“Don't worry, Grand Duke, we’re almost towards safety!” Ben labored down the halls with the Grand Duke in his arms. “Everyone evacuated to the Palace’s secondary garden.”
“Ugh.” Duke Joseph grits his teeth. “Roselia…please help her.”
“Definitely, Grand Duke. But for now, we must focus on your safety.” Ben picked up the pace as they steadily made their way out step by step.
They trudged their way through the seemingly endless hallways and pathways within the palace. You could hear the sound of fighting and panic at the other side of the walls along with the shaking of the ground and the scattering of dust in the air.
“Why are these hallways longer than I remember?” Ben complained as he focused half of his brain power on commanding the blood inside the Duke to heal him faster.
“Your Highness, Ben.” The Duke grunted. “There's something coming.”
The Duke wasn't wrong. Not far behind them was the sound of thumping footsteps and a maniacal cackle.
“Damn it, one of them got through.” Ben started jogging but it was a struggle due to carrying the Duke.
“Your Highness, go on ahead.” The Duke choked. “You have to survive, for the Empire.”
“I’m afraid I can't leave you, Duke Joseph.” The Prince chuckled nervously. “If you die, I’m afraid your wife will kill me no questions asked.”
The Duke smiled a bit at that but he still removed himself from Ben’s hold. “At least stand on your own. Do not be burdened by my weight.”
“Then let's try to run together, Your Grace.” The Prince along with Duke began to run as fast as they could to reach the other side. Right behind them, was the giant man blasting through the hallway and destroying the things in his path.
“PRINCEY PIE!” The Big Man yelled. “IT'S TIME FOR YOUR EXECUTION!”
“Oh shut up!” Ben yelled back.
The Big Man grinned menacingly and he suddenly stopped and punched the ground.
Ben paused for a split second to try and understand why he suddenly decided to cease chasing them but then from the point in the floor to which the man punched, fissure-like cracks broke the ground apart and made its way towards in a zigzag line that then erupted into an explosion beneath their feet, knocking them back.
“Gah!” Ben groaned in pain as he landed on his back. He hurriedly looked around him and saw the Grand Duke wincing in pain behind a pillar. “Stay there, Duke Joseph,” Ben grit his teeth, “I’ll try to fight him.”
The Duke grabbed the boy’s hand to prevent him. “No. You're just a child.”
“No offense, Your Grace. But I’ve been in war before.” He calmly broke free from the Duke’s hold.
“It's not that.” Duke Joseph straightened himself in the wall. “You have so much left to see in this world, getting hurt now or dying. You won't be able to experience all of that.”
“That's what it means to be a soldier, Your Grace.” Ben smiled faintly and looked away from the man and towards his opponent across the hall.
“Getting confident, kid?” The Big Man snickered. “I’m not like any of the pipsqueaks you've fought in that skirmish on the border. I am…more.”
“Is that your bad guy speech done?” The Prince rolled his eyes and grabbed a sharp rock to stab his arm. Blood poured out and flowed to his palms forming itself into a hard sharp-edged spear. “Let's get this over with.”
YOU ARE READING
Just Let Me Be The Grand Duchess! (SECOND SEASON)
FantasyLady Alejandra Ramirez was not prepared to be saved by the Red Witch of the underworld, and to add to all of that mow the Crown Prince wants to marry her. She's now pulled into a scheme the likes of which are much bigger than she could have ever tho...
