n

n

nAs the crowd disperses, the Emperor, together with both the Empress and the Queen, is being escorted by the highest order of knights called the Silver Wings. The Silver Wings are composed of elite men who work directly under the Emperor. It wasn't a secret that they exist but their group is discreet. They are not completely transparent to the public eyes and neither their practiced values and roles.

nThey are like the Emperor's personal mercenary who covers both intelligence and brute-work. Two of those elite knights who were escorting them are Nathaniel and Eon, both were diligently doing their duties. Lukas was the captain of these so-called knights but the majority of them still don't know that, and that includes those two as well.

nMarquis Leon was also with them. As the head of the senate and the Emperor's trusted confidant, he had to stay and discuss the whole situation with him.

nThey were on their way to the main palace where the Emperor resides. That's what was said but in truth, he is actually living with his Empress.

nKael had to talk with Leon and Ezekiel so his destination was towards the royal study. That meant that the two women had to go their separate ways either.

nThe Empress looked up at her husband.

n

"Don't push yourself too hard, your Majesty,

" she reminded him, the worry evident in her voice--

"Both of you as well,

" she said this towards her son and brother.

n

"Thank you, mother,

" Ezekiel replied.

nThe Emperor pulled her closer to him for a chaste kiss, despite having an audience, before letting her go. He then turned towards the royal attendants.

n

"Escort the Empress and the Queen to their palace safely,

" he commanded.

nAfterward, he turned on his heel and started walking away with the prince and the marquis in tow, leaving all of them to their own devices.

nYulia looked at Regina for the second time that night and smiled at her warmly. She was being genuine with it, although it was their first time to meet after a long long while. After all, Regina had shut herself in her castle for almost 10 years now, ever since her child died at childbirth.

nShe had been trying to reach out to her countless times before, to sympathize with her, but all of her invites were turned down. Either she receives a returned letter, or one of her ladies-in-waiting would go in her stead. Now, after being away from everyone's eyes for years, she finally showed herself.

n

"Queen Regina, it has been so long since the last time you graced us with your presence. It's just a pity that it had been cut short because of this incident,

" Yulia uttered with an open heart.

nRegina returned her smile with her own,

"Indeed. I was really looking forward to tonight but oh well… It can't be helped,

" and heaved a disappointed sigh.

n

"Since it's like this, I would like to invite you to tea in the garden sometimes. If it's fine with you,

" Yulia offered.

n

"If that's what Her Majesty wants then I'll be more than glad to accompany you,

" Regina humbly replied.

nYulia beamed at her before finally going on her own way. Nathaniel and Eon were escorting her back to her palace while Regina gracefully bowed on the retreating figures of Kael and Yulia before turning to leave as well.

nAs they finally approached her own palace, the sweet smile she was sporting all this time fell off her lips. Her mask cracked, showing Regina's true nature.

n

"Tsk. That damn woman… She's clearly looking down on me, isn't she?

" She whispered in vehemence, her fists clenching so tightly that her nails dug themselves on her delicate palms.

nThe attendants who have long since known what she truly is, gulped. They are used to it but it doesn't mean that they are not afraid of her anymore. Regina tends to be cruel sometimes and if you get caught in one of her cruelty, then nothing can be said about it.

nShe's the type that gets physical when she's angry, that's why most of the time, her servants would avoid her.

nRegina's dark eyes shook in anger,

"And the Emperor himself, doing that in front of me… so hateful...

"

nAs soon as they got inside her palace, Regina started smashing all the vases her eyes could see. The servants behind her remained silent and didn't even flinch when she did all that. They just followed her around like meek little puppies.

n

"He didn't even look at me for the second time. It was just once, but it's like he's looking at nothing,

" she grumbled, touching her face as she said it so--

"It's always her. Her! He doesn't care about me at all!

" She cried out in grievance.

nRegina tasted bitter upon saying it out loud and her anger got the best of her more. It surged upwards, scaling the roof. Her beautiful face twisted into an ugly expression of a woman's jealousy, green with envy.

nHer eyes, as dark as the night, sparked with fury. She then grabbed other furniture that she could grab and angrily threw them all away. Even her own hand mirror that was a genuine relic wasn't saved. She hurled it across the room, almost hitting one of her maids, and crashed against the wall, smashing it into pieces.

nLaughter bubbled up in her throat before it burst into a full-blown one. It sounded hollow, just like the feeling she has inside.

n

"Hahahahahha Kael… Yulia… They are really testing my patience…

" She spelled out in gritted teeth.

nHer butler threw the other servants a look, gesturing at them through his eyes. The others understood it right away and tactfully retreated from the room, leaving only the raging queen and her butler.

n

"Yulia… That bitch…

" She groaned as she clutched on the canopy that hung above her bed--

"It's because of her… It's all her fault…

" she continued to mumble.

nThat's right. She's being treated like this now because of Yulia. The woman who stole everything from her.

n

"All of it… Her throne… Her title… The Emperor… They all should have been mine! She stole it from me!

" She hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

nAfter all, Regina was supposed to be sitting beside Kael and not Yulia. If only she didn't appear in the picture… If only she didn't exist...

n

"If not for that stupid incident, my plan should have moved forward by now!

" Regina exclaimed out loud and then began pulling the canopy. She wanted to rip it. She was so mad that all she could see was red.

nShe then got frustrated when destroying the canopy did not satisfy the burning anger inside her heart. She smashed more things. Valuable things. She doesn't care how much all of them cost because, in the end, they are still going to be replaced with more new things.

nShe's surrounded with luxury but instead of being happy about it, it was just making her angrier. She doesn't want this. She doesn't want what she currently has. She wants more. She wants what Yulia has. She wants it so bad that her envy became the leash around her heart.

n

"Where are those damn conquisitors?

" Regina suddenly glanced at the silent butler.

nThe butler cleared his throat,

"They just got back, your highness… They are in their usual room.

"

nHer eyes flared and without caring about her ruined appearance one bit, she marched towards the one room at the end of the hall with purpose on her strides. It wasn't that far so she immediately reached it within two minutes and broke the door open unannounced.

n

"What is the meaning of this? Why did you ruin my plan?

" was her greeting.

n

"Ahh, welcome back Your Highness,

" a man drawled. He was casually sitting on the big sofa with a careless air around him.

nHer eyes focused on that man, especially on his handsome devilish face. The man owned the reddest eyes she had ever seen in her life as if they were dyed in blood. Seeing those red irises irritates her sometimes because it reminds her of Yulia's.

n

"Haagenti, what's with the explosion from earlier? I don't believe that it's from the failed fireworks display. Explain it to me,

" she demanded.

nHaagenti, the devilish man himself, grinned at her.

n

"Is that what the Prince told everyone?

" he inquired.

nRegina's marble-like beauty returned, the one that earned her the title, 'Ice Queen'.

n

"The majority of the nobles bought it but not me,

" she sniggered.

n'Those fools. They really believed that lie? They are all stupid.'

nHaagenti flicked his right hand, casting a spell on her. It was a spell that loosened a person's nerves, making them feel lighter.

n

"Relax yourself, your highness,

" he careened.

nHe was in a good mood after talking with Farren just now. If he was as pissed as earlier, he might also be in a foul mood like the queen.

nBut after hearing such good news...

n'She has an ocean within her!'

nA mana-count that high is surely the best thing ever! He could just imagine the wonders it could do and the miracle it would create.

nHe wants it.

nAnd he will surely get it.

n