Prince Fyodor

Liam paced back and forth, clenching his teeth as he listened to their explanations.

"You don't really know who they are?" Ludwig's voice was thick with concern, causing the little girl, no more than five years old, to cry even more.

Louise sighed softly behind Ludwig and stepped forward towards the children, offering them a comforting smile. "It's okay," she reassured them gently. "We won't hurt you." With a tender touch, she wiped away the tears from the girl's cheeks as she clung to her brother, who held her tightly.

"We just want to know where our friend is, that's all," Louise added, her expression filled with sadness mirroring the children's faces. Ludwig took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm himself as he lowered his gaze.

"I'm sorry if I frightened you," Ludwig spoke in a gentler tone now. "That's just how I speak. But I'm not angry."

The boy's knees were trembling, but he tried to appear strong for his little sister. "We really didn't see their faces because they were wearing hoods," he explained matter-of-factly. "They took my sister, and they said that if I didn't follow their orders, they would..." His embrace around his sister tightened. "They would kill her. That's why I placed the bomb in your friend's room. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please forgive us."

Liam stifled a surge of emotion as he met the children's eyes, forcefully pushing back a memory that threatened to resurface. He couldn't afford to lose control now, not when everything was still in chaos.

Beside him, Hiyasmin shook her head sadly. The boy was barely fourteen, and they had no parents, wandering alone in the forest of the Water Fae Kingdom, making them vulnerable to manipulation by enemies.

"What I do know," the boy spoke with a clearer voice now, "is that among the five bombs I was carrying, one of them contains a teleportation spell. If it succeeds, your friend will be transported somewhere else... to the Forgotten Fjords."

After concluding their conversation with the children, Liam entrusted them to Commander Leonel to accompany them to the orphanage. There, they would receive ample food and comfortable shelter.

Liam was inside Ludwig's study room when the door suddenly opened, revealing the Ministers along with Ludwig, Leonel, and Hiyasmin. However, his expression darkened upon seeing King Daemond among them. He wasn't sure of his reasons for being here at all.

"Prince Liam..." Minister Quagmane's voice broke through the room, eliciting a growl of fury from Liam. His hesitation was palpable as he continued, "Liam, it's been two weeks since King Philippe passed away. The Water Fae Kingdom is suffering greatly. If this continues, and no one is willing to take up the duty of the Ones, their kingdom will fall into ruin. They need a new ruler, now..."

The death of King Philippe had left a void in the leadership of the Water Fae Kingdom. With Princess Amethyst and her mother also deceased, and all of the former king's brothers long gone, the position of ruler was left vacant.

Liam cleared his throat, his tone firm and straightforward. "You already know my answer," he replied. "I am not a member of the Water Fae Kingdom, so why would the throne be offered to me? Besides, I don't belong there..." He looked away, the weight of responsibility and expectation heavy in the air.

Minister Wilhelm added, "We've been searching for days, but there are no more Water Fae with Royal Blood who could possess the Pearl Scepter. There's no one else to choose from, Liam. Whether you like it or not, you are the last Blue Blood of the Water Faes."

"What about King Philippe's brother, King Fyodor's child?" Liam asked, struggling to catch his breath and steady himself. He didn't want to become a king, let alone the King of the Water Fae Kingdom. He couldn't fathom why they were insistent on this.

"She's been missing for years, ever since her mother disappeared. We're not even sure if she's still alive," Minister Quagmane remarked.

Liam folded his arms, frustration evident in his voice. "Yes, I understand the stakes. The Ones must be possessed by someone of Royal Blood, but why does the successor have to be from the Water Fae?"

"It's much better for the Water Fae to rule. If someone else were to do so, the citizens of the Water Fae Kingdom might perceive it as conquest. This could lead to more wars, more casualties, more deaths," Minister Wilhelm explained.

Liam let out a sigh and turned to face them all. "I'm not sure if any of you are considering the full picture. Do you not realize that I am a Dirty Blood? Furthermore, it's widely known that I was raised here in the Fire Fae Kingdom, despite having mastered the water element more than fire. I have Fire Fae blood running through my veins as well. I don't belong there. They might perceive me as a conqueror. I am not a tyrant. I don't even see myself as a prince. So why should I become a King?"

King Daemond, after a brief moment of silence, spoke with solemnity. "Time is against us. If we don't act swiftly, Etherealis will crumble. The Aureate Flame has returned, but the Water and Wind Fae Kingdoms have lost their holders. If this continues, Etherealis will be vulnerable. If our enemies attack during this time of weakness, our defeat is almost certain." He paused, then continued, "I have already dispatched my men to search for Prince Fyodor's child…"

Liam interjected, "Then what's the use of—"

"As King Daemond has pointed out," Minister Quagmane interjected, "time is not on our side. Our home could be invaded at any moment. I understand that you don't desire to be King, and the citizens of the Water Fae Kingdom likely feel the same, but we have no other choice, no alternative but this. Someone must, even if temporarily, possess the Pearl Scepter. Once we locate Prince Fyodor's child, you can abdicate the throne immediately, and you'll be relieved of all responsibilities."

Ludwig, Hiyasmin, and Leonel sat in silence, their postures upright, gazes lowered, lost in thought. They knew Liam was furious. With a resigned sigh, he rose from his seat, the chair screeching against the floor. They made valid points, no doubt, but Liam couldn't care less. Becoming a King was never in his plans.

"Could you please give us a moment alone?" Hiyasmin's gentle voice filled the meeting chamber. Thankfully, the Ministers left without protest. Soon, only the four of them remained, and Liam couldn't resist punching the nearby wall. The ground trembled upon impact, but his companions didn't attempt to intervene.

