THE RISE OF THE KNIGHTS OF SINNERS

#23# DESIRE OF THE LICIA HEART

At the end of this summer, Valdia began to be hit by bad weather. Almost every day rain always falls and occasionally accompanied by a mild storm. This condition makes many wheat and corn fields that experience crop failure. Many animals also died from disease.

The rest of the wheat and corn crops were collected as soon as possible to the food stoves in the city of Valdia and all the villages around the city. Fortunately, far away the day Marquis Aiden had predicted this incident. Therefore, for the food needs of the population can still be maintained even though the crop failure because the food barns in all places are more than enough to support every family in Valdia.

***

This morning there was a sudden activity at the Valdia palace. The act was the execution of the perpetrator of rape. The night before, 12 people were arrested for human trafficking and rape. Although heavy rain flushed in the morning and black clouds created strong winds around the city did not stop the process of castration led directly Thalia.

Like the execution of previous perpetrators, they were tied to poles that had been prepared by the executors. The perpetrators were whipped 100 times and then cut his vitals. The perpetrators alternately screamed and groaned in pain. After the execution, they were treated at the healer's place before being sent to Isihogo prison.

This is the first time that Licia witnessed firsthand the sadism of the brutal execution by her rival. In his heart he defied the law in Valdia because it was inhumane.

The girl also went to Thalia who was still busy cleaning up the former execution. He wanted to question about the punishment his rival had made.

" Why should you do that? " Licia comes to question Thalia's policy.

Thalia looked seriously at the face of her rival. " What's why? Creatures like them do deserve that, "

" The prison sentence is more human than the sentence you give, "

" Police sentence? Then after getting out of jail can you guarantee they don't commit crimes anymore? " ask Thalia who just went past Licia.

" at least... "

Hearing Licia who was still trying to answer made Thalia a little furious. He stopped his steps and turned around. " At least what!? Don't you see how women suffer because of them? You women should understand the feelings of the victims too! They were kidnapped and then made into sexual slaves and sold like stuff! If you become one of the victims, you will definitely do what I do! "

Licia fell silent. He realized he was asking stupid questions. " It's true I didn't experience it so I don't know what they're feeling." That was what Licia's heart said as she watched her rival walk into the palace.

Before long, the girl saw Leo who had just returned home from the border. Soon Licia went to enter the palace without looking at her childhood friend.

Leo himself had wanted to greet him but again and again he was indifferent. What exactly is my fault? What makes him angry at me? all sorts of questions popped up on the marquis' son's head looking at the girl he liked very indifferently now. At the palace, Leo tried to get Licia to talk every day, but it always failed. The girl keeps avoiding him and doesn't care what Leo wants to tell her.

Even today again, again, and again Licia avoids Leo. Thalia herself could help nothing. He thought Leo and Licia were just ordinary lovers and had no right for outsiders to interfere.

" Licia." said Leo who entered the Palace and saw Licia walking towards her room. As if not hearing anything, Licia continued walking into her room without even turning her head.

" I don't know how long the girl's been avoiding you, "Thalia walked up to Leo.

" I don't know what else to do. Every time he tries to get close, he always avoids ", Leo said.

Thalia sighed as she touched her chin. " Try giving gifts. Maybe he could get away with it, "

" I don't know what he likes, "

" Hm... Something that Licia likes, huh? If it's not wrong he likes red tulips, "

" Rare red tulips here. How do I get it? "

Thalia pulled Leo's body and placed both hands on the young man's shoulders. " Give it to me! There is a beautiful flower shop in town. He also sells red tulips, although they are very expensive, "

Leo reached into the pocket of his pants and took 1 gold coin. " This is enough? "

Thalia took the 1 coin. " More than enough! I'll buy it tomorrow, "

" all right. I leave it to brother. I'm gonna change clothes before I get a fever. " Leo went up to the 2nd floor in a soaked shirt.

As Leo passed through Licia's room, an eye could be seen from behind the door peeking at her. Yeah, those eyes are Licia's. He plans to take a walk in the city but waits for Leo to leave or enter a room.

After Leo entered the room, Licia rushed out of the palace using a black cloak coat due to Valdia's state that was still raining heavily.

In the city he just went around looking at some shops. His heart was engulfed in endless dilemmas while wondering if his attitude towards Leo was the right one? But he continued to convince himself that the act was right considering that Leo only wanted the throne instead of love.

That sense of dilemma led him to a tavern not far from the city gate. The girl took the time to order warm tea at the tavern. He enjoyed the drink while gazing at the rainwater stubs. His heart began to be at peace and the dilemma was also forgotten for a moment.

" Lician? " from the inside of the Shop, a man's voice greeted him.

