My Fiance In Disguise

Chapter 18

Then the Empress arrived, and everyone bowed. Camellia, nervous, bowed too. The Empress sat on her throne.

"You may all rise…" Everyone rose, and I looked very pale, as if seeing a ghost. Devin noticed it and held her hands.

"Are you feeling bad?" Camellia shook her head. "No, I'm fine." Devin's grip on Camellia's shoulder tightened, but her nervousness was inexplicable.

Then Kael and Zephyr approached them, and Devin remained defensive, not letting Zephyr get near Camellia.

But all Zephyr and Camellia could think about was the danger.

A sudden gust of wind, seemingly out of nowhere, extinguished a nearby candle, plunging a small section of the throne room into momentary darkness before the palace lights flickered back on.

Then the Empress spoke, rising from her throne. "Now let's all begin…"

All the Kings and Queens stood up, and Zephyr and Devin went in front, leaving Camellia and Kael.

Kael spoke. "I think the Empress is really majestic…" Camellia said, "I'm sure she is…"

The Empress spoke with authority. "The next ruler of the Zodiac Realm is… Prince Devin, the first prince of the kingdom, will now be given the title of Crown Prince."

Then Devin bowed to everyone. "I will do my best to serve you all and make the Celestial Realm prosper…" Everyone applauded.

Then the Empress continued speaking. "Now, the next ruler of the Constellation Realm is… Prince Zephyr, the youngest prince of the Kingdom, will now be given the title of Crown Prince…"

Zephyr stepped forward and bowed. "I will do my duty to maintain the peace in our Realm… And promise not to fail my people…" They applauded him as well.

Then she spoke again. "And now, for our next Empress, the one who will take over my position one day… Princess Camellia…"

Camellia turned pale… She was busted. She ran to the exit, but the Celestial Guards caught her in time.

She struggled. "Let me go…" She used her water magic to create a tsunami, but with the snap of the Empress's hand, it quickly stopped.

The Guards brought her in front. The Empress held her hand and cast a spell that immobilized her body. "Are you done playing your games, Camellia… Time to do your responsibility…"

She couldn't talk or move, and Zephyr approached.

"Your Highness, blame me… I'm the one who helped Camellia…" She glared at him to stop, but he didn't.

The Empress just chuckled darkly. "You helped your fiancée… You both will rule the whole Realm, but acting like children? I can't tolerate this act…"

Finally, she managed to talk. "No… Zephyr had nothing to do with this… It's just me…"

Then Devin, Kael, Duke Arthur, and Duchess Ariana looked at her, feeling betrayed, and they approached her.

Ariana spoke. "Your Highness… What did my daughter Jasmine do… I will take responsibility as her mother…" Then Arthur held his wife. "That's right, Your Highness, we will take responsibility…"

The Empress, with her fake smile, said, "No… I'm the one who should compensate you, Duke and Duchess. It's my mistake, not lecturing my granddaughter that she deceived you both…"

Ariana, holding Camellia, said, "No, I refuse to believe…. She's my daughter… Her necklace… My dear, tell Mother you're my daughter, right?" Camellia looked down. "I'm sorry…"

Then the Empress explained. "Actually, your daughter is dead. She was meddling in a family affair.

Letting my granddaughter escape death was just a light punishment… And the necklace, your daughter gave it to Camellia."

Camellia said, "That's not it… I can explain…" Kael stepped back, holding his mother's hands. "Mother, let's go… We can't stay here anymore…"

Camellia looked at them as they went away. Then her gaze fell on Devin as Devin left without uttering a word.

She tried to follow him, but the Empress stopped her, tears falling from her eyes. "What have I done?"

As the ball ended, the Empress ushered Camellia back to the palace, a cold grip tightening around her heart.

Camellia, ever the rebel, had whispered a desperate plea to Zephyr: "Don't intervene."

She knew it was a futile attempt to protect him, yet it eased her conscience slightly.

Locked in her room, a prison of gilded cage, panic clawed at her throat. Escape. She had to escape.

Her mind whirred, searching for a way out, a way to break free from the Empress's suffocating grasp.

Tears streamed down her face, her trembling fingers clutching the swan bracelet Devin had gifted her. The silver bird, delicate yet strong, felt heavy against her skin.

