The Agreement Between Kings

81

Lúcia grabbed numerous luxurious sheets that adorned her bed and tied them together one after another. When she finished, there was a long rope that she stuffed through the window.

She threw the rope outside and descended slowly. It took some time before she could finally reach the ground; during the process, she slipped several times.

Lúcia sighed and gave a horrified look at where she had come from. If she had taken a wrong step and fallen from that height, she would be dead now.

"Your Highness, His Majesty the King wishes to see you."

Lúcia's eyes almost popped out of their sockets when she saw the governess beside her holding the tiara she had thrown onto the bed.

"How did you get here so fast?" Lúcia asked, embarrassed.

"I hope the princess enjoyed her brief adventure. Even if it pains me to interrupt it, as I said, His Majesty wishes to see Your Highness. Please come with me."

The governess said impassively. Lúcia glanced at the improvised rope she had made, laughed dryly, and decided to follow the governess.

"Your tiara, Princess."

Lúcia adjusted the tiara on her head; by this point, she had already gotten used to wearing it. The governess helped adjust her clothes, which were wrinkled from her unsuccessful escape attempt.

As Lúcia and the governess walked, the staff stepped aside and bowed in respect, just as they had been instructed to do. Lúcia walked in the center of the corridor while the staff walked along the sides.

It didn't take long for Lúcia to finally reach the throne room along with the governess.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Princess is here at your request."

The governess bowed before politely withdrawing as soon as the king gestured with his hand.

"Princess, it's good that you've come."

The king stepped down from his throne, a floating screen following his steps.

Lúcia gave a polite smile and made a small bow. She turned as the king walked past her and the screen moved in her direction.

When the screen filled her field of vision, she was finally able to see what was on the other side. First, she was greeted by the sight of a command room that you could only see in movies.

Before a thought could form based on what she was seeing, one particular person caught her attention.

"Brother, is that you?"

Lúcia didn't realize it, but tears were streaming down her face. She thought she was dreaming.

"Lúcia, sister, is that really you?"

After so long, she once again heard the voice she had longed for all this time.

"Lúcia, is it really you?"

Lúcia could feel the disbelief and confusion in her brother's voice; she felt the same way.

She glanced around the throne room and realized she was alone. She wiped her tears with her hands.

"Lúcia, are you alright?"

She could feel the concern in her brother's voice. She was speechless, not knowing how to respond, so she just nodded.

"How did you end up there? What did that man do? Are you really alright? Are you sure?"

Lúcia's breathing quickened. She had so much to say and complain to her brother, but at the same time, it was hard to believe that her brother was really there, talking to her. What should she say?

"I'm fine, and you? How are you and Mom? Are you taking good care of her?"

It was all her turbulent emotions allowed her to say.

"Where are you? Is that the Hunters Association?"

"I'm fine. Mom's the same as ever, but she's alright. Mónica is taking care of her, you don't need to worry."

She saw her brother give a reassuring smile that helped calm her down a little.

"And how is Mónica?"

"Mónica is fine. She's worried about you. We're all worried."

Lúcia could feel the guilt in her brother's voice. She wondered why.

"Lúcia, are you really alright? You're not being forced into anything, are you?"

Lúcia was surprised by the fierceness Alex showed when he said those words.

She quickly shook her head and tried to reassure her brother.

"I'm alright now. I was kidnapped, went through some rough times, but His Majesty rescued me from the auction. But it's all fine now. I really am okay."

For some reason, her brother didn't seem more at ease with what she saidon the contrary, he now seemed even more anxious.

"Lúcia, do you know why that man is keeping you there?"

Her brother's voice came again, but this time he wasn't speaking just to her. He seemed agitated, growling at the people beside him.

Lúcia thought for a moment before responding.

"He said I'm a bargaining chip for his business. He wants you to do something for him in exchange for my freedom."

Lúcia saw Alex's face twist in anger.

"A bargaining chip? How dare he think of you as an object?"

Lúcia wondered if that was really her brothershe had never seen Alex show such behavior before.

It seemed like the people beside him were telling him to calm down.

"Lúcia, can you call that man?"

***

"King of Camelot, I hope you're more at ease now that you know the princess is safe and well."

Alex saw the king sit on his throne and address him.

"If a single hair on her head is missing, you'll wish you had never met me."

Alex said, giving the king a fierce look through the screen.

"It is questionable how you choose to show gratitude to a fellow member of royalty," the king said, giving a false dramatic sigh.

"But there's no need to worry. I am quite hospitable and have treated the princess with the courtesy worthy of royalty."

"What do you want from me?"

Alex asked, taking a deep breath as he regained his composure.

"What I want is simple. I want you to take me to the land of 3025. If Your Majesty gives your word on that, I guarantee the princess will be returned to you."

The king showed his beautiful white teeth, which gleamed under the throne room's light.

"No way." It wasn't Alex who spoke. The general stepped forward and said it before Alex could.

The king raised his eyebrows, and Alex did the same.

"I'm not going to allow Alex to do that. You should look for another lucid being to take you there. Didn't you say you were one? Then why do you need Alex to take you to the land of 3025?"

The general's beautiful yet cold voice sounded again, making everyone present turn toward her.

"King of Camelot, is this your answer?"

The figure on the screen looked at Alex and asked, resting his chin on his fist while crossing his legs.

Before Alex could say anything, Félix spoke first, his face showing disbelief and horror as he hurried to speak.

"General, the team we just sent have reached their destination and disappeared. I can't locate any of them."

"What do you mean disappeared? Be clear." The general looked at Félix confrontationally.

"They vanisheddisappeared. I can't detect any trace of them."

Everyone looked at the figure on the screen, who displayed an enigmatic smile on his face.

"What?"

"You didn't think a few three-star hunters would be enough for me, did you? I am a king. Don't say I didn't warn you about what would happen."

The king's eyes turned completely black as he spoke in a threatening tone.

"How dare you claim my head?"

After this display of power, the king returned to normal and turned toward Alex.

"King of Camelot, what do you say? Do you accept my proposal? This is the last time I'm asking."

The king's voice sounded annoyed and impatient.

"I accept," Alex said without thinking, and as expected, the general protested his decision.

"General, we should respect his decisionit's what the Professor would have wanted," Arnaldo said, stepping back and sharing his thoughts.

The General merely rolled her eyes and stared at the figure on the screen with a threatening glare, exuding a killing intent that froze everyone's hearts.

"Very well, King of Camelot, I will trust your word. You know where I amcome retrieve the princess. You are free to bring two companions; that is the maximum number of visitors I wish to receive."

The king waved his hand and the call ended.

Silence took over the command room of the Hunters Association. No one said anything until Arnaldo broke the ice.

"This is definitely a trap," the Sword Saint said, stepping toward Alex.

"The Sword Saint is right, but it's not like we have any other choice, is it?" Félix muttered, typing furiously as he searched for clues.

"Trap or not, I'm goingmy sister's safety is at stake," Alex said, determination in his eyes.

"Don't be impulsive. We need to think this through carefully. What do we do, General?" Felícia turned to the General with authority in her voice.

"Arnaldo, Alex, and I will go retrieve the girl," the General said, casting a quick glance at everyone present.

"General, isn't it risky for Alex to go on this mission? It's obvious that he's the one they want," Felícia said, her eyes blinking lightly.

"Are you underestimating me? With me present, do you really think anyone with blood in their veins could move a single finger without my permission?"

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