Chapter 4: Confrontation

I was in pevi hall finishing today's report and creating new possible strategies for the upcoming war if it was ever to happen. I was the only one in the room since I came in early, I like the sound of the silence as my brush hits the paper and as I flip through endless scrolls. I was looking for possible areas with great advantages for the war, I know being surrounded by mountain can be beneficial for us, looking for a better angle and

I felt a presence behind me grabbing a small knife from my desk I waited for the opponent to come near at me first, with enough distance I swing my right arm towards his face and suddenly he quickly grab my arm before I could make any damage. My eyes widen at the sight of his gold robes "Your majesty" I said in surprise and quickly dropping the knife from my hand. He then pull me towards him and really look at me and broke a laugh from his usual compose face, "Only you can do that to me" he said as he gently let go of my arm and sat at my chair, I sat in front of my desk and quickly poured him tea.

"I apologize your majesty I didn't know it was you" I said as I gently tilt the pot "Don't you usually know the presence of you closest friends?" he asked as he lifted the cup, "it's been a long time since I last spoken to you… I'm afraid i'm not familiar with your presence your majesty" I said not meeting his eyes. It's been almost 2 or 3 years since I physically met or talk to him ever since he got crowned and got married, thinking about drinking tea with him was out of the picture.

"What were you doing?" he casually ask as he browses the many scrolls scattered on my desk. "I was looking for area that could been advantageous if we ever join the war" I said, he picked one up and briefly reads it "this one takes 4 months of travelling by land and this one is even longer…. How far away are you planning?" he ask "well since we can't take all of our army away, I was thinking of only bringing haft or even less and picking up some more on the way" I tried to explain it as plainly as I can "you want to pick them up?" he asked again "yes and I think some of them are waiting to join the army" I said smiling at him "I see the map here you drew passes by the sand kingdom" he meets my eyes

"Opportunities like this doesn't come easily" I said seeping the warm tea "what's this" he picked up the paper near my seal "Empress Ophelia came in a few days ago to ask for my opinion in the trading system between the kingdom of Nuam, apparently there are people smuggling precious minerals from their kingdom and sold it off to nearby areas" I said picking up the list of stones that's been claimed and confiscated. "And what do you propose?" he ask "Well I sent all labs the list of stones in order to have an identification and authenticity check and next I ask for her majesty to launch an investigation in the reason why the smuggling happened and who are behind this, if smuggling is present it means their economy is struggling" I said picking up the red stone beside my pen "it is up to her majesty for her judgement after this" I said holding the red stone and putting it down.

"You're a busy woman and I do apologize if she burdens you with her work" he said grabbing my hand, I look at him and gave a small smile and said "well I can never go against her majesty and even if she puts her work it is not right for me to refuse" I said removing my hand from his "we both know why she is like this and in my lifetime I will always regret not-" I stopped him, "your majesty let us not talk about trivial things, I already am happy where we are and it is only right since I took the bridal training with her at the time"

It was no secret that I once was favored by the past emperor and empress, everyone thought that I would become the future empress and was put on bridal training in the past. Empress Ophelia, daughter of a high ranking officer who is now retired was also a candidate, she was always aggressive towards me since I did so well in not only in bridal training but also as a war strategies, but it was in the art of war I shined the most and the empire could not afford to change and use me in their better advantages. It was also the day I saw empress Ophelia showed me hatred when I was denounce as a candidate, she always though that I was another level than her and felt like she openly receive the opportunity since she was a daughter of a high ranking officer while I, work my way to the top and greatly shined in the exams.

Suddenly a knock echoed the wall, I quickly stood up and look towards the door "Yes?" I called out "my lady your bow and sword has arrived" a messenger replied "really?!" I smiled and couldn't stop my excitement "do come in please!" I said quickly tiding my desk as his majesty laughed at help me clean up as well.

"Your majesty" the messenger called out in surprise and quickly bowed in respect "May greatness and glory be yours" he said in respect "please rise and hand the lady her toys" he laugh as I glared at him, he then sat the weapons in the desk and I quickly tried to unwrap it, as I removed layers of cloth from my desk the matching bow with a silver grip shined, the craftsman brush the wooden limbs in a solution which turned it black and it felt good in the hands, while the sword is big but it match the silver beautifully. A red gem was place in the middle of the guard and grip. I awed at the beauty in front of my and tried swinging the sword in the air "careful now" emperor Yuvi raised both of his hands "My apologies" I said as I brought down the sword to the table, he frowned and said "no it's fine I was just-"he was caught off when Renekal came in "woah you got your weapons already?!" he said in excitement, I quickly grab my sword and hurriedly came to him "look how amazing it is!" I said gripping it and swinging in the air "it looks so cool! Is it heavy?" he asked "hear try it" I said excitingly handing it to him, he quickly grab it and gave it a swing as well "woah! Imagine the damage this thing can do!" he said

The urge to suddenly want to try my bow came in, I turned towards my desk to see the emperor watching us "your majesty I must apologize" I said bowing "if it's alright with you can I take my leave?" I said holding the bow and trying to signal him with my true intentions. He broke out a laugh which made Ren stopping his swinging of my sword and stared at him, "Go" he said with a smile, I turned to look at Ren and said "drop my sword and put it on my desk and I want you to write a written conclusion and your opinion in areas the I chose for the war, it's already on your table and I want later before the suns set" I said I quickly face the emperor and bowed at him, I tried to walk quickly as I can out in the halls and as soon as I feel like it is a good distance I broke out into a sprint and went to the nearest stable. "Good morning my lady" a short man greeted me in front "I'm here to get my horse" I said smiling at him "yes my lady" he immediately opened the door and I walked in to find my stallion in the first row.

