Dalton Duchy, Eleanora's Bedroom~
Duke Dalton was trying to adjust the mana level of Eleanora's body as whenever she fall sick, her mana level gets more higher and her body becomes colder than usual.
Because she can't control the powerful mana running inside of her body in her unconscious state.
So at that time, someone with greater magic power have to absorb her magic power into their own body by making physical contact, like holding hands.
Alexander quietly stared at his unconscious daughter as he continued to absorb her powers into his body.
Right then, the door of her bedroom slowly opened and a person entered the bedroom with slow steps.
"Speak."
Alexander asked in an icy tone as he felt his aid Rayon's presence in the room again, who has returned after seeing off the doctor.
"Umm, Your grace…From what I got to know was, the princess was looking for you but as you was in the meeting, she was walking near the lake to wait for you…"
Sir Rayon paused on his words for a short time, before he continued again.
"And then the princess bumped into his highness, the crown prince and fall into the lake...together."
Sir Rayon uttered the last word with a lot of hesitation and courage.
And as he thought, his superior was frowning with anger.
"You sure that bastard didn't push her down?"
"..."
Alexander asked with a killing intent look in his face.
'D-Duke... He is the Crown Prince! How can you call him a bastard?'
"No, it was the crown prince who saved her."
Sir Rayon informed awkwardly.
"It was him, who bumped into her thus she had fallen down."
"..."
Sir Rayon became tongue tied and Alexander clenched his fist in anger.
'That bastard again… can't he just leave my daughter alone?'
"Find out what he likes and give him that as a both apology and thanking gift for saving her."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Sir Rayon nodded and was about to leave when Alexander called for him again.
"Don't mention a word to her about him, saving her. Say it was a random stranger."
"As you wish, Your Grace."
Sir Rayon replied politely and stepped out from the room quickly like he was actually escaping, closing the doors.
After coming out, he heaved a sigh of relief; as he felt that he was about to die because of his superiors cold aura.
His superior is always scary but today he was scarier…
Back in the room, Alexander started to stroke her silver hair again with his slender fingertips and gentle smile appeared on his face.
He placed some fire mana stones around her so that her body warms up faster.
Most of the first born children's are born with strong and powerful magic powers then the rest of the siblings.
This is why most of the first born child's are usually boy; because the girl's fragile body can't handle such strong mana and powers.
Among them, the imperial family and the Dalton duchy held the most powerful magic powers in the entire continent.
Pure fire and Ice magic, which is hard to control.
The power would make you feel powerful, but this is also what that would shackle you down.
Just like the blood oath of the Dalton Duchy, which every duke of Dalton has to vow before the emperor.
This way, their superior power won't become a threat to the imperial family and they will always be like an obedient slave of the imperial family, who would be known as the hero of the empire.
The human sword of the emperor, who is obliged to accept any task give by the imperial family.
This was why there were seldom girls born into these two families.
Eleanora was the first born girl who was the direct blood heir into the Dalton duchy over the past hundred years.
The last girl born into this family was the first empress and the last saintess of this empire, the sister of the first duke of Dalton.
And the last imperial princess was the second emperor of this empire, daughter of the first emperor.
This was also why; the priests believed her being the first saintess, Ariadne; who will lead the empire to its highest glory again.
As they Eleanora was born right after they got the prophecy about the birth of the crown prince's partner.
No girl was born into the noble family after the birth of the imperial prince, the empress died and the empire started to get dry because of the never ending summer.
But as soon as she was born, the bright sky turned darker and it rained cats and dog.
The empire started to reach its peck again slowly.
She was considered as a blessing to remove the curse that the crown prince had bought.
So everyone was sure that Eleanora is the girl in the prophecy.
Thus, she was already seen as an empress, since her birth.
'But my princess won't be the empress this time…'
Alexander grits his teeth as he recalled how that cold blooded crown prince was staring at his daughter with a dumb founded look.
'Forgive me princess… But I have to do it for you.'
"Rayon!!!"
Alexander called his aid, who was standing behind the door and was stunned to hear his superior's sudden call.
"Y-Yes, Your Grace?"
"Hire someone to protect the princess from now on in secret. No boy should be seen around the princess."
"..."
Sir Rayon was once again speechless because of his superior's words and just nodded in agreement.
In the morning; the crown prince was staring at his daughter, who kept crying while hugging her father.
Alexander had moved his body a little to block his view from Eleanora but he still didn't went away like he did before.
This made Alexander furious.
Why was the crown prince acting weird now?
The crown prince stood up with his drenched body as his aid, Brayden, the heir of Marquis Hill rushed to him with shock.
The maids and the knights also rushed to his aid but the crown prince continued to watch the crying Eleanora, who was clinging to her father.
To him, this girl is the perfect fiancée of him, whom everyone praises nonstop.
She is the blessing, where he is the curse.
So he never imagined that this girl would actually cry like this while clinging to his father.
The crown prince's curious gaze was disturbing and felt very annoying to Alexander.
So he bid the crown prince farewell and left without even listening to his any words.
'Fortunately, she didn't notice him either…'
'I won't let that arrogant bastard to come closer to my princess again and harm her like today.'
Alexander was determined to rip apart every possible way for him to approach her, from now on.
Just how scared his daughter must be to cry like that?
Who knows what else he did to her?
'As long as she doesn't fall for him, everything will go according my plan.'
"I won't let him come anywhere near you this time, my princess."
Alexander kisses Eleanora's forehead and looks at her sleeping face gently.
Eleanora wasn't fully asleep or awake. So she didn't heard what her father just whispered to her clearly.
'Who is talking?'
But what Alexander didn't knew was, another person who was standing in an dark road, with a dagger that was still dropping fresh blood as it was pulled out from another person's chest had the same thought as him.
That person slowly approached another laying person on the ground and faint green light glow out from that person's hand.
Revival Magic…
Immediately, the laying person started to breathe and was helped to get away by the mysterious person before a carriage stopped where they was just standing.
Not seeing the person, whom they wanted to see; the carriage left in a short moment and the mysterious person sighed in relief.
'This time, I will protect you, Your Majesty… The empress;'