Many people gathering outside of their shops and excitedly chatting with each other about the arrival of the princes that they had been waiting for. It was just a like festival with balloons floating around and flowers along the street. It is a beautiful sight to see where people are so happy just because of the princes.

Lucia yawns while watching boringly around the town from a roof. She had to wake up early to patrol around the town for suspicious activities which is likely not going to happen until the princes come. She decides to sit down with sword on her side just in case something happen.
She wanders back to what Hoya said yesterday.

"I have a feeling someone might attack the princes tomorrow so look out for them."
he warns her.

"How the hell do you know?" she doubts him

"Trust me. My instinct never betrayed me." he sternly look at her.

Lucia heaves a deep sigh. She hoping that this will end soon so that she can go to sleep or something. To be honest she didn't care if the princes are hurt or even worse dead. Yeah. it's really bad of her to think like that but it really none of her business.
Besides, they have ancient powers. Can't they protect themselves? she thought.

She snapped out of her thought when she hears people clapping their hands and sounds of trumpet were played. They gave the princes a warm welcome as they waved to them.

The princes in the carriage warmly greet them back.
A guy with a red hair standing up, waved to the people with his cheeky smile. Being all excited, that he almost falls down makes the girls giggle at his clumsiness.
The guy next to him with a pinkish hair also waved to the people and winks to a couple of girls.
which make them squeals.
A guy with a blue hair smiles charmingly at the people and seem to have more calming demeanor than those two.
The other princes is unmoving possibly sleeping but one of them gives out a cold aura and didn't bother to greet the people.
There were six princes in total.

Lucia looks around for any movement, uninterested in the princes but care for their safety or more like her safety if she fails the task. She rest her hand on the hilt of her sword as she spot someone. (The game's on!)

She jumps off the road and unsheathed her sword in time and come to clash with the attacker's sword.The people and the princes were shocked and there was silence until the chaos descends. People running around , panicking. Lucia curse mentally and manages to get the glimpse of the attacker smirking although couldn't see his face as the hoodie covered it.

She let her guard down as the attacker charges at her. She managed to dodge it with her fast reflex. The guy take this chance to keep swinging the sword at her. She grabs the hilt with both hands to block the powerful attack. (This guy is so strong...!)

Feeling irritated. she attacks back with a powerful blow with the hilt of her sword before the attack hit her. The hilt of her sword hit his stomach which makes he hisses in pain. He jumps backward not risking another attack. Lucia smirk in triumph but then her face falls when she see the attacker jumps in the air to escape.

She follows after him, jumps to a roof to another roof. She don't mind playing this game of cat and mouse. This is even better than taking care of the princes. She use a shortcut to stop the attacker from running. After all she know the town's routes like the back of her hand. She jumps in the air above him and swing her sword to hit him. The attacker notices it and block it with his sword but it too late that he crash on the roof and fall down into a random house. Lucia jumps down and find the attacker lying down while holding his head. Hadn't he block the attack, he might lose his head. She walks over him but was taken aback when he growl, more like animal growl. Everything happens so fast that he jumps to the air with more force destroying the roof of the house even more, leaving Lucia in confusion.
(What the hell is that?)

---

Chaos broke out in the town as the news about someone attacking the princes spread like wildfire. The princes blankly stare at the situation hoping help would come soon as they stuck in the street inside their carriage with people running around shouting.

"Wow what the hell just happen?" Chanyeol scratch his red hair in confusion, oblivious to what just happened.

"Idiot! Don't you see someone try to attack you just now!?" Baekhyun smack his best friend's head and at the same time feels relieved. "What!? When!?" Chanyeol rubs his sore spot and looks around. Baekhyun shakes his head at him.

Suho sighs. "Atleast he is safe." he turns to look at D.O who has a thinking face on. He raise his one eyebrow at him. "What is on your mind?"

D.O look at him. " That guy who save Chanyeol." he replies shortly.

"Ah, him. He seem really strong. I could sense a powerful magic power from him." Suho thinking back when the guy fights the attacker. It's true he is strong or maybe too strong that it amazed them how a little guy like him could block the powerful attacks.

"Well this what we came for. For someone strong like him to protect us." he murmurs D.O catch what he said and nods in agreement to his surprise.

"Gosh I so bored. Suho entertain me!" a guy with a silver hair said with a boring tone.

"Sehun, this is not the time for you to play around ." Suho sternly said.

"What an idiot." the guy next to Sehun mumbled. Sehun grab his collar harshly. "What did you say!?"

