THE TYRANNICAL EMPRESS & THE PRIESTESS

Kidnapped

THIRD PERSON POV

~ The Border of the Holy Land ~

While Aphrodite enjoying herself by looking out at the outside scenery, Clara couldn’t help but be nervous about what can happen while they’re on their way out from the protection of the Holy Land.

“What is the matter, Clara?” Aphrodite asked.

“This is a good idea? What if the mad king sent someone to keep an eye on us? What if-,” Aphrodite smiled.

“What is happening? Aren’t you the one who told me to be happy since I am free now?” Clara can’t seem to be enjoying herself while thinking of the possibility of being apprehended by the mad king’s spies.

“Your holiness, maybe we should follow the mad king’s orders. What if they decided to kidnap us? There’s a lot of opportunities now that you’re no longer under the Holy Temple protection. We-,” before Clara could finish her thoughts, the carriage suddenly turn to a halt, which makes both the priestess and nun jerk forward from their seat.

“What’s happening?!” The nun asked the coachman.

“There’s a group of masked bandit blocking our way.” The nun turned to the priestess with worried eyes.

“What should we do?!” The priestess tells the nun to sit back down as she tried to observe the situation outside. As she was looking out, Aphrodite’s eyes catch on something that she never dreamed of seeing.

“Who is that woman?” Aphrodite asked no one in particular.

“Who?” Before Clara could turn to look, they were both shocked to see the carriage door being open by someone.

“Priestess Aphrodite and sister Clara? My name is Mira, and I am here to escort you to the empire.” Dame Mira smiled at the surprised priestess and nun.

“But- what happened to those bandits?” Mira continues to smile as Aphrodite asked her a question.

“Don’t worry about it, her majesty, empress Frey is taking care of the situation outside. I advise you two to close your eyes as you stepped out from this carriage.” Mira made way for the priestess and nun to step outside of the carriage.

“Why is that?” The priestess asked without closing her eyes. To her surprise, her eyes glimpsed a thick red liquid on the road ahead.

“Is that-,” Aphrodite was shocked when Clara gasped at the scene outside. Freya, who heard the nun turned around to see the priestess froze in front of her.

“Is this your first time seeing such gore?” The dame asked as she leads the priestess and nun to another carriage.

“You two will be sharing the empress carriage. Don’t worry. I will make sure the empress change to more clean clothes.” Mira ushered both the priestess and nun into the carriage.

“Your holiness, I don’t think it’s wise for us to leave the comfort of the Holy Temple. Let’s go back before it’s too late!” Before Clara could reach the door, Freya suddenly opened the carriage and went inside.

Although she changed into clean clothes, the priestess could still smell the scent of iron from the empress.

“What? Does the smell of blood revolt you? If so, there is nothing I can do to change that. Those people were planning to kidnap you, but we managed to intercept them and kidnapped you instead.” The priestess couldn’t say anything since she was utterly confused.

“Kidnapped?! What do you mean?” Freya sighed.

“Didn’t Soleil told you anything?” The priestess and nun gasped.

“How dare you utter the name of the high priestess like that! It’s a crime under the laws of the temple to even say the name of the holy one!” Clara raised her voice, but when Freya raised an eyebrow at the nun, she decided to hide behind the priestess for refuge.

“Soleil and I go way back. It doesn’t matter if I insulted the high priestess because I am the reason why that woman is still alive.” The empress said before grabbing her wrist with her other hand.

“What’s wrong? Did you hurt yourself, your majesty?” Aphrodite tried to reach out to the empress, but Freya slapped her hand away.

“What gives you the right to touch me? I am fine. Go back to your seat. We will soon continue our journey back to the empire.” The nun was about to say something but the priestess shake her head no.

“I understand. Please forgive me, your majesty.” Freya ignores the priestess while she focused on her wrist. Freya cursed herself for not controlling her emotion as she killed the spies from the Balthair Kingdom. The adrenaline rush she gets earlier is slowly eating herself as she tried to endure the pain.

The more Freya kills, the more painful the roots on her wrist get. Although the moon is not visible, the roots do, and it’s rotting the empress’s flesh.

“If you need my healing power, please say so, your majesty. The complexion on your face tells me that you’re not fine. I can help you. If you just let me take a look of your-,” Aphrodite stopped midway through her sentences when Freya glared at her.

“I heard about your power and how it helped a lot of people. But do you think you can help me? Even Soleil couldn’t do anything about this curse. All I can say now is that I am receiving the goddess wrath since I had killed many of her children.” Freya showed what's hidden under her clothes.

“Do you think you can fix this, priestess?” Aphrodite was speechless as her eyes landed on the empress’s scarred body.

“Oh, my goddess- it doesn’t look like a wound made from a blade nor any weapon I’ve ever seen- did those tree-like roots did all this?” The priestess was about to touch the empress’s body when once again, Freya slapped Aphrodite’s hand away.

