Reborn princess: I will change my ill-fate

Listening to the summoning alert, Prince Evan Seazle immediately bid his lover bye and made his way towards the horse stable of Rutz household.

He need to immediately go back to the palace and know what went wrong. Its not every day you listen to the summoning alert. Something must have gone terribly wrong if that sound ever reverberates in the capital. 

'Till now everything went fine, then what could it have been? It can't be regarding the border matters, then what?'

He wrecked his brain while walking towards the stable and finally came to a solution, that thinking will only waste his time and right now that's not something he could afford to. So he ran with more speed to the horse stable.

Rutz mansion is never new to him, he played here and practically grew up here when he was still a child. So, the blueprint and every secret room and passages of the Rutz main mansion were all filled in his brain.

He was sure, there were no new additions to it, as the households of Dukes are passed on through generations and nothing would be changed except the decorations and furniture. maybe. 

So without wasting anymore time, he navigated himself straight towards to the horse stable using the most easy, short cut route possible to him. He dodged the panicked butler and maids who were assembled in a place, ignoring their looks. He didn't have time for that. Soon enough, he reached the horse stable and selected a random horse for the ride.

Instead of going on the Royal carriage he came in, to the Rutz household, he raided back to the palace on a horse. Instead of using the front way he got here, he used a different path to return back this time.

There was a short cut from the Rutz main mansion to the imperial palace. So he chose to make use of this unused passage, which was nearly been abandoned for few a decades, since it a could only be used for emergency purposes.

Yes, this is one of the secret passage, connecting between imperial Palace and Rutz mansion and to the other Dukes and Generals mansions. Only imperial blood line members and those dukes and generals family blood line heirs and few loyal warriors know about this passage. It cut the journey by almost three fourth of original path. 

This maybe a short cut, but the way through it is rough and filled with dense, wide trees and confusing too. This could be called a mini forest behind the main mansion. No one is appointed to be the incharge of it. Since lesser the attention, the more one could hold more secrets and prevent outsiders from knowing about this way.

Evan immediately made his way, sure enough, memorized all the traps which were placed before 10 years. It was long, but he hung onto the hope that the traps were still the same and they didn't go around resetting the old ones and adding new ones. So he

successfully was able to avoid those traps, however, he is not sure whether they installed any new traps or not. Since there is no light to see, he couldn't really see the end of the forest nor could see any traps they set up. So he blindly followed his instincts and made his way.

.....

Back on Felix side at capital streets:

" Lucia, this big brother is still willing to help you, tell me if your legs are tired, " He nicely spoke to little princess Lucia, still worried about her. She walked the whole evening with her overflowing dress, to kids her age it is really a big feat to do, so he began to worry about her now. She isn't even willing to take his help, increasing his worry about her.

Little Lucia smiled at him before explaining, " It's alright brother Felix, I am very strong and can do things myself. I eat healthy food daily and I drink milk every night. Mother told milk strengths our bones, so worry less, brother Felix " She reassured him, still acting strong, despite being sleepy as wariness took her in.

" Ok, my little devil, " Felix smiled back to her.

She is sure a cute child. He thought as he remembered about the rumours about this particular princess, which always travelled around the palace walls.

BANG~ BANG~

The sudden heavy voice knocked him in to the real world. A deep frown formed on his forehead as he continued to hear the bell.

'Sigh~ it's really hard working for an empire. Not a single day break is available nowadays. For gods sake, I only took half day off, and they are calling for a meeting, but can't do much. This is my responsibility and my duty to fulfill.'

Thinking as such, his gaze landed on the little girl beside him, who is still holding to his hand, while her head raised high enough, to make an eye contact with him. Confusion clear in her eyes, as she was not sure why this sound was going on now. This is her first time listening to it, but she knew the meaning of it. 

Wonder, even this little kid know about the summoning alert. Such emergency cases were included in the imperial heirs basic classes. So little princess Lucia immediately understood the meaning of it.

She understood, staying anymore with Felix will only make her a burden now, so she immediately said her verse, " It's alright brother Felix, I can go back to the palace. This is our place, who is daring enough to do any harm. I will ask one of the guards to escort me, " She plainly said, as duty is the first priority to any court men.

And, as a princess, she too had some responsibilities towards her empire. During the hard times, everyone should show their dedication and loyalty to their empire, rather than their personal needs. So compared to being a burden to him, she thought it is more useful for him to go back to the palace. 

Felix simply smiled at her understanding ability, she is a kid, yet didn't whine about leaving her alone. She sure acts matured as the rumours and his uncle told. Felix rubbed her hair again, as he thought about how to send her back.

Without thinking much he first went near the parking bay, carrying little Lucia in his arms. There were already a bunch of soldiers, guiding all the commoners and noble men and woman back to their respective residences.

He went near few guards, " Escort all commoners back to their houses. Close up everything here. No one should be roaming around the capital anymore, " He ordered, a dangerous glint is visible in his voice.

" Understood, sir Felix, " The guards bowed to him.

