Chapter Sixteen

THE PRINCESS' CURSE

***

A SHADOW-LIKE snake crawled on the ground swiftly, unnoticed by anyone. His quickness and reflexes allowed him to reach the palace in time. Grim blended with the darkness from the courtyard. Several soldiers wearing the same uniform as the imperial soldiers are scattered all over the place. He tried crawling towards the garden but unfortunately, even that place was surrounded by imperial soldiers.

It would seem as though the queen's palace is heavily guarded to protect them from enemies outside but the actual truth is that those soldiers are actually guarding the queen and her sister lest they should escape and all.

How did the feud between the emperor and the queen grow so big that the emperor could now easily command the queen?

If only he hadn't stayed in his realm for 300 years he would have known everything that happened. He only decided to show up in the world above and pretended to be a human because he wanted to see the world for himself. Unfortunately, an ogre attacked him, he lost control of his power after hiding underneath for hundreds of years that he was unable to deflect the ogre's blade. He acquired a severe wound, rendering him unconscious. He woke up the next day with bandages all over him.

But his being there might be also to his advantage. He'll find out what he can of what really happened 200 years ago after he first showed up.

Grim saw an open door when a soldier came out and took that opportunity to crawl inside. He found himself in the receiving area which actually extends to the royal garden. He still hasn't emerged from the shadows but he transferred to the wall instead where he can freely see his surroundings.

"If the queen is so powerful why can't she kill the emperor so easily?" asked a soldier to his companion.

Grim who was already hiding on the wall beside the window heard their conversation.

"The queen may be powerful but she loves her sister too much."

"What do you mean? The princess and the emperor are involved in a romantic relationship?"

Grim and even the other soldier inwardly grimaced in disgust.

The other soldier exclaimed, "No, that's disgusting."

"But why wouldn't she kill him?"

He sighed. "Because the princess is cursed with the Eternal Curse. Her life is tied to the emperor. If the emperor dies, so will she."

That small revelation stunned the taker of soul. 'Is that the reason why those imperial soldiers treat them that way so confidently?'

He finally made his way through the entrance and out into the corridor. The flawless ice would shame his clean-shaven face. Despite the darkness, Grim can clearly perceive the way since the floor is literally glowing, emitting dim light.

The walls are all made of marble, but ice linings are used as decoration instead of gold. The ceiling, however, is quite distinctive. Its borders and corners are all pure gold but the overall design of the centre is what makes it outstanding.

It was made of completely pure ice but there were thousands of snowflakes inside it, various in size, and they all move sluggishly in different manners. He could lie down on that floor and admire its beauty for an entire day without the interruption of boredom.

An idea suddenly came into his mind. 'But why not try it now?'

He decisively emerges from the shadows on the wall and lies on the floor, facing the ceiling. He then put his arms underneath his head as a pillow.

His eyes have never been more satisfied. He feels like he is floating on a very soft cushion and that his current mission has gone away with his thoughts.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

The Grim Reaper jumped out of fear but the sooner he did so, the Queen of Ice had him pinned so instantly on the wall, a pair of long ice spikes on both his shoulders. And despite being an immortal being, he is not immune to pain.

He lets out a small groan, fearing that other people may become aware of his presence there.

But then he realises, he's already caught.

The queen was not satisfied and added two more ice spikes on both his legs. She then morphs another ice spike with the colour of red and has it pointed against the Grim Reaper's neck.

"Do you know what happens the moment I plunge this ice in your body?"

The coldness of the ice is crawling all over his body like a freeze, numbing his entire system. His tongue felt like it was coated with a slightly thick piece and it aided his difficulty in speaking. But he didn't want to further disrespect the queen with his silence so he answered with a soft groan, "He-yesh."

'Yes! I wanted to say yes.' He mentally exclaimed.

"Why are you here? Did the emperor hire you and send you to spy on us?"

Grim quickly shook his head. 'No, it was Lord Astier who sent me.'

"Who sent you?"

Despite that his throat felt like it was also covered in ice, he still swallowed and strived to answer, "Yord Yashier."

"What?"

"Y-yord Yashier," he finally yelled.

