91: Ancestral Temple
"I'm Prince Hades; as for my identity, you might know if there comes a need for it," Ryder said as he stepped closer to the Princesses such that there was only 1 meter of a gap between them.
"Raphtalia? Why are you with someone from other species? You should've let the guards catch him! Are you betraying us?" The Princess on the left said.
"Dead guards can't catch anyone," Ryder replied to her instead.
"What? You killed all our guards?" The Princesses exclaimed in shock.
" Why didn't you send someone to inform the Royal Palace when their army attacked you?" They asked Raphtalia.
"We failed Princess. They are just too strong. I believe that they are even stronger than our King," Raphtalia replied.
"Preposterous! No one is stronger than father!" The Princesses strongly expressed.
"Please, believe me, princess. I've felt their strength! You know that I have a skill that can give me a vague feeling about someone's strength. That guy behind you is at least as strong if not stronger than our King," Raphtalia replied.
'Hmm? Interesting. So that's the king's strength level. From her words, it should be right around Rale's level,' Ryder thought as he heard her words.
"I don't believe it!" The princess said as she shook her head.
"Please, believe me, Princess. They are after our Nature Healing Crystal, and they claim that they will take it no matter what cost. If it came to war, no matter who wins, our losses would be much bigger. The Nature Healing Crystal is special to us, as it is considered a gift from nature. Other than that, there is nothing in it that benefits our society. If giving it away saves the lives of everyone, we should do it!" Raphtalia let out, full of emotions.
"No! I don't believe you!" The Princesses still didn't believe Raphtalia.
"Sigh, we tried talking to you guys, but you still didn't listen. Let's just use force then," Ryder sighed.
"Rale! Kill the lady on the right. They don't think that we're being serious," Ryder said.
"Yes, Your Highness," Rale nodded his head as he brought his sword out and placed it over the neck of the Princess on the right, but before he could swing it, Ryder stopped him.
"You still have one last chance. Will you help us or not? You will die if I hear a no," Ryder
"You can kill me! I'll never betray our people!" The Princess on the right said.
Ryder smiled at her reaction because even though he didn't see the worry in her eyes, he did see the worry in the eyes of her sister.
"Rale, do i..." Ryder was about to give the order when the princess on the left said, "No, don't! I'll help you. Don't kill my sister!"
"Amelia! What are you saying! You can't do it! Just let me die!" The Princess on the right called out as she saw her sister agree.
"I'm sorry, Olivia; you're the only sister I have. I can't watch you die," Princess Amelia said. Her eyes were filled with emotions.
"Dale!" Ryder let out loud.
"Yes, Your Highness," A demon from Rale's team appeared right beside Ryder.
Amelia and Olivia both were surprised as they saw another man appear near them just like a ghost.
"Tie Princess Olivia's hands and keep her as a prisoner. If Princess Amelia betrays me, kill Olivia on my command," Ryder said.
"As you wish, Your Highness," Dale replied.
"Well then, Princess Amelia. Let's go. The faster we do it, the faster your sister can be freed," Ryder told Amelia, who looked to be concerned.
"Wait! You can't separate her from me, or I won't do it!" Amelia insisted.
"No," Ryder straight away replied.
"Listen to her. It will be troublesome if you separate them. Everyone in the kingdom knows that the princesses never stay away from each other. If you keep them away and anyone sees Princess Amelia alone, it will just arouse suspicions," Raphtalia informed Ryder.
"Hmm? Alright. You girls will stay together. But Amelia, if you betrayed us, Olivia will die, and Olivia, if you betrayed us, Amelia will die. So it would be good if you girls behave," Ryder informed them.
"Alright, Dale, You're coming with us as well. You'll keep an eye on Raphtalia, and Rale will keep his eyes on the Princesses. There should be no mishaps," Ryder told Dale.
"Yes, Your Highness," Dale said as he wore a cloak as well.
"Good. Now that it's clear Take me inside the Ancestral Temple," He told them.
Both the princesses looked at each other before they nodded their heads.
They started walking away from the lake, and the others followed close to them.
It was midnight when they reached the Royal City. The city was also guarded, but not as strictly as the entrance of the Lightning Valley.
As not many dark elves committed a crime, the Royal City didn't need such strict protection. Most of the Guards were around the Royal Palace, but only a few were in the city.
They got close to the Royal Palace, and that's when they started seeing the Guards.
The guards also noticed the Princesses, but they didn't say anything. It was normal for the Princesses to leave the palace and come back. The only strange thing was that she was with the Lightning Valley guard captain and the other people they assumed were also guards.
The Princesses walked towards the back of the Royal Palace.
"Her Highness? What are you doing here at this time of the night?" The in-charge of protecting the Ancestral Palace asked.
"I need to enter the Ancestral Temple," She replied.
"Oh, Alright," The guard stepped aside after hearing her answer.
The Elvian City has been so peaceful that the people had never even suspected that the princesses could be forced.
The Guards were there to guard the Ancestral Temple just as a formality. They didn't believe that someone would come here as only the Royals could open and enter it. That's why the guards were standing quite far away from the Ancestral Temple, talking with the guards of the Royal Palace.
The Princesses stopped before the Ancestral Temple.