Cosmic Fables: A Princess Odyssey

24. Whispers of the Plight

Ira's anger flared as she exclaimed, "It's clearly Tara, it's always her! She was responsible for the attack four years ago. But this time, she will face the consequences."

Alice continued, sharing the details, "The allegations against the heirs are as follows: they supposedly brought intruders into the kingdom, intending to harm Slyrio by exposing its secrets and providing them with essential weaponry."

She added more,"Furthermore, they are accused of involvement in the attack from four years ago and the murder of Slyrio's eldest Princess. They stand accused of committing these acts, which have harmed Slyrio, and are now facing charges of treachery. They will be held accountable alongside the intruders."

Ira's fury intensified, and she expressed her disbelief, "Is this some kind of sick joke? Do they genuinely believe that four young humans who have barely entered adulthood could pose a threat to a powerful kingdom like Slyrio? How can they even entertain the idea that the Heirs would conspire against the kingdom and harm its eldest Princess?"

Avi, who had been silently observing the conversation until now, noticed Ira's anger and reached out to hold her hand, a gesture intended to calm her down. He wanted to convey that maintaining composure would be crucial for them to secure victory.

Ira took a deep breath, gradually calming herself, and said, "Why is General Zayn involved in all of this?"

Alice explained, "He believes that by eliminating the monarchy, he can establish a dictatorship in Slyrio. He thinks Tara will support his cause and declare him the new leader. However, what he doesn't realize is that Tara is merely using him as a means to secure the throne for herself. The monarchy stands in her way, and she aims to become the next Queen since she is the niece of King Dimitri and Queen Anika, the only surviving young royal bloodline."

Ira nodded in understanding and continued, "Who is currently in charge of Slyrio?"

Alice replied, "Prince Lian."

Ira questioned further, she was worried about him, "Prince Lian? Da...." then she thought of something and said,"King Dimitri's brother?Is he okay? How hasn't he spoken in this matter?"

Alice dismissed the notion, saying, " Prince Lian has been bedridden for a month due to a sudden paralysis attack. However, for the past four years, his wife Kayra has been missing since the attack. Despite extensive searches, she was never found and was eventually declared dead. Tara, on the other hand, has intermittently remained out of the public eye during these years and a few times have been out of radar."

Ira couldn't help but say,"Tara needs to be taken care of, she didn't even spare her own father."

Ira  then nodded thoughtfully and then shifted her focus, asking, "Where is Tris, Eir's brother? And what about Nik, Raya's brother?Are they both safe?"

Alice reassured her, "Yes, both Tris and Nik are safe. Nik has been with Tris since the arrest of their siblings. They are residing in the Mystic Isle."

Listening intently, Ira contemplated for a moment before suddenly inquiring, "Alice, tell me the current location of the eight of them."

Alice responded, "Okay, searching..."

She projected a screen in front of Ira and informed her, "They are being held in the Royal Prisons of Capital Isle on the twentieth floor, cell number 207."

Ira's determination grew as she asked another important question, "Is this mansion under surveillance?"

Alice confirmed, "Yes, Miss. The mansion is under surveillance. Seven guards are stationed outside the mansion, while only three are inside. Fortunately, the ones inside do not suspect anyone to be here. They fall asleep as soon as night falls. The challenge lies with the Royal Automatons, the ones stationed outside. Escaping them without deactivation is difficult."

Ira smirked confidently and remarked, "That shouldn't be a problem. Those automatons were manufactured by Rio Tech, right?"

Alice confirmed, "Yes, they were manufactured by your company, Rio Tech, in the year 790i. Therefore, you should be able to deactivate them."

A smile of satisfaction crossed Ira's face as she said, "Perfect, Alice. Try to establish contact with the King and Queen, and inform them about everything."

She continued, giving Alice her final instructions, "You can leave now, Alice. Ensure that no suspicions are raised. We will make our escape by midnight. Take care of yourself and this place. We will stay in touch."

Alice bowed respectfully and left to carry out her tasks.

After Alive left, Ira turned her gaze toward Avi, and it was clear he had numerous questions swirling in his mind, unspoken yet palpable. She couldn't help but be amused by his expressions and decided to break the ice.

With a warm smile, she introduced herself, "Let me start by saying hello. I'm Ira, 22 years old, hailing from Slyrio, a planet millions of light years away from Earth. You could call me an alien, and I'm closely connected to the royal family of Slyrio. I've been with you for the past two years. It was all me."

Locking her eyes with Avi's honey-brown ones, she continued, "Every emotion shared during these two years was genuine. Thank you for putting your trust in me back then, rather than that letter."

Under Ira's penetrating gaze, Avi's heart quickened as he processed the revelation. It truly had been her by his side for these two years. Unable to contain his amusement, he flashed her a cheeky smile.

After a brief pause, curiosity got the better of him, and he inquired, "So, what do you do?"

Ira's voice brimmed with a hint of pride as she answered, "I'm much like you, a young business wizard. I started my tech company, Rio Tech, when I was just 15."

Avi couldn't hide his astonishment and chuckled, "And here, I thought I was a business genius."

He regarded her with a proud smile, then shifted to a more intriguing topic, "Tell me about your magical abilities."

Ira chuckled softly at Avi's incredulity, "I was born with the gift of rapid learning and adaptation. As for my 'magical powers,' some were innate, while others I've honed over time, including my combat skills. The universe holds a vast expanse of knowledge."

Avi's admiration for Ira only deepened.

Ira's smile radiated warmth, but a shadow crossed her features, and she added with a hint of melancholy, "Yet, with all my abilities, I couldn't prevent your abduction. It leaves me questioning my ability.

Understanding the weight of Ira's self-blame, Avi stepped closer and embraced her, offering comfort.

With sincerity in his voice, he reassured her, "You did everything within your power. I can only imagine the hardships you endured all these years. I may never fully repay you, but I promise to stand by your side. Even if I lack your strength, I'd give my life willingly to protect you."

Stepping back from the embrace, Avi added, "I'm genuinely sorry that you suffered because of us."

Ira's smile returned, now tinged with serenity. "It's alright, Avi. I'm okay now."

Returning her smile, Avi felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the remarkable person who stood before him, someone who had endured so much yet never lost her strength.

Avi pressed further again after a few moments, his eyes narrowing in confusion and concern. "But why were we being attacked? Why did we need your protection? And what does Tara have to do with all of this? And how did you even get involved?"

Ira sighed, realizing that the time for secrets was coming to an end.