Chapter 9 [Princess of the Aquile Empire]

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!"

A loud screech sounded throughout the castle. The suspected culprit, by the servants and guests alike, was Princess Clarice of the Aquile Empire.

On the esteemed Emperor's Office the young girl banged on the table and almost tried to sweep the papers and documents atop it.

"Enough! Clarice, it's enough!"

The old emperor sitting on the chair opposite the girl was furious at the ruckus caused by the shouting girl.

"Ahhhhhh!! How could that be possible!? The Chronos Empire? The strong Chronos fell!? How is this possible father!?"

The young girl questioned the news she received--no, the notice that everyone in the world came to receive.

Both taking deep breaths, the Emperor was trying to calm down his irritation while the Princess was fearing the impossible.

" How could it not be unbelievable for all of us Clarice?"

The emperor, Emperor Klyde rested back on his chair and then looked at his daughter in the eye.

"But the proof already presented itself to us."

The young princess trembled at every statements that the emperor then said.

"The territory of the past Chronos stated in the map was wiped out. No surviving civilians, no buildings, no central palace, no cities, and no decent ruins even left to tell its story, just an unbelievable large crater in the middle of nowhere. Now, do you still expect us to not believe it?!"

Tears filled the eyes of the princess as she clenched her palm on her fan and gritted her teeth as she trembled far more than before.

" But... but the emperor. What could have happened to Emperor Craig?! He couldn't possibly die that easily, right? "

The white feather fan fell on the ground and she pulled her long ebony hair in a craze.

Emperor Klyde looked at her daughter's behavior and sighed from exhaustion. He further layed on the chair with his right hand massaging his temples.

" That young fellow. I'm afraid not. Haven't you heard it completely? Done by his own blood kin. Ha..! Poor one."

He then thought about it and looked at Clarice again with a different look in his eyes.

"Clarice, even though I treasure you as my only child, don't think any further. I still am the reason you existed and was born."

Clarive quickly responded.

"I-I would never, father!"

Then as quickly as she responded, she then changed the topic to something she deemed more important.

"That's right! Cerus? Why didn't they caught that bastard yet."

Klyde frowned. His daughter haven't let go yet of her obsession of the emperor of Chronos.

"Calm down and think wisely, child. In this world, it isn't only you who adores the emperor and wants to hunt down the culprit. I reckon that even more crazy 'competitors' of yours would have already done something by now. But as you can see, no progress was made. Cerus can't be found."

" A.. Argh! "

'Intolerable!'

For the princess, anything that didn't succeed concerning Craig was unbearable and doesn't deserve to cross on a satisfying level.

" Now go! Your father is still busy managing this nation. Go and do your things now."

Klyde then kicked out his daughter and resumed his work.

Meanwhile, Clarice went back to her room with watery red eyes seen by servants she passed by.

"What?! First time seeing someone cry? Unbelievable!"

Because of a secret embarrassment, she quickened her pace and went back to her room quickly.

She, bursting like a dam then silently cried in sorrow at the fate her 'beloved' has suffered. She stayed on a dark corner and was then not easily seen.

'My prince.. My prince... Urghh.. My..'

Continous chanting was ongoing in her mind and then, a servant tried to enter sneakily.

Because of tiredness from crying, she didn't stood up. She never bothered to stop the maid from entering and carrying a candle light with her.

On the other hand, the maid who originally came inside the unseen princess's room was shaking in horror.

It is rumored that the princess usually locks herself in the painting room every month. Who would have expected?

The maid neared the candle enough to light the wall.

There, a painting of emperor Craig smiling affectionately was looking at the girl beside him who was unresponsive and cold.

"But this is the opposite.."

"What do you mean?.."

A chilling and exhausted voice sounded behind the old maid.

"Gah!.. P-princess! I-I, please forgive me!"

She then quickly kneeled down at the voice of the room's owner.

"I asked what do you mean, servant?"

"M-my Princess! Nothing. I meant nothing at all. Please forgive me for saying the wrong things."

The kneeling old servant quickly hit her head on the ground and was trembling in fear.

"..."

The Princess looked at all of this numbly.

"... You entered my room purposely. Are you trying to steal?"

THE END