Chapter 124: War of Hearts
The village was quiet, too quiet.
All the villagers from this village had already been evacuated.
And now the village was completely empty, except for one wooden house.
In the wooden house at the edge of the village,
Ank lay motionless on the bed.
His chest rose and fell rhythmically.
Proof that he was still alive.
But ten long days had passed, and still, he did not wake up.
Maya said that she would take care of Ank not in a royal place or city.
Maya knew everyone had watched his battle, and many would try to harm him.
when he was unable to do anything.
She somehow defeated the assassins that were sent to kill Ank with the help of the three princesses.
But she knew more attacks would come.
So she chose to hide Ank until he awakened.
She did not want anyone to come near him.
But the situation was not in her favor.
And she had no power to protect him.
She knew her limits.
So she demanded that no one would meet him until Ank recovered.
Surprisingly, Freya also agreed with her, despite their fight.
Now the three princesses and Maya were the only ones in this silent village.
Seraphina made sure that no one would come within a radius of ten kilometers here until she allowed it.
So Ank could recover safely.
They immediately understood after that attack.
how many people wanted him to die.
And they did not want to risk Ank's life.
Now inside the wooden house,
The three princesses sat nearby, their fine dresses ill-suited for the rough wooden stools and dusty floors.
Yet none of them seemed to care.
Each pair of eyes held a quiet determination.
As though guarding Ank's unconscious form was a duty as sacred as protecting their own life.
Maya stood in the corner.
Her arms were crossed, her lips pressed tight, and her red eyes, usually filled with warmth, now burned with irritation.
She had recovered from her injuries, but her heart found no peace.
Every day she woke up hoping to see Ank recover.
And every day, she saw the same sight.
Three noble princesses lingering around Ank.
Like the moon circling around the earth.
Finally, she couldn't bear it any longer.
Maya stepped forward, her boots clicking sharply against the wooden floor.
"Why," she began, her voice full of
frustration, "have you not returned to the capital yet?
The war is over.
Your armies are gone.
Your commanders are gone, even your emperor is gone.
Yet you three are still here."
The princesses looked up at Maya at the same time.
Wondering why she was shouting.
In ten days, they had understood her
personality completely.
And her concern for Ank.
Why did he choose her?
She had a short temper.
She quickly became jealous.
And anger was always visible on her face.
Maya's tone sharpened.
"Every time I come here, I see you surrounding him.
Do you think he's honey, and you're nothing more than bees circling for sweetness?"
Once again, Maya commented using another example.
In the end, Princess Seraphina replied,
"Why?
Do you have a problem with that?"
She could not control herself from replying.
Maya became angrier at her response.
But she held back her anger.
Princess Celestia stood up from the chair, folding her arms, and said in a cold tone,
"Exactly," she echoed.
"What does it matter to you?
Why are you angry?"
Maya said with fury,
"Angry? Of course I'm angry!
You should have already left with your emperor when he came to take all of you with him.
Not sitting here like… like some lovestruck maidens."
Princess Celestia's lips curved into a faint, almost mocking smile.
"You speak boldly for someone who doesn't understand.
You and I both know why we are here."
"Stop, Celestia."
Seraphina said quickly.
She knew Celestia still hated Maya.
For what she did to Freya.
But she did not want them to fight.
But Maya spoke again,
in the same tone.
"I will ask again.
Why did the Emperor allow you to protect Ank?"
Seraphina replied.
"This is not your problem.
It was His Majesty's order.
The emperor commanded us to protect him.
while he remained unconscious.
At any cost."
In reality, the Diamondheart Emperor had only told them to place Ank in a safe location and then return.
But they ignored the command and stayed with Ank.
The Diamondheart Emperor tried to contact them many times.
But Seraphina refused to speak with him after hearing his words.
What the Emperor said still echoed in her mind.
"Seraphina, I appreciate Ank's sacrifice,
but remember, the Empire comes first.
Before his life, my life, and even your lives.
For the Empire, I can abandon Ank if necessary.
We cannot fight with powers beyond mortals for him.
He is nothing compared to those forces.
And I will not sacrifice my people for a meaningless fight
That can be avoided through negotiation.
So, place Ank in a safe location and return immediately."
Seraphina nodded.
But deep inside, something broke.
She did not understand why people were so cruel.
Even her own father was ready to sacrifice Ank.
To protect the Empire.
When she found this village.
She immediately brought Ank here with Maya.
So no one could disturb him.
She was also influenced by Freya and Celestia to stay until Ank regained consciousness.
Then Seraphina remembered what Freya had said.
How she blocked all her paths.
"I will not leave Ank.
I am his fiancée, and it is my responsibility."
Celestia had joined her.
"I will never leave Freya after that incident.
If you want to leave, then go.
I will protect Freya in your place."
Celestia said this with a mischievous smile.
Seraphina had no choice.
She did not return to the capital.
She also did not want to leave Freya alone after her fight with Maya.
What if they started fighting again?
She did not want to make another mistake.
So she stayed.
Waiting for Ank to awoke.