THE RISE OF THE KNIGHTS OF SINNERS

#39# ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

It's just another week before a meeting of royal leaders around the world. All the inhabitants of Gerel's palace were very busy preparing for the meeting. Starting from repainting the palace hall, repairing various items in the kingdom, installing decorations throughout the city, and much more.

One by one the guests from far away had also started to arrive. Starting prince Philip of the kingdom of Glesia, king Yuma of the kingdom of Vinduria, and king Arindra of the kingdom of Axiom.

Guests who were originally to be placed in the main palace were forced to move to the east palace building. King Charles did not want the guests to know the condition of his grandson. Well since being brought back to the palace, there has been no significant change to Licia. He still often went berserk and frightened as the servants brought food to his room. At least 1 servant has been critical because of the rampage of Licia.

Today for the umpteenth time there was again the sound of things being slammed from inside Licia's room. Leo who got a report about Licia's condition also directly came to the palace. Dressed in a black hooded robe and mask, Leo headed towards Licia's room.

Not far from the door of the room, Leo saw a servant sitting limp with trembling bodies and both hands drenched in blood.

" Hey are you okay? " ask Leo to the waiter.

The waiter looked at Leo, "Tu-master the princess went berserk again. He slashed both my hands while he was delivering food. "

" Go to the doctor's room. Let me handle it here. Also tell the other servants not to try to enter the princess's room at least until she recovers, ", Leo said as he helped the maid to her feet.

" Good sir, "the servant immediately ran while hiding both hands.

Leo himself sighed to prepare to enter Licia's room. He slowly opened the door to peek inside.

Look how messy the room is. Lots of broken things on the floor.

Leo slowly went inside and saw Licia sitting pensively on the messy bed.

" Daughter lord? " greet Leo.

Licia simply fell silent and was still staring at the curtain-covered window.

Once again Leo sighed then walked over to Licia.

...Taps... Taps... Taps......

A few steps Leo approached Licia, from the side she saw the beautiful girl's tears dripping down nonstop.

Leo then knelt before Licia while looking at her empty eyes that were endlessly streaming tears.

" Did the princess think back? " ask Leo.

With my eyes Licia nodded her head but did not say a word.

Leo could not bear to see that sad face. He spontaneously wiped the tears from her beautiful face.

At first Leo thought Licia would be scared but she wasn't. Licia was just silent with the view still pointing to the same object. He did not rebel because he knew that the man behind the mask had saved him.

" Guests from outside have started to arrive. It's good that the princess now cleans the body, "

" I-I don't want to go out! " answered Licia with a trembling body.

" At least the princess must take a bath so that no external disease infects the body, "

Licia looked at Leo then held the masked young man's right hand, "I-I'll take a shower but I beg you not to leave here! You're the only one I can trust and keep me safe. "

" Good if that's what princess pinta. I'll stay here to wait for you. "

Hearing that remark, Licia's trembling body stopped. He rushed to the bathroom.

Leo saw how messy Licia's room was. While waiting for the girl to finish taking a bath, she tidied up the entire room of Licia.

A few minutes later, Licia came out of the bathroom and was wearing only thin-clad pajamas. But Leo was not surprised anymore because he himself had seen Licia's body directly while in the Valdia palace bathhouse.

Licia walked back to the bed as her eyes explored the entire room that had been neatly arranged.

...Bruks......

Licia suddenly lost her balance and fell. Leo approached him immediately.

" Daughter sir?! " shock Leo sembaru lifting Licia's body. The princess fainted with her nose spitting out a lot of blood.

The panicked Leo immediately laid Licia to the bed and ran to call the palace healers.

For hours the healers checked Licia's condition. A sense of worry emanated throughout the palace residents. King Karl himself wept bitterly behind the door of his grandson's room. He was very afraid of losing his beloved grandson and inwardly continued to pray.

Fortunately the healers said Licia's condition was normal. And that bleeding nose is the effect of the depression.

After the healers left, King Charles ordered a strict guard in Licia's room. He won't let anyone in except himself and Leo.

