101 Ways To Tame The Emperor

Chapter 2: Game-Changer

CATHERINE looked hurt. It made me want to take back my words. But before I could say something, another sad smile formed in her lips.

“Maybe you are right. Maybe I really am a coward for doing this. I know that whatever decision I would choose, it would still lead to my death that’s why I decided to die in my own way. But what can I do? I am not smart. I can read and write, but only a little. I had to ask Matilde to read some of the words in the spell book for me because I could not understand most of the words there. There is no way I can outsmart the Peiris’. I am not strong, too. I do not have the ability to fight them. But you do, Captain Sabina. Because you are the chosen one.”

She held my hand. “I believe in you. The truth is I have known about you since I was thirteen when Matilde told me about you. She said she went to a Mage and brought information about me to ask about my fortune. But she was told that my spirit will die when I turn thirty but I will be reborn because another woman will take over my body. And that someone is destined to become the phoenix, the game-changer in this Empire. That person has a body and face like mine but she exists in another dimension, in another Universe. The Mage said that she will become the Empress and will bring change to Morven. And it’s you, Captain Sabina. I’ve confirmed it the first time I saw you.”

The thing about Catherine is that she can make me laugh by the absurdities in her words. “You’ve confirmed it? Really? How?”

“I don’t know how to explain it but you give off a certain aura, Captain, the kind of aura that only you have.”

Aura? I don’t even understand what that means. But that was not what’s important right now. “What will happen to you from now on? And what about me? Can I still go back to my own world?”

“I… I died when your body died before reaching the hospital. But I have no regrets.” She softly smiled. “Once you become the Empress, you will have the power like no other and you can have access to the private chambers in the Imperial Castle. I heard that there is a room there which has access to ancient magical books. I am certain that one of them can lead you back to your own world. You can also summon Mages to help you. But please promise me, Captain, that before you go back, you will save my mother.”

I gently pulled my hands away from Catherine and began massaging my ears this time. They were beginning to ache hearing the same thing over and over again. If I hear the “save my mother” line one more time, I think I might explode. My temples and my ears both hurt right now. I don’t want to imagine what other parts of my body would hurt next. But hearing that I might have a chance of coming back to where I came from somehow gave me hope.

But if I succeeded in going back, how am I going to return to my old life when everyone there thought I died already? I shook my head. No. I should not be thinking about those things yet. I’m not even sure how I would survive going in the Imperial Castle.

I sighed. “What can I do? I’m here now. I can’t really promise anything to you but I will do the best I can, Catherine, so your sacrifice won’t be in vain.”

Catherine’s face lit up when she smiled once more. It was as if she was only waiting to hear those words from me. “I know you will. I can be at peace now. I will be forever thankful to you for this. I promise, in my next life, I will find you and make it up to you. Again, I am sorry and thank you in advance, Captain Sabina.”

And then she disappeared. For good this time.

“You… you are not my lady, aren’t you?”

As expected from the only person who was familiar with Catherine. Those words stopped me from reminiscing.

“And why do you say so?” I asked Matilde while rummaging the food basket she brought in my room. My eyes shone when I saw the sandwich she prepared. It looked tasty. I finished it in a few seconds and proceeded to the second sandwich right away.

“Even if Lady Catherine lacked formal education, she grew up as a very courteous woman. She never forgets to say ‘thank you for the food’. She never eats as fast as you could. She would normally take one sandwich and would offer me the other and then we would eat together.  She uses a softer tone when speaking to others unlike you who talks to me like we are of the same age. I rarely see her eyes whenever we meet because she’s too shy unlike you who look directly into my eyes. And-“

It was good as saying that I’ve been rude to her. I lifted my hand to stop Matilde. I’m sure the long list about our differences would go on and on the longer I talk to her. And I have no extra energy for that. I need to sleep early to prepare for tomorrow since I need to start training this body and learn more about this world.     

“I am totally aware of our differences. Thank you very much.” I turned to face Matilde and playfully winked at her. I was not offended. I was actually amused. This just goes to show that she cares enough for Catherine to point out so many things at once. “This will be our little secret from now on, Matilde. Catherine trusted you so I will put my trust in you, too. This may be a bit late but yeah, thanks for the food. I don’t think I would save the other sandwich if you told me to since I’m feeling really hungry right now. The servant only sent me a bland soup for dinner. But I might have considered giving you a portion of the sandwich if you told me that you wanted it, too. Besides, come on. You work in the kitchen. You can just make another one unlike me who can’t simply have a trip there even if I wanted to.”

Matilde gasped once more. Seconds later and she was already sobbing. “I can’t believe that the Mage’s prediction came true. I was with Lady Catherine when she prepared the spell but I never imagined it would really work because I found it hard to believe that there is a new world out there that nobody in this Empire knew about. But does this mean that my lady is… is…”

Matilde wasn’t able to finish her sentence. Her eyes grew wide and her shoulders shook violently as she continued showing me those water works. If anyone would see us here, they would have thought I bullied her or something.

