Chapter 6
"Mooooom~ my daggers got dirty!!" Asher whined while holding his daggers that was covered with blood, he then ran towards me stepping on the decapitated body.
"Well, now your shoes are also dirty." I said to him while wiping his hands that was spattered with blood. He just pouted his pinkish lips and cling on to my legs.
"Mother, we should get more weapons since he's dead anyway." Aiden said wiping his set of daggers that was also covered in blood. "Yes we should."
"This guy smell disgusting." Arlo said kicking the owner's head out of our way. I just chuckled, he's not wrong.
"Take as many weapons as you can carry." I said to them, they nodded in response and went back to the room we went earlier.
While my three princes was gathering weapons, I took the liberty to take the two bag of coins back from the store owner. I then looked at his head that Arlo kicked earlier.
"If you had not angered my children you would have live a few more years. " I said to him, although I doubt he could hear me.
We weren't planning on killing him, but the moment he attacked us he had already sealed his faith with death.
When I got the two bags of gold coins back, I went to see what my boys are doing. "Aiden, Asher, Arlo. Its time to go."
I saw my triplets, stuffing their cloak with different weapons. From short swords, daggers, smoke explosive and many more.
"Were ready Mother." Aiden said. "Ok, lets go."
We quietly and calmly left the store like nothing had happened, thank heavens that there are not many people nearby. Even if there were people in this run down village must already been immune to someone getting killed. It's not new to them. It's a place where you kill or get kill.
The four of us then went on our way back to our house. It's a thirty minute walk and when we got there we are already all tired from walking.
"Home! Finally!" Asher yelled running to the kitchen to get some water.
It was already past noon when we got back and we are all hungry. I went to our food supply box that we hid before we went to the village and my heart stopped at what I saw.
"No.NO NO!" I shouted, all of our food is gone!
"Mother? What's wrong?" Arlo asked in a worried tone. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Our f-foods-- is gone."
"What?! How is that possible?!" Aiden ask, he took a look for himself and when he saw that the food box was empty he fell to the ground.
"Someone dared to rob us?!" Asher said, clenching his small fist in anger.
"Whoever robbed us must have been doing this for living since they were able to find our food box despite us hiding it underneath the floor." Arlo said.
Arlo's right, who ever had done this must have been doing it for a living since we didn't even realized we were robbed until we check our stuffs. I can say they were very discrete at robbing.
I sigh in frustration. "I'll go back to the village to get some food, the three of you stay here." I said to them.
"I'll come with you!" Arlo volunteered, I patted his head "No. You stay here and protect your brothers." I looked at the three of them.
"Protect each other. If the robbers comes back do not hesitate to kill and if they're too strong just let them have everything they want nothing is more valuable than your life."
I gave them all a hug and kissed the top of their head. They didn't say anything but they knew that this is the right decision. "I'll be back before dark. Close the doors and be as quiet as possible. Don't draw any attention towards you."
"Mother--"
I could feel Arlo trembling while hugging me, his face was buried at the crook of my neck.
"Please be safe." Arlo continued. Aiden and Asher just looked away to hide their tears. I chuckled at my three piglets. "I will. Don't worry nothing will happen to me." I said to them.
I released them from my hugs, they quickly wiped the tears with their hands. I didn't say anything more, I turned my back at them and left the house.
I was only a few steps away from the house when I turned around to look back. I saw the boys looking at the window, I wave at them goodbye and they waved too.
'If something happens to them, I will fucking murder each and every person in that kingdom until I'm satisfied.' I thought to myself.
-
[Third Person's Point of View]
"Your majesty! We have a problem!" Richus the Emperor's secretary came bursting through the doors with a pile of papers in his hands.
"The Emperor of the neighboring kingdom is on its way here!" Richus shouted in a panic. Travis the Emperor of the Stellae kingdom, got up from his seat and slammed his hands to the table.
"What?! How is that possible?! I haven't received any notice of them coming!" Emperor Travis shouted. Richus flinched in terror of Emperor Travis sudden burst of anger.
Travis then clenches his fist in anger. "They dare to mock me?! Just because I need them to supply my kingdom magic stones doesn't mean they could humiliate me like this! How are we supposed to prepare a banquet at a short amount of time?!"
