Three days passed, and Arthur's state of health hardly improved. He was bedridden all day. He coughed more and more blood, and frequently had a fever.

The doctor visited him daily to administer the tonic that helped relieve the pain and lower the fever.

Luana and Angus took charge of fulfilling his responsibilities in his stead.

Seeing that the emperor's condition was getting worse, they decided to inform everyone of the seriousness of the matter, including the citizens.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

The next morning, Luana went to the office. She was dressed in a white lavalliere shirt, black pants, and a pair of black suede lace-up boots with small heels. She had gathered her hair into a high ponytail.

After she was done doing what she had to do, she picked up the mage's journal and started leafing through it.

she thought.

As she read the book, she saw that it contained all the informations regarding brewed potions, poisons, spells and curses that the mage himself discovered.

she stopped in front of a page that intrigued her.

┌─────── ∘◦❁◦∘ ───────┐

Today, I finally got to

concoct a new deadly potion

that I called Alickina.

It was under the orders

of the Grand Master

that I did it.

It took me months and

months to prepare it,

and the ingredients were

very difficult to find and

obtain.

Unlike normal poisons, this potion doesn't kill

instantly, but after

a long period of time.

The symptoms it displays

are hardly similar to those of poison, but rather to those

of an illness. So, it's almost impossible to suspect that a person has taken it.

These symptoms are: fatigue without cause, fever, strong cough of blood,

dizziness, excruciating pain, incredible weight loss and finally, death.

This potion can only

be cured by a single plant

called Klefasse, which only grows in the center of the

Neldor Forest.

It's almost impossible

to find it.

└─────── ∘◦❁◦∘ ───────┘

Luana put the book down and sighed heavily.

'So, if I understood correctly, someone administered a deadly potion named Alickina to mom and dad. But when ? And how ?' she thought.

A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door. It was Gardner.

he greeted, bowing.

Luana stayed silent for a little while.

she replied.

the butler said before leaving the room.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

A few minutes later, Lady Taliny entered the office.

She was wearing a nice dark green, long-sleeved velvet dress with a pair of brown ankle boots. Her hair was styled into a pretty little bun.

she greeted, bowing.

she said worriedly.

Luana replied, smiling.

The young girl sat down on the armchair in front of the princess.

Luana replied sadly.

she asked, shocked.

A moment of silence settled between the two girls.

Asminah said determinedly.

The princess looked at her silently.

she added worriedly.

Luana replied, smiling.

Asminah looked at her in confusion.

she asked hesitantly.

The young girl stayed silent for a little while.

Asminah replied, smiling back.

Luana opened the book again to see its contents, while Asminah drank the tea that was brought by Gardner.

she complimented.

Luana looked at her, an expression of pure shock on her face.

she asked.

Asminah asked, confused.

Luana stayed silent for a moment.

she asked, smiling.

Luana looked at her for a long moment.

Mina sighed. Then, she raised her hands to remove her medal necklace from her neck and put it on the desk.

she answered.

Luana asked, confused.

replied the princess, amazed.

she added.

Mina replied, smiling.

the princess asked, confused.

Luana smiled sadly at this statement.

Mina took the necklace and put it in Luana's hands.

Mina said with determination in her eyes.

she added with a smile.

Luana hugged the young girl tightly.

she whispered to her.

The two young girls parted after a little while.

Mina said happily.

the princess said, smiling.

Mina looked at her in admiration.

she said, smiling.

After that, she left the office.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

After lunch, Luana went to the knights' training grounds to look for Lucas. She took with her the mage's diary and the necklace that Mina gave her.

Arriving there, she saw several knights in combat gear, training together.

Some of them were sharpening their swords while others were discussing attack techniques.

A little bit further in the training field, she saw Lucas training an apprentice knight by fighting him with a sword.

He had a cold, neutral expression on his face. Just like the first time she met him.

His fighting technique was very graceful and agile. Tiredness wasn't showed on him at all. Unlike his competitor who was sweating heavily.

After a few minutes, the fight ended with the captain's victory.

The young apprentice fell on his knees on the ground, out of breath.

Lucas approached him and helped him up. Then, he put his hand on his shoulder to encourage him.

he said.

the apprentice replied with a small smile.

Lucas nodded and turned to pick up his things from the bench. And there, he saw Luana.

A big smile spread across his lips as he walked towards her.

he greeted, bowing.

she said hesitantly.

he replied with a smile.

she stopped, hesitant.

the young knight hummed, confused.

He turned around to follow Luana's gaze. And there, he saw the other knights with their hands on their cheeks, staring at the princess in admiration as if she was a blue moon.

said one of them, a big smile on his face.

replied another one.

Lucas gave him an icy glare that silenced him immediately. Then, the young captain turned around to the princess.

he asked.

The two young people moved away from the training field while the knights remained glued on their spots, petrified by the murderous gaze of their captain.

Once away from the field, Luana and Lucas stopped walking and faced each other.

she said, handing him the book.

she replied, giving him the necklace.

Lucas looked at her, confused. Then, he put the necklace around his neck and opened the book on the page she marked for him.

His eyes widened in surprise.

he said, amazed.

he asked, puzzled.

Luana explained to him what Lady Taliny told her.

After that, the young knight began to read the page that she showed him.

he said.

Lucas took the necklace from his neck to give it back to Luana, but the young girl refused.

she said.

Lucas hesitated.

she replied, smiling.

The captain stayed silent for a moment, then he sighed.

he replied, smiling back at her.

At that moment, the two of them heard some voices that were a bit far away from them.

Following them, they found themselves at the palace gates. Luana was surprised to see thousands of citizens standing in front of the main gate.

cried one of them.

added another.

Luana's eyes watered as she saw that scene unfold in front of her. She knew she wasn't alone and that there were a lot of people who supported her and her father.

'I'll save you, Dad. Don't worry,' she thought.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

In the middle of the night, in Arthur's room, the latter was sleeping peacefully after having dinner and taking his dose of tonic.

Suddenly, the patio doors that leads to the balcony, slowly opened.

A man dressed in black from head to toes entered the room and approached the emperor's bed.

Arriving in front of him, he took a dagger and positioned it above Arthur's chest.

the assassin whispered.

Before he could move, he felt the presence of a sharp blade at his neck.

a voice said from behind him.