The Diabolical

Eastern Kingdom

Third Person PoV

THE EASTERN KINGDOM

“Thank you for coming, Dame Gisele. I never thought that someone from the capital would be hereafter the news of my father’s death has spread.” Gisele nodded her head.

“Please accept our condolences.” Calypso bows before presenting the empress’s donation. The queen accepted the donation with an open arm.

“Thank you, Dame Gisele.” Gisele nodded before walking towards the king’s coffin to give her last respect.

“What hypocrite,” Gisele whispered before grabbing a handful of flower petals and spread inside the coffin.

“Hush- what if the family heard what you said? We would be in trouble.” Gisele watched as Calypso interacted with the family before they went to the side and watched the rest of the guests coming and going inside the hall.

“Look, the king and queen from the Western Kingdom are here. What did the empress say about them again?” Gisele hummed.

“The empress wants us to see if the king or queen is suspicious. Because they have been avoiding meeting the empress, and they want to know the reason for such action.” Calypso tilted her head before wrapping her arms around Gisele’s.

“The funeral seems a bit odd, don’t you think?” Gisele questioned while she led Calypso towards the windows.

“The king seems to die in such crucial time. The king is a key figure in the war in which the empress wants him to act as a proxy for negotiating with the neighboring kingdoms. But now he’s dead, lying motionless inside that coffin.“ Calypso sighed.

“Well, he was poison, my dear. It’s not that hard to see the characteristic of someone who was poisoned. His lower lips were a bit dark than they should be, and you can’t unsee the nails.” Gisele hummed.

“I didn’t even notice that. How can you capture that when you spend less than a few seconds looking at the king’s corpse?” Calypso chuckled.

“Oh please- I’ve been doing this since I was a child. My mother tends to bring me to work, and I would watch the ladies work. My mother was a mysterious person, and I think I’m beginning to be like her as I continue to grow.” Calypso was surprised when Gisele wrapped her arm around her waist and pulled her closer to her body.

“I’m sorry- but follow my lead, alright?” Calypso nodded while wondering what was happening.

“Gisele, I never thought I would meet you here. It’s a nice surprise indeed. Let me introduce you to my husband, duke Arty.” Gisele looks at the duke from head to toe.

“Good for you. Do I need to bow to you and your husband now? I don’t think so, right?” The woman who suddenly appeared seems a bit flustered by Gisele’s comment.

“If I have to compare you and my partner here, I saw I got myself a better one. At least the woman beside me care for my well-being.” Gisele pulled Calypso closer.

“I know you- you’re the infamous courtesan from the House of Beauty, Calypso Arvel. Honey, this woman is famous for its debauchery acts.“ The duke commented.

Calypso, who didn’t have any issue controlling her emotions, felt challenged by the duke's words.

“Duke Arty- you’re quite famous among the girls too. I heard that you’ve been going to my establishment and paying our girls quite big money. Does your wife know about this?” The woman stares at the duke.

“Oops, I didn’t mean to reveal your secret to your wife. I’m sorry.” Calypso leaned closer to Gisele.

“We should leave now before I slap that woman across her face. Next time do tell me beforehand.” Gisele chuckled before she led Calypso away from the fighting couple.

“Calypso, thank you for helping me. I will give your p*****t when we arrive at the capital.” Calypso suddenly placed both hands on Gisele’s shoulder before kissing her cheek.

“Your welcome. Keep your eyes on the king and queen of the Western Kingdom. They seem to be in heated arguments with a few nobles of the Eastern Kingdom. Isn’t that too suspicious? And not to mention that the queen didn’t even try to hide the fact that she’s seeing one of the servants romantically.” Gisele was astounded by how observant the courtesan was.

“You should be a spy, Calypso.”

“I am- I thought you would notice it by now.”

“You shouldn’t reveal yourself this early, Calypso. Since you’re a guild master, you should know how to act like a decent spy.” Calypso sighed.

“But I am a decent spy. Anyway, I don’t want to worsen the situation, but your mother is here.” Gisele’s eyes widened before she turned around to see her mother greeting the guests.

“What is wrong with that demon? Why is she even here? I thought the empress only sent us. That demon will ruin everything. I know it.” Calypso placed her hand on Gisele’s chest to calm her down.

“Gisele- here you are.” Calypso smiled at Rona.

“Why are you here at the funeral?” Gisele asked.

“I was told that a demon has been harassing the royal family of the Eastern Kingdom. But can you guess what I’ve found instead?” Ron’s pointed at the king’s coffin.

“I saw dark energy surrounding the king’s corpse. I know the grim reaper would come and take the soul of the dead to the underworld. But that doesn’t include dark energy. I’m beginning to think something fishy is going on.” Gisele pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Please refrain from jumping to conclusions.” Rona finds it amusing to see her daughter worried for her.

“Aww- is my daughter worried about me? I’m so glad you have a decent heart, Gisele.” Rona was about to touch Gisele’s head when she felt something that shouldn’t be there.

