Moon Raiders.

The burden of the crown👑

The cart which Aurelia rode into the palace in Albedean Kingdom. Checking her pulse, it was still beating. He rushed down from the cart and carried her in his arms. The guards and maids on seeing him bowed wondering who it was he held. Walking swiftly into the guest quarters, he took her into a court and laid her on the bed.

"Call the royal physician immediately and tell her to start treatment on her." Aiden instructed the maid who helped him lay Aurelia down.

"Apologies warrior Aiden but who is she?" The maid asked inquisitively.

"Call the royal physician now." he stressed out not bothering to answer her question and she bowed leaving hurriedly. Staring at Aurelia for a while, he walked out into another quarter where so many maids were busy carrying out different duties with the whole place also surrounded by guards. Walking in, they all bowed and he stopped by a court where a guard was seen standing outside.

"Warrior Aiden." The guard called and bowed.

"Is the Empress inside?" Aiden asked.

"Yes, but she wishes to see no one." The guard answered and Aiden immediately walked in without due permission.

"Warrior Aiden...." The guard called going after him only to see the Empress sitted quietly on her bed.

"Apologies her imperial majesty, I tried to stop him." The guard spoke and she waved her hand for him to leave. Bowing, he walked out.

"I never expected you to return this soon." She spoke.

"That's not the reason I'm here." he answered but she remained quiet making him continue.

"I met a stranger on my way back from Sarvill Kingdom. She was in a cave in Danju village about to get eaten by wolves but I was just in time to save her. I had to bring her back with me to the palace to receive treatments." he spoke and she stared up at him revealing her pale face with black circles around her eyes.

"A stranger? You know what just happened Aiden. If the people find out we encamped a stranger in the palace, things will be more difficult to handle. Besides, you don't know if she is a Dark knight." She spoke.

"A Dark Knight cannot be found so helpless."

"They can easily set up what they want you to believe Aiden. I sent you to Sarvill to inform them on the reformation of the dark knights, we shouldn't fall prey to it in the process." she stated.

"I have a strong feeling she's not especially since I didn't quite understand how I got there."

"And if she is?" she asked.

"I'll take full responsibility for whatever happens." he answered and she scoffed.

"You really think you can handle a Dark Knight? Go round the kingdom and you will see the amount of destruction they created just by their return."

"That's because we weren't prepared for their attack. We never even knew the dark knights existed." he said and she exhaled deeply.

"Why are you desperate to keep her."

"Because... there's just something about her that is different and I'll like to find that out when she awakes."

"That's not enough reason to persuade me to keep her." she responded.

"I'll come back to the palace then. If you let her stay, I promise to come back." he said and she rose her eyebrows.

"A stranger makes you change your mind so easily?"

"Isn't that what you want?" he questioned back.

"What about your mother?" she asked.

"I'll take care of that. Just give me seven nights to prepare and I'll be back to the palace." he said.

"Fine... she can stay and receive treatments and when she awakes we'll find out who she really is." she responded and he bowed.

"I'll take my leave now mother." he spoke and was about to leave but paused turning back to her.

"You're the Empress and I don't want to assume that the death of your people in the attack can cause you to go depressed. Whatever is in your mind right now won't help to solve the situation. Your people needs you, and you need them to heal, get a hold of yourself mother." he said and she sniffed.

"You don't understand, I saw him. He was right in front of me, I couldn't even recognise him anymore." she said and he cruised his eyebrows.

"Who?" Aiden asked and she immediately shook her head.

"It's nothing. You may leave now." She said and he bowed again leaving.

Audrey rushed into Raymond's court. She had been informed of Raymond's condition.

"Raymond." She called and rushed to him touching his robe that was soaked in blood.

"What did you do?" She questioned and turned to the physician who still stood by a corner scared that leaving without getting him treated will only get her beheaded, if he dies.

"He refused to get treatments." The physician spoke as she met Audrey's gaze on her.

"Give it to me." Audrey said taking the herb from her. "You can leave now." she added and the physician bowed leaving.

"Audrey...." he called as soon as the physician left.

