The Crown's Entrapment

"What are you up to now?" Devas chided, not liking the smirk currently on the merman's face. He was sure that this cunning merman was planning something devious behind those suspicious smiles of his. Still, he was also aware that Polo wouldn't give out a meaningless trial even if it was dangerous and deadly. He always had a valid reason for everything he did.

"How about I let you two enter her dream so both of you can help her out? However, you two should swap your appearances, my dear friend," Polo stated his condition.

"You, Devas, will be using the King's face, while the King will use your face inside her dream. None of you will be allowed to say a word about this to her, or else the three of you will be permanently imprisoned inside the thousand dreams."

Deva's jaw dropped as he gasped, "Are you kidding me right now? Is that a sick trick, Polo?"

Polo burst out in a fit of laughter, making Devas frown. With curled lips, he looked at him as he explained his reasons. "If you manage to have the Princess willingly acknowledge you as her lover, then I guess it's a win-win situation for you, Devas," he nonchalantly pointed out.

"You'll have your life partner inside our realm, but at the cost of you wearing a borrowed face. The Princess will only see the King of Cordon's face on you, and you can perpetuate the lie even further by faking your territory into a copy of the Kingdom of Cordon for her to live in."

Devas didn't comment as he fell into deep thought. It wasn't a bad idea compared to the boring life he currently had living alone without a partner to call his own. He had not been interested in anyone that came past him except for this Princess, so why would he let this opportunity slide? So what if she saw him with the face of her lover? What mattered was that he got her out of this thousand dreams trial safe and intact.

Devas genuinely wanted to help Xenia. If no one would, he strongly believed that Xenia wouldn't last inside even if she had angel blood within her. For goodness sake, those thousand dreams were like a never-ending cycle! She wouldn't even have the slightest idea of how she would surpass this trial. It was like she fighting the unknown without her even knowing that she was only inside a dream.

Devas glared at Polo, who simply ignored him as the latter turned to the raven. "You can easily enter her dream since her life and yours are already intertwined, King of Cordon…" he said.

"You only need to utter the spell, and a rune would appear on your body. But of course, that will happen only if our Devas here will also enter the dream with you."

"Fine. I'll enter! Get me inside her dream! I'll help her by any means!" Devas retorted as he quickly laid beside the Princess of Ebodia.

He then turned to look at Xenia's side profile with a smile and said, "I'll show you that you're better off with me than to return to the chaotic realm of Cordon."

Seeing his decision, Polo started casting his spell on Devas as he reminded, "Remember that you're not allowed to say anything or even give the Princess a hint as to how she could break through from this dream."

He stressed out, "Doing so will mean that you'll also be trapped, Devas. As I said, I won't be responsible for you. You made this choice."

"Enough talking and bring me there this instant before another storm comes her way," Devan insisted with a frown. "Geez, she's still sick, and your timing in giving her problems is way too erratic!"

Polo shrugged at his fellow guardian's complaints before he promptly completed the spell. Instantly, Devas fell to sleep.

Polo then turned to the raven and said, "All you need to do is to utter these words, King of Cordon…"

From there, Polo promptly relayed the words of power to the raven. After which, a devious smile appeared on his face as he stared at the unconscious Princess and whispered, "Now… the lives of these two men depend on you, Princess Xenia. I hope you won't disappoint me like the others."

"Wow… That dumbass really did it!" Saha, who suddenly appeared on the scene, exclaimed. "He's really that smitten with her?!"

"Aren't you fond of her as well?" Polo countered.

"I'm fond of her eyes… Well, I like her a bit, but she's quite entertaining, don't you think?" Saha snorted. "I bet Helena will be arriving soon to bargain with you. But surely you won't accept lifespan. I'm curious what you'll demand of her."

"She should know that I'm someone who can't be bargained with when it comes to intruders in our realm…" Polo firmly stated.

*****************

At Cordon Castle.

Everyone rushed inside the Great Hall where the King was supposed to have his routine court meeting upon receiving the news on the progress of the Princess's trial inside the Element Forest.

It was the Queen Mother who entered first, only to suddenly slump down on the floor upon seeing that her son was already unconscious in Chancellor Talon's arms, a rune glowing on his forehead as he laid in deep sleep.

"He uttered the spell…" Chancellor Talon weakly whispered. They were in the middle of their court meetings when the King suddenly tilted the disc on his hand upon receiving the telepathic report on the trial's progress.

Everyone inside the great hall pleaded for him not to enter the thousand dreams trial that the Princess was having but to no avail. The moment the guardian relayed the words he needed, the king immediately uttered out the spell.

"Carry him back to his bedchamber!" the Queen Mother commanded in her low voice. "I'll take over as the Queen Regent in the meanwhile."

She then looked at her daughter who, together with Elder Handi, helped her gather herself back on her feet. "Dear, please go with Admiral Osman and replace him to oversee the tournament with our Great Constable Gilas."

"Understood, Mother…" Freya answered, trying her best to look strong despite the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. She looked at her unconscious brother, whom the guards were now carrying outside the Great Hall.

"I will look after him," Jayra quickly offered.

Freya nodded as she whispered, "Thank you so much."

"Don't worry. All this shall pass in due time," the young mage reassured them, her tone giving out so much conviction that the mother and daughter pair couldn't help but listen to her. "I trust that our Princess Xenia, as well our King, will be fine out there… The two of them will get through this together."