Sleep Well

Liam sliced and swung his blade, and his enemies fell. It took considerable effort to finish Rolo, who wielded two swords at the time. After defeating him with his elemental powers, Liam took up Rolo's swords and continued fighting.

One man charged at him, raising his sword and letting out a battle cry. Liam countered the attack, but stabbing the man in the chest left him descending to his knees in exhaustion. "Damn it, my energy is decreasing…"

Then, three knights attacked him simultaneously, forcing Liam to rely solely on his weapons as he lacked the strength to use his elemental powers anymore.

While imprisoned, he overheard them plotting to attack the Kingdom and nearby villages. Now that Aggie had found their hideout, they would launch their attacks earlier than planned.

Liam needed to be there when it happened. He had to secure the Orient Palace, rescue the townspeople, protect the villages from destruction, quell the rebellion, and more.

But he couldn't do it alone. He needed help. He trusted only his loyal men Leonel and Ryle, along with their respective teams. But even they couldn't face an entire army alone.

Two soldiers sneaked up from behind and attacked him simultaneously. Liam easily dodged their blows, twisted his body, and swiftly dispatched them.

After dealing with all the attackers, Liam surveyed the cave, searching for Aggie. His thoughts were consumed with her. She was a Blue Blood from a different continent, and despite her heritage, she still struggled to wield her powers effectively. It was evident from her surprise when Liam had flashed while she was beside him.

Liam couldn't help but worry. What if something had happened to her? Fae could heal, but not as quickly as Werebeasts. What if she had been struck in a critical spot? It would slow her down, making her vulnerable to their enemies. No way.

After scanning the area, Liam finally spotted her across the cave. She looked resolute as she controlled waves of water, her hair flying and her figure glowing.

A warmth spread through Liam's heart at the sight of her holding her ground in battle. He bit his lower lip and shook his head in disbelief.

Reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Agatha, Liam faced another group of men charging at him. They encircled him, blocking every escape route and obstructing his view of her.

They attacked en masse, slashing and stabbing. Liam found it difficult to evade their attacks due to their numbers and the surrounding confines. Gripping his second blade, Liam defended himself while launching counterattacks.

He managed to sever their numbers, maneuvering behind the last three. With swift strikes, he disarmed them, their weapons clattering to the ground as their cries echoed in the cave. Liam was left breathless after defeating them all.

The cave swirled with fire and smoke, filled with cries and blood. Explosion after explosion shook the ground, leaving lifeless bodies scattered around.

Before Liam could search for Agatha again, the cave trembled with the loudest shriek he had ever heard. It reverberated throughout the cavern, causing his legs to tremble and sending him crashing to the ground. With bloody hands, he covered his ears in an attempt to block out the noise, but to no avail.

The scream was unnatural, its echo piercing deep into his skull, touching every tender spot and cracking his last vestiges of hope. It fueled the fear he had buried, welcoming death with a mocking laugh. In agony, he squeezed his eyes shut, gripping his head tightly.

It felt like an eternity before the scream finally ceased. Weakly, Liam staggered to his feet, his legs trembling as he searched for Agatha, Hiyasmin, and Alexa. He had to keep them safe.

Liam's heart skipped a beat when he found Agatha lying motionless on the cold ground. Despite his weakened state, he flashed to her side and gently lifted her. With trembling hands, he checked for her pulse, breathing a sigh of relief when he felt the faint beat of her heart.

His heart ached as he noticed her hands, her dress sleeves, and her chest soaked in blood. With shaking fingers, he carefully examined her body, searching for wounds to ease her pain.

Exhausted and pale, sweat glistening on her forehead, Aggie looked frail.

"Aggie, baby," Liam murmured, his voice catching. "I'm here…"

Carefully placing her unconscious body back down, Liam was about to turn away when he noticed Eva. Her eyes sockets were still there, but they were devoid of life as they stared back at him. Blood trickled from the side of her head, staining the ground beneath her. Blood also dripped from her nose and ears, and her eyes were bloodshot.

Liam glanced from the blood on Agatha's clothes to Eva's motionless form. The shade of red was the same.

"What happened?" Hiyasmin's voice broke the silence, followed closely by Alexa, who was smeared with blood.

"She's okay," Liam reassured them. "She's not wounded, so I think she just fainted from exhaustion…"

There was a pause. "What was that loud scream earlier?"

