Sworn Alligiance

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CHAPTER 13

Her chest rose and fell with great gusto as she took in deep breaths to help calm her troubled mind.

'You are no weakling, Era. Your strength and survival here in Etheria depends on how strong you are. Beginning from today, you shall rise and trample upon every stumbling block in your way till you bring your haters to their doom.'

She gazed outside the window, looking far at the kingdom till where her eyes could see. Somehow she could envision her kingdom just after the horizon. The colourful trees and lovely fresh smell of plants.

It's beauty as one of the smallest but magnificently and beautiful looking kingdoms. How she missed the freshness and homely feeling it brought.

Her eyes dropped close, as she tried to imagine what it felt like playing and dancing in the garden at her free time.

It was one scenario she missed the most as this was a part of her daily routine before breakfast and sometimes after lunch.

After sometime, Era let out a deep sigh, opening her eyes in the process, only to see that she was not in Meribia but still in Etheria with the King.

The very thought of that made her almost puke and angry. As though the knowledge wasn't enough, her naughty mind went ahead to recollect the smirk on his face when Diona was testing her out and it pissed her even more.

"Etheria would not see my downfall but I… I would rise above the ashes and crumble all that it stands on freeing this realm from the shadows of its might. I Era, Queen of Etheria and princess of Meribia, would restore her to what she should be and not to be feared by the kingdoms of the world. I would be her might and her destruction till I can make this world something worth living in."

"That is the spirit my queen," a voice suddenly called out from behind her, stunning her in the process.

"Who goes there?" Era said firmly. Her voice was loud and clear so as to instill fear in the person but of one looked closely, they could see her shaky hands.

She had forgotten she was in enemy territory and that even the walls had ear especially in the age they were, with some mages or witches as they were often called, in sight.

"Be not afraid my queen. It is I, Aeverie," the feminine voice called out again, stepping out of the shadow and into the light for Era to see her face clearly.

"Aeverie…" she paused, unsure of what to say to her. She knew she could not just go out rightly to ask her about what she heard.

What if she didn't hear anything actually and had only just walked in?

But of course she did not hear the sound of the door, only her frustration and resolve echoed in the room. If that was the case, meaning her Lady Royal had been there all these while.

Blood hell!

'What if she tells on me? No, if she wanted to, she could have chosen not to remain hidden or converse herself. Instead, I think she may be supporting me. No,' she shook her head within her.

'Who knows, she may be a spy trying to get on my god side. I should habe known better than voice out my inner most thoughts like that. Why are you being so worked up, Era? Relax and hear what she has to say. If she rats you out, you simply deny saying it.'

Meanwhile as Era's thought was a scattered mess, Aeverie watched on as she battled with her thoughts on what to say or do.

She knew right from the very first day she met Era that this princess was no ordinary girl. Unfortunately, Era had no idea.

"My queen, I know what you may be thinking now. You are worried and concerned that you are not good enough and if I be trusted. I completely understand if you have such doubts considering what happened at breakfast. But I believe that you are smart enough and your discerning eyes still work well. So please search your heart and find your answer."

"Thank you." That was all she said, but she knew Aeverie was a smart and kind person. For now, she would accept what she gave with her eyes open and watch her then test her.

Since she wants to be her person, everyone of them would undergo a test from her.

"I heard you. I could see your frustration, my queen."

'Okay…" Era drew her speech, raising a brow at Aeverie. 'So, you heard. Are you going tell on me now or what?"

"Hmmm…" a small chuckle escaped her lips that moment before she proceeded to answering her question. 'I have long sworn allegiance to whichever queen sits on that throne and right now, you are the one."

"Why?" Era asked, folding her hands underneath her chest. "Why swear allegiance like that? What if I am a wicked queen? You would still follow me?"

"By virtue of my oat yes but I shouldn't because it stands against what the previous queen stood for. I swore allegiance to a queen who would follow in her footsteps."

'I am sorry, I think you got the wrong queen there. I do not intend to follow n any body's footstep especially when it comes to this kingdom and even more so, when their goal is to conquer every living being in this world or kill them. Forgive me, but I do not apologize either. I would never be a party to that."

Rather than feel saddened by her words, Aeverie chuckled again. "It seems to me, that her majesty has misjudged the previous queen and even went ahead to assume wrongly."

Era's eyes dimmed at once. She wasn't really getting the picture Aeverie was presenting or saying and so she decided to ask. "How am I wrong?"

Taking two steps forward, so she could come closer to Era, Aeverie began to speak. "You see, in time past, king Vidor's father wasn't always like that."

"Seriously?"