While Leo asked for a day off considering he was still very worried about his brother after the incident a few weeks ago.

...***...

Leo walked back to the dormitory after many days of staying at the palace. Currently, the dormitory is quite empty because the students are returning to their respective hometowns considering the learning activities at the academy are being closed until the meeting in the capital is finished.

A few meters from Thalia's bedroom door, Leo smelled a very familiar fragrant smell. The smell of wisteria flowers. Flowers that only grow on the eastern continental plains.

The young man walked slowly pasting his body against the wall trying to peek at his brother's room which opened a little.

...Clack......

While trying to peek, Leo accidentally nudged the door of the room open Wide.

" hey?! " greet a beautiful purple-haired girl in her fancy clothes sitting next to Thalia.

Leo was surprised that he knew the girl. Yes, the girl was the daughter of the Cronix warrior who had been betrothed to her, Yun Zhu.

" Yun Zhu?! " cetus Leo.

Yun Zhu suddenly ran over and directly hugged Leo. " Aaa.., it's been a long time since we've met! I missed you so much! "

" Tu-wait Yun Zhu don't just hug! " Leo tried to escape Yun Zhu's tight embrace.

Yun Zhu let go of his embrace. He looks very excited. Yeah, how not? For years they have been separated.

" I have been waiting for you here for a long time, " Yun Zhu said.

" How do you know I live here? " ask Leo.

" I accidentally met Yun Zhu's daughter in the city. He said he was looking for you so I brought him here to wait, " said Thalia to get out of bed.

" Hmh.., I didn't expect to see you again Yun Zhu. Oh yeah, how's the emperor? "

" Hhhh.., "Yun Zhu sighed with a face full of resignation, "the situation is getting worse. I don't know until when you can stay in power. While my sister who became his successor until now has not returned home. "

" Not come home yet? Is the rebellion east of Cronix still not quenched? "

" Yes, ever since you and your army returned to Taiyoria, the fires of rebellion have been burning again. They were really hard to conquer because they were moving inside the ground right now. And my brother still hunts them down, "

" Is so. You came here as an imperial representative right? "

" yes. Besides, I also want to meet you. Maybe if I hadn't heard of you continuing your education at the Gerel academy, I wouldn't have come, "

...Geck... Toks......

Uncompleted Yun Zhu met with Leo, a palace soldier came knocking on the door of the room.

" I'm sorry I interrupted your time! I'd like to inform you that the princess is missing again. His majesty the king asked the master to immediately go to the palace! "

" Huh?! Isn't the guard tight? How could he disappear? " spontaneous speech Leo. Inwardly he wondered what the palace soldiers were doing until Licia could be lost.

" The guard is already very strict master even from inside and outside the palace. But somehow the princess just disappeared, "

" Well, I'll be there soon. "

" What happened to Licia's daughter? " ask Yun Zhu.

" The secret of the kingdom, " said Leo who walked near the window of the room. " I'm going first. Sorry, brother, I can't accompany you. "

" Let it be quiet after this I will also follow princess Yun Zhu to the palace. I'm already okay. Just look for Licia and it's good that you're around her for a while, "

" All right, I'll go first. Yun Zhu I'm taking my brother! " Leo flapped his ice magic wings.

Leo immediately flew towards the city. He began the search by combing through the suburbs. On the other hand, Leo continued to wonder how Licia could escape even though the guard was very tight. Could someone help him escape? So far it's only reasonable because Licia's own physique does not allow her to run away using magic plus she is not a wind magic user who can use soul-melting magic.

Leo circled the city here and there but the results remained nil. The search for Licia was made as secretive as possible and the ones involved in this search were only the soldiers in charge of guarding Licia's room. The king did not want to make a scene when the outer guests of the kingdom were in the palace and the city.

But it's unfortunate that despite being searched all over the city, Licia has yet to be found.

The incident of the disappearance of Licia who is still missing raises great suspicion of Prince Theo.

King Charles immediately held an emergency meeting with his ministers as well as calling the best knights to prepare to capture prince Theo. The 20-minute meeting finally decided to arrest and execute Prince Theo for the kidnapping of his own daughter.