"You're the crowned Prince Raymond, it's time you stop behaving reckless." she said taking off his robe as he groaned in pains. She felt a slight shiver as she stared at the stab and just as she was about applying the herb on it, he held her hand.

"I don't want this anymore." he said and she removed his hand from hers.

"You think your decision will make a difference right now? You think it will help find Aurelia wherever she is?"

"She would have done everything to find me if she were in my position."

"Well she isn't and you are the crowned prince, that makes a difference." she said and started applying the herb to the stab and he groaned inwardly.

"Aurelia will never be able to forgive me. I can't do what they ask of me. The King wants me to organise her funeral tonight."

"Then you do it. It's for the best." she replied.

"The best? You're trying to pretend that you don't want to find Aurelia desperately." he said.

"This is a matter of the kingdom. The King is right in whatever he decides and he should always have the support of the prince."

"He never wanted to make me prince and you know that! I was only an alternative to cover his wretched fate of having his best sons die at the same time. I can never be able to fill that gap."

"You don't realize anything because of your emotions. Everything happened years ago and the King was only trying to prevent one thing from happening, he didn't want you to have no place in the kingdom just because of your weakness." she said and Raymond rolled his eyes.

"Of all people I expected you to understand me Audrey." he responded and she went quiet for a while bandaging his stomach after she had finished applying the herb.

"The truth sometimes is difficult to accept." she muttered and helped him put on his robe back. "The herb will only help stop the bleeding. I'll tell the physician to prepare another herb to help heal fast." she said and stood up.

"I'll take my leave now." she said bowing when Raymond held her back.

"Stay with me for now." he said.

"You are the crowned Prince and I am just a messenger."

"You know that doesn't matter to me Audrey." he answered.

"But it matters to me. This is the same reason why Aurelia never fulfilled her duties as a Princess, she became too comfortable that somehow we would always be there to help. I don't want that to happen to you too, you want to be weak to your responsibilities and that shouldn't happen stand up to who you've been made to be and stop trying to make excuses out of it. Don't try calling me for help ever again until I get convinced that you can make the right decisions for yourself." she said.

"Audrey please... I need you right this moment." he pleaded but she quietly bowed walking to the door but stopped turning beck to him.

"You don't have to worry Aurelia is still alive. We met the sorcerer." she said and his eyes shone.

" Where is she?"

"He refused to tell anything about that but... he told us she is now placed as a curse over Anastasia and should never be allowed back into the palace." she stated.

"What?! How is that possible?"

"I don't know but it's left for the King to decide. So it's best this remains with you for now." she said and paused for a while staring at him as he squeezed his hands to a fist in anger.

"I want you to be a better Prince so you can also be a better King. The people trust you so much at this moment because you're their only hope. I just hope this doesn't happen again so you don't disappoint their trust." she said and walked out before he could say any other thing.

Queen Mona walked into the King's chambers only to see his maids helping him dress up.

"Leave us...." she commanded and they immediately bowed leaving. Walking closer to where he sat, she exhaled deeply.

"Raymond tried to take his life." she spoke but he remained quiet.

"I'm afraid things might get worse. It appears he is still not over his childhood experience." she added.

"He will be fine." King Almanta replied indifferent and she cruised her eyebrows.

"And what if he tries it again? This is all because of us, we pushed him a little too much." she said and he turned to her.

"He is a Prince Mona, sometimes it's good for him to learn things the hard way."

"Nordan and Aaron are both dead. They are trying their possible best to take the throne and if that happens, the people will be enslaved. He might not understand the gravity of the situation but we do. No matter the loss it created, we should be glad it was Aurelia who fell down that cliff and not him or things would have come to a big compromise." Almanta added.

"I know that, but he isn't willing to stop searching for her." she said.

"I don't intend on stopping the search either but this time, it has to be in secret, so that the things of the kingdom will not be affected." he said and she nodded. Immediately, a guard spoke from the door.

"Your majesty! The messangers of Anastasia requests to see you."he spoke. "They claim it is a matter of great importance and needs to be spoken in private." he added and the King exhaled deeply.