Lilly felt familiar with that voice. He looked into the shop looking for a voice calling out to him. And in the tavern there was a handsome man with black hair and brown eyes who was standing looking at him. That man is Orka. Licia's ex-boyfriend.

" O-Orka's? " shock Licia.

Orka walked over to Licia, "I didn't expect us to meet at this place. "

" What are you doing here? "

" To bring you. "

Orka's answer made Licia afraid after what happened in the capital's lake. Slowly Licia tried to get up from her seat and prepared to run to the palace again.

Who would have thought that when he wanted to run, Orka immediately clasped his right arm tightly. " Wait Licia! Please listen to me first! "

" No! I want to go back to the palace! I have a job to take care of! " rebellious Licia tries to let go of Orka's grasp.

" I already know the estrangement of your relationship with marquis Aiden's son. "

Orka's words stopped Licia's actions. " What do you mean? "

" That's why listen to me first! Sit down again, "pinta Orka who let go of his grasp.

Licia is sitting. Curiosity made him forget his fear. " Tell me, what do you know about our relationship? "

" I've been here almost three months to observe the relationship between the two of you, "

" Bas a stalker! "

" Be calm, Licia! This is the mission of prince Theo, "

" From dad? "

" Yes, the prince ordered me to keep an eye on your relationship. And I saw that you've been together for almost two months and I know what the reason is, "

" What do you mean? "

" You stayed away from the son of the marquis because he wanted to marry you to seek the throne, didn't you? "

Licia gasped at Orka's words. How could he know? And never told anyone? At least those are the questions in Licia's mind.

" Ti-no! Your guess is not at all basic Orka, " said Licia was broken.

" Come on, Licia, I've known you for seven years. We have also been in a relationship for three years. Obviously I know what's hidden in your heart, "

Lia lowered her head because. " Cu-cheating! Why do you know everything? "

" Daughter like you lives in loneliness, right? Always surrounded by people who seek the throne. While all you want is someone who sincerely loves you. "said Gently staring at Licia's face.

Orka's words ignited Licia's pent-up feelings to make her cry. He blew it all away because what Orka said was true. Licia ran away from the store but Orka caught up with her and held her hand again.

" You all just want my throne! I just want to be like Mom! Become a woman who is loved sincerely by a man! Butwhy? Why are you all approaching me just for the sake of the throne instead of love? Oye! Say Orka!? Say Why!? " said Licia in her tears.

Orka pulled out Licia's hand and suddenly hugged her body "I'm sorry Licia. If only when I was in the lake I wasn't filled with anger, you wouldn't be like this. "

Amidst the heavy rain, Orka hugged the body of Licia tightly. While Licia was crying in Orka's arms. No one saw the two of them because the state of the city that was raining heavily made the city quiet.

" I hate you all! If you want the throne, don't involve me! I just want to be a normal woman like my mother! " continue Licia in Orka's arms.

Licia let go of the wound. He looked deeply into Orka's eyes. " Am I just gonna believe it!? If you love me, why did you go to the comfort women's place!? why are you yelling at my grandfather? Even you almost desecrated me! "

" Because I was sick of you asking Aiden's marquis son about it when I met senior Thalia. I vent my frustration with it all. I-i'm sorry! If only you had never asked about him continuously, I wouldn't have been like that either. "

Ah right. Licia always asks Leo to Thalia when she was with Orka at the time. It was indeed very cruel to ask another man in front of his own tide. And Licia just realized that now.

" Why didn't you say it in the first place? "

" I don't want to fight with you and prefer to say it myself, "

Licia realized her mistake. He hugged Orka again with a deep sense of guilt. " I'm sorry! I'm sorry Orka! I always blame your bad qualities without realizing that I'm the one who made you that way. "

" I also apologize for my bad attitude. "

Licia nodded her head in Orka's arms. " Hm... I forgive you, "

Orka let go of Licia's embrace and looked back at Licia's beautiful face. " From now on come with me, Licia, "

" where? To the capital again? "

" No! In order to prove that I truly love you and do not seek the throne, I will take you to a foreign village on the eastern continent. We will live together simply there. Without having to care about territory, land, or throne, "

" You want to throw away your family's status and live simply as a commoner? "

" Yes! Since I love you, I was willing to throw away my family status and live a simple life with you. Do you want to? "

Licia wiped away the tears, as soon as the gloomy face turned bright again. " Hm... I want! Just be with you, I want to! Even being a commoner! "

" All right! But before that we have to go to the capital and prepare a lot of supplies to live independently in a foreign place. "

" How did you get me out of Valdia? "

" Don't just stay out what's hard? "

Licia shook her head. " When I get out of Valdia, there's gotta be some Leo army that's gonna spy on me, "

" Hoo... His name is Leo? Looks like we just have to wait for the time to get out of here. "

" Time? "

" Yes, in two days there will be a big storm that will hit the southern region of Gerelia. And Valdia is that southern region, "

" Where does Orka know that? "

" In the holy temple I had met one of the Deus priests who was good at weather forecasting. He said in two days there would be a major storm. And when the storm comes, we have a chance to get out of here. "

" Is it just the two of us? "

" no. My bodyguard will also come to escort us. Now go back to the palace first and prepare your things. Do not bring a lot so as not to burden you when you run away. Besides, it seems like someone is starting to watch over us, "Orka glanced at the side of the gate where there were some soldiers staring sinisterly at the two of them.

