Queen Ygrit spoke through her gritted teeth. Everyone could see how much she hated Arreya. "I want you to see with your own eyes ... how your child die so that you would understand how I feel."

"Grandmother!!"

"Your Majesty!"

Therius and Arreya cried at the same time. They were greatly shocked by Queen Ygrit's sharp words. Instantly, their chests were struck with a feeling of great fear.

Suddenly a 3D hologram scene flashed between Queen Ygrit and Therius. They saw Emma being tied and held tightly by two large bodyguards, while Yldwyn stood beside her with a nervous face.

"Emma!!"

Arreya, Therius, and Xion held their breath and almost staggered in shock at the terrifying sight. One of the guards had drawn a very long sword. The sharp edge seemed to glint dangerously.

"Grandma, what are you doing? You promised not to hurt my wife!" Therius snapped with mounting emotion.

"Did I really promise that?" replied Queen Ygrit with a shrug. "I don't remember."

Therius clenched his fists angrily. He was about to charge towards his grandmother when the older woman raised her hand and prevented Therius from moving.

"If you move even one step forward, to kill me .. then Yldwyn will order the guards to cut off Emma Stardust's head. Do you want to see her beautiful head roll to the floor? Go ahead," said Queen Ygrit in an icy voice.

Xion joined in and clenched his fists tightly until his knuckles turned white. Had this palace not been protected by an anti-magic shield, it would have been very easy for him to kill this old hag.

The atmosphere immediately became tense. Even King Cassius' guards seemed to be holding their breath. They didn't expect Queen Ygrit to go that far. Joren and Lora looked at each other with frantic expressions.

After all, Emma was the future wife of their new king. If anything happened to her, they were sure Therius would go berserk. The prince was known to be very strict and unforgiving.

What should they do? After all, King Cassius was dead. Now Therius was their leader.

"Joren, Lora! Do you know where Emma is being held?" Therius snapped at the two men. "Answer me!!"

The two of them shook their heads frantically. They didn't even know Queen Ygrit had ordered several other bodyguards to catch Emma and threaten her with a sword.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty ... I don't know," said Joren apologetically. His face was filled with confusion and pity. He couldn't imagine that the beautiful girl's head would actually roll on the floor. Surely Prince Licht would feel very traumatized.

"Prince Licht! I advise you not to interfere!" snapped Queen Ygrit suddenly. Her eyes were burning with a vengeance.

"Grandma .. please. Free Emma. She is innocent ..." Therius hurriedly knelt and begged Queen Ygrit. "Please, let her go."

"Innocent?" Queen Ygrit snorted. "Darius is also innocent. He was a very kind young man, but Arreya betrayed him and caused his death. I think now she will understand how painful it is to see her child die without being able to do anything... She would finally understand this helpless feeling that has been haunting me for so many years."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she uttered her last sentences. Queen Ygrit looked like a tortured soul. She was sad and angry at the same time.

Therius shook his head in despair. "Please, Grandma ... Don't kill the woman I love. If you do ... I won't be able to live again. And I will never forgive you."

Queen Ygrit pressed her temple with a sad expression. She then shook her head. "Ahh, Prince Licht. It turns out you haven't escaped from that girl's magic yet. You're still defending her."

"No, Grandma. I'm not charmed by Emma with telemancy or anything. Absolutely not. I'm far more powerful than her; she could never do anything to harm me. I really do love her. I want to live with her. If Grandma decides to kill her, you better kill me too ...." Therius grabbed the long sword from Lora's hand and pointed the handle in the direction of his grandmother. "You'd better kill me first."

His tears flowed slowly down his cheeks. Therius felt very guilty and frustrated that the situation had gotten so bad. He felt responsible for putting Emma in this kind of danger.

If only he hadn't brought her back to Akkadia ... she might still be fine on Earth now. Therius should have healed Haoran and left her behind so she could live happily with the man she loved ...

Why was he so selfish?

By forcing Emma to come with him, Therius only brought her grief after grief. Her father died, and now she too must face a terrifying death threat. The situation was very dire.

If only Therius were not selfish and able to act like Xion, Emma would still live happily on earth. She would never know her father was executed. She would probably always think that her family was fine in Akkadia. Ignorance is bliss.

