"How dare you utter-" King Augustus raised a hand to silence his aide. He stood up from his seat and approached me. I raised my hand.
The King knelt in front of me and kissed the back of my outstretched hand, earning a gasp from the aide.
"It's been a while, Elisedd." I smiled.
It has been 32 years to be specific. 32 years since his coronation.
Elisedd stood up, his lips raising into a smile. "It certainly has been, Dame Lilith."
He has grown up to be a wise and generous king, fitting the name I bestowed to him. It feels like yesterday, when I gave him the name Elisedd.
The Crone. Although the crone plays a small role in the novel, she is nonetheless one of the most powerful beings in this world.
At the beginning of time, The Goddess Fet'arī, created three entities, who then made the rest of the world.
The Mother, The Crone, and The Dragon.
The Crone, being one of them, was the symbol of balance between good and evil. She was incharge of the Kriezer Empire.
Every time a new king rises, The Crone reveals herself and bestows a name to the King. Foretelling what kind of King would they be.
The Crone has the authority to dethrone a King if she deems them to bring harm to the Empire.
But this Crone, was reduced to a mere consultant in the novel. I sneered inwardly.
But... what is this purple aura?
"How may I assist you, Dame Lilith?" Elisedd inquired.
I took a deep breath. "Abandon Tifila."
"Pardon? The village at the border?"
I nodded solemnly. "My liege I will never agree to abandon it. The citizens there are loyal to us both." His voice held firmness but there was something else in it that hinted to his reluctance.
"The citizens have become an enemy of mine, Your Grace," I said bluntly.
King Augustus' brows furrowed, and then he spoke. "Is there no alternative?"
My eyes narrowed and I stepped forward to stand face to face with him. My body language became more aggressive.
"What alternative, your Majesty," I seethed, "would you have of me."
His gaze hardened and he stared directly into my eyes. For several seconds we were still, each daring the other to make a move. Finally, the king broke eye contact first and looked away.
I watched as he turned around. He walked towards his desk. On his way he picked up one of the books on his study table and began reading its spine aloud.
It seemed like hours had passed, though realistically it was barely a minute. I sighed heavily and rubbed the bridge of my nose. This king was difficult, I thought to myself.
I turned back to look at Elisedd, who was now engrossed in the book.
"Garret, out." Elisedd commanded. The aide glanced at us and left the office.
"Very well," he replied. "But, I need a favour from you in return."
"If I cannot fulfill it, it does not matter what it is, Your Majesty," I told him sternly.
"Fine," he replied without looking up from the book.
I huffed once more.
If this was how he wanted to play the game, so be it.
"Name your request." I folded my arms over my chest defiantly.
Elisedd closed the book and laid it aside before turning back towards me, looking directly into my eyes. "I want you to gather The Entities."
I inhaled sharply. "What for?" I questioned cautiously.
Something has happened. Definitely. Something drastic enough that he needs the Entities. That much is obvious.
Something that caused his aura to be tainted with purple. The same aura as her.
"What happened?" I asked, frowning.
Elisedd sighed. "You should know, but wouldn't believe me."
"Tell me."
The words he uttered next, made lightning strike inside me.
"I am a regressor."
"What?!"
No wonder.
But what the fuck?
How does this world have two regressors and me, a transmigrator?
Then he must know what will happen to The Dragon. He must be trying to avoid that.
"Is this about The Dragon?" I asked to confirm.
"Yes."
After several moments of shock, "Are you sure about this?" I asked him.
"I'm sure," he said confidently. There was no mistaking his tone.
"Alright," I conceded.
I was going to regret this.
"Good." He smiled grimly.
We sat facing each other on opposite sides of his desk, staring into each other's eyes. Neither of us speaking or even acknowledging any of our surroundings.
Finally, after what felt like forever, I stood up. "I will be going now."
Elisedd coughed. "Dame, you must consider getting a change of clothes."
I looked at my air-dried and bloody nightgown.
A part of me wanted to point this out, but another part of me refused to listen to my pride and remained silent.
Without a word, I left the king's office, slamming the door shut.
My heart pounded in my ears, I was still not over the shock. Why did that happen?
Why can't things just stay the way they are? I thought to myself. If things were normal then maybe I wouldn't feel so conflicted all the time.
That is until I realized that this world isn't normal. Not by a long shot. And now I'm a part of that life.
Just why?
Why did the original Crone disappear?
Perhaps she knew something of importance?
What-
My train of thoughts was cut off my a chest slamming into mine.
I stepped back and looked up. "Pardon me..." I trailed off
Why do I have to encounter such absurd things repeatedly.
"Are you alright, Dame?" A man, too perfect for this world with golden hair and green eyes asked me.
His garbs were made of the finest clothing material in the empire and lined with gold.
Cerian de Kriezer. Or as he would be known in the future, Cerian Viturin de Kriezer, The Conqueror.
The Male Lead of this novel.
Fuck.