Curtain falls

By the time Seth and Henrietta returned from the underground, the preparations were complete, and all that was left was the arrival of the enemy troops.

“Where the hell were you two? Why didn’t you tell us Henrietta would leave as well?” asked Elise as soon as Seth and Henrietta appeared from the underground.

Henrietta giggled, and Seth was about to explain when Elise’s eyes darted toward the mark on her hand. Ignoring the two, she rushed to Henrietta’s side and lifted her hand, her eyes glued to the golden heart mark on her head.

Looking directly at Seth, she asked: “Is this real? It wasn’t destroyed in the war?”

Henrietta was surprised Elise seemed to know about the human heart, but Seth nodded and said with a smile: “It was not. It was protected by the Guardian of Fire deep under Oath capital.”

“That lizard? She didn’t leave with the others?” asked Elise, the blood slowly draining from her face.

Henrietta couldn’t abstain anymore and asked: “Is the blood race part of the horrors?”

“Yes and no.” Replied Seth. They were born out of the collective will of all living beings halfway through the Age of Life. That’s why they are so much weaker and, at the same time, an actual race. While being on the horror’s side during the war, they were not considered a horror but more of a nuisance."

Elise scoffed and released Henrietta’s hand. Clearing her throat, she said: “Well, no matter. Now that you are back, we need to work on the scenario. We’re getting reports the enemy will be here in two days. The ascended had arrived back at the academy, and it’s been a mess since they wanted to meet me, but I didn’t want to meet them like this. Also, Cain and Molly have been ‘arrested,’ and their execution is set for the day the enemies arrive.”

Seth nodded and turned towards Henrietta. “Let’s get this over with.”

Henrietta nodded, and they started working on all the plan details for the following two days.

---

“They will be here in one hour.” Said Seth, standing up from his seat at the table."

“Good. The execution is about to begin, and everyone is ready for the play.” Said Elise, also standing up.

“Let’s go.” Said Henrietta joining the two.

---

Inside the main square of the Oath capital, a large gathering of people was yelling loudly, advocating the release of Cain and Molly. Their voices were so loud that half of the middle ring could hear them.

Right in the center of the main square, two guards prepared two guillotines. They were both drenched in sweat as the people kept calling for their death.

King Lian’s recent decisions baffled everyone, from nobles to royal guards. It was like their king was slowly leading the entire kingdom to destruction, which made the rumors about him having made a deal with the alliance to sell out Oath seem more credible.

Under the protests of the ordinary citizens, King Lian, accompanied by his personal guards, Iris, and a few common guards who were dragging Molly and Cain in chains, started making their way toward the execution grounds.

“Down with the royal family.”

“Down with King Lian.”

“Release Knights Cain and Molly.”

……

The yells from the crowds got even louder after the king made his appearance, the stunts during the last year making everyone turn against the royal family.

If not for Iris’s presence at the king’s side, they would have rushed to attack King Lian then and there.

Lian acted utterly deaf to all the cries coming from the people, smiling while waving toward them. Even Seth, sitting high up on a nearby roof, holding Henrietta’s hand, couldn’t help but sigh.

Once the procession reached the execution grounds, Cain and Molly were brought next to their respective guillotine, and the guards started preparing them for their execution.

Seeing the rough way they were being handled made the common population even more enraged, and even some of the regular guards keeping them in check started hesitating. Still, in the end, with Iris and the rest of the academy teachers there, no one dared to move and stop Lian.

“My people…” said Lian loudly, raising one hand to calm the masses, but it didn’t seem like his move worked as it did before; the people were yelling even louder than before.

“Murderer.”

“Criminal.”

“Down with the king.”

….

“Can we be done with it?” asked Henrietta from Seth’s side, but Seth shook his head and held onto her hand. “We must wait for the enemy attack to be announced before we act. Don’t worry; it won’t be long now.”

King Lian continued his speech despite the people not listening to him. Eventually, his speech was over, and he ordered the beginning of the execution.

Cain and Molly’s heads were stuck inside the guillotine’s lunette, and the crowd grew even more agitated, with some people rushing to their help before being forced to the ground by guards.

After Lian lifted his hand, a loud horn resounded from the city’s outer wall, soon mirrored by similar sounds from all the walls.

King Lian’s hand paused, and everyone started panicking.

“The enemy?”

“We’re under attack?”

“Already?”

“How did they get here without us knowing?”

The entire population was kept in the dark, King Lian working to keep the enemy movement a secret from everyone.

As everyone was panicking and confused, Lian said: “What are you all dreaming about? Execute the rebels.”

His words stunned the entire crowd and even the executioners. The enemy army was at their gates, and he still planned to continue the execution.

---

On a nearby rooftop, Seth patted Henrietta’s shoulder and said: “Good luck.”

Henrietta nodded and took a deep breath before teleporting away.

---

As the two executioners were about to release the guillotines’ blade and be done with it, a loud voice resounded throughout the square. “Stop.”

