"..." -
Staring blankly at his sister's tombstones, he grips the flowers he is holding tightly. Tears blur his eyesight as he fell on his knees.
"...I'm sorry, Sierra."- he whispered as memories of the princess played in his mind.
The reason why he left the kingdom was to save his sister... yet, he was ten years too late.
Not only he lost his precious sister, but he also lost his wife. Jasper has already told him everything he needed to know about the princess and Shaelyn.
Although he has already heard from Luther of how much Shaelyn has changed, that information hasn't sunk into him yet. No... he is denying it.
--
The whole palace is buzzing as they prepared for the return of the Empress. Despite just returning three days ago, King Atlas took over the responsibilities he left behind.
"..."- Atlas stares blankly at the document he is working on as his heartbeat nervously inside his chest.
"Is something wrong, your majesty?"- Jasper ask as he glances at the document he is reading and saw the King staring blankly.
Jasper decided to say and help prepare for the celebratory banquet and to help the King to adjust back to his responsibilities.
"Be honest, Jasper. How should I face her?"- he asks as places the documents down.
Jasper adjusted his glasses before sighing.
"It would be best to talk to her majesty in private... preferably after the banquet."- Jasper responded which made Atlas stare curiously at him.
"Why after?"-
"To avoid any 'accidents' during the banquet. It would be a hassle if both of you ended up arguing during the banquet. Please think about the people that help in making this celebration a success."-
"...do you think something like that will happen?"-
"I'm positive of it, your majesty."-
--
"Your majesty..."- a knight bows his head as the Empress turns around to look at him.
"What is it?"- Her cold tone made him shivers despite hearing this tone every day for the last ten years.
"We have secured everything you've asks us to do. But...".
"Is there a problem?"- the Empress asks with a glare.
She has been waiting for a long time just to see him again and this small problem will not block her from getting her revenge.
"T-the Ashen tree will take some time to be delivered back to the capital. If we speed things up, the tree might not survive."- The knight explained nervously as he lowers his gaze to the ground.
"Well, it can't be helped. Just make sure to deliver it safely."- Shaelyn stated before walking away from him.
The knight sigh in relief before looking up where he can see the Empress preparing to enter the royal carriage of the Saffron Kingdom.
After the news of the King of the Saffron kingdom being defeated by the hands of the Empress, the Gerban Kingdom admitted their defeat while waving up a white flag. They have also long been suffering the effects of the war if it weren't for the supplies the Saffron Kingdom has been sending.
"What is our plan now, dear Empress~."- the shadow asks as soon as Shaelyn enters the carriage.
Sitting at the soft cushion of the seat of the carriage she closes the curtain on her side before facing the shadow.
"Are you that persistent to keep on following me around?"- Shaelyn questions in a bored tone.
After staying at the Saffron Kingdom for almost two weeks, making sure there are no loose ends... Shaelyn felt extremely bored. After all, she spends years on the battlefield fighting enemies left and right. But now, she will only fight verbally and mentally against the schemes of any greedy noble, looking to gain some favors out of her.
If she can, she will immediately crystallize them but Norie will reprimand her.
"The moment you've defeated the tyrant King, I become part of your fate. As long as you are alive and breathing, I will continue to be with you. You cannot change your fate... your majesty."- The shadow explained with a grin.
"... do what you want."- Shaelyn spoke with a sigh before closing her tired eyes.
The slow movements of the carriage are lulling her to sleep. Besides, she hasn't slept a wink during her stay here, since she knows that she needs to keep her guard up because of how many enemies she made.
And the main reason for it is because she kept thinking of how will she faced her husband that has left her behind.
Just thinking of making him kneel in front of her while shivering in fear makes her the more excited to come back to the Empire she has established.
--
"Long live her majesty, The Empress!"
"Long Live her majesty, the Empress!"
The citizens of the Empire all cheered as the parade of knights being led by the Empress herself entered the capital.
They have stopped by the Rosa Dukedom to rest and to make themselves look more presentable.... after all, they have spent ten long years at the battlefield.
The Empress's golden locks have returned to their original color with the help of the maids that have served her during her stay at the Rosa Dukedom.
She is wearing a white collared top with a low neckline, a white and golden cape with black fur that rests right on her shoulders. Paired with black tight pants, with golden belt strap for her sword, and black boots with heels. With the emblem of the Empire sewed on the back of her cape.
The autumn leaves showers them, along with the flower petals and colorful papers that the citizen threw on their way. They may be afraid of the Empress, but they are also thankful for her distribution in making the empire prosper for these past years.
Ever since she became the Empress of the Empire she has made questionable decisions that have led to a positive outcome.
So as long as they are living in peace and comfort, they will fully support any decision the Empress will have. Some will probably disagree with their way of thinking especially those who have adored the late Princess.
There are still some citizens that have a grudge against the Empress for not properly mourning the late Princess.
--
Every step she takes, made every servant of the palace stop and bow their head. Some new servants almost made a mistake in front of her, thankfully she just ignored them. With only one thing on her mind, she even ignored her ladies in waiting that have waited for her arrival.
*Bang!*
Her bedroom door swung open as she entered the room, with her ladies in waiting behind her along with some maids.
"Hurry and prepare me some warm bath and some comfortable clothes."- she ordered them as she opens the glass door of her balcony.
A cold wind blows towards her direction making golden locks sway.
"Countess Norie is here to see you, your majesty."- One of the maids said calmly as she bows her head.
Shaelyn glances at her before she went back inside her room. Sitting down on one of the soft cushions sofas, she motions to one of the maids to open the door.
"I greet her majesty, the Empress."- Countess Norie greeted before doing a simple curtsy.
"Norie..."- Shaelyn acknowledges her as she glances at the documents Norie is holding.
"...don't tell me you want me to work when I have just arrived?"- She asks with a sigh before rubbing her temples.
Placing down the documents she's holding at the tea table in front of the Empress, she answers," Don't worry, your majesty. You can check all these documents tomorrow.".
A frown forms on her lips as she bites her tongue, she can't believe she has to work the moment she arrived.
"Nevermind that... tell me something about the King. Where is he now?"- she asks as she motion for Norie to sit down.
The maids who are on standby are watching the scene quietly, they are curious if the return of the King could be able to recover their once kind Queen.
"His majesty, the King is currently on his office reviewing reports for the past ten years. Does her majesty wishes to talk to him?"- Nories asks the question that everyone wanted to ask.
"..."- The Empress stares blankly at her before silently glancing around the room.
A cold smirk formed on her lips that made everyone inside the room shiver in fear.
"There's no need for that. I will be facing him at the banquet anyway. For now, I need you to find someone that will keep an eye on every movement of the King."- Shaelyn orders that made Norie sigh.
This is going to be another addition to her workload. All she wanted to do right now is to have a chance to talk to Vesper and spend some quality time with him.
Shaelyn eyes Norie curiously before leaning comfortably on the sofa.
"Once the banquet ended, take some time off from your work. I want you gone for at least two weeks, got it?"- Shaelyn announced that made Norie widened her eyes in surprise.
'Did she read my mind?'- Norie thought to herself quietly.
"And... the Duke Laxis will arrive here at the capital three days from now. So you better prepare a guest room for him."- Shealyn said in a bored tone, before taking a sip of her tea that was prepared by her lady in waiting, Hana.
"That's!... Thank you, your majesty! I will immediately prepare everything."- Norie can't help but expressed her sincerity the moment she heard what Shaelyn has prepared for her.
Despite becoming the cold Empress that she is now, Shaelyn has never forgotten how much Norie has helped her. Right now, she is one of the few people, she shows this kind of mercy along with Jasper.