Author's Note.

So, I finally watched the anime of Akagami and I remembered that I've been way behind the manga. What I re-call, however, was how much I love Izana and he does not even appear in the story that much.

And then I had this idea. I wanted to write this kind of genre, so there…

Please be patient. Hopefully, this story will progress, and be a good one.

I'll have to read the manga too. SO.

R&R, F&F.

Thanks!

Chapter 1

The loud clashing of swords jolted her up from her sleep. The noise was then accompanied by cries of anguish and pain. Both sounds joined in harmony as it reverberated through the walls of the tower until it reached the top where she resided for seven long years. Even the flicker of the candle lights seemed to dance with the music that only plays for Death.

Althea suddenly knew that her life has started to change. She feared for the worse; she triumphed for the better. But whatever the change may bring, she's willing to accept it without reservation. Whatever it is - as long as she will not remain caged in this god-forsaken tower secluded from everyone else.

Secluded from this world.

Secluded from the life she was meant to have.

And tonight, she knew that it was about to end.

She's finally getting away.

Clumsily, Althea stood up. She wore her shoes and ran to the wooden chest that contains all her belongings. She extracted from it her travel gown, as well as her one and only cloak and hurriedly donned both clothes. She took her handbag to take whatever is important and finally decided that she only needed her undergarments. She, then, braided her hair. She, at least, wanted to do it neatly but her shaking hands were making it impossible. The sounds of heavy footsteps coming-up from below made her jump, even though she was expecting it.

It's difficult to calm down. Her heart thudded against her chest in a beat so fast, she thought her heart might burst out from her body.

She draw-in a large breath and exhaled it as soon as she sat on her bed facing the locked iron door. A second later, the door finally opened with a loud bang. Even though she knew what was going to happen, the sound and the wind that assaulted her made her cry out in surprise.

Three men stood before her. Two of them were Knights and the other a Seer.

Althea should know.

She knew them all her life.

"Well, I guess this is a big surprise!" The middle man said, grinning.

"Lance!" Althea called.

"It is? She looks like she's expecting us." The right man said.

"Gareth!"

"I would like to prolong this reunion, but there is no time." The Seer said.

"Oh, Emrys!"

"Your Majesty." The three bowed as they addressed her in chorus.

Althea launched herself to give them all a hug but it was impossible with Lance and Gareth being too large and wide. It's been so long since she saw all of them. They've changed so much.

"Are you sure this is how the new Queen behaves?" Lance, the Knight of Camellia, her own knight, chuckled as he assisted her to her feet. His big hand took hers. Gareth, the Knight of Begonia, her closest friend, took her hand bag.

They ran down the cold, spiral stairs of the tower.

"No time. No time." Emrys spoke to urge them faster.

Memories of the seven years that Althea stayed at the place all flashed before her. Not all of them were bad. There were times when she enjoyed the solitude and peace. But nevertheless, she's determined to forget all of it.

"So, the King… he's dead?" Her voice was so low, she could have whispered the question. She knew, though, that her companions heard her. Emrys decided to answer.

"Yes, His Majesty finally passed away."

"We all know it's coming. When the Royal Physician learned of the poison, it was too late." Lance added.

"The poison was never identified thus the antidote was never made. Whatever it is, it certainly came from a different country." Gareth supplied.

"It's Uncle Moria isn't it?" Althea's tone wasn't asking.

"He's one of the suspects." Lance said.

"I warned the Late Majesty when he exiled you." Emrys said, shaking his head. "I don't even need to use my power to see that. The Kingdom of Florin is not the same. The country is now full of greedy and wicked Lords aiming for the throne; all the more, that the one and only King's Heir is a female. Once you were out of the castle, His Majesty has become vulnerable to all sorts of attacks. He doesn't even realize that it's you who protects him. Who knew that he will die of poison? The irony of it all!"

"He has no choice but to exile me." Althea said, feeling the need to defend the King, her father. It was a means to console herself for not feeling anything with his death. No grief, no remorse, no anything.

"He's the King. He always has a choice." Gareth said with bitterness. "All you did was to stand-up for Your people. For Your Kingdom. The thing that he should have done."

"Don't speak of the dead that way, Sir Gareth." Emrys scolded.

Althea blinked at the emotions of Gareth's words. She almost forgot why she was exiled. It seems to be a memory from long ago. But she knew exactly what she felt that day. What happened was a long time coming.

