The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

81 : Solitude

The price of having everything costs too much, like losing more people you treasure. In just a day, Darya had lost hundreds which includes her three consorts, first to third. The next day, she had become known as an undefeatable conqueror but the outside world does not know that she is holding two funerals of two people she dears.

Alone in her garden full of peonies, there are two coffins in the same color, arranged side by side. She was standing between them for a whole hour now. Her subjects were so worried about her.

Ejia and Silla were crying on the side while watching the Emperor. Zale was also standing there, watching the god standing beside the General’s coffin. He was exchanging glances with the god as if he was recognized as the messenger. The god looked at him like he wanted to say something to him but could not move for a while because of the funeral. Along with his curiosity of communicating with a new god, he was deeply sorry to Darya. He was blaming himself that he could not do anything to prevent everything that happened. If only he could have not kept his ability a secret… Darya could have used him to save the two.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo was just secretly standing behind the pillar, unable to look at the coffins. He was so depressed to find out that Duke Esteban had already made preparations for him when he came back to the Dukedom. How could he not realize that the time the Duke Esteban came to him in the prison was their last conversation? 

“Take care of yourself, next time.”

‘What crap did you say about taking care of myself next time when you could not even hang on to live longer?’ Lorenzo clenched his fists.

‘What is the point of excellence now that the one I want to hear compliments with will be buried to the ground?’

‘What’s the point of giving the whole Dukedom when you are not even there?!’

But then Lorenzo found himself slouching on the side as tears unknowingly poured down his cheeks, and mumbling to his heart, “Come back”. 

‘I will be a good and obedient child.’

‘I will take care.’

‘I will not hate you anymore, just be… just stay to be my father, alive…’

But these melancholic thoughts could not be supplemented as the one he wants to come back will never be back. Ever.

The clouds suddenly thundered as it started getting dark. Zale’s chest started beating so fast after seeing a premonition. He looked at god Azure and then to Darya. He wanted to move his feet to come to her and hold her, comfort her, but… this is not the right time for that.

Two gods are just about to meet.

Zale turned to face the people who were there to mourn. “We should disperse at once before the rain drops.”

“But Her Majesty…” Ejila spoke, looking at the direction of Darya. She is worried about what will happen if they leave her.

Zale did not speak for a few seconds before he looked at the present knights and stated his command.

“Please take away everyone in this place at once. This is my first command as the fifth consort of the Emperor.”

Everyone looked at Zale and then to the other people present which included all the remaining nobles, captains, and knights. Seeing that Zale is persistent, there must be something that will happen that needs their complete absence. So, they started leaving one by one to give the Emperor space. Zale took one more glance at Darya before everything became silent.

Azure noticed and looked at the darkening sky. She immediately recognized something. “Fergus?”

The rain started pouring, making his eyes widened after seeing a small light falling towards him. “Is that you, Fergus?” Happiness is drawn in his face.

The small light immediately dispersed in a human-like figure appeared. Dressed in all white and appearing in all white just like Azure, they are visible to the messenger and the apostles’ eyes but not to ordinary humans. If such ordinary humans could see, they would be willing to die in vain.

Fergus immediately jumped into Azure’s arms, leading them to fall to the ground, and causing the ground moderately shake. The grasses they touch become frozen. The rain drops that are pouring do not make them wet.

“My Azure, it has been 1000 years since I last saw your magnanimous face.” Fergus was laughing and was squeezing his cheeks to the other god’s cheeks, holding him tightly.

“You finally found me after 1000 years, Fergus.” Azure just let him be squeezed by his fellow.

“Yes. It is always when I almost found you but I am always a second late.”

Azure chuckled slowly. “The universe is such a vast space.”

Fergus kissed his lover’s neck. “I am so glad to find you. I will tie you in my arms so you could no longer be lost. So we could no longer be apart.” He started kissing every portion of his neck, making Azure’s cheeks flushed.

“You stop, Fergus. We are at a funeral.” Azure demanded him.

Fergus stopped. “What funeral? Did we die due to happiness? I would be glad if we died together.” He giggled, scent of roses were emitted to the surroundings. A sign that he is feeling so good.

Azure flicked Fergus’ forehead. “Silly. We do not die.”

“Ah,” Fergus had a realization.

“You need to talk to your apostle.” Azure motioned his eyes to Darya then back to him.

“Oh, right, I found you because my apostle used me and you were just a second away,” Fergus got up and helped Azure to get up.

That is the only time Fergus realized that there were two coffins around and his apostle was glaring at him.

“Oh my apologies, Your Majesty,” Fergus smiled, innocently. He pulled Azure to his side, unconsciously. 

“Why are you always late?” Darya inquired, her voice was lifeless.

“My bad. I am bad at travelling.”

“So that is why you are always late before you could find your lover?”

“Hehe.” Fergus scratched his head as he could feel Azure’s pinch on his back, warning him to not pull him too close.

“And I would like to thank you for letting me know that my lover is here—”

“I want a reward.” She cut, not letting this chance go.

“Ah? Yes? What is the reward—?”

“I want to go back to my 14th life.”

As of now, Fergus was silenced. Seeing the serious look on his apostle’s face, he asked, “Are you sure?”

Darya did not respond.

“You have worked so hard to keep this Empire as its current state, are you just going to leave it to someone else?”

She did not respond as her eyes fell towards Esteban’s and then to Desmonde’s. A smile then formed in her lips as she looked at Desmonde’s face which she could not look at before.

“A world without my happiness… is like an earth without its sun.”

Fergus was not able to speak as he watched the expression on Darya’s face. That expression, how he is so curious about human emotions. Is that how he looked when he saw Azure earlier? Such a good feeling could actually be felt by gods? 

Fergus’ hand squeezed Azure to him even closer. So then he turned to look at Azure’s face. The face he longed to see for over 1000 years. Would his apostle be happy if she went back to the world she was supposed to be in?

“Can you tell me the reason for your desperation to go back?”

Darya remained looking at Desmonde’s face.

“It is because… there I found my solitude.”