TW: Mentions of violence and blood In this chapter
After you'd rushed away with the twins you looked back a few times to Cyno, seeing him starting to face off against Prince Ajax and all the while as you ran you prayed for his protection, but then you had to stop running and hide as some of the guards were heading towards you, and luckily they didn't see you in which made you sigh In relief before you continued to make your way
"Princess this way!"
you looked all around, then seeing Anya as she gestured you to follow her quickly and so you did, and she guided you as you filled her in on what'd just happened
"Oh no, I hope the General emerges victorious" she said
and back within Ajax's now destroyed bedroom, they'd taken the fight Into the halls of the castle as Ajax was trying to get the upper hand against your husband, but he wasn't so lucky
Cyno's eyes glowed as he channeled his powers, "Things are different now...this battle won't end like It did before, you...will be the first to fall"
Ajax wiped his cheek, "Oh yeah, we'll see about that!"
he lifted his sword as he rushed up to Cyno who'd countered his strike, "She's not going anywhere!"
Cyno gritted his teeth, "You bastard she's my wife! I noticed the bruise on her cheek, how dare you lay your hands on her!"
Cyno rotated his polearm as he knocked Ajax back onto the ground, but he quickly got back up as he took another one of the display swords from the wall, now having two swords to fight against Cyno with, and he came at Cyno fast as he swung with decisiveness
"I suffered great humiliation because of you!" said an angry Ajax
Cyno knocked him back, "I won the war for the sake of the kingdom and protection of the one I love, what was your reason to fight!"
"To show that I'm not useless...."
Ajax clenched his sword as he then kicked Cyno In the stomach, before punching him and Cyno stumbled back as he wiped the blood from his nose, but then Cyno leapt up as a purple aura swirled around his arms as he then created a giant arm with it, and he grabbed Ajax before sending him flying into the wall in which created a huge hole, and Cyno jumped after him just as Ajax picked himself up off the floor with them clashing once more
the commotion in the castle caused the Tsaritsa to demand what was happening, In which no one knew that an Impending battle was happening right under her nose, and Prince Pantalone rushed with some guards to see what was going on, and he walked right into the fight
"Ajax! Guards go assist him and take that man down!"
"Yes!"
the guards drew their swords as they rushed to Ajax's aid, and their Prince was very Injured right now but still having the will to keep fighting
Pantalone pushed his glasses up, "Ah, It's you...Prince Cyno"
Cyno's eyes narrowed at Pantalone as he recognized him, "You...It was you who knocked me out and kidnapped her"
he gripped his polearm In his hands as he was soon surrounded, Cyno looked over every single guard that surrounded him before his eyes glowed once more, "Get out of my way"
some of them started to step back In fear, but then they charged towards him in which made Cyno unleash his power once more, purple aura wrapped around his arms as they were Inscribed with ancient texts and Cyno leapt up in the air as he sped towards them
he took down one after another, either throwing them aside or slitting their throat with his polearm, and soon they collapsed at his feet as Ajax stood In shock as he'd never seen someone so fast or so fierce in his life. and when the last guard fell Cyno faced off against Pantalone who wasn't much of a fighter at all like his younger brother, so he was at a great disadvantage
Pantalone put up his hands, "Prince Cyno...let us negotiate, I'll let you and your family leave Snezhanaya...if you spare my life I can secure your safe return to Sumeru Kingdom"
Cyno's brows furrowed as he then could tell he wasn't lying, and so Cyno lowered his polearm as he then rotated It as his powers went away back inside of him
Pantalone put on a smile, "Do we have a deal?"
Cyno thought it over again, before finally "Deal"
Prince Ajax looked on in betrayal, "Pantalone! you fool do you understand what you've just-"
"I'm a reasonable man and anyway I find your reason for kidnapping the princess vulgar"
Ajax's blue eyes quivered as he clutched his sword, "........"
Pantalone then put his own sword away, "Now then, go find your wife and children then come with me"
Cyno gave a subtle nod, "Very well but If you're lying...."
