The ground and the wall of the training grounds shake every time the Empress hits the training dummies. She has been training for quite a while now, releasing every pending stress and frustration she felt.
As she hit the last of the remaining dummy, she took a deep breath before wiping away her sweat with her hand. She looks around at the destruction she caused and a satisfied smile formed on her lips.
"It seems I need to find someone to repair the training ground," A soft voice said with a sigh as she took in the scene in front of her.
"I'm sure you are more than satisfied that I destroyed this rather than the banquet hall, am I right? Norie?" The Empress said coldly not even sparing a glance at Norie who have just arrived after fixing the mess the empress have created inside.
Norie's eyes linger on the sword that the Empress is holding before she took a deep breath.
"Yes, you are right, your majesty. It would be troublesome if the banquet hall was destroyed along with all the nobles. I have no doubt that you are well capable of doing that, your majesty."
A smirk forms on the Empress's red lips as she turns to face Norie.
"You don't need to worry, Norie. I won't attend until the last day, since I don't want to see his face for a while. Unless you want to find another King," The Empress said without even a hint of hesitation as she walks towards the Countess.
"I understand... But this is just mere advice, your majesty. You will still need to find a way to fix your relationship with him. After all, he is still your husband and the only heir of the Caswell royal family just as you are the only heir left for the Lockser kingdom."
The Empress flinch for a moment before a frown took over the smirk she was wearing. The idea of facing Atlas and getting close to him again makes her stomach churn in disgust. But, she knows Norie has a point, after all, the empire still needs an heir for it to continue.
"...I'll think about it. For now, why don't you spar with me Norie? I'm sure it's been a while since you have held a sword. So, why don't you take this time to relieve some stress?"
Norie let out a sigh as she glances around, "If that is your wish, your majesty."
--
The second day of the celebration is much more peaceful than the first. Just like what the Empress has said, she did not attend the second-day celebration and went hunting instead.
This gives the nobles a chance to finally talk to their King once again, though it's obvious they are eagerly curious about what will happen between the relationship of their Empress and their King.
"Is there something wrong, your majesty?" Jasper asks after noticing the frown that has formed on Atlas's face.
"Why is the Empress not here?" He muttered as he observe the garden below.
He is currently inside his office overseeing the tea party that is happening at the palace's garden. Since he didn't want to associate with any noble ladies, he decided to finish the remaining of his work.
"Her Majesty, the Empress, is currently hunting monsters. She left with her knights early this morning and will be back late this evening," Jasper cautiously said as he checks the documents he is holding.
Since he is temporarily helping the King for a while, he has assigned someone he trusts to care for the dukedom while he is away.
"Hunting monsters? On her own?" Atlas asks as he stops reading the report he is reading.
"Well, she will hunt them on her own, but she has been escorted there by her knights. Although they only escorted her there for formalities and by Countess Norie's request," Jasper said as he mumbles the last part quietly.
"Did... Did she grow that strong?" Atlas asks after a moment of silence has passed.
Pushing his glasses upwards he stares at the window before answering his question," Her majesty has indeed grown to be powerful - no perhaps the most powerful mage in the land. That is... of course if your powers did not grow during these past years. Since no one has measured your power for the last ten years, no one would know whether she is the most powerful mage or you are your majesty," Jasper explains.
"My power...?" Atlas mumbles as he taps his finger above his desk.
What Jasper has said got him thinking. Ever since his mother has trained him how to control his mana when he was seven years old, just five months before the Fairy have visited them and cursed him. He hasn't yet fully dwelled on discovering more of his powers.
Though, it was given that he can fully control when to use his aura and when to use his mana only when necessary. But now that a lot of things have changed during his absence and with the way Shaelyn is... he might as well give this idea a chance.
And he hasn't forgotten about the Fairy at all. He has a strong belief that the Fairy has done something to her that is the reason why she is the way she is right now.
To defeat her once and for all, he needs to grow stronger than Shaelyn.
.
.
.
.
A quiet atmosphere surrounds them as they quietly observer the area they are in.
They have entered an area where a hybrid of monsters lingers. It has been a problem by the villagers nearby, that is why the Empress have used this reason just to get out of the palace.
She has already defeated four of the hybrid monsters upon entering the area, all on her own. While the knights that are escorting her are just quietly watching her fight, though they are itching to help her... they have been given orders not to move from their spot unless the Empress will be put in danger.
But so far, the only ones in danger are the monsters that have caught her sight. And seeing them being slaughtered without care by their Empress, somehow they are starting to pity them. At the same time, they are relieved that it wasn't their blood being spilled all over the forest.
"Your majesty! A letter arrived to form the main palace!" one of the maids that she had brought with her, courtesy of countess Norie, exclaims as she received the letter from the messenger bird.
Letting out a sigh of frustration, the Empress slash the head of the five feet Komodo dragon in front of her.
Its blood has spilled all over her, yet she paid no attention to it. Splashing away the blood on her sword, she turns to confront the maid.
"I grant you permission to read it and summarise it to me," She said as she wipes the remaining blood from her sword with a piece of cloth that a nearby knight gave to her.
"Umm, your majesty... the letter came from Countess Norie. It says that it would be best not to overdo the cleaning and to come back a day after the party. If not, um..." the maid cut off her words as she lowers her head the moment she saw the Empress walk towards her.
She hesitantly extends her hand that is holding the letter before the Empress lets out another sigh as she grabs the letter from her hand.
She read the letter quietly before combing her disheveled hair, while clicking her tongue, obviously disliking the contents of the letter.
"Pack up all our things, we are going back tonight. It looks like I won't be able to have fun for now," The Empress stated, clearly tick off. She turned her back on them and start hunting once again.