Following the voice, everyone looked up to see a beautiful golden-haired woman hovering above the ground, her hair hovering in slow motion behind her. Henrietta teleported high above and used time energy to keep herself from falling.

Even the two executioners were stunned and stopped to look as Henrietta kept fading in and out of existence, slowly approaching King Lian.

“Father, this farce had gone on for long enough.” Repeated Henrietta, stunning the entire crowd, making most of them wonder who she was and why she was calling the king father.

Since the first princess’s face was known throughout the kingdom, and that was not her, they quickly realized her identity—the second princess of the kingdom.

Henrietta Annabelle Oath.

The other ascended teachers were about to move closer and protect King Lian when, to everyone’s surprise, Iris raised her hand and shouted: “Back away. The academy will not intervene in matters of the royal family.”

Remembering the words in the letter calling everyone back to the capital, the teachers stopped revolving their energies, joining Iris in watching the show.

“Henrietta, what is the meaning of this?” asked Lian, taking a step back from his approaching daughter.

“Father, it’s no use. Have you gone so mad that you can’t hear the voices of your people? How can you do this to the kingdom you claimed to love so much? How can you sell it away to save your life instead of fighting to protect it as you swore when you inherited the throne?”

“You have murdered innocent people in the name of the greater good, betrayed everyone, and ruled over Oath like a tyrant.” Turning towards Cain and Molly, she said: “When I heard about Oath’s situation, I sent two of my most fateful knights to help the people and try to protect Oath, but to think you will try to execute them as well….”

“Is there anything in this kingdom you won’t sacrifice for your interests? You were about to sell me to a noble for his support; you killed people just because they dared to voice their fears, sold the kingdom, and ascended knowledge to the enemy, even keeping the enemy’s advances a secret. Is there no such thing as too much for you anymore?”

Seeing Henrietta voice all the rumors traveling around made the entire population slowly start chanting her name.

As Henrietta kept accusing Lian, under the crown on his head, Seth’s mark of perception slowly started fading away.

Soon, Lian’s mind returned to normal, and he looked around in confusion.

Remembering everything that had happened, he looked at Elise, Cain, Molly, and Henrietta and started moving back while stuttering: “This is all your fault. What have you done? Bastard chi-“

Before he could finish his words, Henrietta appeared right in front of him, slapping him to the side with tears flowing down her face.

With a wave of her hand, a bound Necros appeared next to King Lian, struggling against the ropes binding him. Waving her hand again, both Cain and Molly appeared by her side, kneeling towards her.

“It’s time for a new age to come to the Kingdom of Oath. We’ll no longer allow ourselves to live under the fear of the surrounding kingdoms. We’ll no longer allow corrupt kings to rule us to destruction and petty criminals to bully our common citizens.”

Turning around, she looked towards the mass of citizens and bowed her head.

“Many of you might not have known me before, so let me introduce myself. I am the Royal Consort of his Majesty King Seth of Endora and the second princess of the Kingdom of Oath, Henrietta Annabelle.”

“I want to apologize to everyone in this kingdom for all the atrocities the royal family has allowed you to suffer. I have so many words of apology for everyone, but now is not the time, so I will make you all a promise.”

“Support me as the new Queen of the Kingdom, and I promise Oath will never have to suffer as it did until now. I will not try to deceive you. I’m already married to a great king and hold the title of Royal Consort of Endora, but if you allow me, I can bear the title of Queen of Oath and lead you all to a better life as well.”

“One where people won’t have to die of starvation, one where every person can make their destiny going forward, and one where the shadow of our enemies would never block our sun anymore.”

The crowd fell silent, not one saying a single thing until a voice resounded from one side.

“Queen Henrietta.”

A wave was set in motion, and slowly more people began chanting.

“Queen Henrietta.”

“Queen Henrietta.”

…..

Henrietta raised her tear-stained face under the loud cheers, and a burning sensation came from her hand. Before she could look, a bright golden sword appeared out of nowhere, floating in the air above her.

‘I'll give you a hand.’

Henrietta smiled and grabbed the sword, raising it and letting its light shine on all the people gathered there.

“I have heard your resolve, and it is time for me to start making right on my promises.”

Turning towards Lian and Necros, she said: “Take the prisoners and tie them in the dungeon. Do the same with the other members of the royal family. Their fates will be decided once the enemy is repelled from our walls.”

The royal guards were hesitant to fulfill the order, but two regular guards quickly jumped onto the platform, grabbing the King and Necros before dragging them away. Henrietta then turned towards the crowd and said: “Caitlin. Come here.”

A petite, shy girl walked out of the crowd and fell on one knee in front of Henrietta.

“Your Majesty.”

“Are the preparations ready?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Get ready and wait for the signal.” Henrietta nodded and turned towards the rest of the people in the square.

“Come, my people. Let’s all head outside the walls of the city. It’s time for us to make a statement our enemies will never forget.”