The people partied for three days and four nights, even the delegates of the Gerban Kingdom enjoyed the banquets that had been held. They brought gifts to show their appreciation for the new Empress for saving their precious Princess.
They stayed for at least a month to negotiate and apologize for their past actions.
The new Empress had no time to appreciate everything, she was flooded with paperwork the moment she steps into her new office.
She managed to show her face and enjoy the banquets during only the first night and the last night. She was hoping to at least forget everything that has happened this past few events by watching her new people having fun, but instead, she's staring at the mountain of documents she needed to review.
With a heavy sigh, she caressed her temple before taking a sip of her tea.
All she's been drinking lately is tea, she also rarely eat anything because of how busy she is. But of course, Jorem always made sure that she doesn't work with an empty stomach.
==
Another month has passed, she has given Jorem the title of a Duke that will handle the issues of the Baroom Kingdom while Shaelyn is away.
"I'll have someone help you with everything here once I've cleaned up the mess back in my kingdom— no, back at the empire. "- Shaelyn corrected herself as a knight help her to get inside the royal carriage.
"You don't need to worry, your majesty. We hope you will arrive safely at the empire."- Jorem said as he, the knights, and servants curtsy in respect.
"Then, I'll be back soon."- Shaelyn signals the coachman to leave.
Her carriage is being escorted by the knights Jorem trusted the most, they are also coincidentally the best knights in the kingdom.
==
Their journey took at least two weeks before they arrived at the borders of the Caswell Empire. They stopped by to rest at a small village before they continue their journey.
They were warmly welcomed at the Count's Castle, where they decided to rest for a while. Though the Countess is the one to welcome them, the Count has been ordered not to show his face for a while.
"..."-
Shaelyn quietly observed the garden that can be seen from the balcony of her room.
"Clara... "- she mutters, her necklace seems to be humming a tune.
Clara's body has already been carefully delivered to the capital. Asha is the one in charge of her funeral, every student and professor from the academy attended. Even Asha's family has attended for a while, consoling Asha from losing Clara, who she treated as her child.
Everyone knew how close the two are, that's why they also know how painful it is for Shaelyn to lose Clara.
"You seem down my dear Empress~. Why? Aren't you happy with your achievements?"- a cheery voice whispers beside her.
"..."- Shaelyn glances wordlessly at the glowing ball of light beside her.
"... what's with this silent treatment? Come on now~. I know you can hear me~."- the cheery voice said, as the ball of light slightly bounce up and down.
"..."- Shaelyn averted her eyes from the light before taking a deep breath.
"I ... I have no business with someone hiding her true form."- she stated before leaning slightly on the railings of the balcony.
"Pfft~. Oh, you jest! You know who I am dear~. Don't worry you will see me again soon. Oh, that's right! Maybe I should reward you for creating an empire without any more bloodshed... Much to my dislike tsk."- the voice said in slight annoyance.
"..."- Shaelyn ignored the voice as she continues to observe the flowers.
"I'm sure my gift will make you talk to me, you foolish girl!— Ahem! I mean my dear Empress~. Anyway, let me show you my gift~."- and with that, the ball of light transforms into a mirror-like shape, before an image of an unconscious man was shown.
"!!"- Shaelyn's eyes widen in surprise. Her whole body trembles, making her knees weak.
"Oho! What an interesting reaction~. Maybe I should have shown this to you first huh?"- the voice teased, enjoying the shocked and fearful look that is showing on Shaelyn's face.
Shaelyn gulps, her body lean on the railings for support.
"H-how?... no— why do you have him?!"- She shakily asks, her voice had risen a bit making the voice chuckle.
The man that was being shown in the mirror is her husband. Vines are binding his body making him unable to move. Shaelyn can't seem to figure out his possible location. Wounds and scars are visible on his topless body.
"What did you do to him?! Tell me!!"- Shaelyn's demanded, anger can be shown in her blue eyes.
Her mana is starting to surround her with the necklace on her neck buzzing softly.
The voice only chuckles, she removed the image and transforms it back again into a ball of light.
"Calm down, dear~. You know I can easily end him if you ever make me mad."- the voice said darkly.
"But of course, I won't do that... at least for now."- she added.
"What. Do. You. Want.?"- Shaelyn asks through gritted teeth.
"Hmm~. Let's see~. Ah! I know! If you do what I will ask of you without fail. I'll make sure to send him back to you, alive and well."- the voice said with a wide smile on her lips.
Shaelyn clenched her fists, she has a bad feeling about this.
