Chapter 5 - part 1: "Empress"

[ZEYANA] Two years after...

"Her majesty? More requests came from the kingdom of Triermond and from Yiver... also Denurbra, Keinenword, Raceporton ..."

Thomas, my royal advisor came into my office carrying a large basket, containing missives from the kingdoms that were under the influence of Atenarte.

The empire I ruled had increased its strength and its territories thanks to a good network of alliances of commercial or military nature, which relied especially on our bellic strength, forcing many countries to submit by threats of war, if they didn't want to accept a collaboration.

Loyalty to the empire was a prerequisite for joining the alliance league. Conquered kingdoms had their autonomy, their freedom, I wouldn't become a tyrant and I wouldn't have hurt the vanquished without reason. My father had a political line not too different from mine and this had facilitated my choices, so that they didn't clash with the positions of the ruling class.

Obviously, those who resisted or tried to invade the territories of Atenarte would have to face our efficient war apparatus. Just as happened with Fokranstad: Ferguso III was a horrible man, unable to lead his people and lacking in governmental skills; people like him only deserved to be condemned, they didn't have the right to rule.

"Your Majesty, are there any other tasks for me?"

Thomas was a reliable person, I felt comfortable around him and it didn't happen often. Even if I had power and influence, I could become a vulnerable target and I'd have to keep my eyes open during my ruling. Being an empress meant that I didn't have breaks: I had to be ready for any unforeseen event.

The most unpredictable were the nobles of Atenarte, who never stopped thinking about their interests and making impossible or completely unmotivated requests. They wanted me to marry to create stronger alliances with richer and stronger kingdoms, they wanted me to raise taxes or to initiate a policy of restriction against poor refugees... essentially they just wanted to get richer at the expense of the less fortunate people.

Thanks to my power, I immediately got rid of the figures that gave me more problems, replacing them with trustworthy and competent people, but unfortunately I could not have driven out all the opponents.

"You did a good job today, you can rest, but before you do… could you call Alex? I have to talk to her."

I saw Thomas make a hasty bow before leaving my office to attend to the last assignment I had given him. I hadn't seen Alex for a week and I wanted to know how she was doing right now: she had started some sort of research, as she called it. She claimed it could help Athenarte, but her absence made me restless.

When it came to her, I became anxious and uneasy and I still couldn't explain why: not knowing her past and not understanding certain looks she gave me left me too often bewildered and I hated feeling vulnerable.

I was afraid that Alex was planning something in these months. I was aware of her noticeable changes since I had become an empress. I felt like she was stranger to me…

I sighed, putting down some papers I was reading, and turning towards the window of my office, I observed the courtyard of the imperial palace; I paused on the great oak that inhabited that green expanse. With my thoughts I often went back to that night when I had seen Alex terrified for the first time, but I had never been able to know the truth behind her fear… thereafter this would change.

I knew that investigating without her knowing was wrong, but it had become necessary and urgent: I had ordered some of my most trusted men to research Alex's past at Clevwood, hoping to find just what I was looking for.

How many times had I stared at those eyes, even in the middle of the night, even when we got lost in passion, to try to decipher her thoughts or emotions: I felt a shiver of cold every time an annoying sensation touched my conscience, it was of a truth that I didn't want to hear, that I wanted instead to bury in unawareness. The idea that Alex was using me, the idea that every kiss, every caress was part of a play that she carried on as the protagonist, wearing thousand masks and constantly pondering which was the best in each situation.

Her mind and body seemed to be two separate entities: while her personality had changed in these two years, our physical relationship had remained the same, the passion had never diminished and we still met in my room to satisfy that incomprehensible need, to unite and then separate each time.

When my father handed me the imperial scepter, granting me the right to ascend the throne and initiate my rule over Atenarte, Alex had been the first to give me some peace in the midst of that endless chaos. I hated and loved at the same time the way my body always bowed to that craving for attention from the charming witch. It had been like this from day one, from the first night in my tent in Fokranstad.

The idea of ​​having it all to myself and the belief that in some way it would lead me to victory in my kingdom, had overwhelmed me, leading me to take it that same night and make it mine right away, almost leaving an indelible mark of my passage to force her to reciprocate my attentions and convince her to accept my proposal. She attracted me, amazed me like no one had ever done, and I found her indifference to my status as empress and princess times truly thrilling.

As time went by, I learned that I simply didn't need her politically, even physically I couldn't do without her. The empty bed in my large room was always too cold for me, so I couldn't sleep.

"Her Majesty, I'm back with bad news... it would seem that no one knows the current position of the virtuous Alex of Clevwood. The guards saw her leave the palace four days ago. I have sent someone in the city to look for information and as soon as I hear from them, I will make sure to bring her back to you!"

"There's no need."

Thomas looked at me in amazement; I apologized to him for the inconvenience, asking him to inform anyone looking for me of my temporary absence. I had decided to personally search for Alex, hoping to find her as soon as possible.