Alexa was already on her broomstick, eating two apples—one in each hand. Liam gave her a worried look.

"Hold onto your broom, Alexa," he said. "You might fall."

"I'm not six years old, Liam, but thanks," Alexa retorted, though she complied, finishing her apples before they finally left the cave. This time, she was eating a banana, almost choking in her haste. Liam anxiously checked her body for any wounds.

"You alright?"

"Not quite, but I'll survive," Alexa replied with a smirk. "Just tired and a bit drained from using too much magic earlier."

"Have you eaten enough?" Hiyasmin asked, echoing Liam's concern for Alexa.

"It'll hold me through the night," Alexa assured them, then looked ahead.

Following her gaze, Liam narrowed his eyes as he saw smoke rising from a nearby village. He had been right—the attack had been moved up.

"We need to find a safer place for Aggie, and then we need to… Aiden!"

Suddenly, Liam was consumed with the need to find Aiden and ensure he was safe. What if something happened to him? Aiden was just a child; he could easily be used against them. Agatha loved him dearly. "What if they're holding Aiden hostage?" Liam thought urgently. "We have to find him," he told the others.

"He's with Louise…"

That made Liam pause. "Louise?" he gasped. "Does Ludwig know you're here?"

Hiyasmin nodded as she assisted Alexa in cleaning herself up.

Moments later, Leonel, Ryle, and the remaining knights emerged as well.

"Everything's clear," Leonel reported firmly. "No survivors."

"Should we destroy it?" Ryle asked, helping one of the wounded knights with an injured foot.

"No," Alexa interjected.

"Too much noise. It could alert the others that we're still alive," Hiyasmin added.

"Or they might think we died in the explosion," suggested another knight.

"Let's not destroy it. The cave is laced with ancient magic. We might have use for it later," Leonel reasoned.

The men looked at Alexa and Hiyasmin, familiar with their ways—Alexa eating despite the situation, and Hiyasmin bathed in blood.

"Let's not waste any more time," Hiyasmin declared, taking the lead and guiding them toward the rear of the Orient Palace. "I'm sorry, but we'll need to blindfold you for a few minutes." She produced blindfolds.

The men protested, but Hiyasmin held firm. "We're entering a secret passage known only to Blue Bloods. You're loyal to my brother, but we must do this for everyone's safety. Once inside, you can remove the blindfolds."

Realizing who she was, one of the men's eyes widened, and even Ryle coughed. Hiyasmin, the Fire Fae Princess known for surviving the Curse, stood before them, composed and dignified.

Since Leonel knew the passage, he wasn't blindfolded. Instead, he guided their companions through. Upon entering, they found the area bustling with soldiers, and at the center stood King Ludwig.

Ludwig was poring over a large map, plotting their strategy. When he sensed their arrival, the knights immediately paid their respects. Ludwig glanced at Alexa and Hiyasmin, and the two awkwardly waved back.

Liam had assumed they had received permission from Ludwig...

Liam nodded respectfully at Ludwig before focusing on the task at hand. He needed to settle Agatha in the safe room so she could rest.

Every castle had secret passages and safe rooms, and Liam knew the way well. It was a room adjacent to his own, one of the reasons he had chosen it despite not being originally intended for a king.

After gently placing Agatha on the bed, Liam noticed her blood-soaked dress. He knew he should change it, but she might be upset if she woke to find herself changed without her consent.

He bit his lip, unsure what to do. He couldn't leave her soaked in blood. With trembling hands, Liam quickly undressed her, trying to be as swift and respectful as possible.

She would likely kill him when she woke.

After discarding the dress, he covered her with a thick blanket. Liam studied her face, gently kissing her forehead before quietly leaving. "Rest well, Aggie…"

Returning to the room where Ludwig and the knights were planning, Liam noticed most were from the Fire Fae Kingdom.

"What's the situation?" he asked, joining Ludwig at the map.

"Three-quarters of your army has defected, backed by other aristocrats. Over half the civilians have been evacuated to safe zones, but those who remain either support the rebellion or are part of it. The enemy outnumbers us and is scattered across the kingdom—they're even hiding in the forests. We lack precise intelligence."

Liam massaged his temples, frustrated by the difficulty of fighting enemies hidden among civilians. If they attacked now, they might destroy the towns, leaving the citizens nowhere to return.

