Premonition of a Storm

THE sky is slowly dyed with crimson as the sun begins its slow descent below the horizon. Selene is currently riding inside the carriage prepared by Lord Alastor that will escort her back to the Rozeman Mansion. When she finally convinced Zaza to let her go after much debate, she left the Wolveshire Castle with Lord Alastor in tow using the same means that they used when they left the Millwood Town. Using a magic circle to teleport is a very convenient skill that Selene also wanted to acquire. Maybe, she can ask Vladimir to teach her how to do it.

Selene chuckles inwardly. If she learned how to teleport, she wouldn't have to waste her time travelling inside this slow-ass form of transportation. Suddenly, the carriage bumps into something hard that Selene almost toppled over her seat. She tightens her grip around the small treasure chest on her lap until the wheels settled on an even ground.

A few minutes later, Selene couldn't help but open the lid of the treasure chest once again. She stares at the two objects carefully laid inside. One is a crystal ball that can be used as a communication device while the other one is a ring with a black mana stone in the middle that she can use for teleportation.

Gadiel, the Emperors' right-hand man and Ethion's Chancellor, almost bust an artery when Zaza just gave it to her without hesitation. According to him, it's high-grade magical devices that were produced by the magicians in their Magic Tower. And it's not something that she can just own and bring to someplace, especially not the neighbouring Empire who comes second to them when it comes to power, wealth, and influence. However, Gadiel's protest was for naught. Zaza didn't want to hear any more of his complaints and dismissed him out of the room. After that, he taught her how to use it. Selene needs to keep her promise to him; that's why she accepted it without hesitation. It's a convenient magical device that she couldn't ignore, and just as she decided, she plans to do everything in her power to remember those memories that she had somehow forgotten. Besides, establishing a good relationship with the Emperor of Ethion will prove to be useful one way or another. For one, she can visit the royal library and might even be given access to restricted books that can provide her with some helpful information. Being able to observe him up close will also help her understand what goes on his mind, and probably understands the situation between the Empire and the ruined Kingdom of Arcova. And just maybe, he can do something to improve the welfare of the beast-kin.

Though, that last one was just her wishful thinking. Even though Zaza is gentle and thoughtful with Selene, she still doesn't know what he is like when he acts as the Emperor of a mighty nation, in front of his subordinates.

Abruptly, the carriage came to a complete halt, and Selene immediately sees the familiar gate of the Rozeman Mansion. She must have been gone for almost one and a half-day. Now, she's getting nervous. Selene flexes her growing numb fingertips before gathering enough courage to hold the door handle and step down out of the carriage. As soon as she did, the carriage leaves the front of the mansion with lightning speed leaving smoke of dust in its wake.

Selene gingerly walks towards the front gate, but her feet falter in its steps. She already has an alibi prepared, but she's never been good at lying, that's what her best friend Patrick usually says. Though, it's not like these people know her for so long that she might just succeed this time.

From a short distance, she made eye contact with one of the Rozeman's Knight. He immediately recognizes her that his eyes grew wide with saucers and dashes towards her direction.

"My Lady?!! Is that you?! Thank the Gods you're safe!" he was so loud that almost everyone in the mansion must have heard him. He immediately opened the gate for her. And because of his scream, flocks of knights are running towards from every direction. However, what caught his attention is a lone girl trembling in tears wearing the same familiar uniform she'd seen almost every day. Carol was so shocked that she could barely move from her spot. She can see that she's worried sick about her. Does Carol look thinner than the last time she saw her?

Before Selene knows it, she is already running towards Carol as fast as she can while ignoring the onlookers who might reprimand her for her unladylike behaviour. Now that she is finally standing close to her tear-streak friend, Carol hugs her tight without hesitation. Using her free hand, Selene gently strokes her back while she continued crying.

"My Lady, I'm so sorry. It's my fault that something like this happened," she whispers in between sobs and labour breath.

"Shhhh… It's not your fault. Besides, nothing bad happened to me."

Carol detached herself from her hug and examined her closely. "Are you sure? You're really not hurt?"

Selene shakes her head while putting on her usual calm smile. Carol jumps on her arms again and hugs her so tight that she can barely breathe. While they were in their hug fest, Selene saw Marchioness Rozeman with Vladimir exiting the mansion. Once they see her, their face instantly lightened up as if the burden they were carrying for years has been lifted off them. It looks like her sudden disappearance had been a considerable inconvenience to anyone that she can't help but feel guilty.