For hundred of years, the Kingdom of Florin was afflicted with a sickness that repulsed Althea. It wasn't something she was taught. It was something she just knew. The things the Kingdom of Florin should be never were. Everything was just all wrong.

She just turned sixteen then.

Althea remembered how fine the day was that prompted her to stroll around the capital. The sun was bright, the sky was blue and the air was cool. Gareth and Tristan, now Knight of Mimosa, were assigned to escort her. She greeted the people she would someday rule over. They greeted her in return, some out of reverence and some out of fear, kneeling until their heads touched the ground. At that time she hadn't minded much. She was raised to be the Queen. This is the kind of adoration that the people of the land should show her. After all, her heart was only set for the best of Florin and its people.

It was by chance – or by fate, that they turned the wrong corner of the street and saw a High Born beating up a Commoner. It was an occurrence she knew of, but never witnessed first-hand. In their Kingdom, there was no law against violence as long as no one was killed. The right to kill was only given to the Knights of the Kingdom. Everyone was given the benefit to justify their actions, especially when inflicted by a High Born – the natural children of Florin.

Althea remembered so much blood. The pleading cries of the Commoner to stop pierced her heart. His words weren't something coherent anymore but were muffled sounds that strived for survival.

And the other people just watched, as if it's something of an entertainment for them.

To Althea, it wasn't. The Commoner was also one of her people.

It was all wrong.

"What are you doing?" Althea's voice shook with disgust and anger.

The High Born stopped and took a step back when he recognized her. He bowed. The Commoner tried to bow to her too but Althea stopped him. The mere movement would likely to kill him. His face was beaten to a pulp, it was scarcely a face.

"Your Highness! I was… just… this lowlife." The High Born pointed at the Commoner. "He cheated on me! Me! A High Born!"

"How did he cheat on you?" Althea asked calmly.

"He sold me fake gems and stones! He robbed me off!" The High Born was so angry he kicked the Commoner again.

She threw him an icy look. "That's enough!"

The High Born immediately stopped and rigidly stood in-front of her. Their audience was now gathering around them.

"Princess Althea…" Gareth cautioned. She saw him and Tristan placed a hand on their swords.

"Sir Gareth, Sir Tristan, please tend the wounds of that man." Althea ordered pointing with her hand.

People gasped. The High Born widened his eyes at her. It was the first time a Fanell, the Royal Family, did that.

"Yes, Your Highness." Tristan obliged.

"I wish to stay by your side." Gareth whispered at her. She nodded.

"Are you sure they are fake?!" She inquired. She's questioning the honor of a High Born in front of the Florin people. It never happened before - maybe because nobody cared before. Althea cared.

"Yes! Of course!" The High Born took a bag out of his pocket and took some specimen and held it in front of her. "I paid five gold coins for these!"

Althea turned to their audience. "Is there anyone here who can appraise if these gems are genuine or not?"

Her voice was clear. It was a demand.

"Here, Your Highness." A balding man with thick spectacles came forward and bowed. A Commoner. Althea nodded.

"I need another one." Althea looked at where the High Borns were standing to watch them. One man took a step forward.

"The name is Tyron, from the Marigold Family. I'm at your disposal, Your Highness." He executed a perfect bow.

Althea let the two men examine all the stones. When they're done, Sir Tyron gave the conclusion.

"The smaller stones are of low qualities, but the bigger ones, like the rubies and sapphires are exquisite." Sir Tyron explained.

"Are they genuine or not?" Althea said impatiently.

"They are genuine." Sir Tyron said. The people in the crowd gasped. Althea looked at the appraising Commoner.

"I agree with the Sir, Your Highness. Its equivalent to ten gold coins." He said.

The accused High Born turned white.

When he attempted to say something, Althea gave him a challenging look to stop him.

"You, Sir will make sure that the man will get what he deserves not just with his goods but with the damage you inflicted on him. You will also answer for this unfairness you caused." Althea said.

Later, the commoner who appraised the gem was murdered. The next day, the accused High Born was killed. Rumors started to circulate. All Knights were investigated and proven innocent. The peace and order of Florin was disrupted. The discrimination between the High Borns and Commoners intensified. The King finally ordered her exile to prevent the further escalation of the problem which she caused.

And that was seven years ago.

Her foot was suddenly caught by something, interrupting her memories. She would have fallen on her face, had not Lance held her by the waist. The stairwell was barely lit, but she still saw what caused her to stumble. It's the lifeless body of one of the soldiers that guards the tower.

They passed more dead bodies on the way. Althea bit her lip.

