Chapter 172: The time of changes

At the right time, Huo reached the Water Palace. The gates were wide opened. There were people in the front. Few injured while few still guarded the place. He was stopped. But he attacked those who stopped him mildly and rushed inside the gates. He did not have time to waste. He looked around him and he could not imagine the pain Aqua could be going through. Seeing her home decorated to throw her out into the wild. Huo understood how bravely she would put on a face right now. He searched her every where around the palace but finally found her in her own chamber. She changed her clothes, removed her tiara, placed the crown back, and every single jewellery she had on her body. She changed into simple white gown and tied her hair with a white ribbon, she put on the shoes and she walked out. And it was the first time Huo had ever seen Aqua dressing like a commoner. He felt crushed. He felt wronged. How could the heaven throw her out just like, after working all these years for them. It was wrong. The whole system was wrong. Huo felt glad that he left heavens, like his father. "I will never forgive anyone who did this to her," he decided. Aqua did not see Huo'er standing there but walked to the court where her parents were. They by the time had got the information about the arrival of their daughter about to be dethroned. Queen Rivera panicked, while King Aenon chose to be bold and brave, trying his best to be strong. It was past midnight. Aqua shines bright under the moonlight as she stood outside the doors of the court. She did not have the strength to open the huge doors and see her family who has let go of her. But she put on a fake brave face. She pushed the door open and took her step inside. She felt cold strangely. 

Her mother was shocked to see her state. The pale face of her daughters, her worn clothes like a civilian, her hair tied up unlike a princess would, and her body the mother never noticed before, losing weight with the heavy matters in her heart. It instantly made the Queen feel upset. Milan was right there next to her father, and Aiden did not even look at her. She smiled at everyone. There were many ministers and guards present inside the hall. They were all whispering and commenting about Aqua as she stood there giving her best to not break down. Huo stood outside watching it, to not interrupt her family meeting. He wanted to see the response of her family before he took any actions. 

"What are you doing here?" King Aenon hasked had sternly. Trying not to be soft. Putting up well with the plans. He chose the plan better than the pride and the daughter. 

"What am I doing here? Should I be taking this as I should never step inside the house or....?" She asked him straight. King Aenon was sweating hard. He glanced at Queen Rivera and Milan who stood silent and helpless. "Your highness," she addressed him officially. She did no longer address him as her father. He looked at her in shock. 

"Mwo?" He asked. He felt hurt. 

"Let me ask you something," she said. But before she did, the doors of the court opened again and Emperor Tai stepped in. Nobody paid him any respect. Tai felt insulted but walked in any way. 

"Arrest her, put her in prison," they said. "How dare she enter heaven again?" He said angrily. The guards of his rushed towards her. Aqua did not react back, looking at her parents helplessly. Tears glistened in her eyes. She smiled. "Thank you," that was all she said. Only words she could find to tell them all. Everyone put on the brave faces in front of Aqua. And stood as if it does not matter, outside. 

Emperor Tai looked excited. It was the first time he meeting face to face with the Water Royals. "Here we meet again Aenon, but How could this happen? I remember well how I made sure that you people died, I just can't help but wonder where things could have gone wrong?" He asked King Aenon straight. 

"Your head is the problem Tai," King Aenon addressed Emperor by his name itself. He did not like that. Emperor shot a look at the Water Royals. Anger purgating inside. He wished he could burn them all alive. But he does not have the power for it inside, living with the truth concealed safely and using the various demonic challenge powers to secretly support himself. As minutes passed, Volca walked in. An appearance like never seen before. An image of a typical villainess in her maroon and brown dress that has slit opened from her thighs on all four sides, with a belt on her hip that carried her sword, the flashy head dress and her beautifully done hair. She looked hot, there is no doubt in that. Water King and his family stood there still, controlling their fury. King Aenon smiled. "Lots of uninvited guests today," he said and walked forward, stepping down from the throne. 

"Thought we should witness what the "righteous king" does his own daughter today than let it pass, let's see how it goes," Volca said and smiled. King Aenon boiled inside as he heard Volca speaking rubbish. Huo did not walk inside when he saw Emperor walking towards the court. He chose to remain silent decided to wait and see what happens. 

A few minutes later he watched Aqua being dragged away towards the prison of Water Palace by the Emperor's guards. 

Aqua was thrown into a cell and locked up. The prison was guarded heavily. But to it did not matter. He teleported right into the prison. Aqua was sitting with her head leaned her knees. He touched her shoulders, knelt down next to her. She lifted her head and looked st him. She had tears in her eyes, but not crying out loud. 

"Huo," he was surprised. She immediately looked outside to see if he had done anything around. And found that he has not attacked anyone. 

"Listen to me," he said to her. Stroking her hair and looking into her eyes. "Don't struggle or try to escape, wait until the coronary and the ceremony to dethrone you begins. I know what to do then. Wait till they take you to the platform. Don't do anything until then, just play along with them, just stay here for an hour more, we will show them later then, okay?" He said to her. "Can you do that?" He asked her. She did not say anything in the beginning. "Will you do it?" He asked again. "Will you wait for just some more time?" 

She nodded her head and decided to listen to him to see what he wishes to do. She was very sure that at any cost he would rescue her but she also wishes to bear the witness of her sister's coronation anyway. 

An hour became four. And it was already morning. The preparation for the coronation of second princess, Milan, also the Fox Queen of Water Woods was about to begin. Emperor Tai ordered the guards to take her to the court hall to watch the ceremony. 

Aqua was dragged her again. She hated it. "Don't touch me," she said and pushed people away. But they did not listen to her, seeing her as a powerless princess who is about to be thrown. The guards laughed seeing her reaction and cornered her against the wall of the prison. 

"Did you say? "Don't touch me?"" They teased her. One guy slid his arms down her thighs and cupped her while another one patted her boobs. Aqua got angry and charged her crystals to attack them, but before she did, she saw them dropping dead before her. Huo stood there, behind them. His dagger drenched in blood. He sighed and smiled at her raising his brows. The rest of the guards who saw this went crazy and started attacking him. But he did not have much to do but slit everyone's throat letting the dagger fight alone while he stood with his arms folded next to Aqua who watched the fight and added a little more weapons for them to play and die with. Huo walked Aqua out of the prison and asked her to go to by herself but before that he had something do with her. And he gave her a costume to wear. A costume nobody had ever worn before. She looked at him in wonder. "Huo'er," she called him. "Huo'er, no," she said. 

"Trust me, trust me on this and walk in wearing this, you do not have to say anything else," he said to her.

"Are you really serious?" She asked him, unable to accept it. 

"When have I ever been not serious about things that involves the two of us Aqua?" He asked her back. He took her hands and led her to her Sea Palace for one last time. And he dressed her himself. He removed her clothes slid them down her body, and he slowly out in the gown he handed her. The black gown. Aqua looked into his eyes, who gazed back at her. The eyes told her everything. "We are in it together, don't ever think you are alone," he whispered in her ears," which tickled her a little as his breath touched her ears. She have a smile and looked at herself in the mirror. He hugged her from the back and placed a kiss on her neck. She stood up and put on the Tiara he handed her. And she walked straight to the court. She opened the door, and stood there, making all the eyes turn towards her. 

"Aqua," king Aenon stood up front his throne. "No,"