====
'Once upon a time in a faraway land...
A curse was placed on the royal bloodline.
A strong curse that can change a person from within.
A person who was once born with kindness in her heart has to turn into a cold-blooded killer.
A person who is full of love turn selfishly greedy, wanting everything to be theirs.
A person born with such incredible talent became consumed with lust, creating a war that broke a peace treaty.
That very curse has started because of a cowardly person, who was the only heir of that kingdom.
But that coward wanted anything but the throne.
He planned on making the other kingdoms take over his responsibility, but instead, he managed to create a curse.
Generations after generations, the cursed remain strong. It tortures the person who is sitting on the royal throne a day before they died.
One day, a strong-willed Prince was born in that cursed bloodline.
He and his precious little sister found out about the secret of their royal family. An idea formed in his head as he gazes worriedly at his precious sister.
"I'll protect you."- he promised to her.
Days have passed by and their father, the King grew weaker. An announcement has been made.
"Soon a new ruler will be crown! Gather your forces for the selection ceremony!"- the King announces.
As the selection ceremony neared, the prince grew anxious.
Whoever will be crowned as the new king will target his sisters. He knew how dangerous it can be for the princesses if the new ruler became similar to his father.
So he seeks everywhere, trying to find anything that can either break the curse or help him win.
Until...
"I can help you make your wish come true, dear prince~." - a fairy with golden locks appeared with a smile on her lips.
"How can you help me?"- the prince asked desperately.
The fairy's lips formed into a tiny smirk before she changes it into a smile.
"I'll give you the strength to win and take over the throne. But of course... are you willing to accept your fate once you are seated on that cursed throne?"- the fairy asks.
The prince hesitates, he will not know what will be his actions once he became the king.
"One thing I need to do first... help me secure the safely of my sisters."- he said while staring at the fairy's eyes, holding out his left hand.
The fairy did not bother to hide her smirk before shaking his outstretched hand.
"Of course~. I'll make sure to help you save your sisters."- the fairy then whispers a spell before the prince screamed in pain and collapsing on the ground unconscious.
The prince's eyes open, his body moves on its own. He started to panic when his body ignored his little sister and went straight for his sword.
He desperately tried to take control of his body. When he did, "I'm sorry."
He only managed to apologize before he lost control of his body.
Waking up he managed to see himself covered in blood while walking to his sister, who is shaking in fear and shocked.
"Please run away from me."- he desperately forced himself to say.
Days passed by and he became the new king fulfilling his wish.
"Why do you look so gloomy? Aren't you happy that your sisters are safe?"- a familiar voice asks him.
He gritted his teeth as he glared at the familiar face that pops out of nowhere and now is floating in front of him.
"I never wanted to kill them... why didn't you help me save them too?"- he asks in a painful voice.
"Pfft~. Did you forget what is the only favor you have asked of me? You said 'help me secure the safety of my sisters'. You never said anything about your brothers nor the Queen and concubines. Beside the King is at its limit anyway, so you did him a favor."- the fairy said enjoying the glare he is throwing at her.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm not the one who didn't say clearly what they want. Next time be sure to say everything clearly."- and with a snap of her fingers, the fairy disappeared.
Day after day, the curse slowly consumed the young king until he completely lost control of his sanity.
One after another, he killed and tortured everyone that made him even slightly annoyed. He ruled his kingdom with tyranny, earning him the title of a tyrant king.
Out of boredom, he kidnaps a princess from the neighboring kingdom and blocked their food supplies.
The poor kingdom tried to fight against him but he threatens them with their precious princess. They have no choice but to do what he wants from them.
And thus war broke out, he tried to take over another kingdom to conquer their young queen.
"Once you finished this task, I'll give you the freedom that you desperately wished for."- a voice whispered inside his mind.
The king maniacally grins upon hearing those words. He did everything he can to get the queen.
But to his annoyance, another kingdom has helped her to stop him.
"Kill the special person of the queen by your own hands and she will present herself to you."
And he did... he went to the battlefield to find that person and ordered his men to hunt her.
Not even a day has passed by and the young queen did present herself to him.
The moment he locks eyes with her, a strange feeling spreads on his chest.
The more she stands near him, the more his sanity starting to come back.
They dance together in a beautiful rhythm, their breathing, screaming, and laughter are their melody.
Their blades are their hands, clashing to one another and touching each other's bodies.
But...
His sanity managed to take control of his curse, as soon as his body grew weak.