The queen scoffed in frustration and finally released him. Grim dropped to the floor. He massages his throat and even stretches both his arms and legs. His numbness is gradually evading his body. After ensuring that he's feeling better, he stands up again and faces the queen and with utmost respect, he lowers his head.

"I hope you can forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty. But it is not with a bad intention that I have come here."

"Then why are you here? Honestly, I could have ended you so easily if only you were an ordinary being." She inclined her head, the countenance of displeasure did not betray her face. "The Grim Reaper who decided to keep away from any matter with regards to any living being in Azalia is now lurking in the shadows in someone else's palace. What forces of evil made you change your mind to invade other beings' personal matters of life?"

He apologetically lowered his head before directly staring into her eyes. "I know that I may not have been the expert in lending out a hand. I had seen no reason for me to help the humans, demi-humans, or any other beings in Azalia. To me, they were all just the same. No matter who you are or where you've come from, we all end up at the same destination--- death. No one is immune, except to those who are immortal. But even so, their weakness is their own death. Also, the reason I can't help them is the undeniable fact that the rate of people dying each day would be affected. The balance of life should not be trampled with, otherwise, we'll all end up in chaos."

Neiryl stood there nearly dumbfounded, at the same amazed by his quick speech. She pressed her lips, sensing the awkward air that developed after the Grim Reaper misunderstood her question.

She cleared her throat and finally replied, "So, it 'is' true that the taker of souls really doesn't lie. But I wasn't looking for that reason of yours. I want to know who sent you here."

"Oh." He too was stunned but he immediately recovered. "Astier Igreed sent me here."

"Did he now? Can't stay out of other people's lives, huh."

"He is only concerned for you, Your Majesty."

"And why would he be concerned for me? He doesn't even know me."

'He does. He knows you very well.' Grim wanted to voice that out but he decided to keep it with him lest the queen should further suspect Astier's identity. Before Grim could deliver his answer, the queen had preceded him:

"Leave now before I send you back to your domain," Neiryl declared with no intention of clinging longer to their conversation.

She knows that neither of them are human beings but it doesn't give them the exemption of having her trust. She has had enough of giving out her trust so easily that people took advantage of their kindness. Since the betrayal, she vowed to herself that she would never trust again, even if that someone may be as worthy of it.

She turned her back on him. She told Nyrinn to wait for her in the library when this naive reaper invaded their palace. The audacity of them to think that can so easily deceive them, that they won't notice the slightest sign that a foreign presence has set foot in their territory. As she was about nearing the end of the corridor, the Grim Reaper blurted out some words which only ignited her anger.

"I can help you break your connection with the emperor if you help me help Destroyer."

"Destroyer?" She turned to him almost instantly.

Grim gently nodded. "I know you want him dead. But he might just be the only one who can help you right now. Trust me, he can help you."

"My trust has long been gone, Grim Reaper. What else do you think you can offer me worthy enough that can spare you from being beheaded?" And as she declared those words, her eyes glowed, tiny snowflakes moving around her pupils sluggishly, sparkling like diamonds.

♛♛♛

"HOW DID YOU know who I am?" Astier repeated his question. The white-bearded man who approached and sat beside him was actually the owner of the inn, and coincidentally, he seemed to have more information about Destroyer's current situation.

He invited Astier into his office after he sent a worker to Ardelian's room. When the worker returned with Ardelian, Astier immediately divulged what was transpiring.

"Almost everyone in Azalia knows who Destroyer is," said the sage, "a ruthless, merciless, selfish, and greedy White Wizard who turned himself into an Ulterion. You may be able to hide your face from everyone else but not me. I'm a sage who specializes in identity forgery. I make lots of enchanted and magical accessories and sell them to criminals who wish to hide from the authorities. And I know an enchanted bracelet when I see one." He glances at Astier's wrist where his bracelet is.

"So, my lords." He leans forward, elbows on top of the table, and hands are steepled. "How can I be of service to you?"

Astier and Ardelian shared a meaningful look as though they already read each other's thoughts. Astier turns back to the sage and states:

"Where can I find Orvell's Library?"

"Ah," he exclaimed, grinning mischievously, "but that is not much of a hard question to answer. Its location is but only in the Parledron Forest just outside the borders of Virgam Kingdom."