Ruler Of Thy Fate - Chapter 2

"We've arrived." I was almost succumb to despair due to my dark past, good thing the horsemen's announcement of our arrival in the castle cut it all off. As we enter the gate, a servant introduce himself as the aid of the Emperor that has come to lead us on the location where the Emperor and his sons are.

While walking on the long hallway of the castle with portraits of old rulers, my whole attention drifted on the past. The flow of happenings keeps on coming back everytime a familiar image or place would appear. Its painfully inevitable.

[past] Five Years Ago

"Is that it?" My head is slightly tilted resting on my left arm while my right arm is busy holding the reports of the works inside the empire when my aid, Sean, sent a report.

"Yes, Empress Yufia. The army of the Princip Empire were found out pretending as merchants in Galilei Bridge at west, where import and export of products trading happening."

"Do you know what their motives are?"I carefully placed my paper on the left side together with the other documents. I focus my whole attention on what my aid is saying.

"My men is still verifying the report, but we found out that they are planning to attack the Empire from within and they are planning to send ships that will support their attacks from outside."

"W-what?!"

I immediately stood and walk past to Sean until I reach the door.

"Verify this news as soon as possible and report it to me after. Go."

"Yes, Empress Yufia. but.. may I know where are you going?"

He was a bit hesitant on that part. Sean isn't the type of person who would stutter or hesitate when saying something, although he wasn't sure on some of his reports on his past missions, he would simply say that he's still verifying it.

I want to ask him if he's having trouble on something but I have no time for counseling.

"I'm going to tell this to the Emperor. This is a serious matter."

I didn't bother looking back to him after answering his question and left in rush. On the big wide clear glass from above, a sight of lovely couple from the garden of the old empress occupied my whole eyes.

"Oh.. so this was the reason why Sean is acting like that huh." I deadpan.

It was the emperor, my husband, Ethan and his secret lover, Entice.

I daze on the view of the two having a good time on their own world in the garden when someone called me from afar.

"Yufia!" It shout on a cheerful tone. I smiled slightly and distance myself away from the window and acted as if I didn't saw everything.

"Nathaniel, didn't I told you to call me sister in law?"

"Ha! No way. We're in the same age and I don't acknowledge you as my sister in law."

He gaze on the window where I was looking before walking on my way.

"That hurts. I thought it's alright to stay here since there was someone I am close with, atleast. Turns out he didn't acknowledge me too just like the others."

"T-that's not what I meant..! W-we're family!" He whimper and pouted.

I chuckle from the sight of him. Since the report that Sean gave me isn't verified yet, I decided to tell it to Nathaniel first instead.

"Hah. I didn't know that they will hold a grudge against our empire after all these years."

That's it. The intimidating and lunatic yet talented man that everyone knew and speak of. That's what kind of façade he wear.

"I heard that Princip and Iathastra empire have a very good relationship. What would they get from provoking a much more powerful empire surrounded with kingdoms?" I asked out of curiosity.

"We don't know yet, but have you heard about the Crimson War?" He rested his back on the head of the sofa, cross his legs and sip his tea calmly as if it was nothing.

"Yes but everytime I ask someone about it, they turn into a scaredy cat. That's why I was unable to get legit information from the said topic. What a pity."

a sly smile formed on his lips.

"That's because whosoever caught speaking about the Crimson War shall slit their own neck and perish in the fire of hell."

"Is that so? I thought I'd finally be able to have a grasp of what really happened back then the great and famous assassin of the most powerful empire is sitting right in front of me. It seems like what I thought is wrong."

I gaze on his face after saying those.. That's right, Nathaniel loves hearing praises and compliments. I'm sure he'll fell for it. I sip my tea and flash a fake smile.

"Fall for it, my dear."

He look intently to me before bursting into laughters. His sudden action and his defeaning laugh that echoed on the whole room made me annoyed.

"You.. What's the meaning of that?"

"HAHA..hah.. I didn't know you were that desperate. You should've ask for it earlier instead of doing that. It's still nice to hear it anyway."

" Y-you knew!?"

I felt so embarass to the point that I almost broke the handle of my teacup.

"Well, as a reward for entertaining me-"

"Shut up." I interrupted.

"Alright, alright. The crimson War happened two years after father became the emperor of this empire. Princip empire is a greedy and manipulative country. they attack the Saxon empire and claim as theirs on the contrary, they turned thier back on the international joint contract, the Triangle Treaty. Triangle Treaty consist of three powerful empire which was the Princip, Iathastra and Saxon empir, but when the Princip knew about the two countries continous development not only in military but also in economics and trading they decided to to ignore the contract that leads to a war. Father sent fifty thousand men on the sea when he found out that they conquered the Laire empire too. An international law solely made for world's peace and sake was soon created. The four kingdoms together with our Empire and the remaining army of Saxon Empire join forces to defeat the Princip Empire. All said countries battled on the sea.many have died, the whole sea were filled with corpses and painted with crimson; the blood of armies that have fought and strive for victory. Of course, we eventually won the war despite the great loss but Princip empire didn't completely vanish. They admitted great defeat and said they will return the Saxon empire and pay huge ampunt as compensation."

"Then why it is forbidden? the story?"

"Father was the one who forbid people from telling stories, tales and rumors about the Crimson War to respect the Triangle Treaty and Princip Empire."

[present] Five Years After

"We're here." A luxurious greenhouse with refreshing vibe welcomed my body. Different kinds of rear plants such as flowers and herbs can be seen everywhere here. The colorful butterflies resting on the buds of whatever flower would attract them cought my attention. they're lovely.

"Duke Feingret! Over here HAHAHA. It's been a while."

"No way.. that voice.."

The voice of the old man from afar sent chills down to my spine and made me shiver. The palm of my hand started to get wet as cold sweats started to form from my temples.

Back in the past, my hellish life all started when the old emperor suddenly fell on a deep slumber. On the very day that I gathered my knights to capture the army of the Princip empire, the strong reek of blood roam to the whole palace. I ran to where the cries and shouts came but what greeted me were the scattered corpses of servants and guards through the corridors no- to the whole palace. blood were splattered everywhere as if a kid throw an apple juice on the wall.

Several knights who's wearing the same cloak as my personal knights said to be seen killing whoever gets in their way. Sean, who was running hastily shouts.

"Empress Yufia! this is a set-up! they've set you up. The Army of the Princip empire suddenly retreated yesterday!"

I fell on my knees after hearing those words. The army of the empire later appeared, raising their swords against me. Nathaniel and my father's army together with my loyal knights protected me. I was completely tricked.

"Yufia?"

"Yufia?"

A light tap on my shoulder shattered the mirror of my nightmares for a moment.

"Are you really alright?"

"Yes, Father."

As we both walk towards where the four of them is, my heart started to race and on every beat the clatter of my heels continously vibrates on my ear.

"Emperor Ferdinand. This is my daughter, Yufia."

bowed 90 degress, I greeted the emperor and his sons.

"Greetings the Sun of the blessed empire and to its stars. May the glory and favor of god be with you all the time."

There's no turning back. If I want to change the past then I have to be smart and wiser than before. This is my only chance.