"Whether you listen to my advice or not, it's up to you." - he tried to give her a clue because he knows for sure that the fairy has also done something to this young queen in front of him.
As the blade pierces his heart, his sister's face flashed through his mind before he breathes his final breath.
The whole kingdom has celebrated his death, for they are now finally free from the cursed and their tyrant king.
The End.'
"Pfft~. This is how his story turns out huh? I thought it will be much more interesting than this."- the fairy muttered as she placed the book she's holding above the table.
The book has the title of 'The Cursed Tyrant King', it's written in silver on the very front of the scarlet-colored book. At the very back of the book written the name Stefan Yosef Baroom.
She swings her legs back and forth, her fingers tapping in rhythm above the table.
The room she's in only has one heavy golden door, one slim window with thick steel grills. It is located at the very top of a single tower with vines covering the entire place. The man is being bound by vines covered with poison thorns that can make you fall into a deep slumber.
"Hmm~. I wonder what else can I do to make sure Shaeyn's new story be much more interesting than Yosef's. What do you think? Will she be able to pull the things I've told her? After all, you are her dear husband~."- the fairy giggles as she stares at the unconscious body of Atlas.
His fingers twitch a bit before it stops.
"Don't worry you will be able to see her soon again~. That is if she can fulfill the role I've tasked her."- the fairy then stands up before leaving the room full of vines crawling everywhere except the place where she sat.
"I can't wait for your story to be published, my dear Empress~."-
===
"Why are you doing this?! "- Asha asks Shaelyn, while the guards stopping her from getting any closer.
Shaelyn's cold gaze staring directly at Asha's teary ones.
"I remember you asking me a question that time... Asha. 'Who I am? Who I want to be known as?'"- she paused, as she grabs Asha's face holding it firmly.
"Well... here's my answer."- She said before pushing Asha's face strongly that she collapses onto the marbled floor.
"A war queen?!! That's what you want to be known as?!"- Asha scream trying to get up but the two knights push her down.
Shaelyn smirk at her, as she sat down gracefully at her throne.
"That's right. Hear me, all of you! From today onwards... I, Shaelyn Lockser - Caswell, heir of the Lockser Kingdom and Queen of the Caswell Kingdom... will be known as the War Queen! And soon once the empire has been established, I will be its one and only Empress!!"- Shaelyn announces that made all the knights and the officials kneel in front of her.
"Long live the Queen!! Long live the Queen!!"- their words echo in the throne room and out in the hallway.
~
Shaelyn woke up with a jolt, sweat dripping down her forehead with her heart drumming inside her ribcage. She looks around trying to find where she is.
A knock on the carriage door was heard making her jump in surprise.
"Is there a problem your majesty?"- a knight asked from the outside.
They are currently taking a break before continuing their journey. They have already left the Count's territory and are now on their way to the capital.
She took a deep breath and clearing her throat before answering, "...It's nothing, are we ready to continue?"
"Yes your majesty, I only came to inform you of that. Then, please rest well your majesty."- the knight's captain answered politely before signaling to the others.
Shaelyn sighs before wiping away her sweat, she also fixes the wrinkles of her dress as she leaned comfortably on the cushion seat of the carriage.
"What was that dream?.. could that be what she has told me about?"- she mumbles before closing her eyes. She can still see the image of her cold gaze staring directly at Asha.
She shivers before opening her eyes, she instead stares at the scenery to distract herself.
"Yosef... I think I'm starting to understand your words more."- she whispers before sighing once again.
"The only way to move forward from now on is... something I never imagine doing. At the same time, I never imagine becoming a Queen. Yet here I am... is this really, my fate?"- whispering those words she leans her forehead on the glass windows, the capital is slowly becoming visible.
===============
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A weird feeling is slowly spreading to her chest. Her breathing is becoming shallow, her vision spinning as she closes her eyes while her right hand massage the pain forming on her chest. Sweat dripping down from her forehead.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The closer they near the capital the more painful it gets. It doesn't help that her necklace slowly becoming hot, burning the skin of her neck.
She bit her lips preventing herself to scream in pain.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The people cheer as the carriage made its way on the road of the capital.
"Long Live Her majesty! Long Live Her Majesty!"-
The necklace glows before the color of the crystal changes, it turns dark blue. A small crack spread from the center of the crystal.
Shaelyn's breathing slowly returns to normal. She wiped away the sweat with her handkerchief, as she fixed her dress. A cold smirk slowly forms on her lips as her eyes flutter opens revealing her dark blue eyes.
===