15

  “Traitor!”

  “Murderer!”

  “Dumb bitch!”

  “Death to the royal family!”

  The people’s cries carried through the burning courtyard and were filled with the ashes of the dead . Because of how the Duke and the Emperor turned their backs on the thousands of people slain by the corrupted monsters who invaded Edindale. Edindale, the center of the Pale, had fallen and lost its capital from the inside. The beggars and workers all lost their families. Wives, husbands, children, and friends sat in front of the courtyard of the beautiful white monument leading to the duke’s fortress. Even the guards stationed hesitated to stop the riots, their friends also had fallen.

  Luna’s fate had already been decided. The Archduke Luna Archer of the royal family stood in the center of the courtyard as smoke rose above the setting sun. The people in the streets deemed her as a traitor and wished for her to be executed. Executed for failing to look out for the people she swore to uphold and protect. She hid behind the high white monument walls unscathed, while others burned to a crisp.

  “Princess! Come back inside!” the head guard demanded.

  “They didn’t have to die. They shouldn’t have,” Archduke Luna sadly repeated to herself. Her pale cheeks blushed a fiery red, matching the shade of the smoldering flames surrounding her. “Forgive me for not being there when I was needed most,” she announced to the screaming crowd.

  Luna exhibited compassion for her people, but it wasn’t enough for the crowd. It was too late for apologies. They launched eggs and animal feces towards her. One large ball of horse manure splatted the Archduke in the face. Her eyes burned as it got in her eyes and the smell caused her to gag from repulsion. The crowd revolted and chanted for her suffering to begin .

  The King and her brother the Duke withheld all resources for those living before, during, and after the catastrophe. Food and money were sources none outside the main fortress possessed. Everyone was truly suffering while the King and Duke stood idly by dooming thousands of innocent men, women, and children all for materialistic greed. The Duke and King had never cared for their people. This was all an elaborate plan to erase the high population in Edindale from overflowing with immigrants. The massacre of people was icing on top of the cake for the royal families.

  Starvation and poverty sat at an all-time high in the country. With the fall of the Prime Lands, people were looking for justice. They overtook the courtyard and were trying their best to break through the capital fortress. Soon, all the nobles and royals of this kingdom would fall at their feet, just as many citizens had been.

  The Archduke Luna was the first and only noble to stand outside the white gates in years. Her face was completely covered in animal shit. Eggs stained her diamond white dress, and blood poured down her face from the pelted rocks. Blood filled her violet eyes. Her royal friends watched in silence from the palace as she signed her death wish.

  “Stand with me! And we’ll create a better tomorrow !” The Archduke remained grounded in front of the gates pleading to the uprising citizens.

  Tears threatened to end her strong candidacy to the people as they began to form in the corners of her eyes, yet she boldened up and set her shoulders back. She refused to let the people view her in the same light as her father. If she needed to die to prove her loyalty to her people, she would have gladly done so. The people had starved and suffered long enough in her eyes, and they were after justice and blood. She was prepared to allow it.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “It’s the only way…” Luna whispered shakingly. “Sir, knight. Take me to the people. I am ready. Our people need justice, and it is time someone from the royal house atones for our weak leaders’ neglect.” She walked to the knights and placed a gentle hand on one of their arms.

  The knights nodded at the Archduke and moved to each side of her. They held her arms steadily and escorted her into the crowds of angry citizens. She walked through the hundreds of thousands lined up outside the fortress, with each step feeling as though her legs were made of glass.

  “Murderer!”

  “Bitch!”

  Her face remained firm after each insult. “To betray our people like you did, Father…” Luna muttered.

  The King and Duke watched Luna from the balcony. The Archduke continued to march with a purpose, enduring the screams and rotten food being thrown at her. Rotten tomatoes and cabbages were slung at her, clinging to her hair and dress. The knights let go of Luna and made her walk alone through the crowd. The knights nervously hurried back to safety, as she continued on.

  “Forgive me for their sins. I knew of your suffering far too late…” Archduke Archer confessed as a dozen hands pushed her to the ground. Hundreds of surrounding folks yelled and laugher at her pain.

  Luna lied on her back, staring at the people surrounding her that trampled her body with footsteps and pelted fruit. The sun shined brightly into her eyes, nearly blinding her, until a figure moved into sight, blocking the rays from hitting the Archduke’s face. Once her vision cleared, she recognized the lone knight that shielded her. He extended his hand and lifted her, carrying her gently in his arms. The people stood in awe of the hero before them. He was one that they had not seen in a long time. The crowd silenced their screams and lowered their arms, and just stared in wonder.

  “It’s the Kingsman Omar Marshall. The Pegasus, King of the Five Seas.” His large frame protected Luna from being targeted for attack any longer. “Why is he protecting her…?”

  “Omar…” Luna glanced at him in shock. The crowd fell back, making way for the two to head towards the burrows where the poor lived. “W-why would you protect me after all the sins I should pay for, Sir Knight?” Luna cried.

  Omar held her with one arm, and unleased a ravishing smile to the woman he held against his torso. His onyx eyes bounced off hers with a soft-glowing beacon of light. A gentle grin formed on Luna’s face. “My lady, my duty is to protect this country's innocents. Stop the Diborn Army from taking our lands. Luna…” he hesitated. Omar wiped away the feces clinging to her cheeks that was thrown at her earlier. Even now, she still looked gorgeous enough to leave him speechless. “You are innocent of your father and brothers’ sins.”

  His eyes turned to the wide-eyed crowd. “Archduke Luna didn’t know of the atrocities that you all have been going through. Remember that. She was prepared to give her life for you. To grant you vengeance for their neglect. If you are so eager to fight, come to Belkos and fight with me. Let us free this world from the darkness. Not tear those who remain strong, trying to rebuild it…”

  Omar looked sternly at the crowd as he spoke. “You will not take her. She is going to save you all,” he promised. “Twenty miles from here lies our school of champions. I hope to see you there.” His focus narrowed back to Luna, who lie fragile, yet strong enough to cling onto him tightly.

  Luna placed her frail hand on the forearm of Omar’s clothed gauntlet as she sobbed. “Please… I don’t deserve such protection from you, Omar. You and Magnus saved our continent once already. My father destroyed this kingdom, my home, from the inside. Their king failed them. I must face the consequences.” Omar froze and looked down at Luna.

  “My lady… Luna. These people need compassion and love from a great royal like yourself. They were wronged by your father and are fueled by hatred and fear. Show them that you are meant to wear a crown over your head. You are the true Queen. Prove to them your father’s and brother’s sins end with them, not with you.” Realization covered Luna’s face as she finally saw the truth and stopped blaming herself for her people’s suffering.

  “Thank you, Omar.” Luna smiled back at Omar, in awe of his bravery to protect her. Omar wiped Luna’s tears, caressing her face gently. The two locked eyes with one another, and Luna showed her gratitude by tunring her head and rewarding Omar with a soft kiss upon his hand that rested against her cheek. “How can I ever repay you?” Luna asked.

  “There is no need. I only ask you to aid our academy with resources to protect the world we know, my lady.”

  “As Archduke, I can do just that. I will aid you so that you may save our country again,” she bequeathed.