"Don't touch me with your filthy hands." Kai glares at him. As if they have electric glare between them,showing animosity towards each other.Suho came in between them and push them away from one another. "Guys don't fight here! We in desperate situation right now. Please don't make it any worse." he reasoned.

"Maybe we wouldn't be here if you are a good leader." Sehun mockingly say but flinch once he saw a dangerous gleam in the leader's eyes.

"I did appreciate it if you shut your mouth, Oh Sehun." Suho said with malice in his voice which makes the younger gulp in fear. Sometimes the leader can be pretty scary when he is mad.
Kai sweatdrop at the sudden tension around them. That's why you shouldn't messing with the leader, stupid Sehun, he thought.

"Alright guys enough of that. Look at the girls outside. Man this kingdom was awesome, they have a lot of cute girls." Baekhyun put his arms around Sehun and Kai, trying to lighten up the mood. Chanyeol facepalm at his attempt.
That's so lame,he mouths at him. Baekhyun frown in response and mouth curse words to him.

Someone greet them which make some of them jumps, thinking it was another attacker.
"Here at your service sir!" Dongwoo salute at them. The princes sigh in relief as the help finally came and cut the awkward situation just now.

---

"HUH YOU LET THAT ATTACKER ESCAPE!? HOW COULD YOU?" Sungyu yells in frustration. Lucia rubs the back of her head while smiling cheekily, not surprise when the leader being angry at her.

"Can't help it since that guy was faster than me." she reasoned.

Sungyu rolls his eyes."Are you kidding me? I know you not the type to give up on a fight, not like this." he narrows his eyes at her. "Unless you are hiding something from me."

Lucia blinks before smacking him playfully. "Aish~ Why would I hide something from you? What a nonsense~" she smile with her usual cheeky smile. This makes Sungyu become more suspicious of her,usually she will fight back the conversation but now she act all nice for some reason. Sungyu decides to let her slide off because he know if something happen, Lucia will handle it.He trust her as his comrade.

He massages his temple. "Hmm...you can go now," he made a hand motion to shoo her.
Lucia look at him questionably before getting out of his room while whistling in happiness.
When out of his room, her mouths set in a tight line and her expression become more serious.
(If i tell them,it will just cause an uproar.)

---

The princes on their way to the dining way after a tiring day getting stucked in the town for a few hours while waiting for the people to calm down so they can open the way for the princes.

"Is it really necessary we meet the queen today? Can't it be tomorrow? I just so tired~~"
Sehun whines about wanting to sleep but they have to greet the queen first.

"Mind your manners Sehun. It's her highness." Suho scolds him. He shake his head at his behavior. He really need to fixed that and lecture him to behave.

Chanyeol puts his hand behind his head for support seemly excited with the glint of happiness in his eyes. Unlike his brother, D.O with a bored expression stare to the space, daydreaming.
Kai was the same as D.O, being bored all the time as there wasn't anything that sparks his interest except the fight that happened in the town. He also interested in the little guy that he can feel a powerful magic power came from him and also he would like to know another thing about that guy.He smirks thinking that he would meet him again and clears his suspicion of him
.Baekhyun looks around, perhaps looking for a girl to flirt with if there was anyone at the moment which makes him disappointed.

After a long silence, they finally arrived at the door of the dining hall,greeted by the guardians.
They bows at them before letting them in. The princes go to sit at their seat which is hard because the table was so long that they didn't even know where to sit. They become lost until the guardians show them where to sit at. On a cue, the queen arrives from another door elegantly walk towards the table. The princes automatically stands up and bows at the queen along with others.

"Welcome to the Xeria Kingdom, exo princes. Please enlighten yourself to do whatever you want in the palace as there are many interesting things in our kingdom. You might find something new here." the queen smile warmly at them which remind them of their mother.

"Thank you, your highness." Suho bows at queen and smiles pleasantly. The others follow what he does. "I'm sorry that not all of the princes present right now as they still have business to do back in the exo kingdom;your highness." Suho explains while they are eating. The queen smiles in understanding.

"It's alright. As long as you guys safe under our protection. Oh. and please treat me like your own mothers. My best friends' children are my children too." she giggles.

The princes were touched by her kindness. The queen was so nice, they thought.

"Y-yes your highness." Suho embarrassingly put his one hand behind his head.
"Mother or mom." she corrected him.
"M-mother." he awkwardly say to which the queen laughs at.

