Divine Empress (COMPLETED)

Chapter Seventeen

Raina's POV

This is a hard decision…

The muted blue goes well with my pale blue eyes, but the gold goes with my golden hair. But then my dress for the day was pale green with floral embellishment around the hem. I groaned this was a hard decision, glanced at the mirror, “why do I have so many jewellery pieces?” I asked myself, rolling my eyes.

“Divine Empress, why are you concerned about jewellery pieces? We are just going to the Imperial garden,” You Rina said, leaning in to grab a brush on the dressing table. “How about you just wear a hairpin?” She suggested as she brushed my hair.

Slowly turned my gaze to the shelves carrying the boxes, holding all my hairpins and more jewellery. Then my gaze went to the heavy wig, “I don’t want to wear that wig.” I whispered, glanced back at the mirror.

You Rina chuckled, placed the brush down onto the dressing table, “until your hair grows then you wear the wig for important events and gatherings.” She heads over to the shelves, “I wanted to ask, Divine Empress. Is short hair a thing in your world?”

I laughed, rolling my eyes, “oh… It was a funny story. It was lunchtime, and I was in my favourite cafe to grab a quick coffee. While in line, this woman reached over my shoulder to grab her drink and her watch grabbed my beautiful long hair. Next thing I knew, I’m in the hairdresser and had a haircut.” I sighed with a smile, remembering that week was my dreadful week that led me to being here. Looking at my hair through the mirror, my hair had grown and getting close to my shoulders. “And to answer your question, in my world hairstyle changes and like clothes, different beliefs and cultures is a playing function to people’s choice of keeping hair.”

She returned behind me, gently pulling my hair from the temple and slides a white jade hairpin. “we grow our hair out because we believe our hair reflects our life and growth in life. The people in Arriors Empire, they also grow out their hair, but warriors will cut the sides of their head, a mullet. A sign of a warrior spirit.” I hummed in interest, “shall we leave to the Imperial Garden?”

Nodding my head and shrugging my shoulders, “let’s!” As I stood, You Rina helped me up onto my feet. “While I’m Empress, I’m going to just enjoy my palace life until I find a way back,” I sighed softly. “… I’m on vacation.”

“Divine Empress, you say the weirdest things…” You Rina giggled as we walked out my palace.

Today was a peaceful and warm sunny day, I did not want to stay indoors and play dress up. I do not want to talk about my new habit of trying out all my soft and elegant royal clothing and jewellery, I’m enjoying my comfortable lifestyle. I wanted to take in fresh breath and joying the warm sun’s caress, clear my mind and have a long nap.

Now that I think about it… If I’m going to take a nap, then why did I dress up!? I’m an i***t, I groaned in my head as we strolled over to the Imperial Garden. Entering the Imperial Garden, seeing the vibrant colours of greens, yellows, pinks, reds and purples, strolling into the place—taking in a crisp breath of air into my lungs, sighing in relief. But silence cracked by the thump sound and soft hum of hand claps, glancing at You Rina, who did not know what was happening.

“Let’s look,” I whispered, and we followed the echo of thumps deep into the garden.

You Rina gasped in shock whilst I stared in awe to Mistress Han Maya, who confidently held her bow and arrow, narrowing her gaze on the target. In a blink of an eye, the arrow hit the bullseye, and the palace servants around clapped their hands. I also clapped my hands, amazed by her grace and archery skills, glanced at You Rina who was gaping, “that’s amazing! Don’t you think?”

You Rina glanced at me, furrowing her brows in confusion, “Divine Empress, why are you happy!?” She gasped in shock.

“Isn’t that amazing?” I asked, confused.

“Divine Empress, Mistress Han Maya is wearing Imperial Court red velvet coat… That’s your coat!” She whined, “That’s disrespectful.”

“Oh…” I pouted, confused and uncertain, not want to say. I looked back at Mistress Han Maya, her long midnight black hair placed up, decorated in gold and jade hairpins, then her train coat was red velvet embellished in black sequences of patterns. She pulled another arrow in her bow, pushing her chest out and her bump was in show.

She released the arrow and made another bullseye, as everyone around her praises her again, I glanced at You Rina and sighed, “there’s no crime…” I smiled, turned my attention back to Mistress Han Maya and approached her way.

