"Knock! Knock!" Queen Selene rhythmically tapped her knuckles on her daughter's door, an urgency in her desire to speak with her.
Receiving no response, she knocked again, her patience waning. Still met with silence, she sighed deeply before calling out, "Crystalia, it's me. Please open the door."
She anticipated the door would swing open as soon as she spoke, but her furrowed brows revealed her growing concern when there was still no response.
Stretching her hand, she pulled the door open. "Crystalia, didn't you hear me knocking?" The Queen entered the room, only to halt abruptly and stare wide-eyed at the scene before her.
In front of her stood her daughter's Personal Guard, the one who had also been blessed by the Princess of the Garden, positioned near the window as though he had been engaged in a conversation with someone outside. Queen Selene's gaze fixed on the yellow crystalline material tied to one of the crystal pillars in the room, extending out of the window. It was evident that her daughter was attempting to escape through the window.
Her left eye twitched as she focused on the Personal Bodyguard, who appeared frozen in time under her intense gaze. She demanded, "Where is Crystalia?"
Her daughter's personal guard, Flintor, nervously gulped down a lump in his throat, his finger trembling as he pointed towards the window while muttering under his breath, 'She's dead… She's dead… She's dead….'
Queen Selene inhaled deeply, as she stepped forward and directed her gaze outside the window.
"HEY, FLINTOR! I'LL BE AWAY FOR A WHILE THIS TIME, SO DON'T WAIT UP FOR ME!" Princess Crystalia's voice echoed from outside the castle walls. Receiving no response, she glanced upward to check if he was still there.
Her body froze in fear as she uttered in disbelief, "Mom."
Queen Selene, realizing her daughter had spotted her, suppressed the anger boiling in her heart.
She extended her hand out of the window, gripping the long, yellow, crystal-like fabric, and began pulling it upward.
She had initially intended to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her daughter after attending to some pressing matters that required her presence.
However, upon witnessing the audacious stunt her daughter was attempting and hearing the words she had just uttered, Queen Selene abandoned the idea of a heart-to-heart talk.
Instead, she concluded that her daughter required some discipline, not a gentle conversation, especially with the important gathering of the Prismerian Kingdom's Clan heirs looming.
Queen Selene was fully prepared to administer a spanking with such force that her daughter would have a tough time wearing her panties for tomorrow's event.
She was well aware that her daughter, a rebel in her own right, disliked conforming to social norms such as wearing panties.
Nevertheless, this only made the impending punishment all the more fitting, as it would compel her to wear them whether she liked it or not.
"Mom," Princess Crystalia hesitated, her voice trembling as she swallowed hard. Suspended outside the window, she dared not let go of the fabric for fear of a painful fall. Nor did she consider continuing her descent while her mother was determined to haul her back up.
"You're in very deep trouble, my dear. I can't help but wonder what your father would say when he hears about these antics you've been up to lately," Queen Selene remarked, her gaze fixed firmly on her daughter. With a stern tone, she issued her command, "Now, raise your clothing up and show me your buttocks."
…...
Orion found himself seated in a beautifully crafted crystal carriage, its surface glimmering in the soft moonlight. To his surprise, he shared the carriage with the King and Queen.
Initially, he had been assigned a separate carriage, much like Princess Crystalia. However, when whispers began circulating about the need to keep a close watch on him, he was quickly reassigned to this carriage alongside the King and Queen. It made sense; who better to ensure his safety than two of the most influential figures in the Prismerian kingdom, especially considering the Queen's status as the most powerful Presmerion in the entire Kingdom?
Still, he couldn't help but wonder how this carriage was moving without the aid of any visible creatures pulling it forward.
'Maybe it's one of their abilities,' he thought, recalling the lecture Elysia had given him.
Suddenly, loud explosions echoed outside.
"Boom!" "Booom!!"
Orion, the King, and the Queen immediately snapped their heads toward the window.
"It seems that we are under attack," King Brylon said, his brows furrowed, pondering who could be foolish enough to attack a royal carriage.
"Don't worry, the guards will take care of it," Queen Selene reassured her husband. Then, she turned her attention to Orion, as if trying to convey that everything would be fine.
Being royalty, they knew that no one would dare to openly attack them without significant backing.
However, just in case such an incident did occur, they travelled with three empty carriages surrounding them to confuse potential attackers and slow down their attempts.
Nevertheless, with the formidable military presence accompanying them, the ambushers' efforts proved futile, and those responsible for the attack were swiftly captured.
"Boom!!" Boom!!"
"Arrgghhh!!"
Orion could hear the rough sounds of battle from outside the carriage, the clashes continuing for several minutes before abruptly ceasing.
"Tie them all up," he heard a voice command, just before he noticed the curtains on the windows being drawn open.
"Sorry about the delay, Your Majesties. The criminals have all been captured and will be taken back to the palace for questioning," spoke a middle-aged man with vibrant red crystal-like locs from the other side of the window, waiting for the King's and Queen's response.
"Alright, we're already running late, so let's proceed," the King responded firmly. "And if they refuse to cooperate, feel free to employ any means necessary to uncover their identities and the one who ordered this attack." Though he held suspicions, he couldn't disregard the fact that remnants of the forgotten clans still existed. Their bloodlines and influence had waned over millennia, and they believed none of the current major clans should hold such power, making them willing to do anything to topple the existing order.