Felix nodded his head, acknowledging them, and turned towards Lucia, there is clearly an 180 degrees rotate in his attitude towards her, " Little devil, how about riding a horse now? " He asked her.

Question marks filled her brain, " Now? At night? But who will ride with me? " She asked back innocently, not getting his meaning behind those words.

Nonetheless, he gently explained to her, " Don't worry. Your brother Felix will take you back to the palace on a horse. Just hold onto me tightly my dear, " Saying that he immediately jumped on a nearby horse, as he didn't seemed to care about her opinion, but before that, he carefully let her sit comfortably on the horse. He clearly knew when to act rushed and when tk act carefully and gently. 

Riding a horse is not that bad, but the roads are not in good condition, since it's a detour which is not maintained properly. So he is worried about her feeling uncomfortable along the way. 

Nonetheless, he got no choice. He need tk go back as soon as possible and mind her safety in mind. It is already hard for him to believe others. Since now it is curfew time, it is really risky to leave Little Lucia's care to someone else. So he thought it is better for him to take her back along with him. He was off to Palace anyway, so he saw it is auitable. And, so was Felix off to the Palace with Lucia. 

....

Back on Peter side:

Peter aimlessly roamed along the streets for sometime. Aimlessly, he again came back to the very bench, at which he met that old man.

'Who is that old man? What did he mean by those words? Will I meet him today? Will he come here today? I wish I could meet him. I need to ask him what his words meant.'

He was so engrossed in his own world, thinking about the old man, sat on the abandoned bench of the capital.

This is actually rare for him to see anyone near the vicinity, as this whole place is always practically abandoned. This bench is placed at the corner of capital busy streets, which rarely ever got any visitors this side of the streets. So it is like a place where Peter usually come to set his mind at peace and stay worrilessly. He was hoping, to meet the unknown old man again. It might be a coincidental or a purposeful meeting. Peter just want to meet him again.

BANG~ BANG~

The booming sound echoed all over the capital.

The summoning alert!

Peter immediately scrambled to his feet and immediately made his way to the centre of the capital, but didn't forget to pass orders to guards who came in his way.

" Close all the gates of capital. No one is allowed inside. No one should come out during curfew. No damage is tolerated. Escort everyone back safely. Take special care with children, woman and elderly. Help shopkeepers to immediately pack everything, " He shouted on top of his lungs.

He was busy guiding the guards. All older men were at meeting, so it's time for younger generation to take responsibility, which he is doing right now. He knew the elders were in a meeting and this should be an alert for the younger ones, meaning all other court men, who were not present at the meeting should come back quickly. 

Just then, he saw, Felix taking Little princess Lucia back to capital on a horse, using one if the easiest yet bumpy road towards the palace. That's when he remembered, that he should also be on his way back to the capital and it's already his time to make a move. 

He immediately passed down his next orders and made his way towards the palace, while helping few people in his way.

...

Felix is the first person, who came back to the palace.

" Park the horse, " He ordered to a palace entrance guard. Saying that, he immediately lifted little princess Lucia off the horse and made his way inside.

" Brother, that's an awesome ride. I never rode a horse with that speed. I really liked it, " Little Lucia jumped in her place, as happiness seeped inside her heart.

Felix smiled back, not knowing how to respond, ultimately she is a kid, since she didn't get the seriousness of the situation, " If you like it we can ride a horse together next time, but I hope you learn how to ride a horse next time we ride, " He wittily spoke to her.

" Sure sure, " She nodded her head vehemently, marking in her brain that she need to include horse riding training in her courses. 

Soon enough, Felix reached the princess building.

" Escort princess Lucia back to her room. " He told to a guard who is responsible to guard the princess quarters. Since they were all loyal guards and it is inside palace, Felix didn't find it hard to pass down her responsibility to take back to her room to the guard.

The guard nodded.

Turning to Lucia, " Little devil, drink milk and sleep early, " He advised her, as his hands ruffled her soft locks for the last time.

" Yes, " She replied happily, " Let's have a good time again brother Felix. Now bye, " She continued and immediately went near the guard side, nit stalling his time more. 

As soon as he sent Little Lucia back, he took a short cut from princess quarters to the throne room.

There are many ways connecting to the throne room. All ways connect to one point and from there, there is only way entrance to the throne room.

Felix made his way, bursting open the doors, he heard two more thundering sounds. To his surprise, as soon as he set foot inside, he saw Evan coming to this intersecting point of throne room using back door, while Peter came inside using the front door. Sweat began to flow from everyone's face.

All three passed looks to eachother, thinking anyone might know what's going on. However, only confusion lingered in their looks. This three were together since childhood, so it's not hard to comprehend what's going on in each other's mind. Everyone understood that, none of them knew anything and were here to get answers to their questions. 

Three of them sighed in unison. All three rushed back, holding their breaths. So they stood still in their respective places, catching few breaths, trying to gain their composure, however, none of them spoke any word to anyone, staying silent all the while.