The palace servants noticed my presence, quickly bowing my way, and their action got Mistress Han Maya’s attention. She turned to face me, I smiled to her, and she smiled back, “many greetings, Divine Empress.” She greeted as she curtsies.

“You may rise, Mistress Han Maya,” I smiled, glanced at the bow she carried in her hand. I nod to it, “practice your archery?”

She lifted her hand and glanced down at the bow, “yes, Divine Empress. My back needed to get some stretching.” She said with a devilish grin as placed her free hand on her lower back and showing her bump. Realising she was showing off, but quickly lifted my gaze away from her belly. “Would you like to join?” She asked, lifting her bow to me.

Glanced at the target, nervously laughed and turned my gaze back to the bow she was handing me. Taking a deep, I hesitantly took the bow and smiled boldly to her, “well… How can I refuse?”

You Rina hands an arrow to me, taking a breath while I recall movies and Mistress Han Maya, “you seem to understand our world, Divine Empress.” Mistress Han Maya said, glanced over to see she had another bow with arrow ready. “But… How long will you hold the throne?” She muttered and thump echoed the garden, she had another bullseye.

I snigger, readying myself, placing the arrow in the bow and pulling the string, realising how tough it was to pull. Groaning under my breath, my hands shook as I aim for the bullseye, afraid to let go. I bit my lower lip, and I let go of the arrow. However, it did not fly. Instead, the arrow dropped to the ground.

How embarrassing…

Hearing Mistress Han Maya cleared her throat, “maybe I spoke too soon…” She muttered, I slowly turned to her, seeing a servant taking the bow from her. "Thank you, Your Grace, for keeping me company…” She said, smiling widely and placing her hand on her bump. “I must take my leave, Divine Empress. Have a good day…” She curtsies gracefully before walking away.

“Yeah, same to you,” I awkwardly waved my hand as she walked away. Rolling my eyes and threw my head back, “embarrassing…” I groaned.

“With practices, Divine Empress. You’d be able to hit the bullseye,” You Rina said, furrowing her brows as she nervously smiled to me and took the bow from me.

Suddenly, I heard beaming claps from behind, glanced over to see the Emperor, approaching my way. Quickly curtsy to him, “rise, Divine Empress.” He said, his gaze went down to the arrow that fell onto the ground. “Archery?” He asked, seeing he was fighting a smile.

I laughed nervously and said, “I need some practices.” Looking to the target, then back to the Emperor, “but… I’m good at this.” I waved my hand, thinking about the flames and warmth to surround my hand. And again, amazed when flames appeared around my hand, hearing gasps as I glanced to the target and imagine a ball in my hand, before throwing to the target. Loud gasp echoed through the gardens as the target caught in flames, “that’s simple.” I glanced back at the Emperor.

His eyes widened in shock, the corner of his lips tilted slightly, “you are indeed a Divine Being.” He murmured, turning his gaze at me.

If only you knew I was taking a chance, I said in my mind. Tilting my head with a grin, “shouldn’t you be in some big council meeting?” I asked.

He sighed, looking at the burning target, “I had it cancelled because I know they would outnumber my thoughts and I find spotless to fight them.”

“What is it?”

Glancing to his Eunuch that carried a tray of reports, waving him to come over and he did, “it’s better for you to read it.” The Emperor said, grabbing the report that was on top then hands over to me. I stepped close and took the report, and read, “it has been five hundred years since the Empire been in war and I don’t want to see it happening.”

Furrowing my brows as I read the report, my eyes widened in shock, they want to plan a war to Gaia Kingdom. I snapped my gaze up at the Emperor, “but why!?”

“King Daehyun announced he will not procreate, a vow him made before the heavens and people. We tried to contact the King and make an alliance to make Gaia Kingdom, HuddOmen Empire. However, King Daehyun does not want any communication with us. So… the council plans an attack, and I don’t embrace the idea.”

“Well… I believe in your stand, isn’t my support enough?”

He was hesitant to answer, looking away from me, “unless we contact the King Daehyun, and I can buy more time with the council then… I don’t know what I do.”