Chapter 43: Hidden Archive (IV).

Chapter 43: Hidden Archive (IV).

Elizabeth's POV

The emperor reveals himself where he was hiding, I grit my teeth and glared at him not finding out his presence sooner.

Not him! How long was he hiding in the shadows?!

Victoria wasn't one to hurt her friends-

And if I use my ice magic he'll know what we were up to at this time of night.

"I asked if you found what you're looking for." He raises his hand, chanting something and soon several floating ice spikes surround him. "To think I was just going to my study because I forgot my favorite fountain pen-"

Victoria signaled towards the door and I was about to open it but the door knob was suddenly covered in ice.

"I wasn't expecting to catch a couple of rats looking for crumbs."

"Hah… hah…" The private study was soon covered in ice too.

I wanted to ask Victoria what to do next since the door as an exit was hopeless!

We tried not speaking so the Emperor won't recognize us from our voices, I'm so glad I'm wearing a mask and wig.

There was only one way out now, even if the glass window was covered in ice that was at least easy to break.

The only problem is- the emperor is standing on our only safe escape route.

"You'll be tortured and interrogated after I capture you two, barely alive." He laughs coldly, throwing another set of ice spikes into our direction.

Thud! Crash!

We rolled and dodged everything he threw at us- it hit the walls, the shelf, and a vase.

"...!" Due to me being inexperienced one of them got my cloak and I was forced to tear it off and ran around the icy floor.

Don't slip…!

"Grrr." (Victoria) wasn't happy now seeing the potential of me getting hurt, she placed a hand on the floor and summoned her earth magic creating vibrations that broke off the ice on the floor.

Crack! Crack!

"...!" My maid held my hand, as we ran over to the window with quick speed.

Oh shit-!

Victoria had to use her body, running down to tackle the window breaking it, the loud noise of glass being destroyed could be heard.

Crash!

I could feel her arms wrapping around me- hugging me protectively as one of her hands covered both my eyes so the glass shards wouldn't get in.

Hearing the shards of glass made my heart drop.

"Nngh! [Earth Magic: Earth Golem]!"

I couldn't see what was happening- but I felt something hard catching us and apparently it was her earth golem growling waiting for instructions.

We were on top of its head, I took a look up where I saw my father- the emperor watching us not looking interested.

Oh I'll give him something to be interested in!

"..."

I grinned, taking my hand and pulling the middle finger on him. That's for ruining a perfectly good cloak! Fuck you!

"Run!"

The golem silently nods, before actually running away.

"Pfft-" I was laughing in my mind, feeling so satisfied doing that. He deserved the middle finger!

The emperor was clearly angry with what I did because he started sounding the alarms for all the guards to catch the earth golem.

"Get those imbeciles! Sound the alarm!" He yelled out and I couldn't help but laugh out loudly now.

The golem ran and climbed up the wall, running inside the forest path but quickly stopped putting us down.

"I'm sorry, dear friend. You have to run- so they'll think we got away." (Victoria) apologizes to the golem who had no expression on its face, it continued with the instruction.

"One moment, princess, remove your cloak." The golem stood still but not before we removed our cloaks- the golem made small stands on its shoulders and we tied it down to him quickly making him bait.

"Now go!"

We hid in the bushes as the golem started wailing really loudly, soon the air magic casters caught up trying to get the golem.

We kept quiet and sneakily found a hidden patch to rest in covering our tracks. We decided to take a break there catching our breath.

The night was cold, it was hard to see but we couldn't risk starting a fire to get caught.

"That was so- eventful." I slumped into one of the three taking out my water canteen and began greedily drinking the water but stopped halfway to offer it to Victoria.

I didn't realize she was biting her lip looking like she was in a lot of pain. "...!"

"Nngh…" she didn't look good- Victoria had a broken shard stuck by her shoulder.

"Oh no- shit- shit- shit- Victoria!" I closed the cap of my water canteen and quickly ran to Victoria's side looking over the damage. "It's an actual big piece of glass deep in your flesh."

Oh no what do I do?!

This wasn't covered in training!

"Princess…" (Victoria) calls out to me with a smile. "I-It's not so bad… I kind of had worse but not feeling pain for a while- I've forgotten what it was like."

"Victoria… stop talking, tell me what should I do? How can I help you- I haven't had this part of the training yet." I wanted to yell, shout in worry and scold her for using her body to protect me back then.

