Finding Stardust

She realized, if they fought against the royal guards, they wouldn't win because they were outnumbered. She took the fall for Therius so the royal guards would arrest her and Therius could kill the king.

When it didn't work, she was quick to pretend that she was pregnant with Therius' child to buy them time. She knew the king wouldn't want to hurt his grandson's child.

Therius rarely showed his expression in front of other people. So, when Emma lied and claimed that she was pregnant with his child, the young man didn't look shocked. That's why the people in the chapel thought Emma was telling the truth.

King Cassius raised his hand and ordered his guards to arrest Emma.

"Don't hurt her. I don't want anything to happen to Prince Licht's child," said the king in a firm voice.

Therius immediately charged forward to protect Emma and prevent Joren and Lora from arresting her, but Ken and Asva were faster. They quickly grabbed the man by each arm and pressed him.

"Your Highness, please cooperate. We don't want to hurt you," Ken asked respectfully. His grip on Therius right arm was so powerful that Therius couldn't do much to resist. The prince could fight one of them, but not both at the same time.

"Grandpa! Don't hurt Emma! If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive you!" cried Therius as he tried to escape from the grip of the two king's guards. Although he was a powerful mage, Therius was no match for two level-ten mages at once.

"Prince Licht. You have been charmed by Emma using her telemancy. You must not meet her until you completely recovered," said King Cassius. He looked at Queen Ygrit and Yldwyn then continued his words. "There will be no wedding today."

Joren and Lora grabbed Emma, and with one light tap to the neck, the girl went limp and passed out.

"Take the two of them back to the royal palace!" said King Cassius sternly. He then walked by the other two royal guards out of the chapel. Joren carried Emma, while Lora forced Xion and Therius' bodyguards to follow them. Ken and Asva bowed slightly towards Therius and then prompted him to walk after the king.

"Your Highness, please don't fight back. If you want Princess Emma to be okay, then you better not make a fuss," Ken asked respectfully.

The royal guards kept treating Therius with respect. After all, he would be the future king. Soon, after King Cassius died, or abdicated, Prince Licht would become the new king and they would work as his bodyguards. The six mages did not want to make themselves enemies of the prince.

"Yldwyn ... as soon as Prince Licht recovers from that little witch's magic, he will come back to you," said Queen Ygrit in determination. "We'll wait for him to be himself again."

Ylwdyn, who just remembered that she had slapped the queen twice because Emma controlled her mind with telemancy, rushed over to Queen Ygrit and got on her knees.

"Your Majesty ... I'm—I'm sorry. I accidentally hit Your Majesty twice... I didn't want to do it. Please forgive me ..." she cried despondently while hugging Queen Ygrit's legs.

The queen shook her head and snorted. "It's all right, Yldwyn. It's all that little witch's fault. Just watch ... I'll make her pay many times over."

***

TEN MINUTES AGO

Xion did not expect his best friend's wedding to turn so chaotic. King Cassius deliberately wanted Therius to marry the two women at once? Crazy!

When he saw the hurt expression on Therius' face, Xion couldn't help but feel sorry for his best friend. He could understand how unloved Therius felt because Emma seemed totally unconcerned that her future husband was being forced to marry Princess Yldwyn at the same time.

Xion was not a telemancer, so he didn't know what Emma was talking to Therius using telemancy if they didn't share it with him. He only saw their faces change, and Xion knew something bad had happened.

He only realized what the two were arguing about when he saw Emma made Yldwyn slap Queen Ygrit and then run away.

Did... Emma want to take the blame and keep the secret that Therius was actually a telemancer?

When Emma darted toward the door to escape, Asva quickly blocked her way with aeromancy and closed the door very quickly.

Crazy! thought Xion. He was just about to run after Emma when the corner of his eye caught Joren and Lora raised their hands and attacked the girl.

Xion could feel these two people not messing with their attacks. They truly believe Emma was a high-level telemancer who had bewitched the crown prince. That's why they attacked her with all their might.

Emma would die if level ten attacks of lightning bolts and fireballs hit her body. She was just a mage from level 3! 

Xion's eyes suddenly widened when he realized Emma was going to die.

He wouldn't allow it!

The man closed his eyes and exerted all his power.

When he opened his eyes again, time had stopped.

Everyone in the chapel froze in their positions. Even a leaf floating in from the window seemed motionless in midair. Nothing and no one could move.

Therius stood in shock, his body was ready to rush after Emma. Joren and Lora were both raising their hands to launch attacks on the girl.

Xion walked over to the two men and followed the direction of their hands. Two lightning bolts and two purple fireballs froze in midair, ready to smash into Emma's body in less than half a second.

Queen Ygrit stared at Emma with contempt, Yldwyn sat on the floor with wet eyes, King Cassius was standing akimbo. Yldwyn's maids were all looking shocked, and Therius's guards held their swords ready to fight.

Everyone stayed still in their respective positions. No one moved, except the Time Master.