From then on, a whirl of greetings from everyone else residing in the mansion resumed. It happened for about an hour or so before Selene was finally allowed to take a rest in her room, take a bath, and changed into something comfortable. However, she didn't see Kaden, Cessair, and Zeno around, not even when she's about to start another battle. As Selene walks through the corridor of the mansion that felt unusually long than usual, her nerves spike up with every step that it feels like she is close to hyperventilating. She actually jumps in surprise when she felt Carol's cold hand on her elbow to inform her that they finally arrived in front of the Marchioness' study.

When she opened the door, it was a relief to see that it was only Marchioness Rozeman sitting inside. She's not confident if she's going to be able to keep up her charade with many people listening to her, specifically not with Vladimir's unnerving gaze that feels like he can stare right through her soul.

"Tell me what happened. And do not leave any single detail," the Marchioness demanded in a grave voice, once Selene settled in a seat. She had to repeatedly swallow her saliva and force herself to open her mouth.

Selene clasps her hands together in nervousness. "Well, I sneaked out of the room to get some fresh air because I couldn't sleep, and when I was walking around, someone appeared behind me and rendered me unconscious. When I wake up, I already find myself being carried into a building that I don't know."

"Did you see the assailants?!" her voice sky-rocketed into a high-pitch voice that Selene flinches on her seat.

Selene shakes her head. "It was dark, and before I can even check who it is, I am slowly losing consciousness. They use a sleeping drug on me, and it took a long time before the effect wore off,"

Marchioness Rozeman's eyes burned in rage as she listens to her with rapt attention. From there, Selene shared what happened from being stuck in the darkroom along with the other girls while accidentally seeing Baron Winslet and recognizing the signet ring he is wearing. She also told them that she forces him to send her letter to the mansion after she managed to successful threaten him. Of course, she omitted some important parts while making sure that Baron Winslet will not get out unscathed. After all, he still has to pay for his crimes.

"Then pray to tell me, why did you write something like that in your letter? You told me not to make your disappearance public and that you will take care of it so the knights can stop doing a search operation. What were you thinking?"

Selene clears her throat. Now, this is the hard part. "Well, at first I thought that I shouldn't cause an uproar. I mean, if the people learned about what happened, it might cause unnecessary attention towards the Rozeman family, and specifically me. I thought that it's best to stay away from rumours."

Marchioness Rozeman folded her arms across her chest and raised her eyebrow in question. She didn't buy her poor attempt at an alibi. Well, she prepared another.

"And I was planning to get myself out of that prison alone. I'm quite confident with my skills, and I knew I could do it, but…I hesitated at the last minute. I just couldn't leave the others behind, knowing that something terrible might happened to them. That's why I decided to take care of the problem with Baron Winslet's help. He is more than willing to help after finding out who I am."

Marchioness Rozeman groans out loud as she stares up in the ceiling as if asking for some kind of divine intervention.

"I apologize for my selfish decision, Mother, but I didn't regret it."

"What about Baron Winslet? Are you sure that he wouldn't talk about this to anyone?"

"Don't worry. I basically threatened Baron Winslet to do my bidding. I planned to visit him to his residence to thank him for his effort in helping us escape."

Marchioness Rozeman shakes her head. "No, I will summon him to the mansion, and I will do the talking."

Selene did an earth-shrieking scream inside her mind while smiling through her teeth. She doesn't look nervous, right? She's grateful that her overactive mind is one step ahead of Marchioness Rozeman. Before going back home, Selene and Lord Alastor already had a talked with Baron Winslet. They already informed him of what to say if the Marchioness tried to make contact with him. As for the girls who were abducted, Lord Alastor had already made sure that they won't be able to remember anything. Zaza has also prepared an appropriate amount of compensation for the trouble he caused. Selene is not precisely sure if Lord Alastor is talking about erasing their memories for them, not remember the whole incident, or if he's talking about an entirely different matter. Still, she decided not to dig any further.

"You can go and take a rest. It must have been a terrifying experience for you."

"Don't worry, Mother. I look stronger than I look, but I will be more careful in the future. I don't want to worry you any further."

For the first time since that night, the Marchioness rewards her with a genuine smile. After bidding each other good night, she immediately left the study room. When she turns around the corner, Selene almost clashes into something hard. She stares wide-eyed as she is instantly blocked by four men standing in a straight line. Their bodies were ramrod straight and overflowing with tension that she can almost feel it crawling on her skin.

The assailants that ambushed her this time were Kaden, Cessair, Zeno, and Vladimir. When did they become close with one another that they're standing close to one another?

"What are you guys doing here? Did something happen?" Selene asks sheepishly.

"Are you really asking that, right now?" Zeno yells angrily.

