Yerin was frightened to her soul. The little girl seemed to had cried so much. Her face was dried with tears. She had no idea what was happening. Why was she captured along with her father? Who were these people? What they wanted? When this was going end? So many questions were floating in her little and innocent mind.

From last night til now on this never ending day, she was trembling with fear. Her maid was standing beside her, trying to console her. But it didn't work. She was more focused on her father who was standing away from her surrounded by two men, who had sharp weapons with them.

Suddenly, there was clatter footsteps before some figures entered the room in a flash of seconds. Before she could comprehend, there were loud voices echoing in the room. Instantly, the maid closed her eyes, pulling her closer towards her.

Few moments later, unexpectedly, she felt a jerk. She was separated from her maid and dragged by one of the assassin. She looked in horror at what happened to other one who was lying on the floor, covered in blood. Fortunately, she caught her breath when she saw her father, safe and alive with clairens soldiers.

"Stay away from her."

Then she saw her. For the first time, she heard her speaking in such harsh and loud voice. And that look on her face, she couldn't describe it. The gentle and smiling face which she always witnessed was replaced by something else.

The person holding her strongly grasped her arm,pulling her near him. With fear, she closed her eyes tightly.

"Didn't you hear what i just said ?"
Anna said to the assassin in utter anger. And in a span of seconds, with a swift movement she moved forward. Her sword penetrated through his hand. The blood squirted out , dripping on the floor as he screamed in pain dropping his sword.

The little girl watched in pure horror as she opened her eyes gasping in shock while covered her mouth with her hands. She feared to even approach her in the moment. She took a steps back and hid behind the maid who instantly walked towards her. She was afraid to even look at her.

"Get her somewhere safe."
Anna ordered the maid, avoiding looking at yerin. She couldn't meet her eyes. She didn't want her to see this. But she had no option.


By now, many of the assassins were killed. Only few were remained along with one of the lord who escaped while other one was injured and in captivation.

Meanwhile the current lord of sui, mikage, who was supposed to be an ally and trustable person, was captured by clairens soldiers just after the queen was attacked. They were keeping eye on him on lord haruka's order. Even after soldiers threatened those deposed lords to kill him, it didn't work. They didn't care if he lived or died. It was highly possible they just used him as a pawn to get their goal.

Now, anna stood in front of him, moving her sword forward and stopping just inch before touching his neck.

"They threatened me."he began, explaining," If I wouldn't have helped them they could have killed my family."

Perhaps he was telling the truth and she expected it. After all he was someone trusted by king himself. But still no one could guarantee one wouldn't break trust.

"I didn't know they would -. I am equally responsible for what happened to his majesty."

He knelt before her, hand gripped the fabric of his shirt over his chest. He fought the tears that that threatened to leave his eyes.

"You should kill me at this instant!"he screamed out loud, emotions overflowing."I have betrayed my kingdom."

Lord haruka watched in great concern. It was no telling if he was speaking the truth. Even if he was telling the truth he will definitely be getting punishment for what he did. But killing him now was not a wise choice to make.

Now, it was her decision. She would decide what to do.

"Your majesty..."
Haruka spoke wanting tell her not to let her emotions control her. He was afraid she might do something she shouldn't. But she didn't pay any attention to him because she was already clear what she would do.

"If what you just told is a lie and then you can't be able to imagine the punishment you will be getting." she declared harshly, removing her sword from his neck. "Now, you have given the chance to prove your loyalty."

She spared him. They needed as much help as possible. As for what he did, she did hold him responsible. She would never forgive him. Neither she would forgive anyone who was involved in this. Her grip on her sword strengthened more. She needed to finish what they had started.

Soon after, they were making the future strategy. According to that injured lord who was captured, other of them were hiding in the underground tunnels which connected the castle below the ground.

Lord haruka insisted anna to be staying behind and resting, but she refused.

She was injured. The blood from her not fully treated wound was soaking her cloth. She was in no condition to fight further. But she didn't want listen. She just couldn't. Because her aching heart took control of her mind. If izana was alive she needed to save him, she needed to see him. It was selfish of her and she knew well.

But after some mouthful of heating argument, lord haruka made her stay behind. She could do nothing beside getting infuriated by his decision.

With the various units of the soldiers formed, all of them left towards the underground pathways.


As much she tried to calm down and rest, she couldn't. The tension in the air was so much that it was almost palpable. In truth, she had never expected to face situation when she would need to actually kill someone, even the person deserved it. It was not easy to take someone's life. But she was strong that she survived this.

