Your Highness~ [Lumity Fanfiction AU]

[79]

December 32nd fourteen twenty.

TW: Mentions of Suicide! (NO ONE DIES, ALOT OF YOU SEEM TO THINK I'D KILL A MAJOR CHARACTER)

An emergency summons was called for very early in the morning, and every single guard was sent to patrol the grounds, so none but the royal family remained inside.

Except Steve.

"So you gave the letter to her?" Alador points to Odalia.

"No, your Majesty. I never recieved a letter, I brought up my concerns to her." Steve clears his throat. "My King, you've asked the same question a variety of ways, and I have been trained for this."

"So your words could be-"

"False? No, My King. I have been under oath for the last twelve years. I am unable to lie to you."

"What were you doing last night?"

"I-" Steve quickly darkens in hue, ears drooping. "I was with Celine.."

"What? Speak louder, Steve." Alador slams his fist on his throne.

Steve's eyes prickle with tears of embarrassment, the guard taking a deep breath, "I was with Celine, your majesty. We got off work early and went to drink."

"And then?"

Steve frowns, "My King, please, don't make of me to tell my happenings."

"Steve."

He lets out a long and sad whine, his frown never leaving his face, "We snuck over to the Noceda's to have dinner."

"What did you do? You have guilt written all over your face." Alador sighs. "Get on with it Steve Tholomule."

"We crashed into a well. No one was hurt but the roof of the well came down as did the bucket. We spent two hours fixing the roof for the well and retrieving the bucket." Steve spews. "The well owner was paid off to not break the news.."

Alador sighs into his palm, looking to Odalia, "Did he truly come up to you?"

"Yes, I recall his visit." Odalia taps her chin, in thought. "He spoke of the banishment, but it was two days after."

"The morning of Amity's awareness of the situation." Steve fills. "I too was under the assumption Luz would return, Amity had shown me the letter she planned to give Luz."

Amity nods, "That's true, yes I did tell Steve I had a letter for Luz. I mentioned wanting a moment without her, and if he could guard me til she returned."

Edric and Emira glance to eachother, brows furrowing, "My King, if we may.." Emira clears her throat.

"Yes?" Alador and Odalia say in unison, leaning in.

"We asked Steve to guard us during the time you speak of.." Edric utters.

All eyes turn to Steve, and his heart drops. "I- No? I-I don't-" He looks to Amity. "My Princess-"

The doors are shoved open, heads turning, Luz stumbling in, Vee behind her. "Luz!" Amity smiles brightly.

"Hi-" Luz breathes out, swallowing. "My sister is guilty of false impersonation- But she did it to save your life-"

Again their eyes return to Steve, who jumps and points to himself. "Mine?-"

"Steve- We need to leave- We need to leave now-!" Vee hurries her pace, latching onto his arm.

"But-" Steve draws away. "Why? We've got-"

"Steve, your life has been in danger since you met eyes with King Hettie-" Vee tugs. "Please Steve- Our family loves you too much and if anything happens to you there's no knowing what Mama is willing to do for you-"

"Wha- She kicked me out when I got banished there is blatant favoritism and I-"

"Luz, My Love, Dearest, not now." Amity hushes.

The knight huffs, crossing her arms and turning her head away. "Vee, you committed a felony?-"

"A wobbler, merely- W-With the right defense yes-" Vee locks eyes with Odalia. "You-"

"He knows." Odalia waves her down. "Steve Tholomule. Leave."

His ears droop, the knight lowering himself slightly, "What..?"

"The beast behind you speaks the truth, and if you value your life, leave." She stands. "Beast, speak quickly, and escape."

"Steve, when King Adrian arrived with Boscha, he never came home-" Vee's eyes well with tears. "His disappearance was much planned, but not by the Potion's Queen, who now holds him prisoner."

A sudden chill fills the room, but Vee continues.

"The Emperor, he-"

Blue strings suddenly appear on Vee's body, holding her in place by her head, arms, legs and back. "Snitches, get stitches." A bubbly hiss echoes in the room.

Vee swallows, a single tear dripping down her cheek as her body turns to wood, and her neck snaps back. Her body falls limp and she is pulled up to the ceiling, where her body dissipates into beautiful stars. Luz staggers, a noose dropping before her, seemingly hanging from nothing, as it rocks gently in front of her.

Steve snaps to his senses first and lunges towards the king, drawing his sword and scanning the room. "Wittebane."

Luz jolts, "Ah..Yes..?" She whispers, lost in thought.

"You've got a war to return to, what are you doing you lazy oaf?" The noose caresses her cheek.

She leans into it far too much, catching her chin but the noose lengthens and releases her. "My..Sister just.." Luz's eyes grow heavy, glowing a deep blue. "I should be returning to war.."

"Luz-"

The knight murmurs to herself as she stands, the noose waving her along. "Steve."

He turns to Odalia. "My Queen?"

"There's a passage in the kitchen, beneath the third stove to your left when you enter." Odalia stands. "Take the tunnel, thirty paces, maybe thirty five, but take the first tunnel to your left. Take it til you reach the end, and get away."

"But-"

"Take the prince and princesses." Odalia's hand engulfs in flames. "Now."

He thinks no further and lunges towards Amity, scooping her up and rushing to the prince, taking his hand and dragging him along. Emira follows the two, the noose untying itself and forming a lengthy rope that shapes to a smile. "You can run, but we've got eyes everywhere."

The voice echoes in the throne room, eyes opening on the walls, all locking onto Steve. Alador sets his crown on his thrown, unclasping his mantle and letting it fall to the ground in a heap. "We'll buy you time."

Luz glares back, the rope retreating to the ceiling, dropping Vee back down. The puppet wavers, snapping into place, fingers creaking shut into fists, "How much time can you buy?" The bubbly intruder giggles. "I, am a child of God."

Doors snap shut, a sudden thought filling all the royalty. We shouldn't have left the kingdom unguarded.

Tis, their adventure continues.