Chapter XX: Saving The Empire. (Part II)

Upon reaching the entrance to the secret tunnels that led into the palace, Donovan released a sigh.

He had lost count of how many lives he had taken, but knew it was somewhere in the two hundreds, which was something he found to be very disturbing. As for why, it was because Donovan realized that it hadn't even been a whole day since he had first taken another person's life.

It was something he considered to be unhuman like, and that's why he was so bothered by it, for in less than twenty-four hours, he took the lives of over two hundred men and women. This had caused him to believe that he was nothing but a monster, for he couldn't see any normal and sane person doing what he has done today.

He just couldn't. No matter how hard he tried, he just failed to see someone like his mother, his older brother, or anyone else back on Earth doing the things he had done, and it was because of this there was a small part of him that felt like it might just be best for him to accept that he is a monster, whose sole purpose in this world is to take lives, but there was also something inside of him that was telling him not to accept this label.

He didn't know why this was happening, but his heart ached when he thought of himself as nothing, but a monster. He felt like it was wrong, and just bad in general. His stomach churned as well when he thought about this.

"I really don't know what to consider myself." Donovan said to himself with a small scowl. "All the lives I have taken is definitely something no human would do, but I don't want to be a monster. I don't want to be seen as nothing, but a killer, that's not who I am at all."

As he told himself these things, one of the Dark Knights known as Sir Kalveth who was standing behind him with the others called out to him. "I think we have done a wonderful job, don't you think so, Lord Fane?"

There were traces of satisfaction in his voice.

Donovan at first was silent, but after a few seconds, he answered with a, "Yeah."

Camillia had managed to pick up the emptiness in his voice despite the chaos that was going on around them, and couldn't stop herself from approaching him and grabbing ahold of his free hand, which was his right hand, with her left hand.

Donovan, who was startled by this action, couldn't help from glancing at her. She, of course, was still wearing a veil, and he was still wearing his helmet, but that didn't stop them from having their eyes meet.

The Dark Knights were taken aback by this ordeal as well, but none of them asked what was going on. Instead, they stood there in silence with curious glints in their eyes.

"Everything alright?" Donovan asked her after a few seconds of staring at her.

"I should be the one asking you that." Was the response she gave him.

Donovan remained silent at this, and while he did appreciate her concern, a part of him felt it was not needed.

"You really shouldn't." He stated after a while. "I'm not the one who's had a lot of traumatic things happen to them."

What he was referring to was everything that had happened to her in the past twelve hours. She had been abducted, then after being rescued saw her city in anarchy, and then to top it off heard that the palace, the place she had grown up in, had been attacked by the people who are trying to overthrow her father.

It was a lot to take in his mind, which is one of the reasons why he believed she shouldn't concern herself with what's going on with him.

"It's not because I don't want your concern, I just don't think what's going on in between my head is what you should be worrying about at the moment," Donovan told himself as his eyes continued to linger on her. "you should be thinking more about your father and everyone else inside of the palace."

"I'm fine." She affirmed. "I may have been in a bad state earlier, but I'm fine now, so I'm going to worry about you. Whether you like it or not."

"You shouldn't though." Donovan firmly stated with a tiny trace of anger that could be heard in his voice. "I mean, I appreciate it, but it's something you seriously shouldn't be doing. You should be thinking about your father, and your people, and not-"

"Why are you so against me wanting to make sure you're alright?" Camillia asked with hints of frustration seeping into her voice as she let go of his hand and turned her whole body towards him. "It's like you want to be left alone and solve everything by yourself, which is something I just don't understand! Why? Why are you acting like this?"

One of the Dark Knights, whose name was Vagron Eltas was tempted to say something about how they were acting, and how they should probably keep moving, but decided it was best not to comment, and just stood there in silence.

"Why do you care about how I feel or what I think!?" Donovan basically yelled with frustration in his voice as he clenched his fists tightly. "We live in two entirely different lives! You're the daughter of a ruler, and I'm a nobody! So stop worrying about me, and start worrying about the things that are actually important to you."

Camillia flinched at this, and was hesitant to speak. However, she eventually found the strength to mutter something that was loud enough for him to hear as she clutched the collar of her gown. "... You're important to me."

"I, I shouldn't be." Donovan faltered as all of his anger and frustration was replaced with embarrassment and hesitation.

"Well, you are." She said in the same low tone as she continued to hold onto the collar of her gown. "You didn't have to meet me in the Garden of Emperors. If you wanted to, you could have ignored the letter I sent you, but you didn't, and you are also the one who saved my life not once, but twice. You are someone I value and wanna be with no matter what, so please don't cut me off and say that we can't be together. I don't want to hear that, and it breaks my heart when I see you like this."

As she said these things, her voice got a little louder and her grip on her gown tightened.

The Dark Knights in response to hearing this from her couldn't help but feel as if they were listening to something they shouldn't be listening to. They also started to wonder if this was really the best time and place for all of this.

