Ron would have smiled at her answer,
that's what Laniev thought. Yet, the Ron she
knew was different than the Emperor Ronik
who sat a few chairs away from her.
Don't be foolish and think otherwise.
"Good' he said. "Now let us tell him."
Laniev released a small breath.
She didn't know if Ronik was merely doing this for political reasons, but either way it didn't
matter too much. They had agreed to be
allies, even with their rocky past. That meant
that to some degree Ronik trusted her. At
least, she hoped so.
"Zion' Laniev called for him and soon
enough he came back through the door.
"So," Zion said with a smirk, the
ornamented cape he wore slightly dragging
behind him. "What decision have we come
to?
Laniev smiled coldly at him, "It seems |
will have to decline your offer as I already
have a marriage partner." Emperor Ronik
stood up, walked closer to Laniev, putting his
hand on her shoulder. Laniev felt her
stomach tingle at the contact, but only
slightly.
"Oh my' Zion looked between Empress
Laniev and Emperor Ronik, a small smile
creeping onto his face. His good looks were
ruined by his twisted features, What a
shame. " like this. tl be more fun this way"
he said quietly.
"What?" Ronik asked, his eyebrows
raised.
"Oh nothing" Zion quickly did a bow,
though his form made it clear he didn't truly
mean to pay respect.
"I will be taking my leave now. I wish the new couple great luck."
He smirked one last time before turning and
leaving the Moonlight Sanctuary
Ronik took his hand off her shoulder
instantly, and a cold look settled on his face.
"I have to go now" he said. "I will inform my
people of what happened here today. I will be
back soon."
Laniev nodded. "All right, do as you
Just then, Ronik's eyes trailed back to
her face, settling on her left cheek. Laniev
could see his eyes fill with pity, even if it was
just for a moment.
The scar.
He could still see it.
The maids had done their best to hide
the scar Ronik had inflicted on her all those
years ago, but it was too prominent to be
covered easily.
"Will you be okay?" He asked, "I know
you don't like being alone-"
Laniev got up, a tinge of anger gracing
her features. "Don't act like you care. Go." She
breathed, collected herself, and looked back
at him. "Im not alone. My maids and guards
will stay with me."
Ronik seemed to hesitate before he
nodded and left.
I know you don't like being alone.
Laniev was slightly surprised he still
remembered.
It had been two weeks since Laniev had
started learning magic at the Medeis Society.
She was currently training with a mage since
the old man had work to do or something.
They were in the middle of a forest to the
east of the estate, an area too far away to
adventure to but close enough to admire.
"Were going to be practicing earth
magic," the mage said. "l don't want to
damage the estate, so staying here should
be better."
Laniev had nodded, following her
instructor's every move, she began to learn
the magic of the earth. Moving it to her own
will, creating shapes and weapons with it.
Just as the night began to fall, the mage
had told her to take a break. They had both
been sitting down under tall oak trees, the
cold orange sky glaring down at them, when
the mage suddenly stood up.
"l have to go. The master is calling me."
He spoke urgently, running before Laniev
could even open her mouth.
"Wait! Ill come too!" She shouted. "Don't
leave me here!" Laniev's breathing began to
speed up as she realized the mage was out
of sight. She began to look around, the once
warm orange sky had changed to a dark
blue
What do l do?
I'm alone.
I'm alone.
I'm alone.
Where is everyone? Where did they go?
"Where is everyone?" She asked herself,
her voice barely above a whisper. The dark
atmosphere and trees seemed to blend,
trapping her in a cage of darkness. With
trembling hands she lit a fire in her palm,
trying to calm down.
You're alone.
Everyone's gone.
No one will stay beside you.
No one.
"I'm alone." Laniev said, the fire went out in
sparks. Laniev's eyes widened in panic.
"Lani? What are you doing here?"
