The Empress (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 15 - Greedy Nobles

  Astoria's POV
 
  These Northern nobles dare capturing monsters and parade them as if they are tamed beasts. Perhaps I should just let these monsters do what they do best but do I have the capability to do so?
 
  Nope.
 
  Currently I am facing a notorious monster known as chimera. To be honest, I hate facing this monster because it reminded me of how vast the power of God is. A chimera is a fire-breathing female monster with a lions head, a goats body and a serpent tail.
 
  They are vicious and nothing will stop them from devouring whatever that is in their path of destruction. I didn't even have my sword with me and yet I decided to face this monster with nothing to protect me. An ordinary sword will never kill it.
 
  I- I need-
 
  "Chimera!"
 
  "How did a chimera even managed to get through the barrier?!"
 
  "Those nobles did it again! Run! Run for your life!"
 
  When facing a chimera, all we need to do is -
 
  "Help me! My child! My child! Someone please save my child!" A woman started screaming for her dear life. I turned to where the chimera is and saw a child standing in front of the roaring monster.
 
  "The child-"
 
  My body began to picking up the pace as I ran towards the child. When I manage to grabbed the child, it gained the chimera's attention and before I knew it, I was running away from the monster while carrying a child in my arms.
 
  I can't continue to run away from this beast. I need to find a way to defeat it myself. It would be take a long time for the knights to come. So how? How am I suppose to stop this rampaging monsters?
 
  "Astoria!" That voice- why is the empress and Arthur waving at me from the bridge?! Wait- are they planning to use magic to destroy the bridge as the chimera runs beneath it?
 
  And I thought I told Arthur to bring the empress to a safer place! My eyes widen when the empress started chanting her spells as I run beneath the bridge. What is she trying to do?!
 
  "GEMINAE FLAMMAE!"
 
  I immediately covered the child with my body as the bridge collapse on the chimera. When the rumbling sound stops, I look up to see a huge rock landed on the chimera's head, killing it instantly. The child cried in my arms as she saw her mother running towards us.
 
  The woman continue to thank me before the empress and Arthur made their way towards me.
 
  "Are you okay? Are you hurt? I was so worried since you didn't even have your sword with you. Why would you run towards danger like that?!" Adelaide suddenly smack my head with her hand before she continues to lecture me.
 
  "That being said, is it true the nobles here capture monster in believe they could tamed it?" I nodded. Adelaide seems pissed off.
 
  "Why would anyone be stupid enough to put the innocents in danger? Ah, who am I kidding. Nobles tend to think they are superior than commoners. They often think that there is no greater power that could punish them. I wonder if they have forgotten me." Ah- since this incident happened in front of the empress, perhaps we can make use of this situation better.
 
  "Those greedy nobles!" Arthur clicked his tongue in annoyance before apologising to me.
 
  "Greedy indeed. How about we play a game." Huh? A game? With who? The nobles?
 
  "I have an idea."
 
 
 
  A few days later,
 
  "Do I have to wear this? But it's a dress. I don't wear dresses." Adelaide eyes made me stopped talking.
 
  "But you wore a dress when you went to the palace banquet. And you look beautiful in them." But- wearing a dress would revealed my ugly scars. The only reason I manage to wear a dress before is because it's a long sleeve dress. But this-
 
  "Can I just wear what I'm wearing now?" Adelaide hummed as she looks at me from head to toe. I'm wearing what men usually wear to formal party. It covers my scars and I feel confident since I could easily move in them.
 
  If anything bad happen, I can just draw my sword and protect the empress.
 
  "Alright. You're handsome wearing them now that I truly look at you. But-" Adelaide got up while the maids were doing her hair and stood in front of me.
 
  "A piece of jewelry wouldn't kill you." I look down and saw a brooch she place on my chest. It's a beautiful crimson coloured brooch with my family's insignia crafted from the gem. The artisan who made this must have been one talented person.
 
  "I knew it. You would look perfect with this brooch. I gave the artisan a week to complete the brooch and he pull it off miraculously."
 
  Adelaide continue to get ready while I took a seat on the chair and wait. I can't believe I have to attend a party hosted by one of the many nobles of the North who hated my guts. Even though I'm nervous, I really wanted to see how they reacted as I arrive at the venue with Adelaide.
 
  This woman said she wants to make sure every noble who involved in the recent incident to be punish accordingly. And I still can't understand why we have to attend a party. But Adelaide said it's important so who am I to judge?
 
  "Listen, I'll be doing all the talking. If they tried to talk to you, just stare at them as hard as you can. Don't even reply to any of their comments. I have a plan." I nodded.
 
  Adelaide looks at her self for one last time at the mirror before facing me with a smile.

  "It's been a while since I attend a part hosted by nobles. And this is my first time attending a party with a lover too. I am excited." That explains how elaborate she is in choosing her attire. The servants she brought with her are all exceptional individual with great skills.
 
  "Shall we?"
 
  I nodded before offering my arm for her. We went to the carriage and finally on our way to the venue. When we arrived, I immediately got our before offering my hand for the empress to take as she descended the carriage.
 
  "I didn't expect the host estate to be in better shape than the lord of the land. I'll asked Bolton to rebuild your castle immediately." Huh?
 
  "There is no need for that. I like the castle the way it is. Also, it's a piece of history. Aspen wouldn't be Aspen if the castle dissapear." Adelaide hummed. Did I said too much?
 
  "Fine. But the castle need to be fix." I escorted the lady into the party and immediately the nobles flock us like vultures. Not only they tried to make themsleves look good but also lied through their teeth about their so called 'suffering'.
 
  I admire Adelaide for being able to keep her smiling face. But hey, sooner or later she's going to lose it, right?
 
  "Enough."
 
  Ah- I speak too soon. I've been observing the empress since we became lovers. When she's happy, her eyes would lit up. Same goes when she's excited. When she's not happy, Adelaide refuses to say anything until she has to. But when she's angry of displease, her eyes would somehow reminded me of a demon.
 
  "Did you really think I wouldn't investigate every single details about you lot? Also, why none of you greeted countess Aspen when she walks into the venue with me? Isn't she your lord?" Come to think of it, I haven't told Adelaide that the nobles of the North doesn't acknowledge me as the lord.
 
  The only reason the Aspen continue to live in the castle is because they need someone to subjugate the monsters for them.
 
  "I'm sorry if my words seems rude but there is no need for nobles like us to bow to Aspen. It was us who takes care of the land while she's gone. Aspen should bow to us if they need to be acknowledged."
 
  Nonsense.
 
  "They took the rewards given to me from the emperor themselves. The golds, gems and jewel that was part of my reward were taken before they could even arrive at the castle. That's why I decided to take the issues into my own hands and reached out for count Lowenstein." Ah, the stares they gave me is so funny to see.
 
  "That's utterly nonsense. The reward was not even that much. Why would people like us took something as small as that?" The nobles of the North chuckled while others continue to undermining me.
 
  "That's odd- if you didn't took the rewards, how would you know how small the amount is?" Adelaide sighed as the nobles tried to retort.
 
  "Enough. I heard what I needed to hear. I should have started sooner in purging those who brings misfortune to the empire." Ah, Bolton and Adolfo is here. Wait, why are they here? And who are those people behind them?
 
  Wait, they are-
 
  "Demi-humans?!" I cannot tolerate this anymore! As the new appointed lord, the first thing I did was abolish slavery! This is against the law!
 
  "You've done some great things, nobles of the North. With this find, I feel like I'm in a mood to uphold justice for the people of the North. Let us meet again at the Supreme Court." Adelaide smirked.
 
Wait- Supreme Court?!