The man's mind was in a mess. He tried to think of a way to get Emma out of this situation. He knew it was HIS fault.

Maybe ... he should quickly take Xion out of this palace so that his friend could use his power. Xion could go back to the past and talk to Therius before leaving for Earth to get Emma.

Xion must ask Therius past-self to heal Haoran then return to Akkadia without Emma. This way, she would never come to Akkadia and face so many sorrows.

She could live her life with Haoran and be happy. That way... Therius wouldn't have to see her facing her death in such a gruesome way.

Wasn't this being truly in love means? To see the person you love happy, even if it means not with you...

Somehow, Therius finally GOT IT. He realized what Xion had been thinking all this time. His friend loved Emma unconditionally and selflessly. He was always there for her and didn't even try to force her to be with him. He supported her with anyone, be it Haoran or Therius, as long as Emma was happy.

When you love a person truthfully, their happiness is paramount.

You... you don't matter.

Therius finally got it.

"Xion...." Therius looked at his friend with a pleading look. "If I get you out of here... will you be able to help?"

Xion lowered his head, dejectedly. Having known Therius for over a decade, he knew what his friend was thinking, even without telemancy. He shook his head slowly.

As the Time Master, he was not allowed to change the past, even if he wanted to. He now remembered how Emma chided him one time for being useless. What's the point of having the power to control time if you couldn't change the past? she asked him.

The Time Master was indeed useless, Xion felt angry at himself.

Meanwhile, Therius clenched his fists to the sides. He was angry and worried at the same time. Xion was his last hope to get them out of this messy situation. However, even the Time Master was not allowed to go back to the past and change the outcome.

Now, Therius didn't know what else he could do. He felt so helpless.

"Your Majesty ..." Suddenly they could hear Arreya begged the old queen. "I have wronged you and Darius. I apologize. Please let go of my daughter. She has suffered a lot ...."

Therius' reverie was immediately moved when he saw Princess Arreya fall on her knees in front of Queen Ygrit. The beautiful woman wept bitterly, but she couldn't shed any more tears.

It seemed Arreya had cried so much over the past few weeks that her tears went dry. However, her sobs sounded heartbreaking to the ears.

The princess, who was famous for being an all-powerful mage, was kneeling and begging her enemy, asking for forgiveness so that her daughter could be saved.

Queen Ygrit looked at Arreya in disdain. Then, she directed her gaze at Therius.

"Grandma ... if you do it ... I promise I will never forgive you. I will make you feel more pain than Uncle Darius' death," Therius finally decided to threaten her.

He thought there was no point begging his grandmother. So, he tried another way, by threatening the old queen. He then turned to Yldwyn through the hologram in the middle of the room.

"Princess Yldwyn... I love Emma Stardust. If you touch even a strand of her hair .. I will make you pay together with your whole kingdom. Terren will understand what wrath is after I'm done with them. And they will know all the suffering I inflict on them later is the result of your actions. They will hate you forever, and you will go down in your country's history as the wretched princess who angered King Licht Wolfland of Akkadia!"

Yldwyn gasped at Therius' threat. Subconsciously, the girl stepped back. Her face looked very nervous.

"Your Majesty .. I ... I ..." whispered the girl fearfully. "I didn't mean to upset you ..."

ZING

Suddenly the communication got disconnected. Queen Ygrit smirked and kept the remote beside her.

"Tch... I turned off the line on purpose, so you can't influence Yldwyn and my men to spare Emma's life," said the old woman with a mocking smile. "I've ordered them to kill that wench if I don't call them back within 5 minutes."

"Grandmother.. you!"

"Arreya ... you must know that I want to see you atone for your sins to Darius," said Queen Ygrit again. "Since my grandson, Prince Licht seems really fond of your daughter, then I will relent. You can save your child if you kill yourself, right now. Then, I will let her go."

Everyone held their breath at Queen Ygrit's cruel request.

"Grandma ... please ..." Therius begged his grandmother in vain. "Please.. don't do this. It won't bring Uncle Darius back."

"You have four minutes," Queen Ygrit added in a cold voice.