I was not really good at comforting people so I just sat there on the bed quietly while waiting for her to calm down. My comrades used to say that I have a barbaric way of comforting people because whenever they were feeling down, I would ask them to spar with me to distract them from sulking. They said it always works.

Too bad, I can’t ask Matilde to spar with me since she looks so fragile. She might break.

But it’s been twenty straight minutes now and she’s still crying. I would have let her weep to her heart’s content if we have a lot of time in our hands. The problem is we don’t. I took a sharp breath. This has to stop. She can’t keep getting this emotional every time I would see her or others might get suspicious of us.

I refused to get too affected by her tears. Catherine’s world was a giant battlefield. I can’t waver the way Catherine did when she was alive.

Everything was still new to me but thanks to the dream that she showed me, I got a glimpse of the people I will encounter soon. This is still a shocking place to live in. I feel like a lamb trapped in the lair of carnivores. I don’t know if I will ever get used to living in a world filled with power game but I need to try my best since I have a new mission to accomplish. And that is to avoid dying again.

It was a good thing that English is my second language back in my world. I would not have a hard time communicating with people here.

I was given a new life just when I was starting to get bored with my old one. Maybe I just have to treat this as an adventure or a vacation before returning to my old world. Right. That’s what I would have to keep in mind to keep my sanity intact.

Besides, Catherine deserves justice. And I plan to give her that no matter how far-fetched it may sound at the moment.

“Look at me, Matilde.” I said using the kind of tone I used back when I was still a battalion staff officer. Thankfully, she stopped sobbing when she turned to face me. “Don’t make it look like the world just ended for you or like I killed Catherine because I did not. Do you think I want to be in this place? Your lady gave me no choice. I understand that you are sad and believe me; I feel the same way, too. I also find this unfair. Your lady doesn’t deserve to die this way. But this is what she wanted. Her death was all the more reason why we must be stronger. I am not asking you to accept the situation easily because even I still find this whole thing crazy. But you can be assured that Catherine is in a peaceful place right now since she lived her whole life being so nice that thinking about it freaks me out. In my world, she would pass as a saint with flying colors.”

When it seemed like Matilde was about to burst into tears again, I quickly took the chocolate in the basket, unwrap it, and shoot it straight in her mouth. I grinned when she looked at me like I suddenly grew tail and horns. But it was better than seeing her cry.

“Let’s face it, Matilde. Life is a b***h. The sooner we accept that, the sooner we will come into terms with what’s happening. You love Catherine, right? Then help me fulfill her wishes. Help me give her justice. That’s what I came here for. I may have been forced to be here but I want to survive and to rescue her mother dearest since I owe her my life. Now, tell me, are you with me on this? If you are, then let’s start planning our next move. If you aren’t, then I suggest that you get the hell out of here this instant. Something terrible could happen to me any minute. That’s why I don’t want to keep wasting my time on people who will be useless to me.”    

I may sound rude but this is the reality that Matilde and I have to face. Things could get worse from now on. If she will not help me, then I better cut ties with her now. I offered my hand to her. If she takes it, then I would have to congratulate Catherine since our Justice Squad will now have two members. I would have to recruit some more in the future though.

Matilde looked at me for a long time as if she was trying to read my mind before she took my hand. No, actually, she grabbed it as if it was her life line and embraced me so tightly like she was still seeing her previous lady in me which was understandable. She was now acting like an obedient child who was trying to hold back her tears after being scolded. I found that cute about her.

“You are the destined game-changer of this Empire. You are the change my lady wished to have not only for herself but for her mother, too. And for her, I will also put my trust in you. I pledge with you my alliance, my lady. Can you please tell me your name?”

“I don’t think there is a need to know my real name since I will not be using it in this world.”

“I understand, my lady.”

There goes my ally number one. I hope I can find number two soon. She felt warm so I embraced her back. Her embrace suddenly reminds me of my Nanny who died from cancer when I was still at the Academy. Nanny had kind eyes, too, just like Matilde.

My superior used to say that I have a good eye on people. One look at Matilde earlier and I knew she would not disappoint me, Catherine most especially. She did not have a family since she dedicated her whole life serving the Peiris’. Daria, Catherine’s mother was her best friend that’s why she considered Catherine her daughter and took care of her as a promise she made with Daria before the latter left. But even if they live in the same manor, they hardly see each other since Matilde could not visit Catherine openly without being punished or getting kicked out from the manor.

I looked up at the window and stared at the starless night sky.

Catherine, wherever you are, if you are watching right now, don’t blame me for what I’m about to do next. Remember, you asked me for this.