CHAPTER 7
A short distance from the battle a man is stripped of his armour a woman on top of him as the moonlight falls on them it is Lucy taking off Nozar's armour.
"Come on it was just a fluke there is no way he could have such power there's not a mark on Nozar's body he must have poisoned him before the fight think Lucy think." Lucy mumbles to herself.
She takes a dagger and plunges it into Nozar's corps she cuts open his chest only to find the truth her eyes widen from shock, there is no heart in his body it was removed in the fight. She picks up his body and heads for the throne room to give the news that a platinum knight has fallen.
"So this happens on your watch Lucy care to explain why and how this happened? You should have stopped it from ever going so far a pathetic excuse for an executioner you are." A sharp voice reprimands Lucy for her failure in protecting Nozar.
Two women sit on the throne one is the queen she is wearing formal attire for royalty she has chestnut colour hair and green eyes, the other appears to be her daughter she has the same colour hair as her mother but eyes like Lucy the same sapphire blue glow to them, Lucy's head hangs low as she can merely listen to them and not say a word. The queen leaves and orders her daughter to deal with Lucy a fitting punishment for her failure.
"You see dear sister this is what happens when you don't do as you're told and protect but you always have to be different this is why mother can't stand you being a half breed like you, mother did you a kindness after your parents died and took you in." The princess says to Lucy in a cold and degrading tone mocking her for being the illegitimate child of her father and a maid.
"Just give me my punishment and lets be done with it Yuria I have things to do."
"In a hurry are we, no matter you deserve a good kicking!" Yuria starts to kick Lucy while she is still kneeling down causing her to fall to her she is trying to get up but Yuria keeps kicking her in her mid-section where she is not wearing armour she spits out blood, Yuria stops kicking her, she grabs her by the hair and taunts her a final time.
"Why don't you stop dressing like that put on some nice clothes and just be a baby maker for some nobleman after all you are already 28 years old you are running out of time do some good for once or be some house maid you are nothing Lucy."
She lets go of Lucy's hair she leaves after her mother and Lucy is left alone in the middle of the throne room struggling to get to her feat she is covered in her own blood and walks out the front door people outside see her and mock her for her failure she goes to her room which was at a inn she makes it to her bed and just falls on it as if she has no reason to go on living.
"One mistake and this is what I get, it's always been like this I've never left because I don't want to give her the satisfaction of leaving, but I see my time is up they did not see what I saw the incredible raw power that man possessed I bet he could use someone like me. Guess we'll see in the morning." Lucy closes her eyes and sleep.
Elsewhere in a bed Veranda wakes up she is surprized and gets out of bed she looks down and sees that she is still wearing clothes and not completely naked like the first time.
"Last time I was naked this time I still have my clothes on it's an improvement guess everybody sneaked a peak at me last time, enough of that I'm alive how I thought I was dead the last thing I remember was drowning and then—"
Her sentence is cut off by the opening of her door a familiar face greets her it's Mizuki that enters she runs over and hugs Mizuki and is thankful that her life was once again saved by Ryu and a kind face to greet her.
"Mizuki I'm so glad it's you, where is Ryu I must speak with him, tell me!" she shouts eagerly not giving Mizuki a chance to reply to her questions, she calms down and finally Mizuki is able to answer her questions.
"Ryu is in the throne room as he always is, it's good to see you too Veranda now please let me go I can't breathe when you're holding me like this."
Veranda lets go she blushes "s-sorry" she replies and runs to the throne room to see Ryu, she enters the room, he is just standing around in the room seemingly lost in thought as she approaches him "R-Ryu" she whispers.
"Yes Veranda once again you're free to go but I'd suggest you steer clear of the capital they will be looking for you there and I'm not always going to be there to save you." Ryu replies simple and with ease as he looks into her eyes.
She looks away and speaks warmly towards him for the first time, "t-thank you for saving my life again, will you accept me into your service I have nowhere to go the home I had they did not care for me and hated me they tried to kill me twice and you have saved my life both times which is more than my comrades have ever done for me, so please let me serve you."
Ryu simply smiles at her and answers her, "my lady I accept your offer but you have to get past Mizuki first."
"What why? Are you not the ruler here why do I need to get past her first?" she asks with a confused look on her face.
"Simple, she is my general in simple terms and she will test your resolve." He replies Mizuki stands behind her, "Let's go missy you want to serve then you need to work first." Veranda is startled but reluctantly agrees to his conditions.
---
A week has passed since Veranda started as an apprentice to Mizuki, Lucy's wounds have also healed in the week she remained out of sight, she heads to a wizard seeking a spell to track the portal which Ryu had opened a week earlier the wizard is able to help her and gives her a tracking spell.
"Be careful with this Lucy whatever portal you open will go exactly where the original went it could even be off a cliff I hope you know what you're doing"
"I do and I need to do this." She takes the page and heads to where Ryu had opened the portal. "This is it once I begin there is no turning back death will surely await me at the very least it will be interesting, my heart is racing this is more exciting than anything I've ever done." She laughs at her statement and starts to utter arcane words and the portal reopens she takes one last look back and walks through the portal. Suddenly she is standing in a bedroom the very same room Veranda woke up in Lucy tries to sneak in the castle but Mizuki spots her.
"Who are you and why are you wearing skimpy clothes?" she asks, Lucy however draws her sword and stands ready to fight, Mizuki stands unarmed and takes a fighting stance Veranda is walking shortly behind Mizuki when she bumps into her she is also wearing a maid uniform now as part of her training she locks eyes with Lucy and realises whom it is.
"H-how did you get here?" she asks Lucy.
"None of your business now where is Ryu?" Lucy askes in a cold, confident tone.
"Doesn't matter where he is Veranda stand back she is mine I need the practise."
"R-right be careful Mizuki she is the queens executioner and quite dangerous," Veranda states but at the same time she is looking forward to see how powerful Mizuki is.
Mizuki stands ready Lucy wants to attack but Mizuki closes the gap in a instance and strikes Lucy in the stomach bringing her to her knees once she is on her knees she delivers a neck chop knocking Lucy out.
"Take her weapon Veranda I'm going to throw this one in the cells, when she wakes up I'll interrogate her to see what she knows."
Veranda takes her weapon and does as she's told seeing that in fact Mizuki is also a great threat and she better understands why she is regarded as Ryu's general. They take Lucy to the cells and wait for her to wake up her weapon is given to Vivaldi.
She waits in suspense to see what had brought the queens executioner to the castles doorstep and how she invaded the castle.
End of Chapter 7