"Ah, why don't you guys introduce yourself?" the queen asks the guardians.
"Yes mama." Sungyu nod in response. He call the queen 'mama' so casually shocks the princes.They didn't know that they were that close. Didn't they know that everyone in the palace call the queen 'mama' to the liking of the queen. She was happy that everyone drop their formality as they talking to her.

The guys introducing themselves to the princes as the guardians of the Xeria Kingdom to which the princes nod knowingly. The queen notices someone is missing and ask them to satisfy her curiosity. "Where is Lucia?"
They went silence for a while until someone speaks up.
"Err s-he is busy at the moment,taking care of the recruits." Dongwoo says much to their surprises.The guardians thought she would skip but then it must be because of Sungyu giving her a lot of works. Well Sungyu is doomed right now.

"Sungyu!? You bullied him again?" the queen looks displeased This Lucia guy seems special to the queen, the princes thought. (Lucia.huh? Like a girl's name) Sehun snickers

"Mama, he always slack off and leave the work to us. He deserved it." Sungyu annoyingly said but it's true though.

"You can't just leave him out like that. He is one of our family too. Now bring him here." the queen orders them.
"I afraid not mama." Sungjong speaks up. The others widen his eyes at him while the princes watch in interest on the event.

"I know he wouldn't come. No matter how you force him." he glance at the princes.
The queen sighs in disappointment. " Then make him come during the evening tea. I want to spend time with him."

"Of course,mama." Sungjong assures her.The guardians impresses that he was able to calm down the queen. They thought that the queen would go mad without the presence of Lucia. They knew that Lucia was more special to the queen as Lucia had knew the queen longer than them so they have more stronger bond.

"Sorry for the ruckus. I just sad that my beloved son is not here." the queen looks gloomy. She must really him. "You guys will meet him later. I hope you will be good friends with the guardians." her gloomy face replace with a smile.

"Where is the princess, your highness?" Baekhyun suddenly speaks up that makes the princes surprised and mouth to him to shut up before he doing something stupid that displeases the queen.

"Ah the princess, You must be so eager to meet her and she was all excited to meet you guys too but unfortunately she suddenly falls sick today." the queen has a concerned expression on but turns serious again as she look at. Baekhyun. "It's mother."

"Y-yes mother . If you don't mind, I can pay a visit to her." Baekhyun smiles with a fake concerned look indicating he is worry for the princess.
"Oh my. She will be so happy." the queen have a bit of sarcastic tone in it. The princes couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic. Chanyeol rolls his eyes at Baekhyun,knowing that he only want to see how the princess looks like.

"Ah yeah!" Chanyeol exclaims like he remember something important and looks at the queen.

"Can we go to the human world?" Chanyeol look at the queen with anticipation.
This took the others by surprise. It was brave of him to ask of the queen. The queen might yell saying it was too dangerous. Some of the princes cursed at him mentally for his stupidity and how bold he is.

"Why not? As long you take. one of the guardians with you." the queen replies. The guardians drop their jaw and some of them groan mentally as there are more work to do. Chanyeol jumps in happiness with excitement fills his eyes Baekhyun pulls him down to stop him. The queen laugh at how adorable he is.

---

Lucia looks at the stars as she sits down on the balcony. She was enjoying the fresh air in the nighttime especially after doing a very tiring work today. She even had to miss her favorite lunch. She close her eyes for a moment of peace.

"What do you want?" feeling irritates, she asks the shadow that been hiding in the dark.
"I glad you notice me." A guy suddenly appears from the dark. His red eyes gleam on the moon. Before she knew it, the guy was already corners her in the balcony.
Bringing his face close to her as their noses touched.
"I want you."

Lucia puts her finger on his forehead to push him away." Stop teasing me.You know it won't work." she huff annoyingly. The guy pouts at her different from the guy just now.
"Ahhh you're no fun. How could you still react normally even after I try to seduce you." he creased his eyebrows.

Lucia choke on her spit. "Seduce me!? Ugh, you're gross."
He shrug." It's what we demons do. Try to make them fall in love and eat them I guess."
Lucia make a disgusted face. "Ew! You're really gross."
He ruffles her hair as he laughs. "Yeah, you are an exception."
"Hmph." she pouts in response." Like I would believe you."
She yawns and rubs her eyes sleepily. The guy notice that and carries her in a bridal style.
The poor girl jumps at the sudden touch but soon falls asleep on his arms.

The guy carefully lays her down on her bed as he stare at her lovingly.
"Goodnight, my love."

TO BE CONTINUED

Notes

Hi folks. This is the next chapter. You must be wondering who the guy was. Well keep reading if u want to know.