{Music Recommendation: I’m Gonna Be(500 miles) ~ Covered by Gilles Muylle}
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Few Hours Earlier...
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Adric and his men raced their horses back to Avon. What should have been a two-day journey, Adric had decided to make in a single night. Though exhausted and wounded, with his injury refusing to heal due to the constant movement, the King of Avon had only one wish; to return to his family, and most especially, to his wife.
"We’ve just passed the borders of Valonia; we’ll be in Avon soon!" Malcolm announced. It was already evening as they neared the borders.
Adric smiled, anticipation filling him. He couldn’t wait to hold Oriana close, promising himself never to leave her side again. Even if the world crumbled around them, he vowed never to leave Oriana behind. These thoughts fueled Adric as he pushed forward, not stopping as he raced toward the palace.
Driven by the strength and determination of their king, the soldiers, though weary from the long journey, didn’t complain. They followed him, filled with hope of their victory and the comfort of returning home.
As they neared Avon, Adric made a stop by a river. He didn’t want Oriana to worry, especially if she saw the wound on his stomach. Before reaching the palace, he cleaned and dressed the wound, making it look as presentable as possible. Then he adjusted the band on his head.
"We’re almost home. Let us all return to our loved ones," Adric said with a smile, his eyes scanning the faces of the men who had survived the battle. Though they had lost many soldiers, he was deeply grateful to those who had trusted him with their lives.
As they approached the border at full speed, they failed to hear the shouts of someone calling after them.
It was Madame Rosalie, who had waited all afternoon at the border, unsure of what to do. She would have sent a message to Adric, but her last letter was yet to receive a reply. Going back to the palace without a plan felt futile. She was surprised when she saw the warriors’ horses galloping past her at full speed.
"Your Majesty!" she shouted, running after them, but they were too fast, and the thunder of the horses’ hooves drowned out her voice. Madame Rosalie had wanted to warn them about the situation at the palace, but seeing that they were already back, she knew that things would look ugly in the palace tonight. She just hoped Adric wasn’t too late.
Without wasting time, Madame Rosalie hurried after them, heading back to the palace. With Adric’s return, she believed that everything and everyone in the palace would return to their rightful place. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Upon arriving at the palace, Adric was the first to notice the eerie silence that enveloped the grounds. There were no guards at the gate to announce their entrance.
"Did something happen?" Louis asked, his eyes scanning the deserted surroundings.
Adric dismounted, as did the other soldiers. As they walked further into the palace, Madame Rosalie, who had been chasing after them, finally caught up, panting heavily.
"Your Majesty!" she gasped, clutching her chest as she tried to catch her breath.
Malcolm was surprised to see her. "Rosalie?" he called out.
"T-the Queen... Nicholas took her away today," Madame Rosalie exhaled, standing up straight. "She was going to escape with me, but Nicholas found her and Freya before they could reach the border."
Louis gulped, his heart sinking at the mention of his daughter’s name. "And Freya?"
"I don’t know, but I saw her fall, and that was why Oriana had to go back. Before... before Nicholas caught them... He’s taken over the palace. Everyone bows to him now," Madame Rosalie explained, still trying to catch her breath.
Adric’s grip tightened around his sword, his eyes darkening with anger. Without another word, he turned and stormed further into the palace.
Two guards stepped out, and the moment they saw Adric and his men, one of them shouted, "Traitors! Traitors in the palace!"
Rowan, who had remained silent until then, raised an eyebrow. "Traitors? Did we miss something?" He twirled the dagger in his hand and turned to Adric.
"Give the order, Your Majesty."
Adric nodded grimly. "Kill every last one of them." And with that, the fight broke out between Adric’s soldiers and Nicholas’s guards.
"Oriana..." Adric muttered, scanning the palace. He knew she wouldn’t be safe if Nicholas had truly taken control.
Making his way inside, Adric headed straight to his chambers when he saw Adelaide being consoled in the corner.
"Adelaide!" Adric’s voice thundered. "Where is Oriana?"
Gwen, startled, rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. "Is that Adric? I thought you said he was dead," she whispered, looking at Adelaide.
Adelaide lifted her head, her eyes widening in shock as she saw her half-brother. She took a step back. "B-brother Adric..."
With two long strides, Adric reached her. "I won’t ask again. Where is Oriana?"
Adelaide sighed, shaking her head slowly. She knew it was all over.
"You’re too late. She’s probably being enjoyed by Nic-" Adelaide’s words were cut off as Adric slammed her head against the wall, knocking her out cold.
"What have you done to your own sister?" Gwen shrieked, kneeling beside Adelaide, desperately trying to wake her up.
Adric’s eyes burned with uncontrollable fury. He raised a hand to grab Gwen when he heard a muffled voice.
It was faint, but Adric knew it belonged to Oriana. Following the sound, Adric found himself in front of the room he shared with her.
With one forceful push, he broke down the door. The sight before him nearly made him lose his mind. Nicholas, undressed, was trying to force himself on Oriana.
The strength with which Adric threw Nicholas across the room was unimaginable.
"Who the hell-A-Adric..." Nicholas turned pale as he saw Adric seething with pure fury.
"You’re a dead man," Adric growled, his entire body trembling with rage. His eyes caught sight of Oriana’s flimsy dress and her bare legs, covered in marks. Her entire body was shaking, the girl looked too scared to speak.
Adric cursed under his breath, feeling his blood boil. He quickly removed his shirt, using it to cover Oriana’s trembling body.
"I’m sorry... I’m so sorry..." Adric murmured, kneeling beside her. He gently lifted her, placing her on the more comfortable side of the bed before turning back to Nicholas. Wrapping his knuckles tightly with his hair band, he approached the trembling man.
Nicholas clutched his injured eye. "Adric, I can explain... Look, it-" His words were cut off as Adric’s first deadly blow, aimed at his face, landed on his neck.
"Rot in hell’s depths," Adric spat, not giving Nicholas a chance to speak. He grabbed him by the neck, delivering blow after blow in a merciless rage.
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