"Oh I know, I wouldn't dare cross you General Mahamatra"
just as Cyno was about to leave with Pantalone, Ajax struck him from behind as he knocked him to the ground and he put his hands on Cyno's neck as to choke him
"You're not getting away so easily! Pantalone you dirty traitor!"
Cyno struggled as he kicked and kneed Ajax to let him go, and just then not too far away you'd met up with Al Haitham as he told you to come with him for your safety, but you had a terrible gut feeling as you looked back to the castle,
you then handed the twins to him, "Al Haitham protect them please!"
"Your highness where're you-"
you picked up your skirts as you rushed back inside, running as fast as your legs could carry you even though you were starting to run out of breath, you climbed up the staircases as you tried to hurry along just as you'd come closer to the wing where they were fighting
Ajax was trying to choke the life out of Cyno, but he failed as Cyno then used his power to push him away, and as he took in deep breaths he rose to his feet once more
rubbing his neck, "This...ends now"
Ajax staggered onto his feet, as he ran at Cyno and sliced him across his chest, and the blood streamed down from the wound as he started to attack but Ajax kicked him down
just as you stopped to catch your breath at the end of the hallway, you looked on in horror as you saw Ajax closing In on your husband and without thinking you ran over there
and as Prince Ajax lifted his sword you rushed in front of Cyno, "........"
and when you slowly looked down there was blood coming from your stomach, as Ajax had stabbed you there Instead of Cyno, and Cyno looked on in horror as you then collapsed
Cyno's eyes widened as he scrambled onto his feet, and he brought you into his arms
"No...no...no Archons please no!"
he held you close to him as tears started filling his eyes, "You...You Fool!"
a weak smile came to your face, as you hugged him with your last ounce of strength
"Cyno...protect our children...I'm sorry this was all I could do for you...and them, please...you must live my darling...."
Cyno looked you in the eye, "Don't you...you can't please don't leave me...not again!"
you reached up to touch his cheek, before your hand fell limp at your side and Cyno checked your pulse to feel that there wasn't one, "No...No...NOOOOOOOOOO!"
he then collapsed into the crook of your neck, "Please...don't leave me...Lesser Lord Kusanali please...."
just then Ajax took the opportunity while he was distracted, "!!!!!!!"
but a shield blocked his sword, just as Cyno gently put you down and turned to Ajax as he summoned his polearm, and it happened In an instant before he could blink
*SLICE*
Ajax bled from his mouth before he collapsed to the ground, never getting up again but then as Cyno's power started to spiral out of control, "Stop"
there came a bright green light and from It a childlike voice, "Calm yourself Prince Cyno...don't let your grief and rage take you over, I shall help you to calm the spirit within you"
Cyno's eyes cleared as he looked up at the light, he then realized "Are you..."
"Indeed I am, I am the God of Wisdom and Dendro"
Cyno quickly took a knee, "Please Lesser Lord can you bring my wife back"
"I will try all I can"
just then the green light descended and went over to your limp body, and Cyno rushed over as he saw the light enter It just as a dazzling brighter light filled the room, and when It was gone that green light was gone. But then as Cyno felt for your pulse he felt It had returned
and he noticed that the wound on your stomach was now closed, he gently shook you
"(Y/n), (Y/n)...my love wake up"
you moved your head a little as your eyes then fluttered open, "Cyno...is that you"
he held your hand to his face, "Yes...It's me"
your vision cleared up as you saw him better now, and without any words you embraced each other as you were overcome by so many emotions, and Cyno laid atop of you as he held you tightly all the while he was thanking Lesser Lord Kusanali
you cupped his cheeks as you kissed his lips, "Cyno...I'm sorry...I didn't know what else to-"
"Don't...I would've done the same for you In a heartbeat, but...It's all over now"
you touched your stomach to see the wound was healed, but then as you started standing up you wobbled a little on your feet but Cyno steadied you, and you embraced again
Cyno peppered your neck with kisses, "You...don't ever scare me like that again"
you giggled through your tears, "I won't"
you then parted as Cyno wiped your tears away, before you intertwined your hands and started leaving the castle together where you soon met with Al Haitham outside, now reunited with your children all of you soon left the frozen kingdom for good.