Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 251: First Life, Alice. (18)

Chapter 251: First Life, Alice. (18)

Springton.

**********

There was no way out.

For Theodore anyway. He had come all the way to the Castle of Fire and now he was about to get burnt body and bone or sliced through the heart by a sword of an a castle guard or two.

The seconds ticked and he could only wonder if the next would be his last as the guards continue to watch his every move, swords in trembling hands as they prepare to carry out the orders of their king. Capture or kill.

"Surrender your weapon" a guard spoke as he dared take a step toward where Theodore and Alice had been previously conversing. He seemed to be about the same size and height of the prince of the Firseria but was definitely some years older.

"What do you think you are doing?" Alice asked, her voice firm and commanding respect.

"Your highness move away from him" one of the guards advised, "His majesty has ordered for a capture or kill on the prince of Firseria"

"How do you know that this is him? I implore you to leave immediately, he is my guest" as she said this she has moved to his front, an attempt to protect Theodore but he was taller and bulkier.

"We apologize but we are under the kings reign" the second guard retorted.

Theodore studied the guard who had come to arrest him, calm and silent. His composure was not deterred by a promise of impending doom as he continued to watch the Springton guard. His eyes were on the guard while his thoughts were on Alice.

Alice who had gone pale due to the sudden turn of events just stood, dumbstruck. Her hands gripped Theodore’s poem so tight like it was the only thing keeping her sane as a soldiers of her kingdom prepared to do battle with the enemy prince.

What could she do but watch?

She did not have the wits to save Theodore from this one neither did she have the authority to overrule her father’s order. The only way was for Theodore to surrender and then she may plead to her father to spare his life.

Although her lips were sealed, she still screamed within her for Theodore to surrender hoping he would heare

She didn’t want him to die, she prayed that their night did not have to end in bloodshed, not after he had risked everything just to give her a poem she held so tightly to her heart now, because he loved her and missed her.

"Do you surrender?" the guard asked again, this time motioning with his free hand for the other guard to come closer. His colleague hearkened and both of them were staring at Theodore, their eyes suggesting that he made the right decision and surrendered.

Again the seconds seemed to tick by slowly as tensions escalated. Guards ready to defend their kingdom and het princess at the slightest while Alice was still left to wallow in confusion, terror and treasonous thoughts. Only Theodore was calm.

"Your highness?" the older of the two guards continued to speak, growing impatient "Kneel before us and we shall take you to our king, alive" he had said the last word with emphasis and when Theodore did not respond, he added "Any attempt to resist would end in–"

"I know" Theodore spoke for the first time since they arrived. Still, he was only staring at the guard as he said this. Stepping forward and taking a deep breath, the prince seemed to be about to surrender.

Alice’s heart was just about to feel a little ounce of relief before something troubled her once more. She needed to speak to her father, to plead that the prince who had saved her life would be treated specially and would not be harmed in anyway for as long as he was in their custody.

"Put away all your weapons" the guard ordered, his tone much more confident than before. He reached for a set of set of chains to shackle the prince in and when he had brought it out, "On your knees Prince Theodore"

"I am afraid I can’t do that" Theodore said and in the next second, his sword was brandished too, his aura seemed to have changed from that of a calm boy to a strong man, a fighter, a killer.

Alice had never seen this side of him.

The nerves returned to her as quickly as they had tried to leave when the guards became even more alert, raising their swords once more, ready to strike at the enemy prince at any given moment.

"Attack" the older guard and the other obeyed, hands firmly on the hilt of his sword as he struck, hoping to deliver a deadly blow to Theodore in the name of king Albert and for the kingdom of Springton.

The force of the attack was evident from the way the sword was swung and it would have been powerful enough to take off one’s head or knock a weapon off an opponent but Theodore proved to be way clever and agile for that as ge had leapt out harm’s way just in time.

The sword which glimmered from the lit up candlelights that flickered in the hall revealed the weapon to be of a rich beauty and great quality. An extremely sharp blade and a silver hilt with Firseria insignia.

The wielder was just as impressive with his golden curls and deep blue eyes that seemed to be focused on his current opponent. His masculine features were even more outlined in battle as his hard jawline was clenched in full concentration, although his chest was well hidden in the rich clothes he wore, Alice could still make out his biceps.

Alice found herself watching Theodore, the enemy prince as he did battle with a guard sworn to her kingdom. She took in all of his six feet frame as they were laser focused on the opponent who appeared to be clearly outmatched.

Almost out of nowhere, a sword was aimed at him from the other side causing their only spectator to gasp. Apparently the other guard who ordered the attack had did that because he wanted to flank the prince.

Now two armed guards stood on either side, preventing any form of escape for him. Theodore knew that if he did not find a way to escape soon then more of Springton’s soldiers would gather around him and it would be impossible to do so.

Rolling off his sleeves, the prince began to attack with s new urgency than neither of the two soldiers could have prepared for. It was evident that up until that moment, Theodore had been holding back.

"Hold him off, while I sound the warning bell" the older of the two guards instructed as he made to exit the battle leaving behind a trembling guard. "Do not fail!"

As soon as Theodore saw that his adversaries had been reduced to just one. He increased his pressure, utilizing his youthful strength and speed in a way that left Alice awed. In no time, he had disarmed the other guard who began to fear for his life.

"Kneel!" Theodore ordered, pointing a sword to the guard’s heart. His voice was no longer gentle as his superior demeanor leaked out.

"Theodore" Alice gasped as she figured out what was about to happen. She was also shocked to hear that she could speak again after many moments of being dumbfounded with fright.

"Please I..." the guard knelt and bowed his head, begging for his life, his hands trembling as he thought that this would be his final hour. He waited for the killing blow from the enemy prince but nothing came.

Only the sound of running feet.

Run!, Alice wanted to yell but she was more shocked to find that Theodore had spared the guard’s life. However, that shock was replaced with fright as she found yet another Springton guard lurking in the shadows. Alice was about to alert Theodore but stopped when the guard just allowed the prince to pass unhindered.

She couldn’t find out who it was because just before she could the other guard returned with a battalion of Springton soldiers with differing ranks, all armed and looking for Theodore who just escaped.

He was gone, she wanted to sing-song but she knew the castle was sparse and he could be caught still from another corner, so she needed to pray instead.

She turned around.

"Alice," the sound she heard was unlike anything she was expecting to hear from the gathered group of armed men. With trembling fingers, she hid Theodore’s poem away from the prying eyes of Springton soldiers and the cold gaze of the man who called her.

"Yes fath..." she faltered as she turned to look at the direction of the voice. There, clad in royal armour was her father, Albert king of Springton "My Lord" she bowed.

"Are you alright child?" his voice carried more emotion than Alice was used to whether they were in court or in a private room and this was mildly disturbing "Did that miserable prince do anything to hurt you?"

Alice felt an ominous foreboding as he stared at her father and the few who were at his side amongst which was the physician they had seen earlier.

"I am fine father" Alice spoke, her voice cracking under the pressure of the bad feelings she was having at that moment. "The prince did nothing to harm me"

"Is that so?" the king pried as he breathed a sigh of relief. He appeared to have either forgotten that they were before a crowd of soldiers or he just completely ignored them.

"Yes father" Alice spoke again, dread deep in her heart.

"Then let’s be thankful" he spoke again, this time with a shadow of calmness that he used to have, "He did not take you like he took your mother."

Alice blanched, not yet getting the complete information but already stunned to shock, "My─my mother? What–"

"The queen is dead, Alice" he dumped the information on her

"My wife and your mother is no more" No.

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