Laniev's eyes lit up as she ran to the boy
who had found her. "Ron! I was training and
then he left and I was alone! I didn't know
what to do, I thought everyone was gone and
liust-"
Ron seemed startled, but he soon began
to hug Laniev back. "You aren't alone" he
said. "I'm right here." He smiled, ""ll always
be here"
Laniev shook her head at the past
memory. Many things had happened since
that day, she was no longer Lani and
Emperor Ronik was no longer Ron. She had
to stop thinking thoughts that weren't
appropriate.
"Im meeting the Generals now' Laniev
said standing up. "Tell them to gather in the
War Council room immediately."
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."
Laniev stormed through her palace. Her
bold features remained steadfast, blank as
they always did. She didn't want to cause any
worry throughout the staff. Rumors spread
throughout personnel quicker than most
thought. Each maid she walked by bowed
their head, some out of fear, most out of
respect.
"Her Imperial Majesty is entering!"
The large marble doors were pushed
open and behind them were the ten Generals
of the Vermiculus Empire.
"We greet Her Imperial Majesty!" They
each got on their knee, heads tilted
completely downward.
Before she had become Empress,
Vermiculus's military had been a mess. The
nobles on the council really couldn't do
anything. Though she had known that for a
while. She had reconstructed the entire
military system, placing those she believed
were capable at its helm. the head of the table, waiting for the doors to shut
'I just find it unseenmly that the guards
would witness us call you by your first name,
Laniev. They do not deserve that."
Earint Fauster, General One.
A striking man, not only because of his
auburn hair and bright eyes, but because of
his intellect. That's what drew Laniev to him.
He was strong, her friend, and someone she
could rely on.
"Earint's right" A girl, dark haired and with
beautiful tanned skin, said.
Yenessa Hou, General Two.
"Only us generals should get to call you
that."
A small smile graced Laniev's lips.
"Report."
"Generals six, seven, eight, nine, and ten
have been filling out the mission you have
given them," Earint said with the nod of his
head.
"Good' Laniev said. She finally sat down,
the Generals following after her. "General
Three, how have preparations around the city
been going?"
"Must you even ask, Princess?" A man, in
his early thirties asked, sipping out of the
small vial of alcohol he had brought with
him. "Of course, they have been completed.
Walls have been armed with troops, traps
have been laid, and of course, the walls have
been enchanted with Yenessa's magic."
Warren Jak, General Three.
"Princess? You need to kill your old
habits old man" A young man with golden
hair and green eyes said, leaning back in his
chair.
Axelli Renestri, General Five.
"Do not interrupt the Empress."
Giyuu C. . General Four.
His vibrant violet hair was his
trademark, even so that he was known as
Violet on the battlefield. His enemies had
been the one to make that name, but not
many of his opponents lived to spread the
word to their fellow soldiers. So, most of his
comrades called him that now.
"Everyone, prepare your troops. Send
messages to the nobles. We are preparing
for a war," Laniev spoke precisely, each of the
present Generals looking at her intently.
They each nodded, not asking a single
question. "I would also like to ask for a
different invitation to be made to the nobles,
and to your families as well."
"Our famies?" Earint asked.
"Yes" Laniev said. "We are preparing for
something else as well. A wedding."
"A wedding?" Yenessa asked. "Who's
wedding? As if one of these assholes got a
date."
Laniev's lips curved upward in amusement
as the men turned to glare at Yenessa.
"it's my wedding." Laniev said. "I'm getting
married to Emperor Ronik Sovia of the
Corvus Empire."
Silence passed through the War Counsel.
"Laniev, this is no time for joking-"
Giyuu lowered his eyes at Earint, "Does
Her Majesty ever joke?"
Warren, for once, had dropped his vial.
"But, the Corvus Empire? After everything
they've done to the Vermiculus Empire, to
your father-"
"I'm marrying Ronik, not the Empire"
Laniev said sharply. "I've already made my
decision, so do not try to talk me out of it."
"Yes, we understand"
The Generals were dismissed, and
Laniev retired to her room.
Earint gripped the knife in his hand.
