Imperial Audience room,

Imperial Palace, Vasilindro empire

All the nobles gathered in audience room after Orson's funeral. Everyone were dressed in mourning dresses and the Emperor looked quite upset on his son's death. Everyone stood there silently waiting for the rebel to show up. At that moment, the door flung open. Two soldiers were dragging Teivel to audience room. She squinted her eyes as bright lights wakes her up. She shifted her glance left and right thinking Akiara would also be there. She sighed relieved. She was thrown in front of the king.

"Tell me why did you kill my son?" Emperor asked.

"It seems Akiara is not here. Then I'll shift all the blame on me."

"Your Majesty I only saved the empire from the hands of a future tyrant ruler who will treat humans as toys to play with them so I killed him." Teivel replied.

"I'm sorry Aki. This is where we part our ways. I hope you have good life." She smiled as her eyes were filled with guilt.

All the nobles looked astonished to her straightforward answer. They were whispering to each other. Some of them favored her whereas some are against it.

Emperor shifted his glance towards the Grand Duke, "Duke, how do you know this girl?"

"She is just a maid who works for my youngest daughter." Duke replied without hesitation.

"I see. I hope you don't lie to me. She looks exactly like my youngest sister. She reminded me of her." He touched his forehead.

"I look like my mother? First commoner, second monster and now a maid. Ha... hahaha.... fate is indeed cruel." She laughed again which echoed the whole room.

"Why are you laughing?" Emperor asked looking stunned.

"That's because my father called me a monster for my mother's death because of these scarlet eyes."

Everyone flinched hearing her last words. They closely looked at her eyes and took steps back.

Duke walked towards the door, "Your Majesty, punish her however you want. I am going to visit my daughter. She is really upset about her maid. She might get sick again." he walked away leaving his daughter's life at the hands of the Emperor.

"Your daughter is standing right in front of you." she sighed, "Your Majesty, hurry up and finish my punishment. I don't want to stay here and get prickly stares from these people."

"How arrogant." he sighed, "Teivel, for committing a treason by killing a imperial family member. You shall be executed tomorrow as a member of a rebel. Soldiers take her to tower of misery and torture her until the day of execution."

"Yes Your Majesty." Soldiers grabbed her shoulders and dragged her away from the audience room.

"Then I shall give the title of Crown Prince to fifth prince, Rafael and appoint second Prince, Preston as his aide. Any questions?" Emperor asked.

"No Your Majesty." Everyone agreed to him.

__________

Akiara and others arrived at Capital during afternoon. Town is bustling as usual. Crowded as always and people hurrying to their work.

"We will divide our work from here. Try to gather information as much as you can. Then meet in the garden at night to discuss strategies." Akiara said wearing her hood.

They nodded and headed to different directions. As she was walking, she bumped into someone.

"I am sorry." she glanced at the person she bumped into. "You are Crown Prince's assistant."

Drake also glanced at her, "You are that girl. What are you doing here?"

"Why don't we talk somewhere else?" Akiara suggested.

"Sure." They headed to nearest pub. They sat down near the counter.

"Dark 'n' Stormy." Drake ordered.

"Glass of water and a small plate of potato sticks." Akiara ordered.

Waiter wrote it down and headed to bar section to make a drink for Drake.

"So what is it you wanted to talk about?" Drake asked.

"How is Teivel?"

"Emperor gave her death penalty and tomorrow is her execution day."

".... where is she imprisoned now?"

"Tower of misery."

"Tower of misery?" Server served them drinks.

"Yes. It's a tower created by a powerful mage to imprison the rebels who turn against the imperial family. Later they found out that the mage was a rebel plotting to overthrow the empire, he got executed."

"I see." another server from kitchen served a plate of french fries to Akiara.

"Are you thinking of rescuing her?" He asked as he took a sip.

"Yes." She took a bite. "What did that bastard mean 'destroyed women's lives'?"

He flinched by her sudden question. He held the glass tightly and looked sad, "He destroyed my sister's life by taking away her innocence and from that day on she lost the spark on her eyes and smile on her face."

"...." she sighed.

"Thanks for getting rid of him in my stead. I didn't know how to get revenge for my sister."

"Don't thank me. It was Teivel who killed him."

"Anyways what are you going to do after rescuing her?"

"We will leave the empire to start a new life with new identity."

"Then I wish you to have a good life. And the treat is on me." He smiled.

"Thank you for your time." She stood up from her seat.

"It was nothing. I'm glad I got to talk with you. I am also thinking of leaving the empire soon. I hope we meet again someday." She hummed in response and walked out of the pub.

Later that night, they gathered like Akiara said.

"I heard that she is gonna get executed tomorrow." Cordelia spoke.

"I am going to visit her now. Cordelia, you start heading to border of the empire. We will meet you there by evening." then she handed to two water and fire monster cores, "Sell this if you are short on money."

She nodded and started walking away. Then she handed her inn's room key to Arrow, "Take this. Get plenty of rest because tomorrow I need you to work on the plan."

"Okay big sis. Be sure to come back safe." Arrow shouted walking away.

Her eyes glowed and jumped on the rooftop of the house. She started running and jumping roof to roof. She reached the tower in thirty minutes. She stopped to catch her breathe. Then she hid behind a tree to see how many guards are placed at the entrance. She carefully observed their military uniform.

"Illusory magic." she casted it on herself. It was an illusion of her in male version. She walked towards the entrance and the guards stopped him(her).

"Who are you?" one of them asked.

"I have been sent by His Majesty to see the prisoner on how her torture session is proceeding." Akiara replied.

"O-oh I apologize. Please." He gestured his hand showing him(her) the way to go inside.

"It's cold inside just like its been described." She walked to fifth floor. It was way colder than the other floors.

She noticed Teivel's prison. Soldiers were throwing hot water to her and walking away carrying empty buckets. She walked towards the prison. She was wet and shivering in cold. She felt a sharp pang in her heart seeing her in that state. She flinched as she touched her chest realizing what she felt.

"Teivel." She called out.

Teivel immediately recognized her voice and raised her head. "Aki?" She smiled and walked towards her. She touched her cheek.

"It's really you! What are you doing here?"

She touched her cold hands. It went numb yet she felt warmth in her cheek. "Just came to visit you."

"Aww did you miss me?" She smirked.

"No I did not." She turned her face away. Her ears were red.

"I see." She chuckled seeing her red ears.

"I really wish to break these bars and take you out but you will die by sudden decrease of the temperature. All I came to tell you is that I will come to rescue you no matter what. So just wait for me." She smiled.

"You're saying it like your are my knight."

"I haven't told you yet but yes I am your knight to save you." She waved walking away.

She raised her eyebrows hearing her response. She smiled, "I am waiting to see how you rescue me."

The day of execution

All the commoners and nobles gathered around the execution ground wondering what is going on. Akiara and Arrow were standing on the roof of a house staring at the sight.

"Arrow once I jump as high as I can you will catch us and use cloaking magic so that one can see us or catch us." Akiara explained.

"Got it." He casted cloaking spell on himself. He jumped in the air and transformed into a dragon, flying off.

She casted shapeshifting magic on herself changing her hair color to blonde. She looked determined, "Just wait Teivel I will save you."