But I couldn't, if I did the soldiers would realize that the golem was just a bait.

"Oh… remind me to add that next time but- you need to pull the shard out with your bare hands." (Victoria) turns her body where the glass shard was. "H-Here… I have some bandages in my [Storage Ring]."

She takes out clean bandages and alcohol to clean the wound. "I… need to have the shard off… so I can wear my maid uniform- and distract the guards in your room so you can sneak inside."

"Okay- okay- take the shard off- won't it hurt?" I fearfully asked, and she chuckled.

"It won't hurt I promise." she tells me reassuringly continuing, "I also promise that I won't scream, princess."

I gulped, I stopped my hands from shaking seeing the blood dripping out of the wound.

I was used to seeing blood, I wouldn't care if I bathed in pools of blood- but this is the blood of someone I care about- I couldn't help but shake in fear.

"I… apologize for letting you see blood again."

"Shhh… don't talk for now- grit your teeth- thankfully I was wrong the shard isn't that deep inside of your shoulder." I disinfected my hands and got ready to pull it out.

I held the glass, feeling it's thickness and soon without even much of a warning.

I pulled it out.

"..." Victoria made no sound- nor did shed any tears to cry as promised and that almost made me work my eyes to well up some tears.

I quickly placed my hand on the wound with one of the clean bandage she provided, putting pressure and waited for a bit for the bleeding to stop. "Hah…"

"I'm… sorry." (Victoria) whispered her apology again and I tried my best to not tell or get any emotional or else my magic might come out.

"Don't apologize, you're the one who kept me safe, you dummy." I told her, disinfecting the wound and then helped her sit up.

"You've… become dependable, how did this cute glutton… turned into a warrior princess?" (Victoria) chucked softly, patting my head and I almost cried, eyes turning watery.

My childish, cry baby side only comes out when Victoria is hurt.

"It's because I know you won't always be there for me. I needed to pull my weight." I responded, helping her wrap herself in bandages looking serious. "I want you to live with your lover back in your province home someday when I'm able to stand on my own two feet- I don't want to keep you here forever."

I lied, I never want my mother figure to leave by my side- but I love my mom.

But I know.

She would be better off- living happily without constantly putting her life first in danger just to save mine.

"Give me… fifteen minutes, princess. I'll be good to walk after so we can get you back safely in your room." (Victoria) gave me a reassuring smile and my heart softened.

"Make it thirty minutes." I sat next to her plopping my behind into the ground, feeling comfortable and decided to make sure Victoria got to drink. I opened my water canteen and gave it to her.

"Thank you." she weakly replies, closing her eyes and I leave her to rest, keeping watch.

"..."

Having nothing to do I take out the scroll I got from the hidden archives as a reminder of what happened. So there were people like me who got a magic extension as their main element to use.

I remembered all the innocent victims that weren't given proper justice- death by horrible and selfish reasons.

"I'm sorry." I knew I didn't partake in causing their deaths but I couldn't help but feel bad for these people I don't even know.

I stand up being unable to sit still, looking around and finding huge rocks I could use to make a small gravestone

I walked around not too far away from the sleeping Victoria and carried a medium stone back to where we were. "Hmph."

I placed it down, and took a knife- carving today's date and apology.

"I'm… sorry."

I also found a few wildflowers not too far, I plucked a few and kneeled towards the gravestone- offering the wildflowers before putting my hands together, praying for the souls.

"Please let them be at peace, be avenged and their souls rest. I'm sorry I couldn't do more in this short notice- but knowing what my ancestors did- this should've been done a long time ago." I lowered my head, apologizing for the sins that weren't even mine.

My heart suddenly felt light.

I went back to be with Victoria's side and woke her up after half an hour of resting.

We climbed over the castle wall without getting detected, went through the kitchen backdoor and changed to our usual clothing.

It took a while but thankfully, the guards scrambled on trying to kill the 'spies' with the golem.

Victoria hid me behind the curtains of another hall and ordered the guards that were patrolling by my room to help search for the intruder.

"Hey! Have you heard of the commotion outside? It's said the intruder made the emperor so mad he's willing to give honorary credits to those who will catch the fiend! Such a shame you guys are here patrolling." She dramatically tells it like a story before urging the two to join the search so they can make something out of their life.

They ran the other way and thanked Victoria for telling them the good news.

"Hehe." (Victoria) gave me a thumbs up before opening the door to my room.

It worked, it got them running to the other direction and I got back inside safely.