Looking at that man, Adrien knew that that man hates him so much more than his father.

"Happy Birthday my dear prince of Russia..." The strange man says with such venom that can poison anyone at any moment. "Your dear father here never invited me...and I feel so sad about it!"

Adrien, knowing that now he is 11 years old, had to start learning to be as strong as his father. Even if it means putting his life on the line.

"Because he never wanted to!" Adrien shouts at him, his hands curling into fists. The queen immediately hid Adrien behind her back as she started to shake her head at the strange man, "He didn't mean to say it! Please leave him alone!"

The strange man just raised his eyebrow, clearly impressed with the strong will of the prince. "Why would I want to leave him alone?" He strongly whispers, "You are making me want his soul more than ever..."

My soul?! Adrien's ears perked up upon hearing the strange man's statement. He cowered behind his mother's back, more afraid than ever.

"Leave my son alone, Hawkmoth!" The Czar shouts with authority. "Why must you do this?!"

"Why must I do this?" Hawkmoth seethes and bitterly points a finger  at the Czar, "You made me this way!! Tricking me into thinking that I will be the next in line!!"

He was supposed to be the next in line? Adrien thought, taking a peek at Hawkmoth who has a face showing anger and a finger pointing menacingly at him.

"But that bastard destroyed everything!" Hawkmoth shouts in anger, "You promised me, Gabriel! And you claimed that your wife could never bear a child!"

"Fate just worked that way, Hawkmoth!" The Czar shouted back, "I can't control fa-"

The Czar falls down in pain after getting struck by a violet glare of power surging from the palm of Hawkmoth.

"Then I will decide your fate." Hawkmoth seethes, his hand still in the air.

"Father!!" Adrien shouts after seeing his father on the floor, clutching his chest in pain.

"Adrien, don't go!" His mother shouts but her warning was too late since he was halfway down the staircase, running fast in order to hold his father.

Adrien hugs his father upon reaching him and set his eyes on Hawkmoth, angrily staring at him. "How dare you hurt my father!"

"A-Adrien..." The Czar wheezes, "Go b-back to your mother..."

"I'm not leaving you father-"

"ENOUGH!" Hawkmoth shouts, interrupting the prince. "How dare you go against me!" Hawkmoth doesn't hesitate to bitterly point a finger at the prince, "In a fortnight, I'll make sure that you'll never take another breath of air!" Hawkmoth snaps his fingers and a gust of violet smoke surrounds his body until it disappears, bringing him with it.

No one in the ballroom moved or made a sound. The silence was eerie and frightful. No one thought of anything else except for that evil man, a man who want to do just one thing. Get his revenge on the prince.

"A-adrien..." The Czar whispers softly.

"Father." Adrien says worriedly, holding his father and inspecting him. "Where did you get hi-"

"Gabriel!" Both men turn their heads to the worried Czarina, holding up the end of her dress as she frantically runs down the stairs.

"Emilie..." Gabriel sighs as his wife engulfs him in a hug. She starts to shake and cry on his shoulder. "Don't cry, please...." The czar pleads as he rubs that back of his wife, blinking his eyes as he looks up trying not to also cry.

Adrien turns his attention to the guests. Most of them look worried, some of the ladies were crying in fear that they would also be targeted by the evil man, Hawkmoth. The prince knew that he had to be the strong one at the moment. He was the prince of Russia after all.

"We're sorry for what happened." He apologizes, making sure that he takes a glance at each and every one of the guests. "His presence was a spur of the moment and we apologize for the sudden change of mood. We were all celebrating and now, we are worried. Anxious. Scared of what might happen next. And for everyone's safety, I advise that all of you should go home. Be with your family and please leave the worrying to us. After all, Hawkmoth is only focusing on my family...not on yours."

"Adrien..." The czar says as he tries to stand but fails miserably as he falls back to the ground in a loud thud.

"My Czar!" One of the guests shouts, "How can you fight against a sorcerer like him?"

"You need allies like us!" Another one shouts after.

After that, all the guests start to talk about fighting against that wicked man who have hurt the Czar and cursed the prince.

"No one will be fighting with us." A voice filled with authority announced to everyone, making the whole ballroom quiet down.

It was the Czarina who said the announcement. Standing with pride and regal with her hands joined together she spoke clearly. And with her voice unwavering, the guests had nothing to say back.

"We don't want you to be put into danger because of us. We care for all of your safety." The Czarina sighs in pity, "And I cannot imagine the heartbreak I will have to go through if ever any of you gets hurt."

