Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: The Examiner (13)

As the purple mecha ascended, the abyss around it began to crumble.

The once-majestic lair of the Zergs was reduced to rubble, the veins and tunnels collapsing as the queen’s demise sent a ripple effect through the hive.

The live stream continued, showing the mecha’s steady retreat. The viewers could only watch as its figure grew smaller and smaller, disappearing into the darkness of the abyss.

[Where is it going?]

[Is the princess alive?]

[Whoever saved her… why won’t they reveal themselves?]

[That mecha is like a ghost. It appears and vanishes!]

Meanwhile, on the surface, the military arrived in full force. The kingdom’s crowned prince, Ahcehera’s eldest brother, led the charge with Major General Mors.

His expression was grim as he surveyed the remnants of the battlefield.

“Status report!” he barked, his voice sharp.

“Your Highness,” a soldier reported, “the Zerg queen has been eliminated. However, there’s no sign of the princess. All we found were collapsing tunnels and a battlefield littered with remnants of Zergs.”

The prince clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “Search every inch of this place. Don’t stop until we find her.”

The soldiers spread out, their mechas and scanners combing through the wreckage.

They worked tirelessly, uncovering cocoons that trapped several students who had been taken during the examination.

One by one, the trapped were freed, though many were weak and disoriented.

Despite the growing relief at rescuing the survivors, the absence of the princess weighed heavily on everyone’s hearts.

[The prince has arrived!]

[Look at his face… he’s devastated.]

[They’re saving the students… but where is the princess?]

[She was in the purple mecha! Why didn’t it stop?]

As the military continued their efforts, the viewers could only speculate about what had happened. The stream ended abruptly, leaving the galaxy in suspense.

The last image etched into their minds was the retreating back of the purple mecha, carrying the princess to an unknown fate.

–

When Ahcehera woke, her surroundings were unfamiliar but sterile, the pristine white walls of Agartha’s Medical Unit gleaming under soft, artificial light.

The faint hum of medical equipment filled the silence, and the air smelled faintly of antiseptic.

“The princess is awake!” someone exclaimed, their voice breaking the quiet. “Report it to the prince immediately!”

The hurried shuffle of footsteps echoed outside her room, drawing her attention. She blinked, her mind hazy, the weight of recent events pressing heavily on her chest.

Fragments of memory floated back to her. Among them, a deep, calming voice stood out: “I’m sorry, I was late.”

She frowned, replaying the words in her mind. That voice… it carried a sense of familiarity, but no face came to mind.

Who was he?

The aura of her savior lingered in her thoughts. It felt strangely recognizable, yet the princess’s memories held no trace of him.

He didn’t fit into the puzzle of her known world, not a close friend, nor a distant relative. And he was too young to be anyone significant from the past.

Her musings were interrupted by the soft hiss of the door sliding open. A familiar figure stepped inside, and relief swept over her at the sight of her eldest brother.

His face was etched with exhaustion, his usual composed demeanor replaced by raw emotion.

“I’m glad you’re awake!” he said, his voice trembling slightly as he rushed to her side. He gently helped her sit up, his hands careful yet firm.

Ahcehera studied him closely, noticing the dark circles under his eyes and the weariness in his movements.

“Brother, you look like you haven’t slept for days,” she said softly. “I’m fine now. You need rest.”

Her brother’s expression tightened, and for a moment, he looked as though he might cry.

“You worried me, Ahcehera,” he admitted, his voice low but strained. “You scared us all to death. You almost… you almost didn’t make it back.”

His vulnerability startled her. Her strong, unshakable brother was always the pillar of their family, but now he seemed burdened by the weight of fear and relief.

A soft laugh escaped her lips, an attempt to lighten the mood. “I won’t die so easily,” she teased. “And I certainly wouldn’t perish while the whole galaxy was watching.”

“Don’t joke about this!” he snapped, though his tone was tinged with desperation rather than anger. He gripped her hand tightly, his eyes locking onto hers.

“Don’t you ever do that again, Ahcehera. Do you hear me?”

His voice cracked at the end, and Ahcehera’s playful smile faltered. She placed her other hand over his, squeezing gently.

“I promise,” she said, her tone softer, more sincere. “I’ll be more careful next time.”

Her brother took a deep, shaky breath, nodding. “Good,” he muttered, though his grip on her hand didn’t loosen.

In that moment, the siblings sat in silence, a quiet understanding passing between them.

Outside the room, the royal guards stood on high alert, and the kingdom waited anxiously for the full recovery of its young, reckless, and beloved princess.

Ahcehera leaned back against the pillows, her brother seated at her bedside.

His voice carried both relief and frustration as he updated her on the joint military entrance examination.

“The examination was halted and rescheduled,” he explained.

“The military is still recovering the trapped students, and the cleanup operations are underway. It’s chaos down there, Ahcehera. Do you realize the uproar your actions caused?”

She nodded silently, her lips curving into a faint smile. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble,” she said, though her tone betrayed no regret.

Her brother huffed, crossing his arms.

“That’s exactly what you did! Do you have any idea what mother went through while you were out there risking your life? She collapsed after crying herself into exhaustion!”

Ahcehera’s smile faded. “Mother…” she murmured, her voice tinged with guilt.

“She’s resting now,” her brother assured her, though his expression remained stern.

“But you can’t keep pulling stunts like this, Ahcehera. You’re not just anyone, you’re the princess of this kingdom. People depend on you. Your recklessness affects everyone.”

Their conversation drifted to lighter topics after that, from family matters to the state of the military.

For a while, the room was filled with the gentle hum of their voices, a welcome reprieve from the chaos of recent events.

Eventually, the doctor entered, his demeanor professional yet firm. “Princess, you need to rest now,” he instructed.

Her brother reluctantly rose to his feet, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Get some sleep,” he said softly. “We’ll talk more later.”