SYZYGY:The raise of the Monarch

Chapter IXX

She continued to gaze at the ceiling.

"You're a mean one; you became my friend and then ghosted me out of nowhere."

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the blare of a bugle and a man shouting.

"All the trainees, gather up, we have an emergency!"

Eva hastily stood up, donned her boots, and tied her hair into a ponytail. She added a little ribbon and emerald green earrings that had caught her attention during her stroll in the market.

She ran towards the big piazza of the inn where the male trainees were staying. As they saw her approaching, they made way for her to stand at the front.

Over the past few months of training, she had effortlessly become a soldier with no equal, both adored and feared. Some men had initially tried to provoke her for the thrill, but after she nearly killed a man who tested her, they refrained from such foolish acts.

She walked to the front, stood straight, exuding a strong and attractive presence. The higher-ups wouldn't initiate anything without her presence. She flipped her hair with the back of her hand and adjusted her attire.

"Attention!" she commanded, and the soldiers snapped to attention, heels together, legs straight, and arms at their sides.

An old man with white hair and blue eyes appeared, sitting on a chair in front of the soldiers.

 Most of them trembled from the cold weather. He made a mocking smirk upon realizing that a woman was stronger than all the men present. However, she wasn't your typical weak woman.

Haugh fixed his eyes on her, and Eva, unyielding, glared back with a dangerously expressioned face.

"Young lady, why do you think we called for you all to stand here?" he challenged.

Eva put her hand down, crossed her arms, and leaned her head slightly to the side.

"I'm a soldier who wields her sword, not one who gathers information. Or am I supposed to cover someone else's work now?" she replied with an angry tone, drawing from her experiences during training where soldiers often shirked their responsibilities, blaming the trainees.

Haugh couldn't help but burst into laughter, almost crying from the amusement.

"No wonder you're the talk of the capital and the royal palace. You might even get along with him perfectly."

Eva wore a cold expression, coughed to regain his attention, and spoke sharply.

"Sir, forgive my lack of courtesy, as you didn't introduce yourself. Could you please spare the laughs for later and tell us the emergency we were called for? I hope it's not for casual greetings."

Haugh was shocked, caught off guard. He initially thought he was meeting a petite woman with foolish hobbies, since he knew about the 'stupid' things Ogen was sending to her using many different names. However, standing before her was the opposite of his imagination—a formidable woman, someone he couldn't jest with.

He stood up and walked towards her. The moment he stopped a foot away, he felt his legs sinking, head heavy, and limbs immobile. He couldn't breathe, and his strength was draining. It dawned on him that it was Eva's doing. That's when he realized the gravity of the situation.

'She's of the same kind as Ogen!' he exclaimed in shock.

Opening his eyes, he muttered, "Two Monarchs in the same country isn't a good thing."

He then realized that his low muttering could be heard from a foot away, and that Eva had already heard him.

"What did you say?" she questioned, clearly shocked.

Haugh maintained an expressionless face and whispered, "Come to my desk at the headquarters; we need to talk." He walked away, expending most of his mana to negate her impact. Eva, however, halted him.

"When?" she asked.

"Tomorrow morning," he replied without stopping or turning around.

Back in her room, Eva removed her attire and walked towards a small wooden basin. She took it and filled it with her drinking water. Grabbing a chiffon and a scented soap bar, she dipped the cloth in water, created a bit of foam, and then, with her top bare, began to cleanse her body. She continued with her lower half, down to her toes and behind her ears. Taking another chiffon, she dipped it in water to remove the soap. Wrapping a blanket around her naked body, she headed to her wardrobe to choose something suitable for sleep. After selecting a simple dress, she took out a small bottle from her drawer and applied the liquid behind her ears, on her wrists, between her thighs, and on her ankles. After dressing, she went to her mirror to brush her hair, which seemed healthier and shinier after her care for it in the last few months.

She turned off the candle lights and approached her bed, wrapping herself tightly in the blankets and dozing off, trying not to dwell on what tomorrow would bring.