Julian jumped down from his mech’s cockpit, carrying an unconscious Seraphina. When he saw the field of dead insectoids, his face paled slightly.
He quickly composed himself. “What happened? Where did the Swarm come from?”
Oblivious as ever, he didn’t notice the cold, disappointed, and contemptuous stares everyone was giving him. No one answered his question.
“I asked you a question! Speak!”
The commander of the guard unit smirked and explained the situation. Julian listened, then his eyes fell on me. He took in my blood–soaked cloth-
es and injuries, hesitating for a moment before pressing on.
“Are you certain the spy opened the wormhole? He’s been undercover for so long. It seems strange for him to expose himself now. I suspect som-
eone else was responsible.”
The commander looked down, hiding a sneer. “And who does Your Highness suspect?”
Julian’s gaze remained fixed on me. “Luna. It was you, wasn’t it?”
As shock rippled through the crowd, a confident smile spread across his face. “You’re in love with me. You saw me ignore you to save Sera, so you
deliberately opened the wormhole, using the students‘ lives to threaten me to come back.”
“I was attacked by the Swarm on my way back here,” he continued, his voice rising with conviction. “You sent them to kill Sera, didn’t you? If I hadn‘
t gone to find her, she’d be dead by now because of you. Luna, your heart is truly vicious!”
The clearing was utterly silent. Everyone stared at him, their eyes wide. He mistook their shock for awe at his brilliant deduction, his smile wideni-
- ng. Guards! Arrest her!”
No one moved.
He waited, then frowned. “Are you deaf? Must I do it my-”
“Silence, you fool!” a powerful voice boomed from above. It was the King. He had to come. The satellite was still broadcasting live. He had to give
his people a reasonable explanation for his son’s actions.
What is the fate of a prince who would sacrifice his people for a woman? A prince who disregards the safety of his citizens? A prince who dallies
Chapter 2
21:16
with his lover while his people are fighting for their lives? A prince who has completely lost the faith of his subjects? A prince who, after the danger has passed, condemns a hero based on nothing but his own baseless speculation?
The King was a very clear–headed man. Julian may have been his favorite son, but he wasn’t his only son.
From his cold, stern expression, I already knew Julian’s fate.
As expected, the King announced live on the satellite feed that Julian Pierce would be stripped of his right of succession and would face impriso- nment and military tribunal.
As the decree was read, Julian’s face went white. He swayed on his feet, completely forgetting the woman in his arms, and dropped Seraphina to the ground.
She woke with a start, scrambled to her feet, and had just cried out his name when she saw the guards clapping restraints on his wrists. Her eyes went wide. She bravely shoved the guards aside and stood in front of him. “On what grounds are you arresting him? What crime has he committ-
ed?”
The King’s face grew even darker at the sight of her. His eyes glittered with murderous intent. “Take her too,” he commanded.
And so, Seraphina was also arrested.
After they were taken aboard the royal ship, the King looked down at me. His voice was mild, but his eyes were like ice. “Luna, is it? You did well
today. Julian was not worthy of you. I will arrange a new match for you.”
I quickly bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“My family are loyal subjects of this planet,” I added, my voice clear and firm. “We owe everything we have to your reign. Whether or not I marry
into the royal family, the House of Croft will serve the crown with our lives.”
I was pledging my loyalty, telling him he had no reason to fear us.
His expression softened slightly. “You are a good child.”
He was a king, and a busy one. After dealing with Julian and distributing rewards, he departed, leaving a contingent of soldiers to protect us as we
completed our trial.
A month and a half later, the trial concluded. The students threw themselves into their final graduation projects. I locked myself in my lab. For
forty–three days, I did nothing but eat, sleep, and work. Then, my graduation project was born.