A strange warmth spread through her, a warmth that wasn't just from the bracelet, but from the emotions swirling within her.

Did she love Devin? The question felt heavy, unfamiliar, yet strangely comforting. But then, a memory surfaced - the look on his face when he discovered the truth, a look of betrayal, of hurt.

"What have I done... I'm the worse..." she whispered, her voice raw with despair. "This is my karma already..."

The door burst open, a figure silhouetted against the moonlight. It was...

The door burst open, and a figure stepped into the room, his face etched with worry.

It wasn't Kael, but Zephyr. He was a whirlwind of urgency, his eyes pleading as he held her shoulders.

"Camellia, let's just elope," he urged, his voice a desperate whisper. "We can build a family, anywhere you like. I'll protect you, no matter what."

Her heart sank. Did she love him? Or was this gratitude, a deep-seated appreciation for his unwavering support? All she could think about was Devin, his face twisted in betrayal, his hurt echoing through her, and Kael duke and duchess.

"I... I'm sorry, Zep," she choked out, tears stinging her eyes. " I'm not sure of my feelings right now..."

Zephyr lowered his head, a sad smile curving his lips. "All these years, all I've wanted is for you to be happy. You give me a reason, Camellia. I just want to say, for the last time, I love you. and I'm willing to wait until your sure."

A voice boomed through the hallway, "Your Highness, the demons have breached the palace! They're defeating the Celestial Guards! You both must leave!" It was Lukas, his voice laced with urgency.

Zephyr squeezed her hand, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "Okay, Lukas. Just be careful. Camellia, let's go."

They reached for the portal, a shimmer of magic beckoning them to escape.

But the portal sputtered, its energy faltering. The demons, it seemed, had tampered with the magic itself.

They landed in the forest outside the palace, the air thick with the scent of pine and fear.

Demons surrounded them, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. Zephyr drew his sword, his face resolute.

"Camellia, run as fast as you can," he commanded, his voice laced with a heartbreaking tenderness. "Don't forget, I always love you, even if you don't. I hope in my next life, you'll be mine."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she hesitated. She couldn't leave him. "Stop talking nonsense," she retorted, grabbing his hand. "I'm not leaving you. If you die, I'll die too!"

The demons lunged, claws slashing through the air. Camellia, fueled by despair and fierce love, conjured an ice sword, her power shimmering.

She battled alongside Zephyr, their blades a blur of steel and ice. Zephyr's hand was slashed, the pain evident in his gasp.

Camellia, with a cry of fury, cut off the demon's arm, her anger driving her.

And then, a portal opened, a shimmer of light against the darkness. From it, stepped Devin.

His eyes, filled with a desperate longing, locked onto Camellia, his presence a beacon of hope.

Is he here to save us... despite what we did?

The air crackled with demonic energy, a tide of darkness threatening to engulf Devin, Camellia, and Zephyr.

Devin, battered and bruised, fought alongside Camellia, their combined efforts a mere flicker against the overwhelming horde.

Zephyr, his princely demeanor replaced by grim determination, held the line, a bulwark against the demonic onslaught.

"Devin," Zephyr gasped, his voice strained, "Take Camellia. Leave me. If you don't, we all die."

Camellia clung to Zephyr, her face etched with despair. "No! I won't leave you!"

Devin, seeing the futility of their struggle, took a shuddering breath. With a surge of magic, he ripped open a shimmering portal, a desperate lifeline in the heart of chaos.

Camellia's eyes widened as she looked at Devin, then at Zephyr, her tears mirroring the blood staining his armor. "Zephyr... we have to go."

Devin scooped Camellia into his arms, holding her close. "We'll be back for him. He's a prince, a warrior. He'll survive."

Camellia sobbed against his chest, her words lost in the roar of battle. Zephyr, his eyes locked on the fleeing pair, managed a weak smile and a tender kiss on Camellia's forehead before the portal sealed, swallowing them whole.

Through the closing rift, she saw him, a lone warrior battling a legion of demons, his courage a beacon in the encroaching darkness.

Camellia's anguished scream echoed in the void, a silent testament to the pain and sacrifice left behind.

The portal vanished, leaving only the sound of battle and the chilling knowledge that their escape had come at a terrible cost.

" Zep!!!"