"Mother..." Adrien reaches a hand to his mom but she dismisses it with just a glance.

"Thank you for coming tonight. But I'm truly sorry that the celebration has to end early. The royal guards will guide you back to your respective homes."

As the Czarina spoke, the czar gained enough strength to stand on both feet with the help of his son. Amelia turns to him as she ends her speech, she kisses her husband on the cheek and pulls back with teary eyes.

"Emilie," The czar starts, "please don't cry-"

"I'm sorry. I have to go..." She starts her way up the stairs but is stopped as her husband holds her back.

"Emilie-"

"Let go of me, Gab." She yanks her hand away, "Please let me be first." She continues her way up.

"Mother." Adrien starts to follow the czarina but his father holds him back.

"Give her time, son. Your mother is...not okay. Go to your room now. I...I can't leave your mother all by herself."

The czar follows his czarina, leaving Adrien all alone.

The prince looks around the room and sighs in relief as he sees the guards guiding all of the guests to the exits.

"My prince." A guard approaches the prince. "Do you need anythi-"

"Nothing." Adrien interrupts, "I just want to leave. Help the guests, that's an order."

"Ah, y-yes. Right away, your majesty." The guard bows before hurriedly running off to find a guest to help.

As Adrien starts his way up the stairs, he notices a familiar figure hiding behind a tall pillar. Adrien changes his direction and walks toward the figure.

"Mari?"

The figure cowers more behind the pillar upon hearing her name.

"Mari..." The prince sighs, "please don't hide."

"I don't want to lose my best friend in two weeks..." The girl whispers and the prince heard her words clearly.

"No." The prince shakes his head and grabs the hand of the girl, "No one is going to lose me in two weeks."

The girl looks wearily at the prince. She pulls her hand away from his grip and curtsies at him. "My prince, I can't be living with empty words...I can't trust anything you are saying right now."

"Mari-"

"I'm sorry." She whispers as tears start to slip from her eyes to her cheeks. She turns away and runs back to the kitchen.

Adrien just stares at her as she runs away from him. He doesn't even think of running after her because he too cannot trust his own words.

---

Czar Gabriel quietly enters the bedroom he and his wife shares. He frowns as he sees his wife lying down on her side of the bed they share but facing the opposite direction.

The czar takes off his sash of medals and his suit before lying down next to his czarina in his undershirt and pants.

He wraps an arm around his wife and breathes in the sweet scent of her. "My love..." He coos.

"Why did you had to do it?" She whispers, not daring to turn her body to look at her husband. "Why did you promise that wretched man that he would be next in line? What made you to say such words?"

"Because he would kill you if I did not say so..."

Just by that statement, Emilie turns around to face her husband in shock. She couldn't believe what she just heard. "W-wha..."

"And you know that I love you so much..." The czar continues while caressing the cheek of his wife. "I love you..." He whispers, looking straight at her eyes.

"Why did you not tell me?" Emilie questions, her breaths starting to get uneven. "I-I could have helped you!" She sobs loudly. She buries her face in her hands as she cries.

"Love..."

She sits on her side of the bed as she continues to cry. Her back is now facing her husband again. "I...I wish I never got pregnant."

"Don't." Gabriel sternly says before tightly wrapping his arms around his wife's body. "Don't say that, Emilie." He leans his head on her back and starts to cry with her. "Adrien...Adrien is the best thing that ever happened to us. Hawkmoth is a man of tradition but he also knows how to play with it...he knew that this was bound to happen."

The czarina has started to calm down but she couldn't stop the pain of guilt in her body after saying such words. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said such words so carelessly. I love Adrien and I love you."

Their lips meet for a passionate kiss, both of them melting in each other's hold.

"I'll be busy for these two weeks..." The czar whispers against the lips of his czarina. "I have been preparing for this moment...but you might lose me in the end."

The czarina shuts her eyes and turns away, "The things you do for love...they are both heroic and scary."

Gabriel flashes a forced smile to his wife, "I may not live after two weeks but know that I am also doing this for our son. You have to promise me, my love. Promise me that you will take care of Adrien when I'm not around."

The czarina gives her czar a sweet long kiss on the lips and nods after pulling away. "Anything to protect our boy..."

Emilie notices her husband starting to sniff again. "Don't cry-"

"I don't know what to say to Adrien..." He says while softly crying. "I don't want him to think that it is his fault."

"Then let me prepare him." Emilie offers, "I will take care of that, Gab." She holds his face in her hands and kisses his forehead.

"I love you..." She whispers, placing her forehead against his.

"I know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi! It feels good to be back with this story!!

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