Chapter 18: The second Princess

Viper let out a tired sigh as she closed the doors behind her. She loved her father but moments like these embarrassed her till no end. She smiled to herself, it couldn’t be help, she never shown interest in politics or in the throne. This empire, the throne, everything. It would all go to her older sister, Serpentina.

She made her way to the kitchen. There were different kinds of races from each of the kingdoms. Buta, Haan, Houzi, even the Draco.

All sorts of races lived here. All of them were slaves.

Spoils of war her mother said to her. This is how they grew their empire. They gathered slaves from defeated armies or conquered lands. Forced them into physical labor. Some even served royals families as servants.

“Lady Viper, how may I be of service?” the servants bowed.

“leave I have need of the kitchen for the moment” she commanded

They obeyed without question. If they didn’t, the guards in the room would’ve executed them where they stand.

Viper grabbed two tea cups and prepared the tea.

While the water boiled her thoughts drifted back to times when she was proud of her nation, the snake empire was vastly expanding, her people were thriving, aside from the wars with the other nations. The people within were happy and kept safe. But her nation prosperity came at the sacrifice of the very slaves that helped build this nation.

She wore a sad smile. She was so arrogant at the time. she knew what was happening but it didn’t matter. Was it not their right to rule? The strong always ruled over the weak. This was a simple truth. Even today Viper believed those words but it was how they ruled that suddenly... disgusted her.

She let out a small laugh as she recalled her younger self. Arrogant, prideful, and so ignorant. No, not ignorant, she was well aware. But it didn’t matter. Servants, slaves? They didn’t exist to her at one point, they lived in two different worlds. This was her truth. Her people truth. If you were not a Serpiente you were nothing in our eyes.

“our”

She struggled with that thought, she is proud to be a Serpiente, proud at how far her people had advance in this world. And even now, though she decided to go down a different path, she was still proud. Did that make her a horrible person? Did that make her a hypocrite? her people needed to change, they had to change. But it was impossible.

As the tea finished brewing, she pulled out a small vial.

Her people had a natural immunity to all forms of poison, but Viper... she did what literally every nation would pay millions in gold for. A poison that could kill her people.

“how did it come to this?”

It wasn’t just betraying her entire nation, her people, it was betraying her family.

She stared at the vial in her hand as she recalled the events that led her too today.

~

“you want me to go to the cathedral?” Viper laughed in disbeliefs.

She was in the dining room, her Mother and Father sitting at the head of the table. her sister, Serpentina, sitting across from her.

Her mother twirled her finger around the edges of her glass cup, the liquid a dark green. She wore a smile on her face as if the discussion was entertaining.

Her father on the other hand was serious.

“in accordance with the treaty, you WILL go to the cathedral where you will live until you’ve come of age”

She took another look at her father face, noting that this was not up for debate.

“who would even make that part of the treaty? I’m more surprise the other nation agreed to it. I mean, letting their children venture alone into unknown territory. As if asking for the assassination of their child.”

“hint hint” Serpentina said, giving her little sister a wink.

Viper pretended to shocked. “FATHER!!"

He almost choked on his drink.

“Serpentina, stop teasing your sister. Noone is being assassinated, we have the assurance of the person who will be in charge of the cathedral.”

“and who is this person that made twelve nations agree to these terms?” Viper asked.

“the tiger” Serpentina said, almost singing the words.

“tiger?” Viper looked confused.

“her name is Eddie C. she is a renowned woman. Don’t underestimate her. She a formidable warrior her name is known in every nation, you would know it if you paid attention to your studies instead of spending it on your hobbies”

“chemistry, father.”

He waved it off.

“I don’t see what the problem is little Viper. I spent my three years there, it wasn’t all bad. But I did have to teach a few insects their place. They actually had the audacity to attempt to befriend me.”

Serpentina slice into the steak, taking a bite as a servant appeared with a napkin to wipe her mouth, at the same time Viper finished her drink, another servant came. A young boy, nervous, scared. He was shaking terribly as he went to refill Viper glass. He couldn’t stop shaking as he accidently spilled the bottle.

The boys eye grew wide, fear etched into them as he tried to speak but the guards were already upon him

“oh dear, what a mess”

Viper proclaim as she grabbed a napkin cleaning herself from the mess

“p-please your majesty. I-I'm sorry, it won't happen again”

His words fell on deaf ear as Viper continue to talk to her family, no words were raised towards the boy as the punishment was carried out. The guards held the boy down, unsheathing one of their blades, the boy screamed and begged for mercy as they forcibly held his right arm out. One swift movement the blade came down slicing through flesh and bone.

The child let out one last agonizing scream before passing out.