" Hm... I'm going first Orka. Thanks to you I realized who truly loves me. See you in two days. " Licia ran towards the palace leaving Orka. While Orka returned to the tavern with a satisfied smile.

***

The next day, Valdia's soldiers made announcements all over Valdia about a storm tomorrow. All residents of Valdia were advised not to leave their homes.

The appeal also applies to the inhabitants of the palace. Marquis Aiden forbade all the palace occupants to come out including Licia. Because today is indeed the wind in Valdia blowing loudly accompanied by the rumbling of lightning that never stop thundering.

But that appeal doesn't apply to Leo. He went outside to check on the villages outside the city. In each village, Leo gave medicine and placed 3 healers on guard. Although heavy rain began to fall, Leo and his team were not discouraged. They continued to patrol from village to village to ensure that all residents were prepared for the storm tomorrow.

At nightfall, the marquis with his 2 daughters looked anxious in the palace hall because Leo did not come home even though it was raining heavily and strong winds were happening tonight. They had been waiting for hours and sent some soldiers to look for Leo but until now those soldiers had not returned either.

" The rain was getting heavier, "the marquis Aiden walked over to the window. " Where exactly is the boy? "

" Let's just relax, he'll be home. It's better to rest, " said Thalia walking closer to her father.

Melina came over and hugged her father. " Right dad, better get some rest now. Brother will be home soon, "

Marquis Aiden stroked Melina's head then nodded, "Alright, I rest first. If Leo's back please let me know. "

" Hm... Good dad! Boris please escort me to the room, " replied Thalia looking at Boris.

" Okay, miss! " Boris leads Marquis Aiden to his room on the 2nd floor.

Shortly after marquis Aiden returned to the room, Licia who had just finished bathing in the hot pool of the palace came over to Thalia in pajamas.

" What are you guys doing here? " ask Licia while combing her hair with her fingers..

" Lician? " shock Thalia.

" We're waiting for Leo's brother. From morning till night she hasn't come home yet, "said Melina.

" Hm... Didn't she? I went to the du– room "unfinished Licia said, suddenly the door of the palace opened.Look at Leo in a drenched shirt walking into the palace.

" Today's rain is heavier than ever before" said Leo, who entered the palace.

" Leo? Where have you been !? I'm so worried about you! " chirps Thalia saw her brother who had just come home but did not feel guilty.

" I'm sorry, brother, there was one of the villages affected by flooding due to the overflow of rivers on the southern border. I was forced to evacuate them first to go home, "

" Hhh... At least give us some news not to worry about you. Melina told me Leo's coming home and you're getting some rest! "

" Good brother Thalia. Brother Leo I rest first, "Melina goes up to the 2nd floor to the marquis' room.

" Yes, good night Melina. " said Leo as he looked at Melina and waved from below.

" I'm also going to rest. " Licia also went up to the 2nd floor and ignored Leo who had glanced at her.

" You guys aren't okay? " tanya Thalia looked at the girl who was walking up the stairs.

" What about the flowers? " ask Leo.

" The flowers will be delivered to the palace tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully not blocked by the storm. Oh yes Leo there is something I want to tell you, "

" Next time, brother. I'm so tired. Then good night. " Lion also walked to the 2nd floor.

Thalia intended to prevent Leo because there was something important that she had to reveal but Thalia realized her sister was tired after working hard for a full day.

" Don't miss say yes? " ask the black-robed man who was suddenly behind Thalia.

" He is exhausted and I can't bear to say it now" Thalia replied.

The man unfolded the hood of the robe and it turned out that he was Kiran the head of the 6th division of the Yurei army. " What will the lady do? "

Thalia turned her body towards Kiran. " I want you to follow them! "

Kiran smiled as she covered her head with the cloak hood again. " Okay, miss! I will carry out your orders! "

The 6th division head of Yurei walked out of the palace and just disappeared from Thalia's sight. While the marquis' first son looked at the window again. It was like he was thinking of something very important. He was so agitated and a little sorry for failing to tell Leo.

^^^To be continuous.^^^