"She's getting married?" Earint's eyes
widened as he cut into his steak a little too
harshly. "Laniev?"
Yenessa sat to his right, letting out a
small laugh. "Oh, don't cry." Yenessa said.
"Beautiful women have many options, I
quess Laniev found someone worthy." She
shrugged before mumbling, "The other
Generals will be upset they weren't here to
find out."
"She found someone worthy?" Warren
didn't bother with his food, turning to the cup
of wine, its color scarlet and deep. He
swished it around in his cup, a spiteful look
on his face. "He's Corvus Empire scum. If
this wasn't the Princess's decision, I would
kill him myself."
"Stop calling her Princess" Giyuu spat
"Don't even bother" Yenessa laughed,
"He's called her Princess for as long as I've
known him.
"That's why he needs to stop," Giyuu said
back. "She's the Empress now, not some
Princess."
Maids stood at the head of the grand
dining table. It was a place only accessible
by the Generals. The famed leaders of the
Ten Vermiculan Armies were widely
renowned and deserved only the best.
"They're all so young" One maid
whispered to the other. "Most Generals are
much older, and they're usually all men!"
"Empress Laniev doesn't pick her
personnel based on their wealth or status,"
The second maid replied with dignity. "'She is
someone who looks at a person's capabilities, not their faces, gender, or home country."
"Even with how cold she looks?" The
maid asked. "I don't think I've ever seen her
smile-"
"Watch your mouth or the next knife
won't just stick to the wall."
The maid looked up, where a steak knife
stuck out of the golden wall. She turned her
gaze toward the table, and she was met with
five pairs of icy eyes.
The second maid, the one who had
been answering her questions, bowed
deeply. "Forgive me, she will be punished."
The Generals turned back to their
meals
"Don't throw knives, Earint!" Yenessa
said, eyebrows scrunched in annoyance.
"They just fixed all the holes from that time
Warren brought a horse in here!"
"Yeah, sorry, my bad' Earint said,
bashfully scratching his head. "I won't do it
next time, I promise!"
Laniev waited at the teleport gate,
arms crossed. She had let Emperor Ronik
use it to get back to the Corvus Empire. He
should have gotten back by now.
"Waiting for me?" Ronik Sovia walked
down from the marble gate that had just
flashed with white light, his clothes slightly
more casual than the last time she had seen
"How did your personnel react?"
Laniev asked, eyebrows raised.
"They opposed it," he said, arriving
beside her. "ButI would assume your people
did as well."
A small smirk formed on Laniev's
face. "Yes, they did."
"Your Generals, am I correct?"
How does he know about my
Generals? Laniev glanced back at him,
"Correct." She smirked once again, "Your
Division Leaders didn't take it too well
either?"
For a moment, Laniev had forgotten
what they had once been: enemies. Just as
Laniev knew the names, faces, and basic
abilities of each of Ronik's strong fighters, he
knew hers.
"Of course they didn't" Ronik said
with a complacent shrug.
Laniev took a step, a subtle invitation
to walk with her. "We're allies, correct?"
"Allies? l'd like to believe we are more
than that."
"What do you mean?" Laniev asked.
They had just made their way into Laniev's
personal outdoor garden. The cool air blew
through Laniev's raven hair and she found
herself having to speak louder.
"Allies are people who can betray you
in a second' he leaned down to make eye
contact with her, "and I want to believe we
wouldn't do that to each other."
"So what do you want us to be?"
Laniev asked.
"'Something that would stay real,"
Ronik raised his head, looking toward the
Vermiculan Mountains, "even if the heavens
fell."
Laniev's eyes widened as she remembered those words. Was he flaunting their past? Reminding her they weren't truly-laniev stop.
She was doing it again.
You're not alone anymore.
Calm down.
"All right," Laniev nodded.
Ronik nodded once more, a satisfied
waiting.
look on his face. "Ill escort you to the door
before I leave. "
Laniev nodded, taking his arm as he
lead her to the door where her maids were
"IIl see you soon, Laniev."
"Yes."