After I went quickly to my rooms, changing my clothes so that I could easily blend in with the crowd, I followed the secret path that would lead me out of the imperial palace, away from the eyes of the soldiers. Once I arrived in the streets of Riviera, I entered the festive atmosphere of the people, who anxiously awaited the arrival of spring days, to rejoice in the new season and rebirth after winter.

The first days of spring were acclaimed with ceremonies and banquets throughout the empire: there were funds that could be used for these occasions, so that no one lacked the material and food necessary to survive. The army itself was in charge of traveling around the empire or the governors of the various regions were instructed to distribute the wealth granted by the imperial palace. I had worked on this project with my father's permission since I was a princess and once I became empress, I had freed myself from any resistance put up by the nobles, winning the approval of those most willing to change. One of the main problems of Atenarte was the conservative class that prevented positive transformations from taking place in the empire, especially in favor of the weak.

After personally seeing destroyed villages, mass torn apart by hunger and poverty, desperate people and children so thin that you could see their bones, I could not remain silent in front of their requests of help. I would have done everything possible to improve the condition. It was my duty.

Wandering the familiar streets of Riviera, I realized that without clues, without information about Alex's whereabouts, I would never find her, so I resigned myself, calling the attention of my personal guard, Malik. Nobody knew of his existence, I had hired him while I was at war with a northern kingdom and at the time he had worked for the opposing army, as a chosen mercenary; I immediately saw in him an exceptional virtue, great skills that with targeted training would have made him really strong. Confronting him on the battlefield, I convinced him to follow me amidst the screeching sound of swords and made him my personal spy: he was a person I could trust because he depended completely on me and had decided to give me his life, after my decision to spare him and his loved ones. Obviously I had provided for his family, allowing them to enter the borders of the empire, under my protection. I was not an evil person, I would not have left his people in a country destroyed by war and in the midst of an enemy army.

I looked around and caught a shift near me, to my right: Malik appeared at my side, stepping out of the crowd as if he had always been there waiting for me and began to follow my step, slowly approaching.

"Her majesty."

"Find the witch for me. I have already ran out of patience"

"Yes, her majesty"

Malik disappeared back into the crowd, ready to take care of the task I had entrusted to him.

I decided to reach the square while I was waiting for him, convinced that he'd come back soon thanks to its great capacities: the space was animated by stalls of various types, many offering food to passers"by, and I observed the joy on the faces of the families who walked the streets of Riviera or of the couples in love who exchanged glances full of affection. A few children were playing ball; one of them fell right in front of me, tripping over the cobblestones of the square.

I helped the child get up smiling at him and saw him freeze in front of me: the people knew my face, at least most of the people of Riviera had seen it during my returns from conflicts or when I was visiting the temple of the capital, to pay homage to the divine spirits who watched over the empire.

"A"re you the beautiful princess? I mean the empress! " the little one covered his mouth with his hands and looked around frightened. His friends watched him bewildered, but after a while they started playing with the ball again.

"Yes it's me, but let's keep it a secret between us, okay? " I brought the index finger to my lips in a gesture that was meant to make him understand to remain silent about my presence in the city, right in the midst of ordinary people. In my position I could not afford to make mistakes and I knew I was well loved by the people but I also had to be careful of possible opponents, who would have jumped at the opportunity to hurt me or worse, kill me.

"Yes!" He smiled sparkling with joy and surprised me by taking my hand: "Mom and dad always say that her majesty is a gift from heaven, I believe it too! Thank you! "He told me before heading to his friends to continue playing.

It comforted me to see the happiness on the faces of my citizens: it was what kept me going. In this way I understood that I was doing good deeds and that my choices were right or that fighting was also necessary to defend these innocent people.

I did not love war, I had never loved it, but as I grew up I realized that it was part of my duty to overcome my personal disgust or my disagreement for the good of all. A sovereign, or an emperor, could not afford the luxury of behaving only following his own desires and the desire to enrich himself at the expense of others. Many tyrants had fallen because of their greed, many dead men struck by their own sins and their lies.

A strong person always had to be one step ahead of all their opponents and not trust anyone, at least not someone who could gain control over you.

The minutes passed slowly that day, but as expected Malik returned before an hour had passed, with news that I would not have expected: "Her Majesty, I humbly ask for forgiveness... the witch Alex has located my position and I have not been able to reach her."

He was not a man of many words, but observing his body language I always understood what he wanted to communicate; he was young, he could still improve and I didn't blame him for losing Alex, she was an escape expert after all.

She had used magic, something my people or surrounding peoples had only heard of in fairy tales, legends, ancient stories, or even invented tales to scare travelers from wandering around dangerous places in the narrowest territory, be it swamps, shady woods, mountains inhabited by beasts. I should have personally dealt with the situation, that was now certain.

"Malik is not your fault, Alex has knowledge that we do not have... I'll take care of it now."

Malik disappeared from everyone's sight and I spent some time walking through the crowd, thinking about what I could do to find out Alex's location, until I saw an all too familiar figure standing next to a stall. It was Keira, followed by two other soldiers.