Emma was stunned by the sight of Xion's eyes gleaming with tears. Her heart skipped a beat.

She just realized Xion's feelings for her.

Apparently, Xion ... fell in love with her.

At that time, Emma didn't know what to say. She looked at Xion with a pair of sad eyes. She immediately remembered all the things Xion had done for her. Since they met on earth, then spent a lot of time together on The Coralia and later The Dragonite.

Xion taught her a lot about mastering her powers. He also consoled Emma when she found out that her father was executed. And lastly ... Xion was also the one who took Emma back in time to see her father and mother to get her closure.

This man.. had done so much for her.

So, it was all.. out of love?

Emma felt so touched.

When Xion looked up, he saw Emma's pair of topaz eyes glittering with tears. He understood that the girl already knew what was in his heart. He sighed. Now, he felt there was nothing more to hide...

His secret was found out.

The man nodded slowly and forced a smile. "Goodbye, Princess. I will always wish you happiness from afar."

He brushed her hair reluctantly and then turned away. This time Emma couldn't after him nor call his name. She was rooted to the spot, unable to move. It was so confusing.

Why did it have to end up like this ....?

Emma could only watch Xion's back as he walked away and then disappear behind the door. Her mind was dizzy and subconsciously tears rolled down her cheeks.

Now ... she also had to lose her friend.

Emma bit her lip and sobbed again. Why did it have to end up like this?

Her reverie was stirred when she felt a pair of strong hands slipped between her arms and hug Emma's waist from behind. Therius then turned Emma's body to face him and hugged her tightly.

The young king buried his head on her hair and cried silently. He didn't want this to happen .. but fate said otherwise.

Now, he also had to lose the only friend he had in this world. He had considered Xion like his own brother, and now the man was gone. Therius would miss Xion badly.

He knew that his friendship with the Time Master was over.

***

Xion immediately packed a few items from his room on the east tower and then disappeared. He showed up at the express train station going to Lochen Province and bought a ticket to return to the mountains. He didn't want to bother Therius, who must have ordered his men to take Xion wherever he needed.

Winterlyn Station that night seemed very crowded with travelers. Xion moved among the hundreds of people waiting for the night train and managed to find a four-bed compartment, which turned out to be empty. He was the only passenger who entered there.

He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the empty compartment. After placing his bag in the locker, Xion immediately sat down on one of the beds facing the window and took a deep breath.

He had never liked crowds, especially in the capital, but somehow it felt like his heart was very reluctant to leave the city tonight.

He closed his eyes and tried to get Emma's face out of his head. He did not know how long it would take him to forget his love for her. Maybe.. he would never get over this feeling.

Xion didn't know.

He had never been in love before. This was the first time.

First love, coupled with a heartbreak..

KNOCK KNOCK

Someone knocked on the compartment door and entered a beautiful girl with long black hair wearing a casual outfit and carrying a small bag.

"Sorry, is this bed empty?" asked the girl, checking the number of the bed in the compartment and matching it with the ticket in her hand. She then replied to her own question. "Ahh .. must be empty, because this is my place .. hehehe."

Xion paid no heed to the girl. He closed his eyes and then pressed his forehead. His head hurt so much all of a sudden.

Ahh .. he used too much energy to take Emma back in time and stayed there long enough for the girl to meet her parents.

Xion had never taken other people to time travel before. He only knew from the previous Time Master that it could be done, but he didn't know how much impact it would have on his body.

"Are you okay?"

Vaguely, Xion heard the girl's voice beside him. His hearing began to fade, and his head hurt even more. Was he hurt from expending too much energy?

He turned to the girl and waved his hand nonchalantly, trying to sign that he was fine. However, suddenly his body shook and he fell unconscious. Slowly blood flowed out of his nose, mouth, and ears.

"Aaaahhhh ...!!! HELP!! Someone is injured here!! Help!!" The girl spontaneously caught Xion's body before he hit the floor. She held him frantically while screaming to ask for help.

Her voice immediately caught the attention of the people in the surrounding compartments who were unpacking their belongings and got ready to go. They immediately came to see what happened.

"Is there a doctor here?" asked the girl to the crowd. An old man raised his hand and immediately made his way in.

"I'm a doctor. Let me check his condition ..."

He took Xion's body from the girl and laid him on one of the beds and then swiftly checked all the young man's vital signs. His face suddenly turned pale.

"He is so weak ... does anyone know why he got internally injured?" asked the old doctor in puzzlement.

The girl shook her head worriedly. "I don't know. I just met him here ..."

The doctor checked Xion's condition once more and asked two big men near the door to help him carry Xion's body to the clinic in the next compartment.

"The clinic on the train has pretty good medical equipment. We'd better get him there right away. I'll have the conductor drop us off at the next station so he can be taken to the big hospital for treatment."

They rushed to take Xion to the clinic to save his life. Meanwhile, the girl who had just entered the compartment immediately caught up with Xion's bag in her hand.

***

Atila accompanied Emma for a few moments after she finished treating the girl's wound. She made sure Emma rested by giving her sleeping pills.

"Her highness will sleep for a long time with the medicine I gave her. After she wakes up, her body will be better. However ...." Atila couldn't continue her words. She had heard the news of Princess Arreya's death and felt very sad for Emma. She knew that no words of comfort could make Emma feel better.

"I understand," said Therius. He knew Atila felt sympathy for Emma, and the doctor was about to tell Therius that even though Emma's body would get better, the wound in her heart would take longer to heal.

Therius had to be patient and comfort Emma as best he could.

"Her mental state is very shaken. I suggest that after the funeral, Your Majesty should bring the Princess to have alone time and calm down," said Atila. "She has suffered so much."

Therius actually had to take over of the government immediately after his grandfather died. The plan was, he would hold a funeral service for the late King Cassius, as well as Princess Arreya and General Kaoshin. Then he had to be coronated as the new king.

Once he took the throne formally, he would choose his people to help him in the government. He must make sure that people who were loyal to his grandmother and cousins would not have the chance to backstab him in the future.

After everything was done, he would punish everyone who had wronged him and Emma. He still had not decided what punishment he should give to his grandmother, Queen Ygrit, Princess Yldwyn, and his cousin Heron.

Later, he would also have to hold a meeting with all the officials in Akkadia and representatives of their five colonies. The coming months would be very busy and tiring.

However, considering Emma's dire condition, Therius agreed with Atila. It was better for him to prioritize his wife's health and take care of the kingdom later.

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