"Brother," Hiyasmin began with a worried expression. Liam narrowed his eyes, already anticipating what she would say next. "I know you detest the idea, but perhaps accepting the suggestion is for the best, at least for

 the Kingdom's sake."

"Hiyasmin..." Liam growled in warning, but she continued before he could speak.

"We're facing numerous challenges, and we need more troops and greater authority that being a King would provide," she explained, stepping closer, with Ludwig following suit, while Leonel remained leaning against the wall.

Ludwig spoke in a hushed tone, "We've discovered that the Aetherius are targeting Louise and her abilities." Liam's eyes widened at the revelation. "She's an Abyssal Wayfarer and can create portals to the human world. She suspects that she accidentally transported Rivalz to another location while trying to save him from the Ravager."

Liam cleared his throat, and Leonel's expression shifted with hope. "Rivalz is still alive?" he asked eagerly, his eyes filled with desperate anticipation.

Glancing at Ludwig for confirmation, Liam saw him nod before he spoke again. "We're not certain. According to Louise, he was severely injured by the time he was transported elsewhere. She believes Rivalz ended up lost in the Primotheus Capital, as it was the first place she thought of when her powers manifested."

A heavy silence fell over them all. At the Auction!

"But how do we locate him when the venue changes every daybreak? We have limited contacts in Primotheus," Hiyasmin lamented in frustration.

"What matters most is that he's alive," Leonel whispered, his voice filled with conviction. "Rivalz is alive, I'm certain of it."

Tears glistened in Leonel's dark eyes as he quickly looked away, concealing his emotions before any of them could see.

Rivalz was like family to them, so naturally, they were eager for his swift return. However, since Louise was still in training and struggling to master and control her powers, all they could do was wait.

Ludwig clenched his fists and growled. "Leonel is right. Rivalz is resilient. I have no doubt he'll survive. We'll ensure his safety once we deal with this looming threat. After all, the Aetherius are after my wife."

"And if Louise is in danger, we won't be able to save Rivalz," Leonel whispered with concern.

Liam could see the desperation in Leonel's eyes, wanting assurance that Rivalz was indeed alive and well, safe wherever he was. Liam too had questions, but sensing Ludwig's intense emotions and the looming tension, he remained silent. His worry for Louise, his Fate, his beloved, was palpable.

Ludwig spoke in a more composed tone. "No one else knows that she's an Abyssal Wayfarer except for us and Amelia's ally. Those who were aware of her abilities have been dealt with. We eliminated all of them, except one. A Ravager."

"A Ravager?" Liam's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"According to Louise, there were two Ravagers with Amelia when she was captured and imprisoned. However, we only managed to eliminate one. This suggests..." Ludwig trailed off, the implications sinking in.

"Damn it," Leonel muttered under his breath. "If that Ravager escaped, there's a high chance he passed on crucial information to his allies, confirming Louise as an Abyssal Wayfarer."

"And once the Aetherius learn about Louise and her abilities," Hiyasmin interjected sternly, "it will likely lead to another war. We cannot afford that, not at this moment. So, Liam, we urge you to accept the crown. Amelia was positioned at the border during our attack. The Ravagers couldn't use Flash, and we detected no Teleportation Spells. This indicates he escaped through Primotheus Capital."

"That would explain it," Leonel remarked as he approached them. "His presence in Primotheus wouldn't raise suspicion."

Hiyasmin turned to Liam. "As King, locating the Ravager would be much simpler. You've been to Primotheus Capital, and being a Dirty Blood, the residents wouldn't question your presence. Additionally, as King, Lord Supremo would not dare obstruct your efforts. We must eliminate the Ravager before he divulges information about Louise."

Liam rubbed his temples, closing his eyes in frustration. Reluctantly, he had to admit that Hiyasmin made a valid point.

"But how can we be certain he hasn't already passed on the information?" Liam pressed, seeking assurance.

Ludwig's expression turned serious. "The Aetherius are currently in hiding, so they're moving cautiously. While the Ravager's injured, he's also isolated, unable to send messages to his allies via birds or magic, unless he has an allied Witch. They're adamant about keeping their hideout location secret."

He sighed, gazing into the distance as if contemplating the situation.

Hiyasmin presence became more pronounced. "That's why we need to act swiftly while he's vulnerable," she urged. "Also, since Louise requires protection, we can't afford to reduce and divide our knights. However, once you assume the throne, brother, I can mobilize and rally your knights to aid me in finding Alexa at the Forgotten Fjords." Her voice resonated with excitement.

Ludwig interjected with frustration, "You won't dare." His impatience was palpable, and at any moment, he seemed capable of reducing Lancaster Castle to ashes in his rage.

"What's your issue, Ludwig?" Hiyasmin's tone sharpened, her eyebrow raising in challenge. Before either Ludwig or Liam could respond, Hiyasmin suddenly exclaimed, "Ludwig, you can't leave your wife's side now that she's a potential target for the Aetherius. Liam needs to go to the Water Fae Kingdom to ensure its stability, and while he's there, we need Leonel to remain at Primotheus Capital to confirm the Ravager's presence."

Hiyasmin smirked confidently. "So, who else will search for Alexa? If either of you thinks I'll leave the knights to handle it alone, you're mistaken. Let's stick to the plan to resolve this once and for all. While you, Ludwig, support your wife and assist in her training, we'll also work on retrieving Rivalz as swiftly as possible."

Liam let out a deep sigh. They urgently needed to locate Prince Fyodor's child. Liam didn't care about the reasons for her absence. If it meant resorting to drastic measures like kidnapping to bring her back to Fortunalia, he was prepared to do so.