Alexander paired up with Adira while William and Casimir picked two knights with the leanest build among them all to hide under a cloak before spreading out.

But of course, before they did, Casimir made sure he gave Alex a piece of his mind as he whispered softly,

"I'm entrusting Adira's safety to you. Protect my wife, Alex. Make sure they make it back to the palace safe and unhurt."

And he passed by the red-headed knight to join his supposed to be partner. Although he hated to part with Adira, he also knew that those bastards would know that and hence, they will locate her much easier.

"Of course, your highness. Even at the cost of my life, I will never allow anything to hurt the princess." Alex whispered his reply, unheard by the first prince, as he watched the person he would do anything to protect with wistful eyes.

"Son, go high and demolish anything that poses danger to your mother and your sibling. However, do not be too complacent and take care."

Casimir instructed Heise secretly and watched his child with pride when the little demon nodded his head in agreement and with determination in his sapphire eyes. It seems that whenever it came to protecting Adira will they finally see eye to eye.

"I'm very proud of you, my little boy." He added and left a kiss on Heise's head before also walking close to Adira, who was observing them with warm happiness, and left her a kiss as well. It will just be for a while. They will meet again soon.

"See you at the palace, Husband. You must make sure you return to us." Adira bid him farewell before walking away with Alexander and Heise.

...

They all scattered in different routes and those that were meant to ambush them were momentarily disoriented, confused to who among those hidden under the cloak was their target, and they also started to disperse.

It was precisely what Casimir wanted. Divide and Conquer.

While Casimir and his knights were preoccupied with all the skirmish right in front of them, Triton, who was watching from a high vantage point, saw Adira's figure making her way back to the palace with the red-headed knight and the large, black as ebony, dragon that soared high to the skies from the trees where their group momentarily sought refuge.

"It's about time I rectified some things." He mused. "Just a little bit more, my love, and I will have you back. It will be like how things were. Just you and me." He whispered lovingly. One-sidedly feeling excited about this reunion.

The first part of his plan had already been fulfilled— to successfully separate Casimir and Adira. With Casimir temporarily out of the picture, a lowly knight, such as the Marquess Vuori's heir, was no match for him.

"Well, shall we go and meet up with my wife?"

He turned on his heel to make way and meet Adira halfway and set things right. While the woman, who was on the streets, fought her way back to the palace while also trying to protect the unborn child that was in her womb.

She couldn't go all out and her opponents, who wore the Dalriada's crest, were also clearly going easy on her, as if afraid to hurt even a single strand on her hair.

Heise was up on the skies and would occasionally swoop down to either roast or flatten anyone that dared to block his mother's path when he was suddenly shot down from the sky after going around once.

"Heise!!" Adira's scream alerted Alexander and he was momentarily distracted with worry for the young child when what he saw his mistress run towards to wasn't the little prince but a huge big-ass black dragon falling from the skies.

"Princess! Don't go there!" Alex tried to stop her but he was blocked by his opponent successfully sneaking in a punch or two before he managed to collect himself and fend them off—still worried and distracted about Adira who was running off towards that dragon.

Now, with Alexander also out of the equation, Triton finally met up with Adira, who didn't notice him coming due to her worrying about Heise, and blocked her path with an outstretched arm—as if welcoming her back to his embrace—and a very happy smile.

"Welcome back, My Queen."

"What nonsense are you spouting off your damned mouth, Triton? Since when was I your Queen? I am Casimir's and no one else's!" Adira shot back hatefully.

She had enough of his madness. Not only was she worrying for her child that was shot down from the heavens, but also for her husband that was still out there fighting off their pursuers and cleaning things up.

And now this bastard comes up to me with some crap about me being his Queen?! Forget about manners and grace! He certainly doesn't deserve it!

Adira raged in her head while raising the sword she managed to steal from one of her pursuers and brandished it against the unfazed man. He was just standing there and looking at her lovingly.

As if amused by her feistiness and struggle.

"Come on, Adira. Come back to me. It'll be just like it was before. Just you and me in this damned rotten world. I'll be the King and you'll be my Queen. And that'll start with correcting a few things, like Casimir's death for one."

It was like something inside Adira just snapped all at once as she rushed towards Triton in one quick and fluid movement and attacked him. However, the man was able to block it as if he could see through her.

With a slight chuckle, he kept his love-filled eyes on her and said, in a sickeningly sweet and soft voice,

"Really, thank God, you didn't change."

Adira felt shivers run up her spine as she watched madness in the man's eyes. He looked as if he was slowly devouring her. Like a serpent slowly crawling its way up to her neck to slowly—yet carefully—coil around her neck, choking and claiming her.

Feeling her skin crawl in disgust and hopelessness about fighting him, she turned tail and ran back the other way to shake him off her. She knew that he won't play nice if it meant capturing her— more so when he finds out that she is pregnant with Casimir's child. This Triton was different and strange.

I need to escape. I need to someone who can help me fight him off.

As she was preoccupied with escaping from Triton's gaze that she could not help but feel on her every time, a man was also rushing out to her. He had his arms raised above his head, to more or less cut her a little bit and slow her down, and she hurried to get her defense up.

No good! I won't make it in time! At least... At least the child!!

Adira wrapped her skinny arms around her belly and crouched down to protect the child she's carrying when, not only she did not feel the attack reach her, a grunt and the sound of something heavy falling on the ground reached her ears.

"Big sister! Are you okay?!"

Adira heard an, almost, manly voice and she whipped her head towards the owner of the voice and found a handsome black-haired beauty reaching out his hand to help her up, sporting a very worried face.

"O.. Owen.."

"Can you stand? Are you okay? Are you injured anywhere? Tell me! Did some other bastard try to hurt you as well?" He shot question after question in rapid succession as he fumbled about her, checking her for other injuries.

He could feel himself tremble in fear when he saw that buffy mercenary try to cut her in the most hideous and brutal way. How can a man as big as that bastard try to bully his beloved and fragile Big Sister?

"These lowlifes don't even know who they're up against! To try and kill you! Shame on you, you bastard!" Owen raged and stomped on the fallen and unresponsive man before dragging Adira away from the streets.

"Owen.. Thank you for saving me. You've become very good with the sword. Little Owen has grown up, indeed." Adira complimented the teen with a sigh of relief.

"Well, of course! I did promise you that I would grow up to be your knight one day!"

And you did just that.

"Really, I've got myself some fine heroes, huh?" Adira softly whispered to herself before remembering about Heise.

"Owen, I need your help. Please take me to the west district."

She pleaded to the teen. The latter, who could not resist anything this woman did, originally wanted to shake his head in rejection since it was dangerous outside but, when met with that beautiful ash-like pleading eyes, he couldn't help but automatically nod his head.

He helped her make her way to the district where she saw Heise fall. Upon arriving, there she saw her child back to his human form and curled into a ball while clutching his bleeding side.

"Heise! Baby!"

Adira rushed to him and picked him up into her arms when suddenly the horns blew loud to alert everyone. And that horn was only heard when there was an attack.

As if confirming Adira's fears, the soldiers stationed atop their kingdom's walls were passing on the news while also preparing for the siege,

"The Kingdom is under attack! The Kingdom is under attack! The flags belong to the Bycrest Kingdom! The Bycrest Kingdom has come to invade the Empire!"

Notes:

Hi! So I just survived my wife's wrath and have successfully respawned. So I come here to present to everyone another chapter! Banzaaaaiiii! 🎉🎉🎉

Forgive your author for being absent these past few days! Much love to everyone! 😘