THE TYRANNICAL EMPRESS & THE PRIESTESS

Aphrodite

THIRD PERSON POV

~The Holy Temple, Holy Land~

“Priestess Aphrodite is coming this way! She must’ve done with her morning sermon. Although we aren’t allowed to marry, nothing in the rule book that says we aren’t allowed to admire it, right?” A group of young deacons awaits Aphrodite outside of the main hall to finish with her sermon. They were excited to see the priestess walks out together with the nuns who serve under her.

“I heard that priestess Aphrodite was brought into the Holy Temple by the high priestess herself. Although the bishops were initially against it, once they saw how talented priestess Aphrodite was, they decided to take her in as the high priestess disciple. Some say that priestess Aphrodite can heal any types of illnesses.” One of the deacons said before they bowed when Aphrodite was walking past them.

Even though they couldn’t witness the priestess's beauty hiding behind the veil, they know that the priestess possessed such ethereal beauty.

“The Holy Temple seems a lot livelier every time you made an appearance. Just look at all those young deacons who came to see the famous holy healer.” Aphrodite ignores the remarks made by one of the nuns and continues with her walk to one of the holy chambers.

Once they arrived, Aphrodite removed her veil and found a place to sit while the nuns prepare some refreshment for the priestess.

“Your holiness, here is a fresh cup of tea for you. Would you mind not taking what that nun said to heart? That is just how she is.” Aphrodite gave out a small smile before she takes the cup and has a sip.

“Your holiness, are you still thinking about the proposal from King Alaric of Balthair Kingdom? I’m sure the high priestess has a lot to say about that. And knowing the bishops, they won’t let you go that easily. Besides, the temple is trying to decline the offer from the Sarasvati Empire.” Aphrodite’s hand started to tremble once again upon hearing the name of the king of Balthair.

“I’m sorry, your holiness. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Aphrodite shakes her head no before placing the cup down.

“The king- when I first met him, he seems like a charming man of many words. But as soon as I saw how he treated his people, I know that he is not a good man in nature. He may be charming when he was talking to me, but I know he is nothing but an actor.” Aphrodite turned to the nuns who feel sorry for the young priestess.

“What if the temple doesn’t have a choice but to give me away? What if the king threatened the temple to let me go? Since I was a child, the temple is my home. It’s been years since I met my parents, now I have to be wedded off? I never heard of any priestess gets married after receiving the blessing of the goddess.” Aphrodite sighed.

“Well, there is a rare case where the priestess decided to leave the consecrated life because they wish to be with the person they love. It happened but rare.” The nuns look at each other when one of them spout something they never heard before.

“Anyway, did you mentioned the Sarasvati Empire? Why does such a vast country require help from the temple?” The nun who served the priestess clear her throat.

“The empire probably heard about your endeavor before and wished to see the holiness themselves. It was not confirmed, but I heard that the current empress is not doing well. From the rumors I heard, whenever there’s a full moon, the empress would turn into a monster in which she has to isolate herself from the eyes of others.” Aphrodite seems intrigued to know more.

“How did the empress even get that kind of illness? Isn’t that too far-fetched to be a real story?” The nun shrugged her shoulder.

“The rumors stated that it all happened right after the empress killed her maternal side of the family and the family of her dead husband. After the death of the grand duke, the empress has been on a killing spree, avenging the death of the only person who cares for her well-being.” Aphrodite heard about the mysterious empress before, but all she knows is that the ruler of the Sarasvati Empire is a tyrant.

“Does that mean the tyrant empress has kids?” The nuns nodded.

“She had triplets, your holiness. If I’m not mistaken, they are prince Elias, prince Ezra, and princess Eliana. They are only ten years old but were born to be geniuses. And the only reason to why the empress decided to take the throne is because of the survivability of her children.” Aphrodite feels sorry for the tyrant empress.

“I’m not sure if the goddess is telling me to do this, but I feel sorry for the tyrant empress. It must be hard for the people of the empire to survive with such tyrant as their ruler.” The nuns seem to disagree with the priestess's thoughts.

“It’s rather the opposite, your holiness. I heard that since the empress took the throne, she has been a great ruler. It’s way different than when the late emperor was the one who sat on the throne.” While Aphrodite and the nuns talked about the empire, they heard a knock coming from the door.

“Your holiness, the high priestess, wish to see you right now.” Aphrodite sighed.

“It’s probably about the proposal again. Would you mind bringing me my veil? I’ll leave the decision to the goddess to decided. My fate is in the hands of the almighty one.” The nuns feel sorry for the priestess, and they hate the idea that they couldn’t do anything.

“Be strong, your holiness. I’m sure the high priestess and bishop will do their best to make sure that you won’t be the wife of that king.” Aphrodite smiled as the nuns placed the veil on her head.