The royal family continued to speak as if nothing was happening at all. The other slaves were horrified but didn’t let the incident distract them from their duties.

Two guards carried the body out of the room as another slave started to clean the blood.

“Viper...”

The room fell completely silent as her mother, the empress finally spoke.

“I will hear no more complaining, you will go. We must keep up this act of peace, for now I’m sure none of the other kingdoms will risk breaking the treaty, not in the cathedral.”

The Empress spoke in a calm and cool manner, with absolute authority.

“yes mother.”

After dinner Serpentina followed Viper back to her room

“it not all that bad, just think of it as getting to know a part of your empire”

“you mean YOUR empire” Viper corrected

“you’re next in line for the throne and thank the twelve for it.”

She fell onto her bed.

Serpentina fell next to her, holding her close

“I don’t want the throne. Never did, never will. And never have I been so far away from home.” Viper said, wrapping her arms around Serpentina.

“I know, father spoils you rotten.”

“if that was true, he wouldn’t be sending me off”

Serpentina gently pat Viper head.

“three years will fly by quickly though, and you won’t be around those insects any longer. They’ll think they can befriend you, as if they have the right to be friends with my little sister. And if anyone dares to harm you, well. Treaty be damn, I will burn that entire cathedral down.”

“that a bit much isn't it?” Viper couldn’t help but smile though.

“it's not enough if you ask me. They must learn their place, and know that nobody misses with our family.”

~

A few days later

Viper gazed out the window as her carriage.

Her father insisted that this would be a good experience for her if she was to rule one day. She prayed her sister has a long life; ruling is the last thing she wanted.

“three years huh?”

A small shiver went down her spine, three years dealing with rodents and beast. Untrained savages.

It wasn’t entirely bad, in the carriages behind her were children from other royal families within the snake empire. They will be there to protect her.

“my lady, we’ve almost arrived”

She could see it from a distance, a tall looming tower in the middle surrounded by walls on all sides.

She must admit this piqued her interest, what kind of woman was this Eddie C. that twelve nations would allow her to build such a thing. Her father mention that this was neutral territory and has for years. The black beast rampage may have forced her father into agreeing to a treaty but to also agree to send their child to this place?

This person must hold a substantial amount of influence. In fact, when she asked Serpentina about her even her sister spoke about the woman with respect in her voice. That notion in itself surprised her.

“let me save you from the mistake I made when I first arrive. For once, don’t try and assert your authority, not to her. It doesn’t matter if you’re a princess or a queen. In her eyes, as absurd as it sounds, you’re the same as everyone else.”

This was the warning her sister gave her; she could only imagine how Serpentina first time here went. Knowing her she probably tried to assert control on her very first day.

When they arrived at the gate, the first thing she did once she exited the carriage was stretched. It felt good to finally be able to move and not to be cramped in one small spot for hours.

“really, restricting one's movement should be a crime in itself.”

The gates opened as an elderly woman approached them with a younger boy.

The woman was fully robed, Viper noted the necklace she had wrapped around her right hand. This must be the ruler.

“you must be princess Viper” the woman gave a half bow.

“My name is Eddie C. we are honored to have you here and hope you enjoy the next three years with us, peacefully.”

Polite, kind. But that last part, was...that a threat?

She smiled,

Oh, dear sister what did you do?

“of course, in accordance with the treaty I would do nothing that would jeopardize my nation or shame my family”

The boy approached and gave a small bow

“the name Wolf, pleasure to meet you”

Viper continued talking to Eddie C. as if the boy didn’t exist.

“I’ve been wondering on my way here, how is it someone like yourself was able to build something like this? It could be quite the fortress”

Viper awaited a response but Eddie C. just stood there smiling.

“I believe the young gentlemen here has greeted you Viper. It’s rude to ignore him”

“huh?” she looked at the boy as if noticing his existence for the first time

“who...”

“the princess does not speak to slaves”

One of her people spoke up as they made their way towards them, a young girl just stopping one step behind Viper.

“do well to know your place dog”

Wolf whistled.

“was it like this with the last one?” he asked Eddie C.

“somewhat only she said those words towards me”

“really? And what did you do”

Viper suddenly felt an intense pressure and so did the young girl. In an instant Eddie C. held the girl head in her hand squeezing it, forcing her to her knees.

“I told her words such as those will NOT be tolerated here. This is not a nation, not a kingdom. Statue means nothing here. This is a sanctuary a home for those who have none a place of safety for those who need it.”

The girl pleaded for mercy as Eddie C. tighten her grip but Eddie C. ignored her as she turned her head towards Viper

“welcome to the Cathedral.”