When an Emperor visits another country that country is responsible for holding a banquet for that Emperor. Its a way of showing off your kingdom's riches and glory to another kingdom. Not only is the Emperor coming but also his strongest vassals which will judge every nook and crany of your kingdom.
"Your highness. They did sent us a notice." Richus said. The Emperor looked at Richus confused "What?"
"Th-they sent a letter one month in advance your grace. It's the Empress's responsibility to inform you of any visitors that goes in and out of the kingdom." Richus said hesitantly.
"The Empress? You mean Lady Veronica?" The Emperor asked.
"Yes, sire. You ordered for lady Veronica to take the role of being an Empress one month ago. Even way before the dethroned Empress lost her title." Richus answered.
"I'm sure there must have been a misunderstanding. Lady Veronica is a capable person, she couldn't have forgotten a very important responsibility." Emperor Travis defended his Empress. Richus knew that the Emperor favored his new Empress dearly.
But if the nobles knew of her irresponsibility they would be furious since their face is on the line as well. Richus just sigh in frustration.
[If only you didn't dethrone Empress Nova this wouldn't have happened.] Richus thought.
"I'll personally go to the Empress palace to hear lady Veronica's explanation." Emperor Travis said, he stood up from his seat grab his white cloak with fur on the hem of the neck and put it on his shoulder.
"Yes Sire." Richus bowed ninety degrees with one hand on his stomach and the other on his back.
Travis along with his aid Richus made their way to the Empress Palace along the way they bump into the Empire's Grand Duke and Count Gray.
"Greetings to the shining star of the Empire." Grand Duke Gilian and Count Gray said in union bowing in respect to their Emperor.
"Grand Duke! Count Gray! What are you doing here? I don't believe we've scheduled a meeting today." Travis said shock at the sudden visit of the Grand Duke and the Count.
"Your majesty, one of my people had informed me that the Emperor of the Moon Empire is visiting today! I haven't receive any notice of this! My knights are currently holding their carriage at my fief! I can't let them through without a word from you your highness." Grand Duke Gilian said.
"What?!" Travis shouted, he didn't expect that the Moon Empire Emperor would be on their kingdom that fast.
"Your highness. I need orders. Do you want me to send them away?" Grand Grand Duke Gilian said, his voice was stern and firm. His eyes were piercing glare but calm at the same time.
He was looking at the Emperor with disappointment. "N-no. Let them through. I'll deal with the official decree later." Travis stated, his voice trembling in embarrassment. He knew that by letting the Moon Empire in would be embarrassing the whole Empire.
They haven't prepared anything to welcome the Moon Empire's Emperor. They would be the continents laughing stock when rumors of them not welcoming the Moon Empire spread. The other kingdoms already knew about their lack of magic stones so this would just add to the list.
"Your highness, The Moon Kingdom is the largest kingdom in the continent and they're growing to be the largest of the world. This would be an utter embarrassment to our kingdom if we welcome them with empty hands." Count Gray stated.
Travis knew that Count Gray supported the dethroned Empress but when the Empress lost her position he didn't say anything he just watched as the Empress took her fall.
"If you hadn't changed the Empress maybe this wouldn't have happened." Duke Gilian said bluntly. Travis flinched he looked at the Duke angrily "Duke Gilian watch your words!" Travis yelled his voice was threatening and ominous aura surrounded him. But that didn't flinched Gilian one bit.
"I do hope you made the right choice your highness. The previous Empress was the perfect Empress an empire could ask for, Her work is done right and its done well. I can't say the same way for this new Empress." Gilian didn't held back his thoughts he made sure to tell Travis the stupidity he had put the empire in.
"Enough! Lady Veronica is going to be the new Empress! She is baring my child and is due any time now. I'm sure there's a lot of things in her mind right now." Travis said defending his mistress.
Gilian chuckled insultingly. "You talk as if its the first time you're going to have a child your highness. Did you already forgot what Empress Nova had gone through while pregnant? If so let me remind you, When the Empress was pregnant she handled the political affair of the kingdom while his highness is in a vacation with the Empress dowager for you birthday. She handled the draught in the south and the food problems of the provincial cities when the huge storm hit. Now you're telling me that this new Empress cant even handle a single letter?" Gillian stated with a grin on his face.
