There was a large hologram hovering over them all, showing a countdown.
00:30:00.
00:29:59.
00:29:58.
A sense of deja vu washed over Athanasia. So many people around her reacted differently to the situation. Some tried to rack their brains, processing what was happening, wondering if this was the end for them. Some were screaming as they tried getting out of the bathroom through the doors but it was to no avail. And there were those who were surveilling the situation in silence.
Felix and Claude were some of them.
"You, royal magician," Claude called Lucas' official title out and the black-haired boy approached the three without hesitation. "Do you have any idea on how to get us all out of this situation?"
Lucas bowed before the serious emperor. Though he seemed calm and collected, Athanasia knew that it was just a facade to hide the slight panic. He bit the bottom of his lip before looking down on the floor. "Unfortunately... No, your Majesty," he answered.
"What?"
Athanasia slowly walked away from the three gentlemen. There was no need for her to listen to their discussion. At the very least, she wanted to make sure that her cousin and uncle were alright. "Jennette! Uncle Anastacius?"
This was bad. Jennette was trembling terribly as her father tried to comfort her.
"Your Highness?"
She looked at the person who called her just now. Ijekiel. With his father close behind. "Ijekiel..."
The young man looked around, his golden yellow eyes shaking slightly as he took in the chaotic sight before him. "This is bad...," he muttered. "Earlier, you were able to converse with that... creature. As if you know it from the very start."
Athanasia couldn't be bothered and dropped her princess facade. As if she were in her past life, she sighed and scratched the back of her head, something she often did every time she was frustrated. "Well, let's just say that the creature and I have some history between us," she admitted. "And that creature is called a dokkaebi."
"A dokkaebi?"
"I don't have time explaining about what a dokkaebi is right now, mainly because we're currently stuck in the middle of its sick death game!"
Think, Athanasia, think! How would you handle this situation as Athanasia de Alger Obelia and not as Lee Ji-Hye?
If she were Lee Ji-Hye, she would have not hesitated to kill a random stranger, all for the sake of her own survival.
But these people were not strangers at all! They were all nobles who she got acquainted with! How could she possibly do that?
"Are... we going to die?"
"Eh?"
Athanasia turned around and her heart almost broke upon seeing Jennette's tear-stained face. The poor brunette wiped off her tears using the sleeves of her dress. "F-Forgive me for crying in this situation right now," Jennette's voice wavered. "But the message from earlier stated that we will die if we fail... A-And -"
"Jennette, take a deep breath," Athanasia grabbed her cousin by the shoulder. She looked at Anastacius sternly who then backed away from surprise. "Uncle, can you please go to where a father is right now? I'm sure he's in need of some help to calm down everyone here."
At first, Anastacius looked at her sceptically, before looking around. With so much chaos happening at the same time, it was amazing that no one had tried killing each other yet. Perhaps they were all praying that this was all a dream they were having. "... fine. I'll go to my damn brother to help him out."
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A Princess' Guide to Surviving an Apocalyptic World // WMMAP fic
Fiksi Penggemar"... You're kidding," Athanasia muttered when she took in the situation they were all put in. 'This... This feels awfully familiar.' In the ballroom, on her sixteenth birthday, the guests were screaming at each other, trying to kill each other. He...