"What are their next moves?" Liam asked.

Ludwig shrugged. "It's unclear, but it seems they don't intend to destroy the kingdom—they want the throne and its power."

"In other words, they want to reach the palace. But why attack from the town instead of directly from within the palace? Aren't most of their forces already inside as guards? Why start from the town where we can easily spot them heading toward the palace?" Alexa chimed in, studying the map while snacking again.

"Because they're knights, Alexa. They fight for honor. They want to show the citizens they won fair and square, bravely on the front lines, not by assassinating the King," Hiyasmin declared, having just bathed and inspecting her armpits as she entered unannounced.

"Damn, their blood stinks," she muttered.

"Hiyasmin," Ludwig reprimanded. "Watch your language."

"Well, if they want glory, then glory they shall have," Liam interjected, silencing the room.

"We don't know where the others are hiding. What we do know is they're positioned in the three largest towns. If we attack them there, we risk defeat. They've chosen those locations strategically," Liam pointed out, tapping the map to draw everyone's attention. "The towns are near the border, the river, and the mountain. They have reinforcements nearby."

"Because of their positioning, they can trap us and see us coming from any direction," Ludwig added, studying the map closely.

"Unless we cross the river and mountain. If we engage them there, the towns will be spared. That's our priority—we can't afford collateral damage," Hiyasmin added, standing beside them.

"What do you suggest, Your Majesty?" one of their loyal guards asked hopefully.

Liam sighed. "We need to round them up. We need to lure them to a specific location where there are no buildings to destroy and minimal civilian casualties."

Ludwig and Liam exchanged a glance, understanding each other's thoughts.

After hours of planning, they were ready. Fortunately, the enemy didn't know Liam's family was with him or that they had Ludwig's army. They only knew Liam had escaped with Aggie's help.

At midnight, they put their plan into action. Four carriages marked with the Water Fae Kingdom's insignia departed in different directions, heavily guarded to give the impression that Liam or Aggie might be inside.

Three carriages headed towards the forest near the borders with the Fire, Wind, and Earth kingdoms, while the fourth moved towards the Primotheus Capital's border. Anyone observing would assume whoever was in those carriages was attempting to flee, and the rebels took the bait.

Dividing their forces, the rebels chased after the carriages and attacked. Half an hour later, a carriage carrying Alexa, Hiyasmin, and Ryle erupted in flames—it was the signal that they had been dealt with.

Ludwig led nearly three thousand troops hidden in the forest near the borders. As the rebels attacked the carriages, Ludwig's forces ambushed them.

Meanwhile, Liam hurried to the town while Ludwig remained at the palace to defend it.

Now facing only a few remaining rebels, Liam's knights fought valiantly, though they remained vigilant—the enemy hadn't abandoned their hiding spots.

As they reached the town, the devastation was evident—some buildings were destroyed, others partially intact. When they reached the town center, rebels emerged from hiding and attacked, trapping them.

Blades clashed, metal against metal, fists flying. Liam was already weary from the earlier cave fight, but he pressed on.

The town suffered heavy damage. Debris fell, homes burned, glass shattered.

Once they were sure most of the rebels had fled, Liam launched a fireball into the sky as a signal for reinforcements. Leonel arrived with Water Kingdom soldiers, supported by Ludwig's troops. They surrounded the town.

"Surrender now or face the consequences," Leonel demanded.

Surrounded and outnumbered, the rebels hesitated but didn't surrender.

"All hail the shadow!" Their enemies screamed, rallying with a battle cry. Men descended from the mountains, joining the fray, but Liam had anticipated this—King Daemond's men were lying in wait.

Hidden near the mountain outskirts, King Daemond's troops prevented the rebels from retreating. They used their powers to bury the rebels one by one, leaving none alive who descended from the mountain.

Seeing their reinforcements cut off, the remaining rebels finally dropped their weapons. Yet, some fought on, and blood stained the streets.

Amidst the chaos, Liam heard Ryle scream. Turning to find him, Liam saw Ryle fall, missing an arm.

Liam ran to help him, but obstacles—bodies, combatants—blocked his path. He fought his way through, slicing and kicking, but he was too late.

