HIS EMPRESS✔️

Puzzles

STARLIGHT DAWN

"Vincentious!!," I ran up to my father figure, still mighty and bold.

"Your Excellency" His knees hit the floor while his arms were raised in an arch and fingers connected together. 

I scurried down and gave him a big bear hug if I got anything to describe it.

"You're back," I exclaimed. "And why haven't you brought a wife yet?"

We both laughed and slowly stood at our feet.
I couldn't be more happy.

"I heard that you just got back from the Cyan Kingdom, how was your stay there?," Vincentious asked as we both sat side to side on the table near the throne.

"I met some interesting people," I responded while taking some of the delicacies on the table and tried some. So far, the food here tasted as if it was made by my personal chef. 

"Interesting people?," He asked while rubbing his chin with his index finger.

"Yes, I met their emperor too," I smiled even if he can't see while he just responded with a nod.

"He's quite interesting, I agree with that,"

"You met him?," I tried so hard to keep the fascination in my voice.

"Yes, and we are not just acquaintances, he's a friend of mine,"

"How come I didn't know that?,"

Seven did mention Vincentious at the forest but the communication just ended sooner than anticipated, so he didn't go much into details. Zeke just appeared out of the blue and was saying sorry that he has to take away the emperor from me, leaving me astounded.

"Well, probably because we never told you, we were all focused on preparing you to become the mother of this empire and forgot to tell you things," Vincentious said. "But you'll know everything, sooner or later,"

"That Emperor was treating me like a child as if he wants to be my grandfather or something like that,"

Vincentious suddenly burst out laughing at my statements. "Trust me my dear, it's far from that, has he told you that the bracelet you are wearing is his first birthday gift for you? It's the sign of the Vengeful emperor, but I won't dare call him that, he had reasons,"

"He hasn't told me that," I said. "He only told me that it represents him, that's why getting in his palace is just a piece of cake, which is still a piece of cake even if I don't have it, I mean, I could just teleport there,"

It's been hours since I left Cyan, but I still wanted to go back for more answers. How am I feeling such emotions when I'm with Seven? Have I fallen for him at first sight when all he wanted to do was annoy me?

"Emperor seven's palace have been enchanted for his safety, he had wizards on his side, teleportation won't work"

"He's wise enough to make the remaining wizards pledge their loyalty to him, dark wizards could be a big threat too," I continued.

"That's why he ended the reign of the dark wizards, and made the good ones pledge loyalty to him by chanting a self destructive spell, where those who betray him will be burnt to ashes, I was there when they did, Emperor Seven made the good ones hunt every living dark wizards until nobody was left," Vincentious looked at me with a small smile.

"I never heard about that side of the story, Adam said everyone was killed except for those who pledged loyalty to Seven,"

"It's the same thing, your general only didn't go into details,"

"Will you play Go with me?" I asked him referring tot he 19X19 squared chess board beside us. It was a popular game for Eastern nobles and royals which usually consists of a board and round jade stones, either white or black from the opposing side.

Vincentious smiled at me and nodded. He has always been calm and composed even at the most chaotic second.

We both sat side by side, sitting with crossed legs.

"It's an honor to play with a formidable strategist like your majesty," Vincentious said, his moves were graceful and his face was gracefully painted, yet manly at the same time. Then he finally made the first move; the sound of stone echoed in the hall.

I laughed in response as I made my move, setting my own territories.

"I would be lax if my opponent wasn't you Vincentious, as the god of war, your reputation is still unwavering,"

Vincentious let out another fit of laughter before proceeding with his reposition.

"Why haven't you been my teacher?"

"I only take one student in this lifetime, and nobody is an exemption, even my daughter or... forgive me your majesty, but even you,"

"Figures," I said, playing a small smile on my face. "If I may have the serendipity, may I know who your student is?"

"It's the emperor of Strauss," he answered, and despite the scary reputation of Seven, he didn't show any sign of regret teaching him, which is good because he has become a great leader. Only words that fly and negative overstatements lead the man to notoriety. "Seven had natural talent, and honestly, I actually didn't do much,  my teachings only honed his abilities," Vincentious smiled at me.

We have exchanged our strategies for atleast an hour and I lost.

"It turns out I won this time, your majesty,"

"Okay, so you actually broke my undefeatable Go title," I laughed. "By the way, will you be staying?" I asked. He looked at me and gave me a sad smile. With that, I've got my answer. There was a brief silence between us before I decided to break it.

"Well I can't really restrain you in the palace," I beamed to give him reassurance. I can't keep him in my pocket forever. He might be my father figure but he's the chief general of the empire.

"I'll be going to the West, you can come with me so that we can spend ample time with each other little one,"

"You mean you're going to visit Seven?," I nearly covered my mouth in surprise that I actually can call him by his first name without formal associations.

"Yes," he smiled, but there was actually quite a different glimmer in his eyes that I caught.

"Well?" He repeated.

"There's nothing bad about that idea," I stood up and Vincentious followed. We started to move out of the throne room, receiving bows and greets from the  servants.