Travis trembled in anger at Gilian's statement. But he couldn't say anything since he doesn't know how to defend his lover. "I said stop. One more word and I'll treat it as a disrespect to the royal Family." Travis answered.
Gilian turned his back at him and before leaving. Count Gray who was just listening couldn't help but admire the Grand Duke, he said what he always wanted to say ever since the Previous Empress was dethroned.
"What? Don't tell me that you came here just to slap me in the face too Count Gray."
Count Gray, shook his head "Well I'm sorry to say add to your problem your grace but the funds for the drought that the previous Empress ordered to be deliver to the south never came. I came here to tell you that."
Travis's eyes widen in shock, "How is that possible? The funds for the people affected by the drought in the south should have had received the funds weeks ago!" He shouted confusion and anger were all mixing.
"I don't know your grace. I just came here to report to you what is happening since you put me in charge of the south. Here is the financial documents that came a few days ago its from the Empress Palace, it states that the funds wouldn't be delivered until next month." Count Gray said handing the financial report to the Emperor.
Travis scanned through the file and it indeed came from the Empress. It even has her seal. "That's not possible if we wait another more month the people might die from starvation!"
Travis could not believe what was happening and everything is coming from the Empress's side! With his hand he massages his temple. "I'll handle this. For now wait for further instruction, also call for a council meeting tomorrow."
"Yes your highness." Count Gray answered, he bowed and got out of the Emperor's way.
Travis hurriedly walked towards the Empress Palace, when he got there he saw the Empress in the garden having a tea party with other nobles. They were all giggling and laughing and it looks like they were having a good time.
"Lady Veronica." Travis called out for her name. Lady Veronica immediately turned her head to Travis's direction. Her face lit up at the sight of the Emperor.
"Your highness!" She squealed in enthusiasm before running towards the Emperor.
Travis on the other hand was not in a good mood knowing what was happening to state affair that the Empress is responsible for.
"Can I talk to you alone?" Travis asked in a serious cold monotone voice. But the lady was oblivious to his cold attitude. She smiled sweetly towards him.
"Of course!" She answered, she bid goodbye to her friends and the both of them went to the Empress's chamber.
"What the hell is this Lady Veronica?!!" as soon as they were alone Travis couldn't contain his anger. Lady Veronica on the other hand was startled at Travis's sudden outburst of anger.
"W-what do you mean?" Lady Veronica asked trembling in fear. Travis threw the documents to her, she took a look it and when she saw the contents of the documents she immediately cried and kneeled.
"I-Im sorry--" Lady Veronica said crying and shaking hugging her belly.
"SORRY?! THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY?!"
"I-I----"
" DO YOU KNOW WHAT SORT OF PROBLEMS YOU HAVE CAUSED ME?!"
"I-I didn't mean it."
"WHAT ABOUT THE LETTER OF NOTICE THAT THE EMPEROR OF THE MOON EMPIRE WOULD COME TODAY?! YOU DIDN'T MEAN THAT TOO?!" Travis was raging mad, his face was red his heartbeat was beating so hard that he could almost hear it.
"It was today?! I forgot!" Lady Veronica yelled back in a panic, which made Travis even more mad.
"I thought you were smarter than Empress Nova. It seems like when it comes to intelligence you are nothing compared to her." Travis said looking at Veronica who was crying at the floor like a hopeless baby.
[It hasn't even been a week since the Previous Empress was dethroned and were having so much problems. What would the nobles think now? I would become a laughing stock!] Travis though.
"I'll try harder next time! I promise!" Lady Veronica said pleading to the Emperor.
"Tsk. If only you were as smart as Nova." Travis said before turning his back at Lady Veronica, Lady Veronica tried stopping the Emperor from leaving but Travis just walked past her not even batting an eye back.
When Travis Left the room, Veronica grabbed the vase near her and threw it across the room.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! YOU BITCH! NOVA YOU BITCH! I'M THE EMPRESS!" Veronica yelled at the top of her lungs. She threw everything that she could get her hands on.
"WHAT DOES SHE HAVE THAT I DON'T?!!! EVEN THOUGH I'M THE EMPRESS, TRAVIS STILL--- AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!"
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[End of Chapter]