Griffin’s expression was nowhere close to that of a happy person. Angry would be an understatement of how he looked right now. And as far as he could remember, the prince looked more younger than the last time he had laid his eyes on him. Whether he was aging backward or had cast a spell on himself, Griffin didn’t bother to know. What pissed him off was the fact that the prince had proven him wrong. He hated it when someone embarrassed him. And now everyone was looking at him with disdain.

Alexander let his gaze travel to the crowd and back to the queen. She looked at him with that same gaze of surprise and disbelief. He understood why she was looking at him that way. So this was his mother. His gaze shifted to Elle and a warm feeling spread in his heart. He felt like hugging her there and then.

Contrary to everyone else, Elle had kept her cool. She was now staring back at Alexander in admiration. She knew that her brother would never fail her expectations. Alexander smiled back at her before he gave the priest a nod to continue.

The ceremony went on smoothly with Griffin shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Most of the people were staring daggers at him, especially Lord Richard. How he hated this man! Griffin could now feel the tense atmosphere in the air. And another cold aura was leaking at the front. This! Why did he feel intimidated by this aura? He was the greatest in all of Crescia and he believed no one could be above him, especially a Valorian. But how could a mere Valorian exude such a strong aura?

His gaze instinctively flew to Alexander. The prince was watching the crowd with no emotion on his face. He also seemed bored by the whole service. Or maybe he never liked his father. Why would he show up late then? Griffin termed himself a wise man. He was able to analyze a situation and get an answer even without asking any questions. But seems today he had done the wrong analysis.

After what seemed like an eternity, the priest finished the long and boring sermon before he led everyone outside. The king was to be buried in the royal Valorian tombs located just outside the palace. Everyone in the hall followed the priest outside and the king’s body was eventually buried. Elle could not hold it anymore and she passed out.

Alexander was the one who caught her before she hit the solid hard ground.

"What happened?" The queen asked in her mourning state.

"She just passed out," Alexander explained and began walking away while holding Elle in her arms. Two knights followed closely behind him.

Griffin watched as the situation unfolded before he gave two of his skilled knights a nod. The knights nodded back understanding what he meant before following Alexander. However, this did not go unnoticed by Lord Richard who had been keeping an eye on him all the time. He called five more knights somewhere enclosed and gave them instructions to capture those two knights alive.

"Seems you are enjoying your stay here," Lord Richard said as he walked closer to where Griffin stood. The Crescian knights seem alert, their hands on the hilt of their swords. But Griffin gestured them to keep their cool before he turned to face Lord Richard.

"Lord Richard? Is it?" He asked pretending how hard he had tried to remember his name.

"Yes." Lord Richard answered calmly. And then whispering close to his ear," I wish to see how your face will look like when we catch the men you’ve sent after Alexander." Griffin’s face switched to that of surprise. He was sure no one had seen him as he gave those orders. What would happen to him now? Treason was the offense he would be charged against, and a public prosecution would be the punishment. And not just any other normal punishment. Beheading it would be! No! He wouldn’t let that happen.

Lord Richard saw the change on his face and he smiled knowingly. How he wanted this guy dead!. Maybe the old Crescia would be back if Griffin died. The previous king and queen were good rulers. But their tragic death had been blamed on Valoria, hence the conflict ensued between the two countries, straining both trade and relations.

Griffin was not a fool to just accept his mistakes and die. He of course had a few tricks up his sleeve, not to mention his great power. Seems this Valorian advisor has forgotten what a Crescian royalty is capable of. He laughed hysterically in his mind before he turned to face Lord Richard with that staged but annoying smile of his.

"Just wait and see. Time will tell." He said in a whisper.

Lord Richard just smiled back. But he wondered what that statement meant. Did he have a way to get away with this? He swore to keep an eye on him more closely this time. He would never get away with it.

Alexander was pacing through the hallways, Elle in his arms when he heard one of the knights groan in pain. And before he could turn around to see what was happening, the other knight was also stabbed to death. They both lay on the hallway’s floor covered in a pool of their own blood. Alexander lifted his face to see who the perpetrators were but time was not on his side. One of them was already bringing his sword to him. Alexander’s eyes widened in panic but he was quick to teleport himself to Elle’s room. How he did that, he also couldn’t tell. But he was proud of these new powers of his. He placed Elle on the bed and went back to the hallway. He would not leave those knights alive.

The two Crescian knights were searching the place in fear. Never had they thought that Alexander could teleport. For them, this was a two-minute job, but it turned harder now. A sudden chilling coldness enveloped the place sending shivers down their spine. Wraiths filled the place making it hard for them to see. Alexander just stood in the shadows as he watched the confused knights. They were Crescian! Why did Crescian knights want to kill him, in his own place at that?

Maybe he could just manipulate one of them to get the information he wanted. He had discovered that he could read people’s mind lately when he came across a blushing maid. He didn’t want to but he found himself inside her head and saw the naughty things she was thinking. It was a good discovery but annoying at the same time.