The Empress (TAGLISH)

Chapter 5: Eugene's Worry

Prince Eugene sighed as he looked at the reports that he received from the Esterholt province. He needs to tell this on the council meeting later.

"Council meeting." He sighed as he thought about it. Kung maaari lamang ay ayaw niyang dumalo sa pagpupulong na iyon dahil alam niyang malaking sakit ng ulo ang dala nito. Attending a council meeting is a tedious task for Eugene and he'd rather choose to fight in the battlefield than going there.

"My Prince, the carriage is here." Wika ng boses na nagmumula sa labas ng kanyang pintuan.

Tumayo si Eugene mula sa kanyang upuan at naglakad patungo sa pinto. Binuksan niya iyon at bumungad sa kanya ang babaeng utusan na ngayon ay nakayuko sa gilid ng pintuan.

"Where is the princess?" Tanong niya ng maalala niya ang kanyang kapatid. Hindi niya kasi ito nasabayang kumain ng agahan.

"Her Highness left earlier to visit the third Princess." Magalang na sagot nito. Eugene nodded to the servant and walk his way to where the carriage is.

He saw Veyron standing beside the carriage waiting for him.

"Your Highness." Wika nito at yumuko.

"Let's go." Eugene said and Veyron opened the door.

It didn't took long for Eugene to reached the Palace and as soon as he gets off from his carriage, he went directly to the council room.

He saw the ministers already sitting along with his brothers William and Alvion. The ministers rose from their seats and greeted him, he then nodded as a response.

After a few minutes the door opened revealing the King along with his Royal Knight Rudolph Kreel Yngrassone. He is Ivantie's uncle and serving the King as his knight ever since he took the throne.

All of them rose from their seats and bowed to the King. "Greetings to His Majesty. May the blessings of Phadteus be with you."

The King nodded before sitting on his chair. He waved his hand as a signal for them to be seated and start the meeting.

The council members started to discuss the current affairs and Eugene is silently listening to them.

"Reports from the Esterholt province said that bandits are keep growing and a lot of horse wagons has been ambushed."

"And because of this the supply of goods from the province are keep on decreasing. If this will continue it'll affect the market prices."

"More importantly, all the Palystone ores has been stolen."

"Have they found out where the bandits came from?"

"Not yet. But chances are high that they're from the Wellcrest."

"Wellcrest! Aren't we purged all of them before?"

"Yes. But it possible that a few of them managed to escaped and now they're forming new groups again."

"Those pests!"

"We also received a news that the Aendaria Empire successfully conquered the Zerimos Republic."

"What?! It ended sooner as we expected."

"It was only three years."

"Apparently Zerimos took a huge damage after the second and third battalion simultaneously wiped out from the attack of Aendaria."

"The Aendaria Empire sent an official letter regarding for a request to visit." Emperor Bram suddenly said.

The council suddenly stopped in surprised at maging si Eugene ay tila nagulat sa tinuran ng kanyang ama. Eugene knew that Emperor Bram has always been wanting to have a ties to the Aendaria Empire.

The Empire is rich and far more superior in terms of power. If Anthos manage to get a friendly connection to the Empire they might get a chance to get their hands of the Draklinite that they use in forging their weapons.

"It was stated on the letter that the Archduke will personally come to visit a month from now." Emperor Bram continued. "Lord Griswold, I task you to make a draft for the preparation in Welcoming the Archduke."

The Archduke is the grandson of the current Emperor of Aendaria. He's also the one who personally lead their armies and made the countries that are now under the Empire fall into their demise. But there are rumors surrounding him. It was said that he takes pleasure in torturing women.

"Certainly, Your Majesty." He politely answered.

"Eugene, I need you to immediately take care the problem in Estherholt. Alvion, Brendon and Erroll, I want you to visit the borders and make sure there are no problems. Leave as soon as your preparation is done. As for you William you'll take the west boarder. You'll leave after the first week of your marriage."

"Yes, Your Majesty." They said in unison.

The Emperor ended the meeting and made the council members leave except for the princes.

"Asphodel is coming on her age. Am I right?" King Bram said.

"Yes father. I believe it will be 3 months from now." Alvion answered. Eugene clenched his hand perfectly aware on where this conversation is leading.

The King threw the letter on the table. "As you can see the Archduke's reason for visit is to search for a bride and peek an interest to her. If it goes will there is a chance that he will take her as his bride or as his concubine."

"Eugene, I want you to prepare that thing for the Archduke. I want her to be at her best and please him." He said with an ordering voice.

"No. I refuse!" Eugene said firmly.

"What did you say?! How dare you to refuse my word!" Matigas na wika ng kanilang ama.

"Illyria is too young for that. Letiza is more suitable to be his bride." Rason niya.

"Do you think that I will allow my daughter to be taken away by that War dog?!"

"Illyria is your daughter too!" Tiim-bagang na sagot ni Eugene.

"That thing is not my daughter! That disgusting creature killed my beloved. You should be happy that I allowed her to live. If it's not for Yleena's last wish I had her killed a long time ago. I already gave her enough mercy and now it is time for her to return my grace." Bram angrily said and hit the table. Making a loud noise throughout the room.

"Have you gone mad!"

"What's the point of her existence if she has no any use for me? I would gladly sacrifice her to the Archduke if that means that this Kingdom will prosper in exchange of her insignificant life! I need to—"

Hindi na pinatapos ni Eugene ang kanyang ama at walang-habas na tumayo siya dahilan upang matumba ang kanyang upuan. Malalaki ang hakbang niyang umalis sa silid na iyon.

"Eugene! Eugene!" Rinig niyang sigaw ng kanyang ama ngunit hindi niya iyon pinansin bagkus ay nagpatuloy siya sa paglalalakad.

He needs to get out from the palace as soon as possible. This place make him feel as if he wanted to vomit.

When Eugene arrived at his place he immediately went to the training grounds.

"Fight me!" He said to the knights. The men suddenly stopped while looking confused.

"I said fight me!" Sigaw niya. Then the men starts to spar with him.

KLANG! KLANG! KLANG! KLANG!

Umalingawngaw ang tunog ng mga espada sa paligid. Eugene keeps on defeating them but he's still not contented.

"LEAVE!" Eugene said firmly after two hours of fighting the knights. The men immediately obeyed and leave him alone.

"AAAhhhhh!" He shouted angrily.

"Didn't I tell you to leave!" Galit na wika niya ng mapansin ang pigura na nakasandal sa pader.

"Let's fight." He heard the man spoke. Eugene look at his direction and sa Ivantie walking towards him while holding his sword.

Eugene held his sword and suddenly run towards Ivantie. Ivantie stopped him by crossing his sword.

KLING! KLANG! KLANG! KLING!

The two of them exchange swords using their full strengths.

"Haaah!"

"Hyahh!"

KLANG! Ivantie managed to over power him sending his sword away from him. But he didn't stopped and clenched his fist and started to throw a punch on Ivantie.

Ivantie managed to dodge it and he threw his own sword too to fight him using his fists. Eugene threw another punched and as Ivantie dodging his punches he suddenly threw him a kick hitting Ivantie's side.

The two of them didn't stopped until both of them got tired and out of breath. Eugene let himself fall on the ground while Ivantie sat beside him.

Eugene looked at the sky watching the clouds drifting away. "How ironic." He thought to himself. He had no interest in fighting with his brothers for the throne but it seems that in the end he needed to do it.

"I want the throne." He said then he felt Ivantie's hand patting his shoulder.

"I will support you." Ivantie said and gave him a nod.

"Mmm." Eugene said and laughed.

If sitting on the throne will give him a complete power to protect her sister then he will do it.