As hours passed, she was grown restless by every moment. She sat awake from her sleeping position from the bed as many thoughts disrupted her mind. Her wounds were treated by garack and she was told not move from her place.

She hated to just sit back and do nothing. Whenever there's situation, she would do everything in power to make things right. She couldn't help herself. Sometimes she just couldn't.

Finally, she decided to take look outside. Against garack's wish, she left the infirmary impatiently. She took good look at the castle surroundings, examining each and every place as she walked through the corridors. As expected there were very few soldiers stationed outside as rest had been gone.

Then out of knowhere something struck her. She suddenly needed to see that injured lord who was under captivation.

And her fear came true. She was too late. The soldiers who were keeping the lord under surveillance weren't there.

Damn it. She should have been more careful. She should have known better.

As they had no time, they didn't get to investigate all the information from the lord. He was needed to answer all the questions. If other one dies too along with all the assasins they wouldn't get any answers. So he needed to be alive.

She moved forward entering the room where the lord was kept, carefully, not causing any disturbance.

Then she saw hiding behind the wall. There was that lord surrounded by one assassin. She could hear their conversation clearly.

"Why are you here?"It was that lord's voice, filled with desperation, "You should be with him. As long as we have him we can still win this fight. He is the king after all. They could do anything to protect him."

Her shivering heart strongly gripped at his words. She never felt this alive.

"Well, the plans has changed. Because you lied to us."

The lord was harshly gripped by his collar.

"We helped you because you said we will get that red haired girl here." he spoke, his voice radiating so much anger, "But you lied to us. She is not in the whole castle, we have searched every inch of it."

His words hung in the air for too long as anna tried to digest it. Now, it made sense how these assassins helped the deposed lords. They had their own ulterior goal for helping them. And it was shirayuki.

"Nearly all of my men are killed without any reason. And even now, they must have gotten him by now. More of my men would be killed by them. We have sacrificed so much for nothing." the man further continued, his voice getting more harsh and painful.

He slammed the lord on the ground, pulling his sword out in the air. The lord was trembling with fear at this point. He was gotten sight of what was going to happen to him.

At the same time,unknown to her someone grabbed her from behind. Her hand which had sword in it was blocked. She couldn't move. She was turned around and harshly tossed on the ground with her sword taken away from her.

Her instinct told her to run. Get away from him. But it was too late. He was in front of her, with rage burning. His eyes flashing anger with hatred and revenge.


Meanwhile, the king was retrieved back safely along with the soldiers, with rest of the assassins been killed. Besides some minor injuries, he was alright. On the way inside castle, he had told everything to lord haruka that happened on his trip and how he ended in this situation. While haruka couldn't managed to tell him the details of what happened because of short time. It was the discussion saved for later in the royal court after investigation of the attack will be held.

Reaching the infirmary, they met garack who told them the bad news. "Her majesty left sometime ago and hasn't come back yet."

"We'll look for her right away."lord haruka announced immediately. He only hoped it wasn't something serious. Clearly all the assassins were killed so there was no need to worry. She must had been inside the castle somewhere.

"I'll come along."Izana declared, his gaze flickering intense emotions of anger.

Lord haruka couldn't have allowed him to do so. But he had never seen him this angry before. From the moment they found him til now he looked so livid. It wasn't a surprise. He expected it.

Soon after, they started searching in the castle. Izana didn't know what she did during his absence but for now he was terribly angry at her. Could she be more foolish leaving at this time, when the situation was still not fully under control?

Fortunately, it didn't take much of time to find her. When he finally saw her, he felt relief. She was standing at the end of the corridor and it looked like she was safe. But her expressions didn't look good. They were painful.

But the moment she saw him her expressions softened. She slowly walked towards him as he moved in her direction.

She embraced him; trembling hands gripped the fabric of his shirt. She felt the warmth that she didn't know how much she needed until this point.

When his hands reached her back, then he realized it. His eyes widened in shock with the sensation. He felt the wet-warm liquid oozing through her skin with the cold blade that digged into her skin. He looked at his hands stained in the blood. For a moment he couldn't believe what had happened.

At the same time he heard her saying in his ear, "I-I am sorry."

Many thoughts occured in her mind that very moment. Would he be happy hearing she did her best to follow her duty? Would he be happy knowing she didn't crumble in even worst condition? She didn't want him to regret his decision to marry her. Never.

She finally closed her eyes, the tears that she had fought so hard started to spill swiftly.


Sorry to end it at this point. But I couldn't help it. Let me know what do you guys think.

I have exams starting next week so I don't know if I'll able update another chapter soon. It may take a while. Until next time.