In Time And Memories

Chapter Fourty-Three

The sudden appearance of Pierre in the training grounds surprised everyone. All of them panicked after seeing a lot of blood has flowed from his wound.

Urus was shocked and checked on his half-brother but Azelaine ran towards them. He noticed her concerned expression.

"Prince Pierre!"

"Take him to the infirmary now!" Urus commanded. He signaled Xiel to open the portal. A knight carried Pierre and went inside the portal. Urus reached for Azelaine's hand but she also went to the portal, to Pierre.

His hand was left there, hanging in the air, reaching for nothing.

Urus just sighed and brushed it off then went inside the portal too. When he get inside, he immediately saw Azelaine sitting beside Pierre while watching with a worried expression as the nurse attend him. It's a cut from his chest up to his shoulder.

Both Azelaine and Urus stayed there until the nurse managed to stop the bleeding. Pierre has also fallen asleep.

No one spoke between them until the door was roughly opened. Frizella and Celestia entered the room hysterically.

"Pierre! My son!" the queen exclaimed and was distressed upon seeing the state of her son. Pierre has gone pale after losing a lot of blood and his forehead is also full of sweat.

Azelaine is quietly watching them but she was surprised when her head suddenly titled and her left cheek stings. Even Urus was surprised how loud it was. Celestia slapped her.

"What did you do?" The question caught Frizella's attention.

"Prince Pierre interfered the battle and was accidentally caught by an attack," Azelaine explained nonetheless. Although she is glaring at Celesia.

"Interfered? Accidentally?!" Frizella is not buying that.

She scoffed. "I know better and for sure, it is not an accident but someone wanted to kill him! My son will never interfere a battle!" She defended but it's no use since Azelaine is a witness too. Frizella gazes at Urus with her sharp eyes. "Is that right, Crown prince?" She already knows that it was Urus who attacked.

"It is an accident, Queen Frizella. And if someone is at fault here, it is definitely Prince Pierre's fault who suddenly came in the middle of a fight." Azelaine emphasizes word by word.

"There are a hundred knights who witnessed it, Queen Frizella. You can question each and one of them."

Urus remained silent as he watch Azelaine intently. Frizella's jaw clenched after losing at their debate. All of them went silent but their attention shifted to Urus after he stood up from the chair. He walked towards Celestia.

"You dare to hurt the crown princess?" Urus titled his head. His presence is dominating Celestia and making her scared.

Azelaine's eyes widened after hearing that from Urus. She never expected that Urus will stood up for her since she let it slide. Azelaine is too shocked from what happened to Pierre to even think about Celestia's slap.

Celestia fell on her knees, begging for forgiveness. "Forgive me, Prince Urus! I was merely shocked and furious about hearing the state of my fiance." Celestia is about to cry but Urus is staring at her coldly.

"I am not the one you should ask for forgiveness. Such a lowly life like yours have no rights to touch the crown princess."

Urus' words are harsh but the queen did not even tried to oppose him.

Celestia felt nothing but pity towards herself. She's kneeling and begging in front of those people who sat way higher than her. They looked tall while they look down on her. She's nothing but a lowly life in their eyes.

It's the truth that she wants to escape.

Urus and Azelaine left the infirmary together. Both of them are silent as they walk through the luxurious hallway of Ezckelian Palace.

He's quietly watching her after seeing Azelaine's expression earlier. It was the first time he saw that expression. Whenever he sees her, Azelaine's expression is always cold and serious but never distressed.

"Are you alright, Princess?" Urus couldn't help but ask.

Azelaine looked at him and nods. "I'm alright, Your highness..." She trailed off. Azelaine stopped on her tracks then faced Urus. "Thank you for standing up against Celestia, Your highness." Azelaine smiled.

For the first time, Azelaine smiled at Urus. Not the usual bitter or forced smile she always give him but the genuine smile.

Urus felt his heart skipped a beat and there's something foreign in his stomach.

"You don't have to mention it. It is my duty to protect you, Princess." His hand went to Azelaine's left cheek and gently caressed it. "Does it hurt?" He asks with concern.

Azelaine shake his head. "No, not anymore, Your highness."

"My name."

"Pardon, Your highness?" Azelaine is puzzled with Urus' words.

"Just call me by my name. There is no need to be formal since you are my wife." It is like removing the boundary between Urus and Azelaine; they're not the crown prince and princess, it's just them as husband and wife.

Azelaine was taken aback. "Then... Just call me by my name too, Your— I mean... Urus." It felt weird and yet nice. It will take time before Azelaine get used to it.

Urus smiled and started to walk again. Another silence fell between them but it feels comforting.

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