In the midst of battle, a woman with green hair cast a spell at Ryle. Leonel leapt in the way, taking the blow meant for Ryle, an act of selfless courage.

When the spell struck, Leonel fell back, motionless amidst the chaos and screams.

By the time the sun rose, the once pristine town lay in ruins, bodies scattered, moans of pain echoing.

Medical teams tended to the wounded. Liam wanted to check on Ryle and Leonel, to see if they were still alive, but other generals, supported by King Daemond's forces, restrained him.

Liam listened to the report, the grim tally of the battle's toll. "Four hundred and twenty-four civilians dead."

His jaw clenched.

"Two women were found murdered. Ninety-five children lost their parents…"

Liam returned to Orient Palace with heavy shoulders. They had defeated the rebels, but it didn't feel like a victory. They had lost—hundreds of his people dead, his men sacrificed, his knights, his friends, Ryle, Leonel…

Ludwig, Hiyasmin, and Alexa had already returned home, and Ludwig's knights were out hunting down those who escaped.

That afternoon, Louise dropped off Aiden. He was still asleep, so Liam left him in his room and went directly to find Aggie.

He needed her now more than ever. He needed her calm presence to remind him why he was fighting for this throne, why he accepted this responsibility despite all the hardships.

With a heavy heart and trembling hands, Liam opened the door to his room but stopped midway when he saw Lady Winslet inside. She held a knife against Aggie's throat.

"Another step and I'll cut her in half."

Liam's eyes narrowed as he noticed the bruises on Aggie's neck, slowly healing but still evidence of her ordeal.

"Put the knife down," Liam said in a low, commanding voice.

Agatha's weary eyes met his, and in that moment of trust, Liam felt a surge of determination. She trusted him to handle this. She trusted him to protect her.

"I won't say it again," he whispered. "Drop. The. Knife."

Instead of complying, the elderly lady pressed the knife deeper against Agatha's throat, drawing blood. Liam saw red. He lost control.

Moving swiftly, Liam disarmed her, pushing Agatha towards the bed as the knife clattered to the floor. He restrained Lady Winslet and swiftly ushered her out into the hallway, away from Agatha's sight.

With a twist, he incapacitated her, breaking her arm. She cried out in pain, but he held her firmly, knowing she had committed an act of treason by threatening the future queen. By rights, she deserved death, but Liam chose to spare her life, sentencing her to spend her remaining years in prison.

As Liam saw a knight approaching, he handed Lady Winslet over.

"She threatened the future queen, held a knife to her throat. Lock her up and let her rot," Liam ordered, before hurrying back to his room to find Agatha.

Almost colliding with her as she exited, Liam reached out.

"Aggie…"

She embraced him immediately, and he held her tight.

"Liam…"

His shoulder grew damp with Agatha's tears, and he gently wiped them away, holding her close.

"Don't worry, it's over now. It's finally over."

Agatha sobbed against him, and Liam wanted to cry with her. He wanted to tell her about Ryle and Leonel, but before he could speak, she whispered, "I killed her. I killed her, and it's real this time."

Liam didn't know how to comfort her. It was her first kill, and the weight of it was overwhelming her.

"It's okay, Aggie. You're not a bad person for doing what you had to do. You didn't want to kill her; you needed to stop her from hurting you, from hurting anyone else…"

Agatha continued to cry, and Liam joined her. Good Rivalz was there to offer comfort.

"She planned to kill innocent people, Aggie. If you hadn't acted, more lives would have been lost."

Her sobs gradually quieted, and she looked up at him.

"You must think I'm weak, crying over this."

Liam gently led her back into the room and guided her to sit on the bed.

"I don't think you're weak, Aggie. In fact, I think you're incredibly strong. You found where they were hiding me and called for help quickly. Ludwig told me you had evacuated civilians before the battle even began. You're stronger than you realize."

He adjusted her blanket, tucking her in gently.

"Caring about someone's life, even if they were your enemy, isn't weakness. It shows how much compassion you have, and I love you even more for it."

Liam smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

"I love you too," she replied softly, her eyes closing with a yawn.

Surprised, Liam hesitated for a moment. Agatha loved him back.

He almost asked her again but stopped himself as he saw her drifting off to sleep. He shook his head silently, smiling to himself.

"I love you, Aggie…" he whispered, kissing her lips softly. "Sleep well, my Queen…"