The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

82 : Desandra

Darya was given ten days to bid her goodbye to her current life. Her subjects were confused after witnessing her lifted spirit after telling them to bury her consorts to Desandra, the place she had discovered with General Theobalrt, located at the back of the Imperial walls, to where she was pushed by Lady Kathika before. The smile on her face was calm and sweet as if she had just discovered a new love. Zale was not confused at all. Having two gods around him would be the best day in his life that he would be willing to die with those god’s presence. He is envious of the fact that two of the upper gods were before his eyes but there is no chance he could have a conversation with the two.

“Do you perhaps have a plan in the future?” Darya suddenly asked Zale during their tea time.

Zale thought about the future. Soon, he will meet Mister Hamana and they will be travelling together. He wants to explore the world and discover more apostles and more gods.

He chose to be honest. “I was planning on travelling when Mister Hamana arrives at the Capital City. I wanted to explore the world.” Zale smiled but somehow he is not feeling great with the upcoming words Darya might say.

“You can travel free. You just need to tell Sir Lavenorth or his successor everything you need.”

Zale observed her expressions and came up with a thought. A thought that suddenly pierced his fragile heart.

“Perhaps…” he could not contain the confusion anymore. He wants to ask her before it is too late. “… are you leaving?”

And upon hearing Darya’s response, the pierce in his heart deepened, as if he was losing a precious friend. Isn’t there time for each other too short? Can they spend more time with each other? And since when did his feelings grow that he found himself being greedy of her presence? 

‘No, this should be just a natural reaction.’ Because they are friends. 

But as time spent together with her, teas with teas, talks with talks, and as laughter got audible, when the door was closed after Darya left, Zale touched his dense chest where his heart was located. 

“This heart, these feelings, will grow bigger each day but will remain uncovered, Your Majesty.”

During the ten days left for Darya, people thought that she is moving on and is finally becoming happy again. It felt like many years had already passed and she had made a lot of progress. The Empire is also slowly recovering from the damage caused by the rebellion and the barbarians. Darya has asked the Captains who is willing to manage the former Corstan Kingdom, now named Theobarlt Country, and they naturally decided to put Vice Captain Leon, now Captain Leon to rule it as Captain Quira and Captain Urgos are planning to retire. Captain Silla and Captain Key chose to stay in their position.

One day left and Emperor Darya was writing all day. Sir Lavenorth was not worried this time because she had a smile on her face while writing. She would also eat the snacks and meals prepared for her. And she would rest for a few minutes before writing again.

“Sir Lavenorth,” Emperor Darya suddenly called for him, making him stand up from his seat and leave his work.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“You do not need to stand when I call you.” Darya chuckled.

“This,” Darya tapped a large golden box that was on her desk. “I put everything I wrote here, from the day I reigned until today. Please check it tomorrow morning.”

Sir Lavenorth naturally agreed. “Will you be resting tomorrow?”

Darya smiled sweetly, “Yes and until the following days.”

Sir Lavenorth got confused there. “How long would it take, Your Majesty?” This is to make sure he could respond to business transactions, so he could also work efficiently.

“I am not sure yet?”

He was surprised to hear such an ambiguous answer but he did not ask anymore. Now, he is so curious about what contains that box.

“I will be leaving first. You should take a rest as well.”

Sir Lavenorth just watched Emperor Darya walk towards the door and left, confused. He was so confused the whole night that he could not sleep. So the next day, he was too early to go to work and directly went straight to the Emperor’s office.

As soon as he saw the box, he immediately checked it out. He read every text and every paper. It all contains how to stabilize the Empire at its current state. It also contains war and leadership strategies. He thought that it was just an ordinary text written by the Emperor not until he started reading the last pages of papers. And there he realized everything she meant about ‘resting’. 

‘Dear, Sir Lavenorth

I am grateful to have been served by such an excellent person from the beginning of my reign as an Emperor until my last day. My grandfather in heavens is sure proud of you if he would know thy things you have done to guide his little princess…

However, above all this, I would like to express my deepest apology for this outdated rest I suddenly decided without your prior notice. My life as the Emperor would have been greater if my happiness was existent. However, my happiness took a rest and my heart is looking for it…’ 

He dropped the paper and immediately came running towards the Emperor’s chambers. The knights on guard were surprised to see the mighty Lavenorth running for his life.

“Where is Her Majesty?” He immediately asked the maids on duty. The maids who are currently waiting outside the Emperor’s room.

“We were waiting for Her Majesty’s call, my lord.”

“What?” At this time, the Emperor should have already taken her meals!

Feeling uneasy, Sir Lavenorth ran to the door and opened it, only to see an empty bed.

“Your Majesty?” He looked around for her along with the panicking maids and knights but there is only one symbol in the room. 

It’s the peony flower put in the bed. Sir Lavenorth took it and immediately came up with an idea where she could have been.

“Knights, come with me!” He commanded, ran to the stables, got into a horse as they galloped towards the palace walls.

It was just a hunch but he had always been guided by his hunch which would always come true. They left the capital city and went to the forest at the back of the Imperial walls before the bridge to the nearby town, Desandra.

That place where her consorts were buried. The place where General Theobarlt risked his life to save her from falling. As told by the Emperor, it was a place like a little heaven.

Sir Lavenorth gripped the knot tightly as the letter of the Emperor rang his head.

‘Emperor Lysandra Darya Y Taleigha Oswald chooses Duke Lorenzo De Garrett as the successor of the throne if and only if Sir Syrigene Des Lavenorth declares my infinite resting in peace. May the gods bless our homeland, the Largoth Empire and the Theobarlt Country.’

As they got deep into the forest, they saw a small light from a distance. They galloped even faster because Sir Lavenorth could not rest easily. There they saw the fresh scenery of a wonderful falls, where two tombs are buried. The air was peacefully nostalgic and the trees covering the sunshine were like a giant palace of fairies. 

There they saw the Emperor in a beautiful white dress, sitting on the ground with her hands embracing her third consort’s tomb, with vines wrapped around her body as if protecting her body to not be removed away from the tomb, as if she is bound to be together with her third consort.

Sir Lavenorth’s heart sank as he watched this scene. What made him even more melancholic was the smile she had on her lips, as if she had lived a good life and is now finally resting in peace.

“H-Her Majesty’s body—”

They watched the Emperor’s body slowly becoming concrete as her body miraculously turned to a sculpture that is as beautiful and sophisticated as she is.