The Emperor's Woman

On the lookout

Emperor Damien stood staring at the now empty rock with a series of thoughts going through his mind. His hands were right behind him, his face blank as he inspected the whole area.

Then Kai appeared behind him, going straight to one knee and lowering his head.

"I failed, your majesty. I couldn't get her," Kai said, so much pressure in his voice, as the emperor's broad back faced him.

"Do you think she's a witch?" Emperor Damien's voice came, and Kai blinked before opening his mouth to speak.

"I... according to the heavens, she's supposed to be the new Queen...

Kai kept quiet the moment the Emperor turned, and his sharp gaze met him.

"Queen? She's a weakling." Kai could feel the hidden scoff in the Emperor's voice, and he blinked in confusion.

"But she pulled out the Sword of Life and Death from the rock, which was almost tagged as impossible, and she dodged your aim, which has never happened. I think she's not really a weakling....

"But a witch. She has no spiritual aura, and her hair is nothing like those of supernaturals." The Emperor stated, and Kai still couldn't bring himself to understand until the Emperor turned his back on him again.

"Inform the Queen Mother that tomorrow's selection should not only involve the nobles alone. Every young lady in this kingdom should partake in it. Anyone unwilling to do so shall be executed in the city hall," Emperor Damien ordered authoritatively before disappearing into thin air. Kai bowed in affirmation before rising to his feet.

"Someone finally removed the Sword of Life and Death after hundreds of years of trials. Isn't this good news? Or did I misunderstand something?" Kai questioned himself before disappearing also.

It was an abandoned, almost falling apart, mini bar located right in the middle of a designated mini forest. Ming stood in front of it, pacing to and fro impatiently, waiting for Jade's return, even though he doubted it.

"Ming!! I'm back!!" Jade screamed, running towards him, and Ming's eyes widened.

"You're back! I'm so relieved!!" Ming gasped, rushing to hug her, but she ran into the abandoned bar, and he blinked before going in also. Immediately, Jade shut the door.

Then she fell to the floor and began panting madly.

"What's wrong? Did anything happen while you were in the forbidden forest?" Ming asked, standing right in front of her.

"It did. But it's over now. Now tell me, how much will this expensive-looking baby cost?!" Jade asked with a satisfactory smile on her face as she showed Ming the Sword of Life and Death, and Ming gasped, falling to the ground.

"My gawd. My love for fish won't let me see well," Ming muttered, rubbing his eyes. Jade stood up, kicking his knee, and he groaned in pain.

"You're jealous I caught a bigger means of income than you, right? Well, of course, it'll be huge because I almost lost my life acquiring this baby. And through it, I'll slap my wealth in Oldie and everyone else's ugly faces!" Jade smirked, caressing the sword in her hand. Ming stood up instantly, snatching it from her and throwing it to the floor.

"You can't touch that!" Ming said, and Jade frowned.

"Are you crazy?! What if the price drops because of a scratch on it!" Jade snapped, picking up the sword, but Ming took it from her again, throwing it to the ground.

"Ming!!" Jade yelled.

"That's not an ordinary sword, okay! Countless demons were slayed with it, and it's supposed to be glued to a rock...

"It was glued to a rock, but I removed it. Anything bad in that?" Jade asked, looking at the sword on the floor. Ming blinked thrice, staring at her, before breaking into mocking laughter.

"You removed it? You can't even cast a few spells, and you say you pulled out what the late Emperor couldn't pull? Oh please, spare me your lies!" Ming mocked, fanning himself with his palms. Jade frowned, pulling his ears.

"I really removed this sword, okay! I'm not lying!" Jade sneered, and Ming laughed out loud.

"No one can remove the Sword of Life and Death from its rock. It was seized by the heavens!" Ming scoffed, pushing her away from him. Jade stood glued to her spot.

"Sword of Life and Death? The same sword Father talked about earlier?" Jade asked in puzzlement.

"No, the same one we dreamt about. Since you don't seem to want to use your head," Ming rolled his eyes. Jade then gasped, holding her face.

"I removed a cursed sword from its prison?! No wonder the lightning wouldn't stop coming to strike me!!" Jade exclaimed, and Ming held his own head, not believing a word.

"I'm not lying!!" Jade snapped, kicking his knee, and he held it tight in pain.

"I would have been dead if a handsome figure hadn't come to my rescue," Jade said, smiling as she hugged herself.

"Where's the figure now? Still in your dreams?" Ming said, not believing a word, and Jade stopped smiling.

"He's back at the forest. I left him and ran for my dear life. I'm too young to stay while he battles with the lightning. What if the lightning changed its target to me again?! Who would make money in my place… Wait, money? I'm rich now, aren't I?!" Jade asked suddenly in realization.

"What do you mean?" Ming asked.

"If I was able to remove the sword, that means I'm the Emperor's wife, right?! I get to be the Queen over Mina and Bae...

"That's impossible! Rumors have it that the Emperor is more than we imagined. Even in the past, his past wives died in his hands, but the late Emperor, his father, lied that they all died at the hands of demons!" Ming said, and Jade picked up the sword.

"That means he'll kill me too? I'll just return this," Jade said before walking out of the place.

"Yeah! Good idea, because it would be mad if I had to bow to you in the future!!" Ming said, going after Jade.