18 love blossoms

Ruth...why?

Ruthless followed her mother to send the ambassadors away, Devyn and Ruthless promised to write to each other frequently.

"Ruth...do you remember what I said yesterday while you're drunk?" Lilando asks carefully, peering at her face.

They are strolling along the street in the market after the ambassadors, ministers, and the Emperor left.

Ruthless stops in her tracks. Shadow shielding her face, her violet eyes darker.

"...No."

Liliando sighs in relief, "good..."

Disappointment wells up in his heart.

"Anyway, are you going to Jade Red Heavens today, I heard there will be an auction for their prettiest mistress's first night."

"Not today, Lan, got some work on," Ruthless waves her hand, "enjoy your night."

Liliando stares heatedly at her back, the afternoon sun, never so bright.

Lilando Lasombra? What a joke.

A week, the coronation of Ruthless.

Like her Welcome-Back banquet, Ruthless dresses herself intricately.

A seriously exaggerated, beautifully embellished detailed and elegant updo, pinned with more than 10 hairpins and stepshakers of graceful gem and metal.

Don't ask me how they can even be graceful. They are just--that.

But that is not it.

The great headpiece is the one stealing your eyeballs away.

Silver. White. Black. Grey.

Weird colours huh, but trust me, Ruthless looks super--indescribable. She is like that swan, spreading her giant yet aesthetic wings--taking flight to the blues.

She is wild and bold in her usual red, but exquisite and delicate like the moon in silver and grey.

This crown was specially designed by the founder of Southern Lasombra, Willian Lasombra for her dedicated female general. To be passed down for every Imperial Princess and Imperial Regent Princess. There will only be one of Imperial or Imperial Regent, there will be no two together. But the Imperial can be promoted to Imperial Regent, whereby you are the same rank as the Emperor.

To survive in this world, power, money, strength. Or you will be eaten--and spit out, without bones.

Live...Ruthless.

She steps into the hall.

Her father, the Emperor, sits on his original seat, the head of the crowd, smiling widely--too widely. Mother, the Queen, beams encouragingly at her, makes a face at her, before smiling elegantly.

Lilando...a strong hand squished her heart painfully. They have not talked for a week. Lilando, as if catches her eyes on him, grins as nothing has happened.

My time has come.

4 years flew.

Time has passed like the horse, spreading its legs across the plains, reaching the other side.

Time, can also heal everything, and lighten any scar.

Coronation, just some praises from the Emperor, lauds from ministers, distasteful spites from Dong Family's supporters.

Those are not worthy to be brought up.

But...

That day, they met at the garden of Phoenix Palace.

He said--pled, "Ruth, can you not...not ignore me? I can do anything for you, no--really! I can legit do anything for you, what you want--I...I will give you..." His knees, touch the grass, "just don't leave me...please...don't..."

Amber eyes drench.

First time, she was heartbroken by tears. His tears.

She has never wished, this moment, so badly for the grass to be more, and softer in the middle summer.

In this hot and dry season, something burns her heart, scorches it, and her eyes.

"Of course not. I will not leave you." The girl kneels down together and wraps her thin arms around the teen. Her silver crown glistens of the full moon's loving embrace.

Southern Lasombra's West Frontier.

Ruthless and Lilando became one party. The fight for the throne became more heated.

There are many different groups of supporters in the court.

Of course, the greatest group is Dong's party.

Dong, Chenked, Ebilun and Jan.

These families are the greatest families in the court, the ranking of their influence according to the sequence.

Dong is mostly of generals and holds the most military power, is an uprising family of history no more than 100 years. There are also politicians, like Alvin Dong, the finance minister, the first son of Damien Dong, and the father of Diana Dong, the Noble Consort.

The proudest son of Dong family, Eugene Dong, 17 years old. Youngest cousin of Noble Consort Diana, nephew of Alvin Dong, born to the second son of Damien Dong, Damien Dong's favourite and most trusted grandson. He returned recently from the borders, apparently, he as been sent there to learn martial arts.

Chenked is mostly of politicians and has deep roots in the court since thousands of years ago. The head of the family is Will Chenked, the Left Minister, a position that equals to Right Minister, but one rank below Prime Minister Brunte.

Consort Chanel Chenked has two children, Prince Stephan who is a great general that often guards the borders with Chief Commander Larette and Princess Clarita, who recovered from her sickness and picked up dance arts again, she is already known worldwide as Swan of the South. Chenked family is also part of Ruthless's party.

Ebilun is also mostly of generals, holds Tiger Tallies too, but not as many and as powerful as the Dong. The head of the family, Oboi Ebilun, has no sons but only one daughter, Andini Ebilun, who specialises in music arts, war arts, and martial arts, and is a good friend of Princess Clarita.

Ebilun is part of Dong's party.

Jan is mostly politicians and businessmen. Jan is the richest family in the court, with thousands of years of drenching in money and politics. The head of the family, Jake Jan, Right Minister, equals to Left Minister. His only son, Jacob Jan, is the only student of Prime Minister Brunte.

Prime Minister Brunte more than 40 years old, is a new official in court. Apparently, he solved a mystery for the Emperor and was granted the title of Marquis Brunte, but he showed exemplary ideas and ways on the court and climbed to the position of Prime Minister in short 5 years. He is in the Emperor's party, has no children or family.

Chief Commander Larette Wen, known as the God of War among the people, holds the greatest military power, the cousin of Cordelia, has not come back to attend court in years, guarding the borders for more than 10 years, without returning. He did not return when Aron Quint took the throne too, so the Emperor just let him by himself. He has a student, Prince Stephan, who follows by his side, and Prince Stephan only returns occasionally.

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I know that you will not be able to remember all so I will mention the information along the long run!

Thank you!