CH 3

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*Present*


*Swishh!*

The maid was down with a silent 'thud'.

It was dead silent in the room. Everyone's eyes fixed on the maid, they held their breath.

The knight hurriedly checked upon her and found a small arrow sticking outside her neck. He slowly pulled it out and streched his hand out to present it to the Empress.

Her hand clenched the arm of the throne tightly but then she sighed , slowly releasing it.

"You know what to do with it." She said to the knight, who nodded in understanding and with a last bow he exited the court hall with two other knights trailing behind, carrying the dead maid's body.

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

The court was finally adjourned and the hall slowly became empty. The people went back with heavy hearts. The maid was dead and it was no secret how she died. It was definitely the work of the real culprit. The was roaming free and this thought alone was enough to frighten them. They just hoped that this matter gets solved quickly.

In the empty hall , the empress sat still on her throne, deep in thought. She slowly stood up and walked towards an open window. It was the same window from where the arrow came flying and launched at the maid, killing her.

She glanced at the setting sun and felt the slow summer breeze tingling at her skin. Then, she turned at the window sill that was painted in pure white just like the rest of the hall. She slowly closed her eyelids and when she opened them, her violet eyes glowed brightly giving her usual dark violet eyes a lighter shade. She carefully examined the window sill. On getting a closer look, she spotted traces of a barely visible shadowy haze that wafted around. She frowned as she felt her eyes turning a light crimson. Whatever that foul energy was, it very weak. Hence, it slowly vanished like a water droplet that evaporates on exposure to heat.

The empress closed her eyes again and on opening them , they turned normal. She stood there for a while with a thoughtful look on her face, her gaze fixed at the same spot.

"Knight Keren!" She finally uttered after a while.

"Yes,Your majesty." The knight standing outside the hall came running in after hearing his name being called.

"Deliver a message to the Duke Beckinsale...." She said looking over her shoulder. " Tell him it's time to come back home."

"As your majesty commands." He bowed and retired to work.

The empress exited the hall and the knights standing at either sides of the door, bowed at her as she swiftly made her way outside with powerful strides. She changed her path towards the royal training grounds for the knights. It was an open and huge piece of land covered with grass and mud, only used for the knights's training or spars.

The sky was lit red with a hint of orange, yellow and purple and the setting sun seemed like it was peeping from behind the horizon. Under the same sky a blur of silver and blonde clashed with each other.

It was suddenly when the blonde fell on his back that his face became visible. He possessed wide and playful azure eyes that resembled the clear sky. His sword was in the hold of his right hand that was slightly covered with mud as he fell . His hair was a striking golden, dare I say, rivalling even the sun. He was breathing heavily but his lips were streched in a huge grin. Looking forward, a male with magnificent silver hair, that shone like the moonlight , stood with his sword pointing at the blonde's neck. He possessed a pair of lavender eyes that bore undeniable resemblance with the Empress's.

The silvernette withdraws his sword from the blonde's neck and strechs his hand out for the blonde to take but soon, his eyes fell on the Empress, who was watching them intensely. In a blink, both the sword and the blonde were long forgotten and abondended on the ground as he made his way towards and dove in for a hug.

"Sister, did you see that ?!. I fought awesome, right?" He asked exited, practically jumping on his feet.

"You did great, Derrek " The corners of her lips up ever so slightly but it was enough for the younger to smile widely at the praise.

From somewhere on the ground , a blonde looked at them with unimpressed eyes and stood up with a wince.

That wince grabbed Derrek's attention and he walked towards the blonde as he flashed a victorious smirk.

" So, I won huh?, Young lord Aaron. " Derrek exclaimed loudly, crossing his arms infront of his chest , trying to irritate the blonde.

" The Young Prince is solely mistaken." Aaron said politely with fake mocking smile plastered on his face. He was Clearly irritated.

" Heh, keep telling yourself that, fake smile."

" You! You shut up ! "

Suddenly, the politeness was gone from the air and they started fighting.

The Empress ,who was watching them, never really felt the need to intervene in their petty fights. This happens all the time, ever since these two were small but this time she was here for a purpose.

She sighed but eventually decided to step in.

" Prince Derrek. " She called the young prince's name in such a way that he froze. Her tone didn't have an ounce of warmth. It was authortive. She was commanding him and who was he to deny orders from the Empress?

"At your command , Your majesty" He bowes his head down. And waits for the orders.

"You are to inspect the whole empire. Every nook and corner and report any unusual thing." She commanded.

"You have two days." She stated but this time with a challenging tone. She smirked a little watching Derrek's eyes twinkle in excitement.

" Yes, definitely! " He said and took off for his new task.

Derrek left. So, it was only fair that his sparing partner Aaron leaves too.

" You're coming with me, Aaron."

" Yes, your majesty." Aaron had a bad feeling about it.

To be continued.....


© lone_solo