“I did not give you any permission to touch me.” Aphrodite clenched her fist before sighing hard.

“How am I suppose to make you feel better if you’re refusing my help?!” The priestess suddenly raised her voice.

“When did I ever mentioned that I need your help?!” The empress questioned.

“The only reason why I get myself into this kind of situation is that Alaric wishes to have you as one of his concubines, is it not?” The priestess scoffed.

“Be a good girl and listen to what I have to say if you wish to survive. Life outside the Holy Land is different when you stepped your foot out to the real world. You won’t be able to survive without my protection. As of now, there are several other knights from the Balthair Kingdom who are waiting to get their hands on you for their king! But since they saw what I did to their comrade, they decided to back down.” The priestess looks outside of the carriage window and wonders where the others are.

“Sister, please control your priestess. Get her head back inside the carriage!” Freya pinched the bridge of her nose.

“This is going to be a long journey back home.” Freya sighed.

***

~ The Sarasvati Empire Main Palace, Royal Dining Hall ~

“Let us pray-,” the imperial family of Sarasvati was surprised when the priestess suddenly prays before their meal. The children were curious about what the priestess is doing while the dowager empress smiled and showed her respect for the priestess who prays for their meal.

“Is that necessary?” Freya asked when the priestess finally look up to them.

“It’s a way to give thanks to the goddess. I’m sorry if my action annoys you, your majesty.” The priestess apologized. Freya ignores the priestess as she cuts her steak into bite pieces.

“Excuse me, your holiness- what is praying?” Princess Eliana was curious about what the priestess was doing earlier, and it piqued her interest to know more about it. Aphrodite smiled.

“Prayer is an invocation that seeks with an object of worship through deliberate communication. It’s one of our way to give our thanks to the goddess who helps us provide food on the table and for giving us another chance to enjoy living.” The priestess explained.

“I see- does that mean her holiness always prays?” Aphrodite nodded.

“It’s one of my way to communicate with the goddess.” Aphrodite smiled.

“May I learn how to do that, your majesty?” Freya didn’t expect her daughter to be so adamant about learning about religion.

“You may do as you wish.”

“May we also learn how to pray, your majesty?” The princes turned their eyes to their mother. The empress nodded.

“Thank you, your majesty.” The princes smiled before telling the priestess about the dream they had. The empress was surprised when she heard that her children had been dreaming about their father and how happy he looks together with their mother.

“It looks so real to us that we cry every time we woke up from our slumber. We told the nanny about it, and she said to keep this dream to ourselves because it might make her majesty sad again.” The imperial children turned to their mother, who seems unfazed by what they said.

“I am a mother before the ruler of this empire. There shouldn’t be any problem if my children tell me about the dream they had. I am not sad or angry at the thought of my childhood dreaming about their father. What else did you dream about?” Freya asked while eating her food.

“Nothing much but Eliana had a dream about a woman on the battlefield. Well, she calls it a battlefield since every time she dreamed of this woman, all she saw was this woman’s back facing her as she was swinging her sword towards those who were in the way.” Freya then turned to her princess.

“Have you ever try talking to this woman in your dream?” Eliana shakes her head.

“I have a strong feeling that I know this woman. You’re probably dreaming of a woman that has a strong sense of justice. A woman who thinks that the death of those who important to her was the turning point in her life.” The imperial children seem confused but then realized that Eliana was probably dreaming about their mother.

“Come to think of it, that woman does resemble you, your majesty. The only difference was that the color of her hair which is platinum blonde- just like the crown prince.” Hazel dropped her spoon when she heard that little information from Eliana.

“What’s wrong, dowager empress?” Hazel looks up to Freya before shaking her head no.

“Oh- it’s nothing. My spoon slipped from my hand.” Freya gave the dowager empress a low nod before averted her attention to the priestess.

“How is your accommodation? If you need anything, please feel free to ask the palace maids. They will make sure that your stay here in Sarasvati goes smoothly. If you ever need to go outside, please inform dame Mira beforehand, and she will make sure to keep you safe from harm. If you decided to disobey my orders, I would not take any responsibility if something happens outside of this palace.” The priestess clears her throat.

“The room was extravagantly unnecessary. If you give me the servant’s quarter, that would be enough for Clara and me.” Freya finally places her knife and fork down before asking for a glass of wine.

“What do you think of me? I am the empress of this vast empire, and you expect me to give the priestess a room in the servant’s quarters? Are you trying to make fun of my generosity?” The priestess shakes her head no.

“No! I like my room! Especially the view- it’s beautiful.” Freya hummed her response before waving her hand for dame Mira.

“Please show the priestess around the palace.” The dame bow. Freya stood up from her seat and excused herself as the others get up from their spot and show their respect for that empress.

“I’m sorry for that child’s cold attitude. After the death of her husband, Freya has been that cold and expressionless person. The empress used to be such a cute little girl too.” The dowager empress sigh.

