No Way

Liam massaged his aching temples as he listened to Mingway's nonstop reports. Mingway, the newly-appointed leader of the Knights of the Water Fae Kingdom, was in charge of securing the entire kingdom during Liam's absence.

Mingway had been one of King Philippe's commanders and was undoubtedly capable of maintaining peace and order.

"First, the kingdom's funds are empty. Then the lake, our primary source of work for citizens, was poisoned. And now this? Golems and Emberocks are attacking small villages. There's no fresh water to drink, and crime in the towns has tripled. Even the Orient Palace, once filled with skilled knights, has suffered casualties."

They were inside the meeting hall, but the problems seemed endless upon Liam's return.

After successfully killing Nysander, Leonel had handed over Nysander's head to the Werebeasts. Leonel had also thanked them for their generosity since Liam had fainted before they even reached the entrance.

Liam wasn't used to the Blazing Dragon Technique for a long time because it consumed much of his strength and energy whenever he used it.

It was a secret family technique passed down through generations. Among the four royal cousins, Liam was the only one taught this technique. It was too dangerous for women, so Hiyasmin had no idea about it. Alexa, being a Witch, was not trained to be a Fae nor did she inherit the capability of manipulating different elements. Ludwig, meanwhile, had different training as he was destined to lead rather than fight.

After Leonel talked to those who helped them, he brought them to Etherealis. Once Liam awakened, he immediately went to Agatha and Aiden's room. Leonel had them share a room, and Liam was grateful for that because he knew Agatha would look for Aiden as soon as she woke up.

Agatha and Aiden were still asleep when Liam visited them, so he first went to the kitchen to instruct the chefs to prepare dishes for the Queen. That's when Mingway approached him, leading to their current situation. It had been three hours, and Liam's patience was wearing thin.

"They did not steal Galleons, Golds, Diamonds, or other valuables, Your Majesty," Mingway continued. "So we concluded that someone actually wants to dethrone you."

Liam furrowed his brow. If someone wanted to dethrone him, they could just ask, and he would gladly step down after evaluating and testing the challenger himself.

He didn't want the responsibilities that came with being a King, but he also didn't want the Crown and the Throne to fall into the wrong hands. Heaven knew what they went through just to restore peace and order to the Fire Fae Kingdom after Amelia took the Aureate Flame.

"And how could you say that, Commander Mingway?" Liam asked, puzzled.

"Because they took the Justice Book, Your Majesty."

Liam sat up straight. "Justice Book? What is that exactly? What is it for?"

Mingway explained, "It is a book that the entire kingdom of Etherealis possesses. It contains the history and laws of the kingdom, as well as confidential information about the former Kings. Their achievements, the projects they undertook, the battles they won, and their familial ties."

Liam massaged his head. "And how is that related to someone wanting to steal the throne from me?"

"There's information written in there on how to legally dethrone the King," Mingway said, pausing before continuing. "Whoever stole the book must be after you because, at the same time the Justice Book went missing, rumors about your late mother resurfaced…"

Mingway hesitated to say it, but he did anyway. Liam clenched his jaw at the mention of his mother.

"Someone is tarnishing your name. You are being discredited among the citizens to force you to surrender the throne. We were tracking down the thief, but the unexpected attacks by the Golems and Emberocks have temporarily halted our search. I hope you understand."

Liam didn't follow what Commander Mingway said further because anger filled his mind. He clenched his fists. Whoever was destroying his image, particularly regarding his mother, would pay for their actions.

It took Liam another two hours before he was done talking with Mingway. Afterward, he first visited Leonel, who was busy fighting against the Golems and Emberocks. They talked for a while, and once it was almost evening, Liam alone crossed the path toward Agatha's and Aiden's room.

He couldn't help but feel anxious as he approached the room. Now that everything was all right and Nysander was gone, he had no more reason to delay what needed to be done.

Liam wanted to unite their Fate Bond once and for all, and he wanted Agatha to know that. It was a stroke of luck that he found her when he least expected it. He couldn't deny that she made him feel things he didn't know he was capable of feeling.

Liam sighed slightly, weariness creeping in as he remembered how reckless he had been when he saw her with the Metamorph. That was the first time he had ever felt such a strong desire to own something, to possess someone. He had never been like that before. He didn't want to own anything, including the Throne, because owning meant responsibilities. But with Agatha, he wanted to own not just her but also her problems. He wanted to be a crucial part of her life and take full responsibility for her.

Liam shook his head with a small smile, hardly believing himself for thinking such things.

He didn't know if it was the Fate Pull or not, but he certainly wanted to always be with Agatha no matter what. Even though he left Eldoria and hadn't seen her for weeks, she was always on his mind.

He worried whenever he didn't know where she was. Even Aiden had become dear to him, reminding Liam of his younger self and past.

He admired how lovable and lovely Aggie was. She always thought about the consequences of her actions for Aiden. She was intelligent and had wise principles.

But Liam didn't want to frighten or pressure her. Uniting bonds basically meant living together for a lifetime. That was a big decision to make, so he wouldn't rush her.

However, he was certain that this wasn't what the Ministers planned. They knew Liam had found his Fae. And now that it was known that half of the Pearl Scepter was inside Agatha, Liam was sure their marriage would be hastened.

What should he do? He didn't want to trap her in a marriage and life she didn't want. And now, his only hope of ever escaping royal responsibility and living a normal life with her was ruined. Because Agatha herself was the Last Blue Blood of the Water Fae.

Liam hadn't fully processed this. But since they had just arrived, once the Ministers learned about it, the marriage could be arranged as soon as tomorrow.

For a few minutes, Liam stood silently before Agatha's room, contemplating what to say to her. But in the end, he couldn't think of anything.

Liam sighed as he slowly opened the door, thinking they might still be asleep after their ordeal and needed rest.

But Liam stopped when he noticed that both Aggie and Aiden were not in their beds. He entered and searched for them but couldn't find them anywhere.

Hopeful but scared, Liam went to the kitchen, thinking they might have awakened and felt hungry. Then he checked the garden, still nothing. He searched everywhere inside the castle he could think of, but they were nowhere to be found.

Liam asked the guards on duty, but they hadn't seen the two either. Cold fear began to creep into Liam's heart.

What if Nysander's allies, the ones they didn't kill, took them? What if they were kidnapped? Many scenarios filled Liam's mind, all leading to one end: them being hurt. No way.