The decision taken by King Charles was very risky considering the supporters of Prince Theo very much. The real consequences of these arrests will be civil war and the threat of a coup. King Charles was ready for all this. Whatever happens, he is ready to face it for the sake of his grandson.

Meanwhile in the city Leo still has not given up looking and this time he took a short break above one of the fortress towers of the capital. While observing the surroundings, the young man looked anxious and his mind reminded him of the happenings on the ancient altar.

Although Leo did hate Licia, but he did not want the events at the ancient altar to continue and he did not want Licia to be a kind of fallout as well as the host of the barbaric human ritual.

A moment passed, suddenly there was a strange magic wave that surprised Leo. The waves were very hot and only hit once.

He asked the soldiers of the guard of the fortress but no one felt it. This got even stranger because clearly Leo sensed that powerful magic wave and it should be that even ordinary people who were unable to activate magic energy could sense it.

Not wanting to waste time thinking about the useless thing, Leo continued the search again while finding out where the wave came from.

Just as he was flying, again the magic wave crashed. This time it was getting stronger and stronger. Like a magnet, Leo's body pulled the wave for a few seconds toward the palace. Without a second thought, Leo put aside his quest mission and headed straight for the palace as quickly as possible. Waves of strange magic could be from the assassins who targeted the king or even the perpetrators of the kidnapper Licia. That's what Leo thinks about traveling.

But when he arrived at the palace, it looked very calm as if nothing had happened. Leo went down and asked some of the soldiers. Again the soldiers did not understand what he meant and they did not feel any magic waves either.

He grew curious and wondered why only he felt. Is this just someone's snob? Or a provocation that tries to lure someone?

" Please... "

Leo was startled by the sound of soft whispers blowing in his ears. The sound of a familiar whisper. That was Licia's whisper.

Leo flew back. The whisper seemed to be a sign that Licia was in danger even though Leo did not know how the way Licia who disappeared could whisper clearly in her ear.

Once again Leo circled the city, this time he saw a faint flash of white light flash over the highest clock tower in the capital. Without a second thought, he darted into the tower.

Getting closer to being seen on the roof of the tower a figure of a silver white haired girl in a pajama dress stood up with with her eyes. Yeah, it's Licia. Somehow he was able to get to the top of the highest tower in the capital.

" Liaa...! " cried Leo.

Licia looked at Leo and fell from the roof of the tower.

" Fool what are you doing! " panicked Leo. He exerted all of his magic energy to increase his speed.

It was fortunate that Leo's speed exceeded Licia's falling speed. He managed to catch Licia a few seconds before the girl hit the ground.

Leo took him away towards one of the fortress towers of the capital. Given the state of the palace that was a lot of guests, it was impossible to bring Licia there in this state.

" Lician...! Lichi...! Oye! " panicked Leo tried to resuscitate the unconscious Licia. Her cry was so cold plus a pale face.

Licia slowly opened her eyes and suddenly threw away Leo's face.

" Why are you helping me? " tanya lirih Licia.

Leo was astonished by Licia's question. He could only shut up while frowning.

Licia then looked at Leo with teary eyes, "Why did you save me?! "

" What are you asking that? Are you that stupid? End life as if everything will be finished after you die! "

" There's nothing else I can do! " Licia covered her face trying to hold back the tears in Leo's arms.

" What did you say? " Lo still doesn't understand. He was confused to hear Licia's words.

" After the events at the ancient altar, one by one my memories disappeared. I can't remember my childhood! I can't even remember my mother! What my mother's face looks like I don't know anymore, Leo! Then what am I living for if my precious memories seem to be fading away! "

Licia's statement made Leo pause for a moment.

" I went berserk, hurting the servants not because I was crazy but I was angry at myself who failed to remember all the past memories with mom! Even my childhood with you I can't remember! " said Licia accompanied by a cry. He looks so depressed and stressed with this state of affairs.

