BLOOD AND Lightening

Chapter 27

ARVERNINE.

Emperor Gildor sat on his throne with a vexed look as he listened to the ministers throwing in their reports and complaints.

“Rumors are going around that maidens are beginning to go missing from the Palace,” the prime minister said out of context gaining a hard stare from Gildor, he has grown almost impossible to talk to, one would say he has changed but truly he has just begun to let his true self slip away.

Gildor was more than just a neglected child, he is not just a physical replica of the late Emperor but also has a dark heart like him if not darker. There weren't rumors that maidens were beginning to go missing but indeed, a factual, Emperor Gildor just do not care, as long as it wasn't about him he won't bat an eyelid, and moreover, he doesn't need a thing to distract him from finding Nimai, he just can't let it sink in that she slipped away from him, Greed was an understatement when it comes to the mind of Gildor, he could never settle for little or a bite he wants the source, he hadn't gotten the chance to make use of her and just like that someone took her away, he was going to achieve whatever he wants and that includes the poker-faced beautiful Maiden who rarely smiles.

He has just found himself a warlock who would help him improve his powers and of cause join forces to find Nimai, Nicholas had fully been consumed by dark sorcery that even with a physical eye you can tell he wasn't someone to be near, he moves and carries out orders without asking a single question no matter what the order was, no matter who it was, he has no conscious, slowly everyone is beginning to fear the Emperor.

As the Courtroom kept going berserk cursing out each other as they continued to disagree with each other, a messenger suddenly brought the news of the arrival of prince Adonis and the princess of BATILOI, who is going to become the wife of Emperor Gildor. The court who had no idea of the initial plan of the Emperor grasped and went into chaos as Gildor arose from his throne and went out to welcome his supposed wife and brother.

Just as the Emperor came out to welcome their arrival so did the ministers joined suits, a lot of mixed feelings, most of them already had a list of candidates they were planning on sending to the princess's desk as she was the lady of the house and has a right to select maiden for the Emperor. many would cry when their father send them away to a rival kingdom for marriage, not a mockery to many, it was indeed a thing to cry about considering you could be killed easily as a means to piss off your kingdom but to lilac, it was more like a new adventure, as the first daughter, she was the lady of the house, from a young age she had a lot of responsibility as if her father knew she would be married away to a king someday, as of today she would become the Queen consort of ARVERNINE the great kingdom of wealth she has only heard about in tales, oh how she has fancied the thought of sneaking away from home and visiting this place, on the day Prince Adonis came to their land for her hand in marriage, she had thought he was handsome and not just a prince but a general, she didn't mind then she got the news it wasn't him she would be marrying but the king, “oh even better” she had said with her heart leaping in joy, she didn't care much about the king's appearance because the tales of the beauty of the royal household of ARVERNINE has graced the ears of every household in their kingdom. like every father, hers was hesitant too, he suspected the prince she had overheard him talking about a supposed war and how the sudden marriage proposal changes everything.

Seeing how handsome and young the Emperor was made her bless the heavens and gods, not only was his face sculpted by the gods, his posture was outstanding as well, just like a king he stood tall towering over almost everyone.

“We have arrived your majesty” came the voice of Adonis as he kneel before the Emperor who asked him to rise, Gildor’s face lit up on seeing Lilac, she was beautiful and with a charming smile, she moved with graceful strides as she approached him like she had learned, every of her move enticed him, she was meant for the queen's position, on a second look her posture looked a lot like that of Nimai and for some reason, the Emperor was pleased with it, he has shamelessly agreed that he wanted her for more than her powers.

“Greetings your royal Majesty,” she said bowing lowering her body as he easily lifted her and lifted her hand for a kiss

“You are welcome my Queen,” he said with an evil smile, his words went straight to her heart and she felt butterflies.

“Open the gates and let the people know that they now have a queen, there shall be merriment and celebration till dawn” he declared, some of the ministers masked their mixed emotions with fake happiness while some were unable to hide their bewilderment, BATILOI were generous with their gift, they sent out a representative instead of their crown prince, perhaps there were still wary but the fact that they gave their first daughter out for marriage was good enough, the intending war has been cut off and they might be sending their prince soon......

ALFREDO.

“What kind of people name a whole kingdom Alfredo? Really of all names” Nimai argued as she sat with Zephyr and Thanatos in the dining while she was the only one eating, she was getting used to them joining her on the long table, Thanatos no longer glared hardly as her but she could still tell he for some reasons loathe her.

“Alfredo is arguably the best name to grace my ears Milady, do not say that,” Zephyr said in all seriousness.

“Am just saying that no matter how I try to pronounce it, it does not sound like the name of a supposed great kingdom, I urge you to seek a change from your ruler” Nimai said not minding the looks on their faces

“How can you say that Milady, do not let the people hear you,” Star said joining the table, she had just arrived and happened to hear her

“I agree with her” came the voice of Haldir as he approached, Nimai felt like running away, she had managed to escape from him in the morning after the whole drama with CARA and had avoided him, now if she leaves it would be obvious she was avoiding him. She sat tight awkwardly scooping her food into her mouth hoping he would have a change of heart and leave them but she noticed everyone else leaving the table as the devil sat directly opposite her.

“Where is everybody going” her voice failed her showing a tone of helplessness

“I asked them to leave us,” he said pulling the plates of vegetables she pulled away closer to her.

“You need those to remain healthy,” he said

“Why do you care?” she murmured and she heard him chuckle but on raising her head there was no trace of a smile

“What do you want from me now?” she asked

“You were looking for me earlier, and all of a sudden you are avoiding me,”

“I wasn't avoiding you” she shamelessly lied, Nimai never had problems with looking people straight in the eyes but it was impossible to look at this man and maintain the same face, the more she stayed with him, the more comfortable she gets and it scared her, she was afraid that her perception of him was beginning to change, her mind was telling her he had no choice but to do what he did and she doesn't want her perception towards him to change. ‘You are stupid Nimai’ now it was her time to chuckle at her stupidness.

“You do not have to stop hating me Nimai, I would hate me too if I were you” he suddenly said taking her out of her thoughts, she looked at him not knowing what to perceive of his expression she asked

“Are you trying to sound distinguished?” she said nearly rolling her eyes

“You shouldn't allow people to get into your head easily,” he said again

“Why are you trying to sound good? You are making it hard for me to keep hating you! Allow me to hate you in peace, you are everywhere! You ordered the cook to add chicken to my every meal, who did you even know it was my favorite? You get me the best fabrics my jewels cost fortunes, the resting room you gave me looks like that of a royal, you gave me a special aid and you are not even asking me to work for my stay, I am not familiar with such good things, you killed mother why are you suddenly being a nice person” Nimai ranted, unknowingly she was already standing and tears running down her eyes as she spoke, it was a tough situation for Haldir, he can't answer any of her questions, he was always a generous person but he can't argue the fact that he gave her special treatments, he has somehow managed to convince himself that he was doing all this because he was the cause of her problem but she was also like a curse placed on him, he also couldn't explain that he was fond of her, he has also noticed her opening up, she now discuss freely and often smiles, it was pleasing to watch, he wanted her to loathe him and not even spare him a glamsp but he always wants her perception towards him to change. Before he could hold himself he held her close in an embrace as she cried into his shoulders while struggling to free away from him but he was much stronger.

“Am sorry” he said sincerely