Chapter -4 The one who canst escape its fate (1/2)

”We must hurry! You should run as far away as possible from me. You can not remain here no matter what. Quickly now, escape!!”

Shelise had never seen her brother speak so passionately or show such emotion before. She couldn't speak for a moment due to the shock of seeing her brother's strange actions.

”Are you listening to me!?”

Aleksandros shouted, probably the first time he had ever done so. This only perplexed his sister even more.

”Brother, what's wrong? Do you know what is going on?”

Her voice was shaking. The words and actions of her brother were scaring her.

”A calamity is about to fall upon us. I…. don't wish for you to be hurt by it. So please, you must run. Run away as fast as you can!”

Aleksandros words became calmer, and he returned to his usual demeanor which only confused Shelise more.

”Brother, you must be joking with me.”

Aleksandros shook his head and realized it wouldn't be so simple to convince her. Was it fate?

He sighed, ”Let's go, just follow me.”

Aleksandros took Shelise's hand and pulled her along. She was surprised by his touch and almost pulled herself free, but Aleksandros gripped her firmly and didn't let go. Shelise had never seen her brother act as he was now doing. She couldn't even remember the last time he took the initiative to actually touch her.

Her brother pulled her along, and they ran out of the library into the main castle hall where there was now a large commotion. Servants were running around chaotically to and fro. Brock finally noticed Aleksandros and rushed towards him.

”Young master, young lady, we must go! Quickly now!”

Shelise yanked her hand away from her brother and asked in a quivering voice, ”What's going on Brock? Can someone please explain to me what is going on?”

”The Dukedom is under attack. I don't know much more than that. Let's hurry to the Duchess.”

Brock led the way as the three hurriedly dashed through the castle to the assembly hall where the Duchess was sure to be. There were servants and soldiers everywhere running to complete their orders and objectives. Aleksandros wasn't entirely sure of what was going on, but he could guess.

The enemy most likely had finally reached their home after so many years, and this meant that the armies of the kingdom at the battlefront had lost.

'The Duke must be dead, and perhaps even the king for the enemy to have breached so far into this kingdom. Well, I knew this day would come sooner or later even if I didn't know exactly how it would come. In the end, I suppose it doesn't matter.'

Aleksandros was not surprised in the least. He had been preparing his heart for this day for a long time now. He was only surprised that it had taken so long. It was rare he was able to live as long as he had in this lifetime. He had even acted strangely which was something of a curious thing to him.

'I guess I just didn't want to see her die. At least not in front of me. I don't want to feel that pain again.'

When they arrived in the assembly hall, Aleksandros could see his mother frantically giving out orders to the commanders left defending the castle. She was clearly preparing to abandon the castle and escape with as many people as possible.

”I don't understand, what does this mean? Has my husband lost the war? How could the Republic and the Empire have broken through our battle lines?”

The Duchess was shouting at no one in particular. She was clearly perturbed and having difficulty composing herself.

”Mother, what is going on?” Shelise rushed towards her mother and asked frantically.

”Good, Aleks and Shelise, you are here. You must escape towards the capital. It is no longer safe here!”

”Mother I don't understand. Where is father and the King? Aren't our armies fighting the enemy at the border?”

The Duchess halted and calmed herself momentarily, ”I don't know. I don't even want to imagine what this means. Do you understand Shelise? The only thing we can do now is escape. We do not have the manpower to hold this castle. It's not safe here, and we must escape. Our soldiers and commanders will handle the defense, and we will retreat to the capital with the people.”