1st Step
Quincy's POV
"Ace," I muttered.
I looked at him as I breathed heavily.
"Did you think that you can escape from me?" he asked as he walked towards me.
"I am not sure on what you're speaking of," I replied.
"Why did you do it?" he asked, which confused me as he stepped forward and I stepped backward.
"Do what?" I asked him.
"Why did you participate in the candidacy?" he asked. My back already hit the wall that's why there's nowhere to escape.
"It is what I want? Shall I standby and watch you marry some other girl that you do not even love?" I asked him as I looked at his eyes.
"Well, it is my duty as the future emperor to marry for political use," he replied.
"You can stop this, Ace! If you do not choose between the two of us, you can always wait for the right one to be by your side!" I told him.
"I am not Ace! I am the crowned prince and you shall never address me as such!" he shouted, shocking me. I looked at his eyes, from left to right for a few seconds before speaking.
"Please pardon me, your highness... I am just a friend, who's worried about your well-being... but fear not, your highness... you will not marry any of us," I told him. He looked quite shocked as well because of how I changed. I show no emotions and I express to emotions as I speak.
"If you do not have anything to say, your highness... may I have my room for myself now? I would like to rest, if I may," I said.
"Do as you wish," he said, then left my room.
I lay on my bed, then closed my eyes.
"Dear one... are you alright?" Goddess Emeralda asked me. I opened my eyes and saw her looking at me with her worried eyes.
"I'm afraid that I am not okay," I replied, then sit up straight.
"Why don't you tell him the truth?" she asked.
"If I tell him the truth, he might do something that might hurt him," I replied. She held my hand and helped me to stand up. We looked at each other, then she smiled at me.
"Speak with the saint... he will help you," she told me before flickering my forehead, waking me up.
Speak with the saint? How would he be able to help me? If the news that I am the saintess got out, then I wouldn't be able to hide the truth and I wouldn't be able to save the empire.
I got up, then changed my clothes into my training clothes. I got out of my room and went to the garden and practiced my swordsmanship there.
"Crystal, hold your sword for me," I told Crystal. She was guarding my door before I left and insisted on tagging along because she feared that something might happen to me, that's why I am here with her.
"As you wish, your highness," she replied, then take her sword and we started to swing our swords at each other.
"Do you perhaps have a problem, your highness?" she asked as we exchange swings.
"There's none," I replied.
"You looked bothered, my lady... I have been by your side for a long time now, I know if you have a problem or not just by looking at your expression," she told me.
"I do have one, but it is not something that could just be solved in a single snap," I replied, then she stopped swinging her sword. I stopped as well.
"Your highness, If I may be of help to you, you may always seek for me, I am not just your guard, but also I am the sister of the crowned prince's escort the daughter of a duke who also has high authority," she said as she handed me a small towel to wipe off my sweat. I grabbed it, then wiped my sweats off my body. and sat on the ground as she kneeled in front of me like a knight.
"Promise me that you will not speak of what I'm about to tell you to anyone, okay?" I told her.
"I promise that I will not speak of this matter with my life," she replied, then I sighed.
"The Guardians spoke to me and told me to meet the saint," I started.
"The guardians? Do you have Devine power?" she asked.
"I have... and I do not only hear their voices, but I am capable of entering their world," I replied and she was shocked.
"You are the saintess that they're looking for... but why did you not tell the pope?" she asked.
"Because it will ruin everything that I planned to save the empire, the imperial family, and its people," I replied.
"I won't ask for more details, but if our guardians told you to meet the saint, then they must have a reason to do so... we may not know what it is, but if it is what they want, you must follow it, but since you are the saintess, you may do what you want, whether it may defy their order or not," she said.
"I do not plan to defy them... let's go inside... arrange my meeting with the templar people tomorrow," I told her. I stood up, then lead my way towards my room. I took a short bath before I sleep.
*Next Day - Early Morning*
"Your highness, the pope agreed to meet you... they will arrive here after 5 minutes," she said.
"Thank you, Crystal... kindly inform everyone to prepare snacks for us," I ordered.
"Right away, your highness," she replied before leaving my room.
After a few minutes, the popes arrived and I greeted them. We sat down on the couch and I put a soundproof barrier around us so that no one would be able to hear our conversation.
"I apologize for suddenly asking for your presence, your holiness," I told them.
"There's no need to apologize, my child... what may it be that you ask for our presence?" Lady Emily
"Let me join you on your journey back to the temple," I straightforwardly told her.
"May I ask why?" Lady Emily asked.
"I would like to speak with his holiness, the Saint because I had a weird dream last night," I replied.
"We would permit you to join us, but we don't know if their majesties will also permit you to tag along," she said.
"Don't worry about them... they will give me their permissions... when will you be leaving?" I said.
"We will be leaving tomorrow... the ride will be a 3-day long ride from the imperial palace to the temple where his holiness resides," she replied.
"Then I will speak with their majesties today, thank you for sparing a few minutes of your time," I said as I stood up. They stood up as well, then told me it was not a problem, then they left.
"I already ask Knight Dino to inform their majesties about your request to speak with them today... let us just wait for his return," Crystal told me as she handed me a cup of tea. Knight Dino is sir. Geordinio, she just called him Dino because they are friends since they started to train as a knight.
"Help me prepare a few things for me to use in the temple and on our journey," I told her.
"I already told the maids to arrange your things, so please, sit down, and wait for Dino," she said while smiling and gently pushing me down to make me sit on the floor.
"Are there some other things that I wanted to do, but you already take care of it?" I asked her.
"Yes... I actually ask someone to deliver a message to Sir Vlad and Sir Chen to inform them that you will be leaving today for the temple," she replied. Sir Vlad is Sir. Vlademeer Crustia, and Sir Chen is Sir. Harchen Westia.
"Your highness, their majesties granted you the permission to meet them at the empress' garden," sir. Dino said as he kneeled in front of me. I stood up, then we walked our way out of my room.
Sir. Vlad and Sir. Chen is on a mission. I sent them on a mission and they have not yet reported anything to me that will help me kick that demosian-sankorian lady out of the palace.
After a few minutes of walking, we have now arrived in the empress' palace.
"There's no need to greet us... what may it be that you wanted to asked for us?" the empress said. I looked at Crystal, then she nodded, and dragged sir. Dino a few meters away from us.
"I would like to ask for your permission for me to travel with the templar people," I said.
"Why?" the emperor asked.
"The Goddess of Nature, Emeralda, summoned me in their realm, and told me that I should speak with the saint," I replied.
"Then you must hurry, prepare your things and prepare to travel... we will provide your carriage and some knights for you," his majesty said.
"Pardon me, but the imperial escorts that you had sent me are enough... in addition, the temple provides enough templar knights to escort us on our way to the temple," I said.
"If that's what you wish," he replied.
"Have a safe trip and if you need anything... just contact us," her majesty said. I curtsied, then thanked them, and walked my way back to my room to prepare a few things.
"We will be leaving today... Crystal and Sir. Dino, prepare your things... you'll be joining me in our journey... and Crystal, kindly ask someone who's close to you to watch and report to me the daily activities of his highness, the crowned prince, and the other candidate everyday without being caught," I told them.
"We will heed to your command," they replied, then I entered my room.