Donovan wasn't sure what to say, and chose to say silent for quite some time. He believed this wasn't the time or place for this as well, but couldn't find the strength to say this. In fact, there was a part of him that thinks he needs to respond to her feelings, but even then, he still wasn't sure what type of feelings he had for her.

He liked her, but he didn't think he had romantic feelings for her, he just didn't. Maybe in the future, he might develop those feelings, but at this very moment, Donovan was pretty sure he saw her as a friend and only that.

With a sad smile manifesting on his face, which couldn't be seen due to him still wearing his helmet, Donovan shook his head, and said, "I'm sorry, but I don't have the same feelings as you-"

"No, stop." Camillia said to herself as tears started to form in her eyes. "Don't tell me that, I don't want to hear this from you."

"-have for me. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but it's-"

"Stop, please." Camillia requested in a teary voice as she reached out and put her hand on his chest while tilting her head, so that she was looking down at the ground. "I, I don't want to be hearing this, from you."

"-... I'm sorry." He continued after several seconds of what felt like heavy silence despite all the things going on in the distance. "It's the truth, and the truth can be very painful."

At this, her sobs, which were somewhat quiet, could be heard by those around her, but that didn't make him change or take back what he said. No, instead, he just felt a little colder than before.

Feeling like apologizing would just hurt her even more, Donovan wondered what he could do or say to make her feel better only to end up drawing blanks. No matter what he thought of, Donovan was pretty sure, he'd just make the situation worse than it already is.

Holding in the sigh of frustration he wanted to let out, Donovan stood there in silence and allowed the princess to cry on him.

Upon reaching the hallway that had the doorway that led into the throne room, Donovan and company ran into the members of the Hero Party, who were in short, very startled to see him.

"Where, where have you been, Black Knight?" Angel asked after quickly recovering from his surprise and placing a hand on the hilt of his blade. "And who's that woman with you?"

The Dark Knights accompanying Donovan saw Angel do this, and out of instinct immediately placed their hands on their swords as well.

Donovan watched as the other members of the Hero Party tensed up, and prepare to attack should he try anything, but Donovan didn't do anything. He didn't reach for his blade, nor did he say anything, he just stood there and stared at all of them.

Feeling as if he was being looked down on by the Black Knight, Angel couldn't help from getting angry and basically yelling. "Just because you won that duel between us doesn't mean you're better than me. I was just caught by surprise, that's all."

"Okay." Donovan said in a tired voice. "If that's all you have to say, can you please move aside? I've gone through a lot of shit today, and don't need yours on top of it."

He wasn't trying to be rude, and after saying that he was pretty sure he came off as an asshole, but in all honesty, he could care less at the moment. He had done a lot of things in his opinion, and if he thought about it, Donovan realized that he had yet to get any sleep today.

Angel's grip on the handle of his sword became tighter as he clenched his teeth. He had wanted to say a few more things to him, but for some strange reason, he couldn't find the strength to say them. He didn't know why, but his heart was starting to beat a little faster.

Xenovia, who had called him an asshole in the past, wanted to say something to him as well, but also lost the strength to do so, and felt like it was best to keep quiet and not anger him, for he seemed to be in a very bad mood.

The only ones who didn't seem to be fazed by the foul mood of his or tone, were Jacob and Marianna.

"It's not like you were the only one who went through a lot of shit today. We also had to go through some shit." Was what Marianna said.

"Yeah, and besides we're not here trying to start a fight, at least not yet. We just wanna know where the legendary Black Knight was since we didn't see you in the throne room with your master." Was what Jacob said as he crossed his arms while still holding onto his spear with his left hand.

"Where I was isn't any concern of yours, but if you truly must know, then I was rescuing Princess Camillia since the people who had taken her had attacked me in the middle of the night." Donovan stated in a lack lustering voice that really showed how tired he was. Unfortunately, Angel took his tone as him being bored with them, and just wanting to move on with his day.

Glancing at the woman wearing a veil and simple gown, Angel said as he nodded his head at her. "I'm guessing that is the Princess then?"

Camillia, who had her head hanging low, looked up and saw that the Hero and his friends eyes were on her, but that didn't cause her to say anything. She simply looked at them before averting her eyes back to the ground.

Donovan had watched her do this, and said as he turned his attention back towards them. "She had a rough day, and I think she just wants to speak to one person, and that one person is her father, so if you don't mind, I'd like to move past you all."

Although, Angel felt like the Black Knight had done something to the princess, he stepped to the side, and said as he let go of his sword. "Fine, but know that the next time we met we're going to fight, and I will be the triumphant one, not you."

Donovan stared at him for a couple of seconds before shaking his head, and saying in a slightly defeated tone. "Whatever you say."

After he had done this, he and the three Dark Knights who were accompanying him brought the Dwarven Princess Camillia to her father the Emperor, and not long after doing so did Donovan get taken to a room that hadn't been ransacked to sleep.