Shadow Empress (GirlxGirl) (COMPLETED)

Chapter 9 | Bandits

It was the second day of the journey towards the noble consort's homeland when an attempt to assassinate the empress happened. Elpis was enjoying her time reading when her carriage drew to a halt in the middle of nowhere.

"What's going on? Are we there yet?" The imperial and noble consort who shared the carriage with the empress was surprised by the sudden movement. Grace was about to ask the coachman what's going on when Elpis stopped her from moving.

"Something's not right. We aren't supposed to be there until tomorrow." Elpis grabbed her sword and pulled it out from its sheath.

"Virtra, Grace wait until I call your name. Don't leave this carriage until I say so." Both Virtra and Grace nodded. Elpis got out from the carriage to find her guards fighting off a group of bandits.

"Princess Elpis, I assume!" A figure suddenly appeared in front of Elpis wielding a sharp blade.

"Correct. To whom do I owe the pleasure?" Elpis easily stopped his attack using her sword. The bandit was taken off guard when his target knew how to use a blade.

"Seems like I was a bit to confidant coming here. They never told me the princess knew how to wield a sword." Elpis remained expressionless.

"They? And here I assumed you wished to rob me." The bandit noticed that his men were being cut down by the empress' guards. He usually refused to back away, but it seemed to be the only way to survive this encounter.

"I hate to leave, but it seems I'm no match for the princess. Have a good day." But before the bandit could turn to flee, an arrow pierced his shoulder, leaving him wounded.

Elpis smiled when she saw consort Elena lowered her bow. The consort blushed a deep shade of red when she noticed Elpis' eyes looking at her.

"Who are you?!" the bandit leader asked while applying pressure on his wound to prevent losing too much blood. Elpis knelt and forcefully opened the bandit's mouth. She then removed the poison from inside his mouth.

"How did ... you're not just a princess. Who are you? Please have mercy. I have a wife and kids to feed. I only do this kind of job to survive in these dire times. Please let us go." Elpis ordered her guards to capture the remaining live bandits.

"You said you have a wife and kids? So why did you have this poison in your mouth? So you're willing to die for the person who hired you? What a noble man you are." Elpis turned to the head guard.

"Treat their wound. We need these bandits alive. Besides, we only have a day worth of travelling left. Feed them, and when we arrive at the noble consort's homeland, start interrogating him." The guards' bow as Elpis turned to enter her carriage.

"Bandits?" Virtra asked as soon as Elpis entered the carriage.

"Here is a little token from the bandit leader. Do you know what kind of poison this is?" Elpis showed a small round pill that she managed to get from the bandit.

"No. But I bet sister France does." Elpis kept the pill safe and sound until they arrive at their destination. When the day turned to sunset, Elpis ordered the guards' to make camp by the river before continuing on their journey tomorrow.

"Here is your food. You're lucky that our empress is kind." A guard placed a few bowls of food for the bandits to eat. The group of bandits were surprised.

"Is it poisoned?" The bandit leader asked the guard.

"Do you think we have the time to poison our prisoners? The empress only wants to know who sent you to attacked us. Enjoy your life while you still have it. Take this opportunity to reflect on your actions. By the time we're done interrogating you, the empress will decide whether you live or die." The guard leaves the bandits to reflect on their actions.