The sudden noise reverberated through the carriage, jolting everyone inside and sending shockwaves through the King and Queen. They had never expected to face another ambush.
Despite the unexpected attack, they had prepared for such situations before, primarily for the sake of their status. It wouldn't befit them if they hadn't. However, this time, it seemed there were more attackers than before.
"PROTECT THE ROYAL CARRAIGES!!!"
A resolute voice rang out from outside, followed by the clamour of battle erupting in the vicinity of the carriages.
"Don't worry, the royal guards will handle it soon," Queen Selene reassured Orion. She believed in the capabilities of her guards, no matter how dire the situation seemed.
Contrary to her expectations, he didn't seem tense or worried like before; instead, he appeared strangely relaxed.
'Hmm, it would be strange for him not to have even a shred of confidence after his previous fight,' Queen Selene thought. Observing Orion's relaxed demeanour, she surmised that his confidence stemmed from the results he had achieved in his battle with the Clan Heirs.
Therefore, she didn't say anything else and refocused her attention on the commotion outside the carriage.
However, after a few minutes more, the battle had lasted a bit longer than usual.
"What's going on?" King Brylon couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. He reached out and pulled the carriage's curtain open, eager to peer outside and understand the reason for the unexpected delay.
The moment his eyes met the unfolding scene beyond the carriage, King Brylon's body froze.
As the King of the Prismerian Kingdom, there were few things that could truly surprise him. "So many," he muttered slowly as his gaze darted back and forth, scanning the window's view.
Observing her husband's stunned reaction to whatever was happening outside, Queen Selene furrowed her brows and couldn't resist asking, "What's wrong? What's happening out there?"
It was only after hearing his wife's voice that King Brylon broke out of his daze and withdrew his head. He held the curtains apart with one hand and let out a deep sigh as he leaned back in his seat.
"Why don't you take a look?" he suggested.
Queen Selene observed her husband for a moment, then turned her attention to the window.
The sounds of battle still echoed in the air, and her curiosity got the best of her. She leaned forward slightly to see what was happening outside the carriage.
As Queen Selene's eyes locked onto the scene before her, they immediately widened. She scanned the area, taking in the sight of tens, if not hundreds, of warriors who had surrounded the carriages.
They were engaged in a fierce battle with the royal guards, who had formed a protective circle around the three royal carriages to shield them from the ongoing onslaught.
"They are…" Queen Selene began to speak, but she halted abruptly, closing her lips slowly as the answer to her question quickly formed in her mind.
"The descendants of the forgotten clans," she muttered quietly, wondering how they had been able to gather such a number.
Despite the overwhelming numbers of the descendants of the forgotten clans, the royal guards managed to hold their ground as the battle raged on.
Queen Selene withdrew her head from the view outside the carriage and shook her head with a tired sigh escaping her lips.
"They never seem to learn, do they?" she muttered. It was evident that there was only one group of people capable of creating such chaos within the sealed walls of the Prismerian Kingdom.
"It looks like the royal guards won't be able to hold them for long. Why don't we let the Starforged Knights division take care of them?" King Brylon proposed.
The Starforged Knights comprised the fourth of the twelve divisions of the Crystalforged Clan. Each division was ranked based on its strength, power, status, and capabilities, and they were more than capable of handling the attackers if the royal guards found them too formidable.
"Don't worry. Despite their overwhelming numbers and the fact that some of the royal guards have already escorted the earlier attackers to the castle, it appears they still don't stand a chance," Queen Selene reassured, shaking her head in refusal.
She adjusted her position to relax more comfortably. Although she could easily intervene and end the battle in the blink of an eye, engaging the descendants of the forgotten clans outside the carriage was a bit excessive in her view.
Meanwhile, Orion, who had been silently listening to their conversation, could only shake his head tiredly. Outside the carriage, there was a group of people whose lives were currently hanging in the balance, while those inside the carriage waited as though they were watching a show.
'Being royalty must be quite the experience,' Orion thought wistfully for a moment, imagining what it would be like if he had been born into royalty.
However, as the faces and smiles of the women he cared about flashed through his mind, he quickly dismissed the thought. He found the simplicity and comfort of his village life far more appealing and couldn't imagine trading it for anything else.
Meanwhile, far from the ongoing battle as the descendants of the forgotten clans continued their persistent charge towards the barricaded carriages, hoping to breach the royal guards and reach the royal family, their efforts were met with swift and deadly resistance.
Before they could even breach the threefold barricade, they were cut down, rendering their attempts futile. Watching the scene unfold from a distance were ten individuals, hidden in the shadows. Disappointment filled their eyes.
"I knew it wouldn't be easy despite their numbers, but this difference is staggering. It seems we'll need to intervene if we want things to go smoothly," one of them remarked.
Like the others, this figure was cloaked in black, concealing their identity. They wore a black scarf that covered their face, with openings for their eyes and mouths, allowing them to see and speak.