Colin and his friends were rushing for the royal castle. As they did so, they saw their parents heading at full speed for the other districts. With a simple node to his father, Colin continued to run towards the castle…

“Oi… I have a question? Since our parents were already here, wouldn’t it have been better to have them defend the castle?” George asked

“If they had stormed the castle, there was a real possibility that the royal knights might mistake them for the mercenaries,” Colin replied

“Eh? What about us?”

“We are wearing our academy uniforms and with our youthful appearance I doubt the knights will mistake us for them… plus I am hoping to run into the vice commander. He has met me before and will hopefully vouch for us.” 

“Colin… Something weird is happening.” Aaron reported

“Weird How?”

“All of the noble houses are being looted.”

“How is that weird? Isn’t it normal to steal at a time like this?” George asked

“If this was a raid then you would be right, but it is a coup by some nobles. It would be one thing if some of the houses are being looted but for all of them… something is wrong here…” Charley advised

“Hmm… Charley, George… Take some guys and investigate this.”

“Count on us.” The uttered before breaking away from the main group heading towards the castle.

“Aaron… What is the situation at the castle?”

“Not good… The enemies have broken past the main gate and fighting is happening throughout the palace… eh?”

“Did you see something?”

“It’s that girl who accompanies the princess. The one who sometimes wears a knight uniform. She seems to be in trouble.”

“Where is she?” Colin asked in a panic

“She is fighting some guys. If you head through the main gate, you should see her to your right.”

Colin dashed ahead of everyone after hearing those words. His mind was only focused on saving Catherine from whatever danger she was facing… unfortunately, for the mercenaries he met on the way, it meant that he was not holding back. Many found their end without ever realizing what had happened to them. 

As Nikon’s body fell to the ground, Colin immediately rushed towards Catherine’s side.

“Are you alright?” he asked

Catherine couldn’t help but smile as she felt his warm embrace. She then couldn’t help but be surprised when he began to treat her with healing magic.

“I swear, you never stop to amaze me, Colin.” She softly spoke before the other noble knights arrived 

“Quickly treat the others as well,” Colin instructed

“We need to get to her highness quickly…” Catherine weakly spoke before attempting to stand.

“Don’t move. I healed your wounds but you still lack the energy to do anything right now.” Colin reprimanded her

“Then leave me here. Saving the princess and Queen takes priority.”

Colin didn’t want to leave her there but he was also worried about the princess at the same time.

“Understood. I will leave some guys here to watch over you.” He said before asking Archie to handle the situation there.

As Colin, Aaron, and some of the other noble knights dashed into the castle, Catherin heard the voice of her brother call out to her. She turned around and found him standing behind her with no injuries to speak of.

“Eh?” she uttered

With a wry smile, he turned his attention towards Archie. Archie was busy casting healing magic on the fallen knights. Even those who were knocking on death's door recovered instantly, a testimony to his superior magical talents.

“Looks like the knights will be fine,” Hans uttered

“Makes one wonder if that can still be called healing magic… in any case, we still have a lot to do.”

“Right. The other districts should also be under attack.”

“I feel confident in leaving this place to Colin and his friends while we take back the other districts.”

“You dummy! Where is that confidence coming from? We failed to protect the castle, do you really think we can save the other districts? Our best course of action is to capture the masterminds who are in the castle and have them order their troops to surrender.”

“…” Catherin didn’t correct her brother’s train of thought. She too came to that conclusion, but because it was most likely that Colin and the other noble knights would be the ones to capture the traitors, the royal knights would be left with eggs on their faces.

“It can’t be helped. I rather have the disgrace of failure than the misfortune of doing something foolish.” Hans uttered after seeing the concerned look on her face.

“How mature… Are you really my brother?”

“How rude… Why would you ask such a question?”

“You seem so different. You weren’t an arrogant prideful person, but you still had that chip on your shoulders, maybe that healing magic knocked it off you.” She teased before breaking into a laughter 

“Umm... Excuse me.” Archie spoke, catching Catherin and her brother’s attention. “I have finished healing the knights and the area has been secured.” He reported 

“Thank you for your assistance here, we are most grateful,” Catherin uttered before bowing her head, which made Archie nervous. He wasn’t used to seeing a noblewoman act kindly to a noble knight.

“No… Ummm…. I am just following what Colin had said. More importantly…” he said before glancing at Anthony.

After seeing Colin display his power, Anthony was frozen with fear. He remembered the duel he had with Alexander.

‘I couldn’t see it… I couldn’t see his movements… It was like that time… He is a monster… A monster!’ he mumbled like a mad man.

Catherin almost felt pity for him. Almost! “He is the son of a traitor and a failure as a noble. We will detain him until her majesty and the royal court can decide his fate.”

“Understood,” Archie replied

“More importantly… Until the enemy leaders are captured, will you lend us your strength in protecting the castle? The last thing we need is enemy reinforcement coming from the other districts.” Hans uttered.

“Eh? Do you really think that will happen? Are they that strong?”

Catherin felt uneasy about how Archie responded to her brother’s request and asked, “Sorry… We have lost contact with the other districts. Do you have any idea what is happening?’

“Well… The academy was attacked by mercenaries and members of the lover’s tribe.”

“What did you say?” Catherin yelled when she heard mention of the lovers' tribe. 

After explaining the situation to them, Catherin requested Archie to tend to other injured knights and personnel from the castle, while she and her brother discussed their next move.

“To think that their parents would be here at such a time. With them handling the other districts, it is safe to assume that the capital will be reclaimed quickly.” Hans uttered

He based this on the assumption that their parents were more skilled than them.

“I agree… What is concerning me right now is the lovers’ tribe.”

“You think they had a hand in this?”

“Yes… Considering what that mercenary said… they are likely the ones pulling the strings from the shadows.” She replied before thinking, ‘Our only hope of escaping whatever the twin lovers tribe has prepared is Colin and the other noble knights… Colin… Please save her highness.’