"Don't." Lance warned when he heard her sobbed.

"They never should have…"

"These people were your Uncle's men-at-arms. If anything, they're nothing but scums."

"Still…"

"They wouldn't feel what you feel if the situation was reversed." Lance said.

She finally nodded. All she felt was guilt. What happened to them was a sacrifice for her sake, and for that she will carry it on her shoulder for the rest of her life.

They finally arrived at the bottom of the tower where two more knights await tending the horses. Gavin and Percy, Knight of Freesia and Delphi respectively.

"Gavin! Percy! Oh my gosh, how you've grown!" Althea greeted, hugging them both. The last time she saw them, they were but twelve years old, training under Lance to be a knight. She realized that seven years was indeed a very long time.

"Your Majesty." Gavin and Percy bowed.

And then Gavin said, pouting at her: "At least you could have let as bow to you first. Queens don't hug their Knights."

"I'm the Queen now, am I?" She breathed. A queen. She has now the power to make the changes the Kingdom needed. She understood a lot of things during her exile. It will not going to be easy. People are motivated with things that will destroy not just their selves but other people too. At worse, it will be a country. And she will do everything to prevent that to happen.

"By the laws of the Kingdom you have to marry and have a King before you can exercise your powers. You owe it to Florin to give an heir. The blood of Fanell will forever run through the land." Emrys contradicted her thoughts.

"I hate the Florin Laws." She scrunched her nose. In their Kingdom, female is and forever will be the weaker gender. To get allegiance, loyalty and acknowledgement, she needed a King.

"Obviously. You wouldn't be here if you love it." Percy said sarcastically, looking at the tower.

She smiled. "I missed you too, Percy."

She studied the horses with wonder. Its been seven years since she saw animals and she was struck at the wonder that came to her when she saw one. "I even missed the horses."

"Here, here. Now, listen." Emrys voiced boomed.

"So what's the plan? I can't go back to the castle just like this. I need the King's pardon." Althea said. She tried to order her mind on what she will do first once she's in the castle. The King's burial, she supposed take the highest priority.

"Luckily, I have it with me." Emrys pulled out the Selection Ring. The one that chooses the rightful ruler of the Kingdom by eliminating the King's Heir except one who would then marry and propagate again, until the next selection comes.

The ring emits a poison that would kill any man. The blood of Fanell is presumed to have the natural anti-body for any poison, but only the strongest shall survive. The ring will continue to increase the dosage until someone from the King's Heir would develop immunity for it. The rest must, as a rule, die.

The ring killed five of the King's Heir during her father's time. The ring chose her father. It would have killed six of them if her Father didn't save his youngest brother, Moria. The late majesty's first mistake was to remove the Selection Ring from his brother's finger before it killed him completely.

Althea remembered wearing the ring when she was five. It did not kill her.

It was the second mistake her father made. Since she wasn't killed, the King didn't see the need to produce another heir, preferably male. Thus, her predicament right now. A queen is as vulnerable as any other female in the Kingdom when it comes to marriage.

"The King pardoned me?" She couldn't believe her father would pardon her at all.

"Actually no. I took it from his finger."

"Emrys!" Althea was aghast.

He waved his hand. "He is dead anyway. We know the Ring is the most important property of this Kingdom. It's the only authority that the people of Florin will acknowledge."

Emrys slid the ring to her right index finger. Everyone held their breath. Even Althea had a tiny doubt that the poison will not kill her.

"Like I said, you are the ruler of Florin." Emrys sighed a relief.

"The plan?" Althea reiterated.

"The plan is..." Emrys started. The Four Knights gulped behind Emrys and gave her a pleading look to agree whatever the Seer has to tell her. Althea started to scowl. "… You'll have to find your King first."

Althea was taken aback. "I'll find a King? That's the plan?!"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Not here in the Kingdom, that I'm pretty sure."

"What?"

"And no one will go back to the castle except for the Knights."

"But Emrys, the King is dead. What will happen to Florin if I leave?!"

"No one except us knows that yet. I used my, um, ah powers a little bit."

"Emrys!" Althea finally shouted. The Knights winced.

"Your Majesty, I've been the Seer of Florin since the beginning of this Kingdom. I know what I'm saying. Now, you listen to me." He said with the tone that indicated he was serious.

"The Kingdom of Florin is in peril. I saw our enemy and they will bring the first war to ever come to this Kingdom. It will take a lot of lives. You will not be able to save the Kingdom with your own. I saw a savior, our future King, and he will lead us into victory."

