"This is all because of Her Highness the Princess" Phaedra said unintentionally.
"Do not utter such nonsense" Dianne hastily scolded.
"Well, if she hadn't committed such grave sin, she would've been the Priestess, not our poor darling" Lydia said as she gently caressed Phaedra's exposed thighs.
"This is not a misfortune. At least now you can find out about that nightmare of yours" Dianne tried to make her see the bright side of being the Priestess. It couldn't be helped, Phaedra still blamed the Princess.
"I will leave today" she rose to her feet "you're right, duty comes before emotions" she said sternly.
"Good," Dianne smiled proudly, "go, speak with the Marquis, we will pack your things for you"
Phaedra gave a grateful smile and walked out of the room. Her duties were not the things that propelled her out of that bed. It was curiosity, about what the Princess could've done and what she was hiding from the people that made her not to be chosen.
Phaedra walked outside. Her small house was crowded by villagers all peering their heads over one another, stumbling, fighting, bickering either to see the new Priestess or to catch sight of the rumored good looking Marquis.
The rumored good looking Marquis was currently standing under a tree gazing into space. He appeared to be unaware of the attention he was getting from the villagers. Or maybe he was aware, only choosing to ignore it.
The brooding figure of the Marquis through his black as night armor carried in itself a seduction. A man gifted with such features and perfect physique was at her door, waiting for her, waiting to be called her husband.
Lydia's words echoed in Phaedra's ears. There were a number of things that she really could do to that shiny silky hair of his. He was obviously disflowered, a man of such age and caliber, exposed to different kinds of women all throwing themselves at him while mocking him, obviously cannot go unnoticed to him. Phaedra ignored the tingling of her hands as she approached him to bring to him her decision.
"I have made a decision"
Ares turned around from the tree. He had heard her coming but waited till she said something. "What have you decided?"
Phaedra shuddered slightly, the Marquis oozed of worldliness "I will leave for the capital today. Just like you said, Thaleia needs me, the Monarch needs me. It is my duty as the first War Priestess to lay aside my personal needs for the needs of the State''
Ares raised an eyebrow, he was not expecting her to come to such a mature decision, he smirked "I am looking forward to working beside you, Holy One" he walked away from her, probably to ready his men.
Phaedra released a breath she had no idea she was holding. There was a damp feeling on her forehead, it was a weird occurrence as there was a chill in the air and no warmth whatsoever though the sun was hanging up in the sky.
Phaedra cleared her throat and walked back into her home.
In less than the time it took to burn an incense stick, Phaedra, in company of the Marquis and his men, made their way to the capital after the Marquis estimated that they would arrive before nightfall.
It was at the moment where the sun had decided to sink into the earth, painting the sky a marvelous, relentless yellow and darkening the clouds a shade of red. Veda lifted her unnecessarily long dress as she took hurried steps into the palace of the princess.
As always, it was devoid of no light, the red light from the sun creeped into the place through the opening of the door, but it was unable to perfectly obliterate the never-ending darkness in the room.
Veda walked into the palace and headed upstairs to the particular room of the Princess. When she arrived, she placed two knocks on the door before walking in.
A chair was in the middle of the room, tilted towards the big window that had a perfect view of the setting sun. The light from the sun had successfully tinted the room a shade of orange. If it could not dispel the darkness downstairs at least it had a victory in this room.
Aelia was seated on that chair, gazing upon the sunset but far from this human world.
"What is your mind, Your Highness?" Veda moved closer to the chair, standing at a position where Aelia could not see her. Behind her.
Veda's question was left unanswered. The only thing one could hear was the soft breathing of Aelia and could feel the impatience hidden in Veda's quiet movements.
"I know you have always expected everything to turn out this way, nevertheless, i know there is a part of you that hoped for something else"
Aelia breathed a short sigh "There's no part of me that hoped for something else. Why would I, it will be like hoping for an audience with The Supreme, futile."
"You cannot lie to me"
"Why are we still talking about this?"
Veda rolled her eyes "The Marquis is back, your presence is needed in court"
Aelia rose to her feet, finally the staring contest between her and the sky had come to an end. "He came back so soon"
"Probably, her village must be situated close to the capital."
They both walked out of the Phoenix palace, with the destination of the courtroom in mind.