“I hope so- I do.”

***

“How was your trip from the provinces, Aphrodite?” The high priestess smiled as she pours a cup of tea for her disciple.

“It was tiring but productive, high priestess Soleil. To what I owe this pleasure of meeting such an important figure of the Holy Temple?” Aphrodite tried to hide her nervousness, but for the high priestess who knows Aphrodite since she was just a little girl, she knows the child’s exact feelings about the current situation.

“I’m sure you heard about the sudden proposal from that mad king. I am here to tell you that there is no other way but to go through this proposal. If the temple decided to do something, the king would suggest war, and as you can see, the temple doesn’t condone violence.” Aphrodite looks down after she heard what the high priestess had said. At this point, the priestess doesn’t have much choice but to follow what the temple had planned for her.

“I see. You’ve tried your best, your holiness. I understand.” Aphrodite didn’t realize that the high priestess is standing in front of her.

“But that doesn’t mean I would let that mad king took my disciple away.” High priestess Soleil smiled at her disciple before sitting next to Aphrodite.

“Have you heard about the recent request from the Sarasvati Empire?” Aphrodite nodded.

“High priestess Soleil, please do not tell me that you’re going to send me to the empire. What if the mad king decided to declare war on the empire? That wouldn’t be ideal because the reason for that war would be me.” Aphrodite expressed her concerns.

“Aphrodite, please listen to what I have to say before making your assumption. Dame Mira, also known as Mira, the terror, sent me a letter regarding the current empress situation. It seems that the empress has contracted a rare illness that made her go insane whenever there’s a full moon. I have good reason to believe that you would be able to heal her. Although it takes time, your power may be the solution for the empress’s trouble. Also, the empire agrees to provide you with the protection you need from the mad king.” Aphrodite’s hands started to tremble.

“But since the Holy Temple agreed to be part of the allied kingdom, we can’t be seen making a deal with the empire. I blame the bishops for making their own decision without consulting me first. I swear, the Goddess is trying to test me with their stupidity.” Aphrodite turned to face the high priestess.

“This sounds dangerous. What if the allied kingdoms try to take over the temple? Everyone who resides in the Holy Land will be in trouble and all because of me.” Soleil smiled.

“Did you think I would lead the people to danger? The Goddess will be on our side. The bishops may do whatever they want, but I will never allow such atrocity to befall this land. I have devoted my whole existence to the goddess who bestows me with this power. If the bishops think that the mad king can give them what they wish for, let them be. But I know the only thing that arrogant king wants has you as his concubine.” High priestess Soleil grabbed hold of both Aphrodite’s hands.

“The empire can protect your way better than the temple can. And if you manage to at least make the empress feel better when she is at her lowest, I’m sure the empress will prevent the mad king from getting his hands on you. I’ve met with the empress several times before this. And I know she is a good person. Although she may be a tyrant now- but she wasn’t always that evil.” Aphrodite appreciates the high priestess's thoughts about her.

Since she was just a little girl, the high priestess is like a mother figure who taught her about the good and bad of the world. Of course, as a devoted disciple, she has to listen to what the high priestess says. Although she finds it hard to accept, Aphrodite agreed to go to the empire. Soleil smiled.

“Good. I will prepare everything that you will need for your journey.” Soleil turned her attention to the nuns standing behind her.

“Prepare the things that priestess Aphrodite might need on her journey to the empire. Also, prepare a piece of paper for me to write to dame Mira. She must’ve been waiting for our reply.” Aphrodite watched as the high priestess went behind her desk and wrote a letter.

“How was the sermon?” Soleil asked while her attention was on the piece of paper.

“It went well. Hold on- the only reason for me to travel from the province was to tell me that the temple is selling me off to the empire?” The high priestess looks up to Aphrodite before nodding her head.

“Yes- that’s one way to put it. However, I wouldn’t say it like that. Others will think that a temple is a place for selling beautiful priestesses.” Soleil smiled before giving the letter to one of the nuns.

“Mira left her eagle outside of my balcony. Would you mind giving it to the bird and letting it fly away? There will be someone from the empire waiting by the border.” The nun nodded.

“Your holiness, am I choosing to do the right thing? What if the mad king-,” Soleil raised her hand when Aphrodite tried to questioned the empire’s ability to protect her from the cruel king Alaric of Balthair Kingdom.

“Please believe in the empire's ability to protect you. If your powers could heal the empress, I’m sure the empire won’t hesitate to sacrifice themselves for you. It may sound far-fetched, but it’s the truth. Have faith in the empire. Don’t worry about the rest. I will make sure that the bishops don’t know a thing about this, okay?” Soleil smiled.

