All but terror and chaos filled the town square. A bombing is what just transpired. One person, five people, fifty people— about a hundred people, bloodied just south of the temporary platform the locals put up. The distance is so close but not that near either to cause death to the important people already positioned at the, around the, and by the, said platform.
And like any other rational person would think at that time, over thinking the bombing incident was on purpose, to cause harm to the supposed VIPs’... Well, it was not. Yes, it was on purpose. But to cause harm? No.
It was a warning.
A warning that even the Emperor himself wasn't able to think of and decipher the purpose of.
Not until...
The empire was turned upside down and put to ruin.
“Momma!”
“AHHHH!!”
“Look out!”
“Stop pushing!!”
“HELP!!!”
Injured citizens littered around like abandoned trinkets, which could either be from the bombing or, from other causes done by panicking of the masses. Even more saddening is, there are dead people, and the head count of the fallen rises as the aftereffects of the bombing became evident to all. Only adding up to the despair the citizens were feeling.
Acanthus, whose carriage was now surrounded by guarded knights led by Jordan, formed a barricade around the carriage. Performing the duty they made an oath for.
It was highly appreciated by Acanthus, of course. But compared to his past life decision to stay in place for safety, as the empire couldn't afford to lose a crown prince, Acanthus stepped outside the carriage despite the objections of the knights.
“Your highness, please, no!” the knights and Jordan plead as they kept their cool under pressure.
But Acanthus remained indifferent to their pleas and motioned for Jordan to come over as he, quickly skimmed through his surrounding.
It was too gruesome for any normal bystander to see. Acanthus heaves deeply as he turned to Jordan who was sweating like crazy. Saying, “Stay close and don't die.”
Jordan look stunned, “Pardon?”
Acanthus with a strange light in his sapphire eyes looks intently at Jordan as if it could look straight into his soul. “That's an order,” he said in a low tone.
Jordan's eyelids trembled. He felt suffocated for some reason. He opened his mouth, “Yes, your highness!” Though truthfully speaking, he has no idea what he, himself, is talking about too.
Acanthus feels relief. Even displaying a tad bit of a smile in his eyes which has remained indifferent until now. He started, “Alright, so now, let's assist the nobility—”
“Help the commoners!”
“Rescue the commoners!”
“Assist the commoners!”
“At all cost put the commoners first...”
Acanthus was cut short by the appearance of a familiar person.
‘He looks young...’ Acanthus was left in a daze. The memories of the past flooded his brain. A broken record replaced his rationality. A nonstop recollection overtook his being.
‘If I were born a girl, loving him wouldn't have been called a sin.’ Acanthus could hardly look away from the young Xenos, clothed black in all luxury and fashion style dependent on its house, Alderidge, the dukedom.
But all of a sudden, Acanthus realized something...
Xenos shouldn't be here. Xenos Alderidge, the only son and heir of the dukedom, should be skipping the superficial acts of peace and harmony between the other kingdoms’ delegates and the empire.
Afterall, it was all over the headlines of the commoner's newspaper back in the past, how Xenos could stoop so low as to put up an act of concern after the bombing incident. When it was said that, Xenos stayed at the dukedom as he hates socializing, which was true, and that he'll skip through the formalities of the school opening, and awaits a day later before entering the grounds of the academy.
Which Acanthus knew better. While everything above was true about Xenos during that time, with the exception of, Xenos faking his concern for appearance's sake, Acanthus was well aware of how truly distressed Xenos was for the empire's disadvantaged citizens.
So much so that, Xenos did a thorough investigation and found out the purpose of the bombing incident, even unbeknownst to the Emperor who he was very loyal. And while the perpetrators have been revealed, he, Acanthus, didn't live off that long to witness justice being performed, as he has already died.
“Your highness? What's wrong?” Jordan asks as he noticed the abnormality on Acanthus. He seems to be staring at something... Jordan looks over where Acanthus seems to be looking and found out it wasn't something, but someone. The heir of the Alderidge dukedom, that's who.
“AHHHHH!”
“HELP!!!”
Acanthus was awoken by the disturbing noises echoing around the town square. As much as he wanted to reason out the appearance of Xenos here, it was evident, too obvious even, that like him, Xenos too, came back in the past. It doesn't take a genius to come up with that conclusion.
What any other reason would a person who hasn't made an appearance back in the past lifetime during this time, would be showing an appearance now?
And the fact that he, Acanthus, hasn't officially met Xenos in this lifetime yet, no way lazing around for days without a single remarkable deed done, would be tantamount to a butterfly effect just like this. So to say, Acanthus is a hundred percent sure of his hypothesis. That Xenos too, comes back in the past.
Solidifying his hypothesis, as if destiny were at work, right on time, Xenos looks over where Acanthus was and exchanges a glance. Acanthus could feel it. That even such a distance of a few meters, anger, humiliation, and hatred, enveloped Xenos's eyes all at once in a span of a second.
“Your highness, are you listening?” Jordan asks as he blocks Acanthus's line of sight.
Acanthus runs a hand through his hair. Frustration is written all over his face as he exhales. “Yeah. I mean, no. I apologize. I was busy thinking of something else...”
Jordan sighs. “Well, forget it. We need to evacuate you to safety first. Also—”
Acanthus cut Jordan off. Eyes twinkling with a new light, Acanthus has thought of a revisable plan in seconds, continuing where he left off before seeing Xenos.
It's stupid to escape the inevitable, thus, he will face it head-on. But with a plan.
“Take me to the Pope.”
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A/N: If like pls leave a star for support.
(◠‿・)—☆
Btw, I dedicated this chapter to lHellcy cuz truly, adding my book to ur reading list already means a lot to me as a newbie writer.
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Rewriting Destiny
RomanceAcanthus went back in time. Ready to change his destiny. However, to not fit it to his liking but for the people, he had failed in his past life. His goal? To become the person his people wanted him to become. And that's to inherit the throne. To be...
