in the midst of a battlefield. She had just passed through into the Illusion World when she was suddenly attacked. Alicia was currently cursing her demonic father left and right as she parried and blocked the attacks of her assailant. She had to quickly get used to the body she was in. Otherwise, she could easily end up dead and fail her test. Luckily the body she was in was similar to the one she had in the last test.

After a few minutes, she got used to her new body and quickly started her counter attack going from defense to offense. She parried the incoming attack and sidestepped the large man in heavy armor. She struck out with her sword, stabbing the man in his armpit where there was no armor. The sword penetrated through the man's body before exiting out through his neck. Alicia quickly pulled her sword out and looked around her.

Her breathing was heavy. Her chest heaved up and down as she looked at the blood soaked battlefield. All she could see were thousands of men and women fighting to the death. Alicia knew right away that she was dropped right in the middle of a war between two nations, countries, or kingdoms. She did not know which. She did not have much time to think before someone else attacked her from the back.

Alicia now finally understood what war was like as she continued to cut down anyone that attacked her. Her entire body was now drenched in her opponent's blood. Many wounds were on her body from being slashed by swords. Screams of those dying and those who were not dead but left for dead cried out all around. 'War is truly a terrifying thing...' Alicia thought, looking at the horrific scenes in front of her. People who wore the same uniform as her were being beheaded right in front of her eyes. She did her best to keep her stomaching from coming up after witnessing such scenes. Although she has seen them before and even cut a few heads off herself. It still was not a pleasant thing to look at.

Alicia continued to battle and only attacked those who attacked her. But the fighting was non stop because once she finished one enemy off another would come. Sometimes two would come. But Alicia knew if she fell here her dream of becoming a knight would end and she would not have another chance to take the squire's test for another year. This was something she could not accept!

One thing Alicia did notice was that she could not use magic this time. She could only use her sword skills and hope that she was faster and better than whoever attacked her. The only lucky thing was that her body was fast and agile which made things a bit easier for her when on defense and when attacking.

The sun on the horizon started to set and bugles on both sides sounded off calling for a retreat for the night. Alicia stabbed her sword out at the man in front of her, reaping his life before turning and following those who seemed to be on her side. She only knew that they were because they all wore the same uniform as her.

By the time they made it back to their base camp, night had already fallen. Alicia finally got a chance to take a break. At first, she was a bit confused as to which tent was hers. But luckily one of the girls seemed to know who she was and came running over to her.

"Dianna! Thank god you survived!" A young woman around seventeen came running over and embraced Alicia. "Thank god! If I was to lose you what would I tell father!"

Alicia was startled by the hug but after hearing the girl's words she understood that this girl must be her sister. "I am fine other than a few wounds and being covered in blood I am okay."

"If it wasn't for the damn empire wanting to annex our great Dorian Kingdom. We sisters would not need to suffer in this way! Especially you, Dianna, you're only fourteen yet you are forced to fight in a war such as this. As your big sister, I, Edith Dorian will do whatever I can to make sure you can return home." Edith said as she squeezed Alicia.

Alicia smiled warmly at the girl embracing her and hugged her back. Alicia now understood the situation. The Empire had invaded and now she as Dianna Dorian had to prove that she had the strength to survive the situation. Even knowing this did not make Alicia happy since she still had to fight in a war that really had nothing to do with her. This was literally a test where her life was going to be hanging on by a thread.

"Sister Edith, do not worry I will do my best to stay alive. I will not allow myself to die before I see an end to this war. But you also have to make the same promise. Us sisters both have to survive." Alicia said seriously.

"Then it's a promise! Us sisters will come out of this alive!" Edith happily yelled out. "Come let's go get washed up. We can't be standing around drenched in blood all day!"