Aphrodite has no choice but to agree to what the high priestess just said.

“I understand.”

***

Clara, a nun who served her holiness and a close friend, couldn't help herself from asking Aphrodite about the truth. Even Aphrodite seems to be in trouble answering all of their questions because she, too, was confused about what is currently happening with her life as the priestess.

“Is this the best way the high priestess can do for you, your holiness? By sending you off to the belly of the beast itself? So what’s the point of running away from the mad king and went into the mouth of a monster? I heard a lot of bad things about the empress.” A nun who rides with Aphrodite on the same carriage expressed her concerns for the priestess's safety.

“I- I have no choice but to oblige the high priestess orders. I guess it’s better to seek refuge in the empire rather than being the mad king’s concubine. I was raised in the temple since I was a child. The high priestess is the that raised me, and I have never questioned her decision before. Even though I feel that going to the empire might be a free ticket to see the goddess sooner than expected, I have to because I don’t want to be some king’s concubine.” Aphrodite sigh.

As the nun was about to say something, both the priestess and nun looked at each other when they heard someone knocking on the window. Aphrodite tells the nun to open the curtain to see if someone is knocking on the window. To their surprise, it was one of the holy knights who escorted them.

“There is a letter addressing to her holiness. An eagle suddenly landed on my shoulder carrying this letter.” Aphrodite was confused about why the knight has to hand the letter when the carriage is still moving.

“Isn’t this letter too extravagant?” The nun commented as she handed it to the priestess. Aphrodite agreed with the nun’s remark and opened the letter to see what is the content.

“So, what does it says, your holiness?” The priestess was speechless to read the content of the letter. It wasn’t long since she met the high priestess and saw how Soleil wrote a note for the empire’s messenger. Aphrodite was curious as to how did dame Mira know where her current location is.

“This letter is from dame Mira of the empire. It stated that I should only bring things that have significant meaning to me. As for other things, the empire will provide it. And it also says that I can only bring one of my trusted servants to serve me.” Aphrodite looks up to the nun.

“Clara- what about you? We grew up together at the temple after all.” Clara, the nun, seems torn between choosing to be with her childhood friend or leave her friend be and meet her soon alone.

But as someone who values friendship, Clara couldn’t say no.

“I guess I have to pack my things once we arrived at the province too.” Aphrodite smiled when Clara agreed to be with her.

“Thank you, Clara. With you by my side, I know I will survive this.” The nun patted the priestess’s hand.

“Your holiness, I took an oath to devoted myself to the temple. If this is what the Goddess wants me to do, I will gladly accept it. And I know the Goddess had planned everything for you too.” Aphrodite smiled.

Before the sun sets, the knights had decided to make camp by the river, and they will only continue their journey back to the province tomorrow morning. The forest might be the main road used by the people of the Holy Land, but it’s dangerous to travel at night since they were reports of seeing beasts wandering around at night.

“Your holiness, if you need to go to the river, please inform us beforehand. It’s dangerous to go alone.” Clara said and placed the priestess’s dinner on a table before excusing herself and join the other nuns.

“Clara- is it true? Are you following her holiness to the empire? Are you sure that’s what you want?” Clara nodded.

“I believe the Goddess has her plan for me. If my time is up to leave the goddess care and join the afterlife, so be it.” The other nuns didn’t expect to have such a dark conversation. Clara continues to smile as she enjoys her dinner.

“Who goes there!” A knight suddenly withdraws his sword after he heard rustling at the bushes nearby.

“Calm down. We’re knights from the empire. Dame Mira asked us to follow the priestess's carriage as she leaves the Holy Temple. It’s just a precaution since the news of the high priestess decline king Alaric's request is known now.” The holy knight didn’t let his sword down until he made sure that it’s safe to let the strangers into the camp.

“Why should we trust someone who doesn’t have any identification on their person? What gives away that you’re the knight who served under the empire? From the looks of things, you all seem to be mercenaries!” The holy knight takes a step forward.

“We were mercenaries, but the empress took us in and made us served under her command. It’s a long story. Here- we have a ring that shows that we’re the empire’s knights.” The holy knight observes the ring.

“I see- please forgive me. We’re in the middle of nowhere. It’s a given for us to be diligent in guarding the priestess.” The empire’s knights nodded.

“We will make sure to protect the vicinity of where the priestess resides. Not even a small ant will pass through our surveillance.” The empire knights excuse themselves before disappearing into the thick and dark forest.

“The empire knights look more like a group of brute men than a respectable knight. And did they said they were mercenaries?” The nuns continue to talk while Clara couldn’t help but think that she met the knight who spoke to the holy knight earlier.

“Where did I saw that man before?” Clara asked herself.