"Call them in." Almanta replied. They both walked inside after his response and they bowed before the King and Queen.

"How is Raymond?" Mona asked.

"He is well your highness." Audrey replied with her head still bowed.

"And what is so important that you can't talk about in the palace court? Is it about your meeting with the sorcerer? " Almanta questioned.

"That's right your majesty. We're glad you happen to be present your highness." Audrey replied and stared at Paisley short of words on how to report everything.

"We met the sorcerer on our way and he told us Aurelia is still alive." Paisley found the courage to begin and Queen Mona's expression elated.

"Aurelia is alive?"

"Yes your highness but there's a bad news." Audrey added. "The sorcerer gave a warning. Even if Aurelia is found she should never be welcomed back to Anastasia, says the sorcerer."

"For what reason?" Almanta asked.

"He said she is a curse to Anastasia and if we fail to listen, the Kingdom will be in great affliction." Paisley answered.

"Aurelia is a princess of this Kingdom, what is he trying tot imply?!" Mona inquired and they both went silent. she immediately turned to King Almanta.

"Please do not abandon Aurelia at this moment, we still need to continue the search especially now we're convinced she's still alive." she pleaded and Almanta remained quiet for a while.

"Do not reveal this to anyone until we figure out the main course of everything. You may leave now." he instructed and they bowed leaving.

"What is going to happen now?" Mona asked in their disappearance and Almanta stared at the empty space.

"What is more important is the well being of the Kingdom. If anything goes against it, it goes against me." Almanta said.

"She is your daughter. We can't forsake her or Raymond will turn aggressive." she pleased falling on her knees beside him and he smirked on hearing her and stared down at her.

"They are also my people Mona, I can't risk millions of lives for a single life. Go now, prepare for the funeral rite of Aurelia no one should know she is still alive." he said and she stood up weakly. She bowed about to leave when he spoke.

"Always remember, thousands of lives are looking up to the King and Queen. That's the burden of the crown." he admonished and she remained quiet walking out. As soon as she left, his expression darkened and he called unto his guard by the door who immediately rushed in like lightning.

"Bring Warrior Mason to my court." the guard bowed rushing out as swiftly as he came. King Almanta remained still until Mason was brought to him.

"Your majesty...." Mason spoke and bowed.

"I need you to go round the ten Kingdoms in search of Aurelia. Take the best of your warriors with you and do not return until she's found. Make sure she doesn't find out you know her location, only report back to me when you find her." he ordered.

"And when do I leave your majesty?" he asked.

"Tonight. The sorcerer has confirmed that she is still alive but can't return to Anastasia for the believe that she we will bring nothing but curses."Almanta said and Mason swallowed hard trying to contain in his feelings.

"No one has to find out about this, not even the Queen or Raymond. Do this discreetly. While everyone's attention will be focused on the funeral, take the secret exit and beout of the Kingdom before sunrise tomorrow." he stated and Mason bowed.

"As you command your majesty." he said and walked out.

In the night,

The villagers were gathered together with the Princesses, Prince Raymond, Queen Mona, the cabinet members and King Almanta. Each person held a lamp stick in silence and soon the sound of the drum was heard which was meant to be beaten seven times. It echoed loudly and slowly signifying a great soul had been lost. Mean while, in another part of the palace, Mason and some other warriors were seen on their horses with their face covered leaving only their eyes. The horses galloped out of the palace through a secret exit as the beating of the drum were still heard.

"Behold people of Anastasia!" Prince Raymond was now seen before the people. He held unto his robe tightly as he spoke trying to surge in the pain of the cut on his stomach. "A great soul has been lost. The second Princess, Aurelia has walked down the world beyond. Words cannot explain the grief we all feel, the sadness, the regrets. Till today, her death still remains a mystery to so many of us but we still believe her memory will forever remain an ecstasy. Therefore we salute a great Princess! A great daughter! A great sister! Farewell Princess Aurelia!" he spoke and they all bowed to their knees.

"Farewell Princess Aurelia!" The villagers responded.

"Farewell Princess Aurelia!"

"Farewell Princess Aurelia!"