"War?" Althea squeaked. "And who is this enemy you speak about?"

"Moria." Emrys spoke. "He is meant to live and cause this war."

"Cause this war?! You mean to say that the people who will die – all the mothers, fathers and their children… they will die because Uncle Moria is meant to live and cause this war?"

"Eveything happens for a reason my child, but believe that it's for the best. For the Kingdom of Florin to thrive; for the new generation to see the world a better place, Florin needs to die and live again."

"Why don't we just eliminate Uncle Moria right now?" Althea asked, unfeeling of her evil Uncle. Just the thought of him turned her stomach. The man wanted to marry her, his own niece, just so he could get the throne. He's really cunning. He controlled half of the Kingdom since the Late King trusted him.

"He's in Alcatraz." Gareth said.

"Alca..? Where is that?"

"The land of the savages. Sir Bedwyr, Sir Galahad, and Sir Boris reported that Moria plan to make an army out of the inhabitants of the accursed land and bring them here in Florin. The gears had already started. We have no choice. Sir Kay said that the revolution army against the High Borns is already set in motion." Lance explained.

"They only needed the perfect opportunity." Gareth said.

"The King's death." Althea answered.

The Knights nodded.

"The situation worsened ever since the Late Majesty exiled you." Percy said. "You gave the Commoners the courage to fight for their rights."

"It is their right. The Fanells, nor the High Borns don't have any power to take it away from them. They are also people of this Kingdom."

"Just so. The tension in the Capital City of Camellia is getting worse and worse." Gavin stated.

Althea looked at Emrys. "This hero you speak of. It isn't one of the Knights? Couldn't I just marry one of them?"

She couldn't leave the Kingdom when it's like this. She is the ruler. It is her duty to make the Kingdom of Florin safe. She is the queen. She doesn't want to desert her people just so she could find a husband, especially when there's a war that's bound to happen. She hated the fact that she has the right to the power but can't use it.

"Lance can be my King. Or Gareth. Or Tristan." Althea suggested.

Lance and Gareth coughed awkwardly at the background.

"I'm honoured with the offer, Your Majesty, but I'm engaged." Lance said.

"Engaged? You? To whom?" Althea said, completely shocked.

"Calm down, my dear. I'm engaged to Lady Gwen." Lance said, using his endearment of her.

"But… but…" She couldn't imagine her own Knight, Lance who has been there since she was born to dedicate his life to someone else – to this Lady Gwen.

"She's from a respectable family, Your Majesty." Lance informed.

"What about me?" Althea asked desperately.

Everyone is changing. This isn't what she's expecting. The people who took care of her, who grew up with her, they are all changing.

"You will find your King." Lance said solemnly.

"Gareth…" Althea turned to her friend.

"I can't marry you. I'm not suited to be a King, as you well know."

"Are you engaged too?" She asked, despairingly.

"No."

"Enough!" Emrys shouted impatiently. "I told you Your Majesty, the King, Florin's King, and most importantly your husband is not from this country. You my Queen, Gareth, Gavin and Percy will journey through the continents to find him. It is your destiny."

He swished his hands at the word destiny. Right now, she hated that word. It's as if she was meant to waste all that seven years in the tower just for this to happen. To find herself a King. Because its destiny.

"What about Lance?"

"He'll stay here. If he's missing, it will create suspicions. She is your Knight after all." Emrys said.

Gareth help her ride her horse. The rest of the Knights mounted theirs.

"Oh, and I forgot, you must come back here on the fifth month. My powers can only hold my trick for five months. Moria is expected to arrive at that time too. By then, I hope five of you will come back to this country." Emrys added.

"You mean I barely have five months to find my King!?" Althea yelled.

"If your journey will be lucky, yes. But if it's not, it will be lesser than that. And Queens don't shout. Maybe after all these troubles, I will teach some manners in you."

"Emrys, how am I supposed to know he is my King!"

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. Your heart and soul will know."

"Are you really sure it's not one of the Knights."

"Do you doubt my abilities?"

"No."

"Then stop complaining." The Seer shoved bags of golden coins to her, Gareth, Gavin and Percy.

"You're lucky I have the key to the treasury. This will fund your journey. It's more than enough. You can buy clothes and all that is necessary, seeing Your Majesty hadn't brought that much. I must ensure the comfort of the Florin's Queen after all."

"Well, I'm a Queen who don't really have that much." Althea quipped.