“Cute? Your majesty, are you perhaps had too much wine?” Hazel chuckled when prince Elias question the validity of her statement.

“It’s true- the empress used to be the most cheerful person in this palace. Of course, it doesn’t help if my husband, the former emperor, doesn’t see her as equal. That old man blames the empress for the death of the queen. Hazel shook her head when her mind thought back to when queen Belladonna, Freya’s mother, first entered the palace.

“Who would have thought that the empire’s infamous villainess would be the one who sits on the throne? No one. But Freya proof everyone wrong with her wittiness and cunning scheme. Not to mention that Freya has always been talented with a sword, archery, and smart strategist. Belladonna must be proud of her.” Aphrodite watched as the dowager empress sigh heavily.

“I may have birth to the crown prince- but that boy is far from the ideal leader this empire needs. I am ashamed even to face the people of Sarasvati.” The dame shakes her head no.

“Don’t be, your majesty. Your achievement is not something anyone can easily overlook as well.” Hazel chuckled.

“You’ve done well, dame Mira. You’ve done well.”

***

“And this is the place where knights reside and train. Most of us call this place as a hell on Earth- oh, I shouldn’t say that in front of the priestess.” Clara cleared her throat as dame Mira seems to view the priestess as someone equal.

“Dame Mira- please refrain from treating the priestess as if she is your equal.” Aphrodite raised her hand to warn the nun.

“Clara- mind your words. Dame Mira works for the empress, and it should be us who treat her with the utmost respect.” Dame Mira smiled before winking at Clara.

“It’s alright, priestess. I was a knight without a proper master and upbringing. I know that those who serve the goddess came from a good upbringing and status. Although I think that kind of ideology sucks, hey, it’s not my problem.” The dame stopped midway through the training ground when a knight appeared out of nowhere.

“What is going on? Don’t you see that we have an honored guest right now? What kind of imperial knights are you?” Dame Mira questioned the knight who was thrown.

“I- I have no excuse for my behavior. Please punish me, dame Mira.” Mira look around the vicinity and noticed a couple of guys standing not far from where they are.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Mira used the back of her hand to slap the knight hard across the face.

“Don’t even think of running away; come here and face the consequences of disturbing my day with your childish antics. PRESENT YOURSELF NOW!” Dame Mira shouted. It didn’t take long for the other knights to appeared before the dame.

“How many times do I have to tell you all that bullying is forbidden in the imperial palace?! Do I need to tell you all every single day? As a knight, you all are obligated to respect one another!” Dame Mira grabbed hold of a nobleman’s collar.

“Do you think that since you’re the youngest son of a noble, it makes you stand way above those who had been a knight serving the imperial family for years?! Who gave you that childish idea?” Dame Mira asked while the nobleman is gasping for air.

“Pathetic!” Mira released her grip from the nobleman’s collar.

“This is your last warning. One more mistake, and that’s the end of your service here in the palace.” The knights' bow when the dame gave them mercy.

“You all should know that the only reason why I let you all go is that the priestess is here. If the butler didn’t warn me to keep myself at bay, I would have painted this ground with your blood the moment you crossed my path.” The dame turned around and smiled at the priestess.

“I’m sorry for that kind of display, your holiness. I didn’t know that the imperial knights lack discipline even though they serve the empire. I shall get into this matter personally.” Aphrodite waves her hands while watching the knights excusing themselves.

“That’s alright. Shall we continue with the tour?” The dame nodded.

“Does the priestess like flowers? Because the next destination I’m going to show you is something, I dare say this palace is proud of. Who would have thought that such a place even exists in this hell.” The dame laughed as she leads the priestess and nun somewhere deep inside the imperial palace.

“This is the empire’s infamous greenhouse. It has varieties of flowers from all around the world. Some of it was gifts, and some were collected by the dowager empress and the other queens.” Aphrodite seems curious about the other queens since she hasn’t met any of them except for the dowager empress.

“Dame Mira, may I know where the rest of the queen is? I haven’t met any of them.” The dame smiled.

“They were all killed by the former emperor. After the death of queen Belladonna, the emperor has gone insane and decided to kill all of his concubines except for the dowager empress.” The priestess feels bad for asking such a delicate topic.

The dame watched as the priestess prays for the departing soul.

“The empress build a vast mausoleum for the members of the imperial family. Even the late grand duke was buried there. Except for the late emperor, the moment he died, the empress burned his corpse and threw his ashes at a pig farm. The late emperor doesn’t deserve to have a royal burial.” The priestess couldn’t believe what she heard from the dame.

“But- his soul is probably suffering as he wasn’t given a proper burial. Doesn’t the empress feel the need to honor the departed soul? After all, the late emperor was her father.” The priestess said while the dame chuckled.

“Why should the empress feel any need to care for the man who is responsible for the death of her husband?” The nun was about something when the priestess shakes her head no.

“I see. I’m sorry for asking such a question.” The dame waves it off before continuing with the tour.