"Hello my beautiful" I patted him and neared my face to him "hear is the saddle my lady" the man came back in "Ah thank you I said grabbing it from him "can you please hold this for a minute?" I reached my bow to him, he grab it but did not expect the weight from it and slightly slouch from it. "My lady makes it look so light" he said as he curled his arm. I laughed at him and neared my horse and touching his head "did you miss me?" I ask "you wanna run with me?" I whispered suddenly he lowered himself and I mounted the saddle and strap him in

"He seems eager, didn't you let the men let him run?" I asked as I grab the horn from the saddle and mounted myself on top the horse and settling myself in. "He wouldn't ride with them and if we let him out he might run away to find you again" he replied as he pushed the door to make room for us to walk out. As I pass from him I grab my bow and he reach from his side and picked up the quiver from the floor. "Here you are my lady, I noticed you didn't have some with you so to save you some time I can led you mine" he said "your name is Perci right?" I ask "yes my lady" he bowed "I'll send you a brand new one later and a reward too" I said and quickly grab the reins and tried to control my horse but he seems so excited that we are running so fast, I tried to find a route that wasn't too crowded with palace maids and servants, thank god that the ranch was near to the training arena and the perci prepared the arrows too.

As I ran in speed to the training arena my horse jump up to the fences and settle as in, I walked near to one of the workers and he immediately bowed in my presence "My lady is here to train?" he ask "Yes, please tell your men to prepare the shooting targets" he nodded and immediately raised the yellow flag signaling to put up the signs in different areas and ranges for targets.

The training arena is a huge empty field partially cemented and covered in grass which makes it more better in training with a horse, it has a small maze and different levels and divided into two in the middle with 6 levels and on the right was sits that could use when spectating or getting ready to be the next player. I was at the first level where it was flat and grassy, the second was slightly up hilled and more trees and the third was up in a mountain area and then I need to turn to another to face another level and level 4 was consisting of rocky and more targets to him and level 5 has a small maze with the targets that can be found either up or down in the rocks and lastly was a far shooting target where it's hang up far.

As I waited for them setting up my attention immediately went to the two huge pillar doors as it opens and the western folks entered. I turn my head down to the worker and asked "why are they here?" he looked up and raised the blue flag which mean to have them seated first "I apologize my lady they asked for an available training area and this was the only one unoccupied if you can give me a few minutes we can have them leave and-"I cut him off "no. I'm only here for one session just to try out this bow, tell them that and make it sound nice. We cannot afford to offend for his majesty prince Ryker is among them" I said he immediately nodded and run towards them and talk to the tall blond man and his people.

I try to look away from them just focus on my bow and horse. I them felt my hair brush against my shoulder as the wind became stronger, I grab a ribbon from my pocket and try to this hair up and remove the many ornaments. As the worker run up to me I hand over my hair ornaments to him which he quickly grab it in fear "hold that for me and make sure no one enters the field" I said sternly he quickly nodded his head and then look up to see flags were raised and he then raised the red flag "you may start my lady" he said, I smiled at him and nodded as run quickly to the western foreigner. I grab the railings and tied it from my waist, it was a strategy I learned in order not to fall, a little dangerous if they at my horse but advantageous when running full speed.

I signal my horse and we immediately run towards the first course, I grab the arrows from my back and aimed at the first target and then grab another one and shoot from the trees, my horse hop slightly to the rocky field and I loosen the belt and went up to shoot from a far distance and I grab quickly and try to him 6 targets as fast as I could.

As soon as I made it to the last level I immediately remove the railings in my waist and position myself and tried to aim the target, it was far from me but this is the challenge I like to do, I fired my arrow and saw it hit the target, it didn't stop me there, I grab the last 4 arrows and aiming at the target. As soon as I reached for the last one I try to aim it on the red dot, releasing it with all of my strength, seeing the tip hitting the red dot gave me a satisfactory feeling. I grab the rails of the horse and made it towards the exit of the arena, but as soon as I headed over there a familiar tall figure waited for me which halted me, I traveled slowly towards him and stop as he reach for my hand.

I grab his hand as he grab my waist, aiding me get down. "What are you doing here keilian?" I ask as he tried to wipe my sweat with a cloth. "Oh no I might ruin it" I said trying to stop his hand "its fine so don't move" I followed his instruction "my lady" the servant called from my back

I look back as we saw the servant that I talked a while ago rush in towards me and behind him was the western prince Ryker. I curtsey in front of him as he made it towards us. "What splendid archery skills do you have lady adalia" he spoke in western tongue "thank you for the complement" I said using his language "if it's not overly stepping my boundaries but my small troops and I would like to train with your army" I looked over to Keilian for help as I saw his brows furrowed, clearly analyzing the situation between us "Lady adalia here has no trouble training them but this needs to be address first by the emperor since we don't have a clear plan and negotiation yet" he replied politely

Prince Ryker smiled and nodded "I agree. I will ask his majesty for an audience later and I hope I'll see all of you in a meeting" I met his eyes and in order to avoid his gaze I slowly gave a nod at him. He turned his back on us and went with his troops in preparing to use the training arena, I look over to Keilian who was already looking at me with a gentle smile, he then grab the rails of my horse as he guides him in leaving I walk as fast as I can reaching his pace.

"How's the bow?" he ask looking at it "its fine, I really can't tell yet but it did hit the target" I said looking at it too "you'll need to use it more" he said "I need to try it on a human but too bad" I said slightly smiling at him, I saw him shake his head and lead us out of the arena.