"I was worried to death because of you," Cessair mutters while looking like he's about to burst into tears.

"My Lady, I hope you can stop being stubborn and foolish at the same time," Vladimir stated in a cold, stern voice. Selene doesn't know whether Vladimir is worried about her or he's insulting her. Anyway, she's more concerned about Kaden's silence right now.

Before she can even open her mouth, Kaden grips her wrist and drag her away from the others after saying that they needed to talk in a harsh and stern voice. Kaden ignored the others' protest and continues to take her out. Selene sighs. Now, her second battle is about to start.

WOLVESHIRE CASTLE, EMPIRE OF ETHION

"You're Imperial Majesty. I beg of you to withdraw your decision!" Gadiel pleads in a desperate voice.

Sammael ignored his friend's pleadings and reverted his attention to the papers that he needs to finish reading. He will not let him ruin his mood. After his desperate attempt to pursue Selene, he finally managed to convince her to give him a chance. He has been waiting for years, and he cannot let her disappear from him again. He won't let anyone not even Gadiel to ruin that chance.

"Sammael!" his Chancellor yells angrily. When he is angry, Gadiel really has a habit of disrespecting him, which includes raising his voice and calling him by his first name. The Emperor slams his quill down on the table and looks at his Chancellor's reddened face.

His gaze darkens as he glares at him. "I'm not going to change my decision. Just as I said, prepare a room connected to my quarters that Selene can use when she visits the palace. And restrict the maids from entering the King's palace when Selene is around aside from the Head Maid. She will be the one to serve her personally."

Gadiel clutches his hair in frustration. "She's not the only woman in this world. You have women swarming your harem, and all are lining up to get your attention! You can just pick from one of them!"

Sammael clasps his hands together as he settles it below his jaw. "She's the only one I need. Maybe, this is the best time to dissolve the harem? I can't let her know that I'm keeping swarms of women in my palace. Selene might misunderstand things."

"You have really gone mad. She's not even a woman yet. She is just a child!"

"Does it matter? I can wait when she's come of age before marrying her. Or if she's still not ready yet, I can wait more years. I've been waiting for her for more than a decade; it doesn't matter if I have to wait for more years." Sammael replied calmly.

Besides, she may look like a child, but she's certainly an adult inside that body. They were almost the same age when they first met. Although the river of time continuously flows for him for the past years, it feels like it stopped for her. And though Selene's appearance remained the same when she was still young, her hair and eye colour changed. However, Gadiel didn't have to know that. Sammael decided that he will ask her about everything since the night they got separated.

Suddenly, Sammael feels incoming magical energy heading towards their direction at lightning speed. He shot up from his seat and immediately opened the window, and as soon as he did, a familiar massive grey bird landed perfectly on the window sill. He noticed the rolled letter attached to its leg and deftly removes it. It is a message from Vice-Commander Rosenthal of the black knights that he dispatched to handle the problem in the Southern border. He could have just contacted him through the communication device but instead sent his pet to deliver the message.

When Sammael read the content of the letter, he couldn't help the curse that erupts from his mouth. "Bloody Hell!"

"You're Imperial Majesty?" Gadiel calls out to him in confusion.

Without warning, the letter went up in flames on his hand. The Emperor looks out of the horizon in anger. Gadiel didn't know if he is hallucinating, but he can almost see black smoke rising from his liege's body. "Prepare the gate. We need to head to the Southern border as soon as possible. Gather the knights and make the preparations.

"What is going on?"

Sammael looks towards his Chancellor grimly, with his eyes flashing in anger. And Gadiel involuntary shivers after witnessing the darkening of the Emperor's eyes, a complete contrast of his usual clear silver gaze.

"A horde of demons managed to slip past through the hole in the barrier. Contact the temple and the Magic tower. Bring over the Priestesses and the State Magicians. The whole town is engulfed in a thick black miasma that not even a single Priestess can purify it. We also have to close the barrier. We don't have time, make haste,"

"Yes, you're Imperial Majesty!" Gadiel immediately runs out of the room to do as he was instructed, understanding well of the gravity of the situation. A horde of demons breaking through the thick magical barrier is a horrifying incident that no one across the continent would want to happen again. And when demons are involved, His Imperial Majesty oozes a menacing aura that stifles even powerful magicians from the Magic Tower. And soon, Gadiel is confident that a massacre will ensue.

In the room where the Emperor has been left behind, a colossal hole can suddenly be seen in the wall where Sammael's fist landed. His fist is profusely bleeding, but he felt numb with anger. It looks like it will be quite some time before he can even allow himself to contact Selene again. He can't see her, not when he smells of blood and death.