" I live in loneliness and fear! When I want to live a quiet life but the quarrels of grandfather and father always drag me in royal politics! I approached Orka not really because I liked it but I was just looking for protection! But the result is the same! I was dragged again by those who were power-hungry! Now I've forgotten my mother's face and all my childhood. What am I living for?! I keep thinking so! I keep questioning myself why am I still alive? What for political tools or for living weapons? "

Leo could not say anything. She just kept quiet and hugged Licia tightly trying to calm her down. Somehow Leo's heart also seemed slashed to hear the outpouring of the girl.

Licia was crying in Leo's arms. Crying as hard as possible releases all the pain that continuously curses his heart.

Leo could only be silent and let Licia cry as much as a few minutes until finally Licia was asleep in the arms of Aiden's marquis son.

Feeling a little calm, Leo brought Licia back to the palace a few minutes before King Karl sent an army to arrest Prince Theo.

Leo told Licia of all the events that had happened to King Charles. In addition, Leo also called Kiran to analyze the situation of Licia.

The reason was not that the court physician was summoned because there were rumors that some of the court physicians were supporters of prince Theo. And for the sake of Licia's safety, King Karl chose Kiran according to Leo's advice.

In Licia's room, Kiran uses her magic for 10 minutes to see the illness in Licia.

" I'm sorry to make your majesty and Mr. Leo wait, " Kiran said after analyzing Licia's situation.

" B-how is my grandson? " ask the king.

" I initially thought he lost his memory due to depression after the incident but it wasn't. The condition of the princess's body is healthy. But there was something strange about his magic energy, " Kiran said.

" Weird? Whatchu mean? " ask Leo.

" There was a surge of magic energy many times over in the body of the princess and it lasted only a few seconds. It seemed like the princess' mood had a huge effect on her magic energy. I have not been able to conclude about the memory loss experienced. But it came to my wild mind that guessing that the princess' magic energy surge would sacrifice her memory like a parasite that gnawed at memories bit by bit and turned them into magic energy, "

" Is there no way to cure it? "

" I'm sorry, your Honor, this is just speculation. But if true, this kind of case only happens for the first time. It's good that the noble tried to ask the cure to the famous alchemists. Then I leave the place, "reply Kiran bowed.

" all right. Thank you for helping, " said King Charles.

" Is it because of the blood he drank while at the ancient altar? " ask Leo.

King Karl shook his head as he continued to look at the still sleeping grandchildren. " The ritual had no such side effects, "

" Will his memory continue to be eroded? "

" I don't know... " King Karl sighed for a moment, "do you still hate my grandson? "

" I don't know your Majesty anymore. Hate and sympathy are at war in my heart and brain, "

" This is my wish for Leo's lifetime. Please take care of my grandson. I'm not forcing you to be her husband, but I just want you to protect her from Theo's allies. I'm sure they'll still be after Licia, "

" His Majesty must know this is not free, "

" Yes, what are you asking for? The throne? Power? The soil? The money? I'll give you everything as long as my grandson stays safe, "

" My wish is only one noble thing. I just want your majesty to also provide security to my brother while in the capital, "

" It was not difficult for me. "king Charles smiled then walked to the door, "I go first. Please take good care of Licia, "

Throughout the rest of the night Licia kept on delirious about her mother. Sometimes she cries in her sleep. I don't know what he experienced in the dream. What is clear is that Licia's circumstances make Leo even more pity and worry.

He tried to take a nap but the worry was like an arrow that hit his mind. In the end Leo could only sit awake next to the bed of the beautiful girl.

Just silently waiting made the blonde youth saturated and instead made him think of things that he did not currently have to think about.

Tired of Leo initiating a notebook about his childhood story with Licia. She also describes what Licia's mother looks like.

Yeah, Leo also knows who Licia's mother is. She was an ordinary woman who managed to make Prince Theo fall in love. Her name is Miss Alice. He died the day after Leo's mother died. He was also one of the victims of the great earthquake that occurred at that time.

So busy writing makes Leo not aware if the sunlight looks into the cracks of the room. But she kept writing down all her grief stories with Licia as a child. All this he did to be a reminder for Licia who had forgotten her past.

^^^To be continuous.^^^