“Oh- a portal just appeared. Keep your eyes on the little things, Gisele. Something crazy is about to happen in this funeral which will bring chaos to the Eastern Kingdom.” Gisele didn’t get to ask anything from her mother when Rona disappeared into thin air.

LATER THAT DAY,

“There is so much I can do to please the empress. I never thought we would be the one co-fronting the king and queen of the Western Kingdom, though. We’re just pawns for the empress to use and dispose of. Why would she want us to get more information without her presence here? What if the king punishes us for our insolence?” Gisele question all the possible circumstances if both she and Calypso continue to follow Rose’s orders.

“The king and queen won’t dare to harm us even if they’re in deep trouble. The empress gave me something that could help us in any situation. Gisele, I never thought you would be the type to worry about something so superficial.” Calypso giggled as they walked towards the lounging area.

“Now, follow my lead, alright?” Gisele let Calypso take the lead as they entered the lounging room. The king and queen of the Western Kingdom didn’t expect to see both Gisele and Calypso inside the room with them.

“What is the meaning of this?” The king questioned when Gisele locked the door behind her.

“Nothing special- we want to have a decent conversation and more information about your recent transaction with the neighboring kingdom. The empress wants to know if you’re loyal to the crown.” The king scoffed.

“Where is the empress? I thought she would be here.“ Gisele smiled.

“The empress has done urgent matter to deal with in the capital. But her majesty is devastated by the news of the king’s passing. That is why she sends us to the Eastern Kingdom.” The queen takes a step back when Gisele gets closer to the couple.

“Say- I’ve been curious about something. I hope I’m not being rude but is it possible for the king to explain to me what are those black mist surrounding your queen?” The king and queen look at each other before raising their hand. Gisele turned around and noticed a group of knights appear from their hiding place while aiming their weapons at her and Calypso.

Worried that Calypso might get hurt from this, Gisele decided to unsheathed her sword and pushed Calypso closer to the walls while making herself a shield.

“Damn it. What were you saying before? Look! They didn’t hesitate to try to hurt us.” Calypso chuckled before patting Gisele’s shoulder.

“The king knows how important it is to make a good impression when dealing with the empress. If he decided to kill us, the empress wouldn’t hesitate to declare war against the Western Kingdom. Do you think you can handle it, your majesty?” The king clicked his tongue in annoyance before waving his hand for the knights to stand down.

“See- was it that hard to comply with us? Now, please have a seat so we can talk.”

A FEW DAYS LATER,

“We need to keep an eye on the queen of Western Kingdom. Somehow I think that the queen is not herself. It looks like someone has taken over her body. I know I sound crazy, but that’s how it sees it.” Calypso hummed while she looked outside the carriage window.

“I agree, but it would be hard for us since we have to leave. I didn’t expect the queen of the Eastern Kingdom to decline our request to stay for the night. Perhaps the queen is planning something to the king’s corpse.” Gisele clicked her tongue in annoyance.

“The queen of Eastern Kingdom might be innocent because it seems she was trying to stop the queen from getting closer to the king’s course earlier. What if the queen of the Eastern Kingdom knows what’s going on and tries to stop whatever ritual that the western kingdom rulers tried to perform on her husband instead? The dark mist surrounding the western Kingdom queen seems more dominant than those surrounding the king’s corpse. Calypso, what if they were trying to summon something sinister?” The courtesan turned to Gisele with surprised looks.

“You mean both kingdoms want to go against the empress? But why?” Gisele shrugged.

“That, my dear- only the empress knows. Perhaps something happened behind the closed doors that the empress doesn’t wish to share with us. But if my assumption is correct- I have to talk to my mother. Well, that is if that demon is willing to help me.” Gisele pinched the bridge of her nose before she felt someone grabbing her hand.

“Gisele, are we near the lodge? I- I don’t feel so good. It’s probably the wine that I drank earlier.“ Gisele noticed how pale Calypso had become.

“Do you want to vomit?” Calypso shakes her head no.

“I suffer this headache and sudden stomach ache. Everything seems to be blurry.” Calypso touches her head before leaning back. Gisele took a seat next to Calypso before placing her arm around Calypso’s shoulder and bringing her closer so that Calypso could rest on her chest.

“It won’t be long until we arrive. Close your eyes and have a rest.“ Calypso hummed as she did as told. Gisele look out the window just thinking about the possibility that Calypso might-

“Impossible.” Gisele shakes her head no.

“Something the matter?” Calypso asked while her eyes closed.

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. Rest. Your body needs it.” Calypso hummed. Gisele sighed mentally while she thought of a worst-case scenario.

Her mind begins to question if it’s wise for her to let Calypso go through such frightening experiences if the woman does get knocked up. Gisele can’t help but feel guilty if something bad happens to Calypso. She knows that her heart is beginning to open up, and she wants Calypso to know that she started to fall for her.