The Two Empresses
Wagering

"Hahaha, Vristhi are you challenging him to a fight? What say?" ask Lao while offering a cup of tea.

"He is indeed talented, even managed to cut off my hand in time quickly," Vristhi replied. Lao dropped his cup and clasped Vristhi's pale palm.

"Seriously? Is there a trace?" lao asked worriedly, occasionally stroking the soft arm carefully, as if touching a precious statue. Vristhi was silent, but her free hand stroked her cheek.

"Can't you forget me?" ask Vristhi. "We are very different."

"Different in what way, Lord my daughter? We are equally resourceful, equally noble, just different in nature and gender. Did you forget the promise we made when we were kids?"

"I haven't forgotten that promise, but..."

"Sorry I'm asleep.bat?" chirps Ilmol clumsy. "Umm, I think I came too early?"

"No, you came in time," Lao replied grudgingly, then released his grasp with a hurt face. "Welcome, Ilmol. You look pretty in orange."

"T-no need to praise me, Mr. Requiem," Ilmol replied in embarrassment. Lao invited the girl to sit down and serve a cup of tea.

"Don't use 'master', we're in the same position" Lao said. "How did you feel after being part of the 7 Eternal Wizards?"

"S-I'm so happy. This is my dream" replied Ilmol. "But Dad still doesn't approve of me, so it's a little heavy carrying this burden."

"Hmm when there was the same case as you a few decades ago. I don't understand the mind-line of the Phoenix family, men are superior to women. There are some witches stronger than the head of the family" Lao lamented. "Well, we better focus on you first. Sorry yes, our friends are currently busy, so the three of us used to talk."

"It's okay, don't think about it" Ilmol replied.

"It's so good of you. Alright, I've decided to give you a first job. But the risk is pretty big, can you?"

"Whatever you want, I will do it" replied Ilmol steadily. Lao gave a smile and turned to Vristhi. "She's fit to be a temple girl, isn't she?"

"Very suitable. With his innocent appearance I'm sure the elders can be fooled," replied Vristhi. Ilmol was silent, watching those who clashed their mouths to perfect their idea.

"Why temple girl?" his hand was silent for a long time.

"To keep an eye on the Great Priest who is in a disadvantageous position" said Vristhi.

"You know why, don't you?" ask Lao lirih. Ilmol fell silent, knowing very well the political condition of his country was chaotic due to the word that was once uttered by the Great Priest. He remembered that time together with his servant was tasting a cake at a new cake shop not far from Quetzalcoatl Park. How shocked he was after hearing the word and rushing home, finding his father had run away because of the sudden call from the elders.

"Go back and tell your father that you failed to be part of the 7 Eternal Wizards after meeting me and tell him you worked in the temple as punishment for failing to perform" Lao said.

"Did that work?" ask Ilmol. Lao shrugged, but his eyes looked resolute. Vristhi looked at him and gave a smile.

"Most likely to succeed, because the Phoenix once defected from us just because of the infinite lust for power. Try to attract the elders, you will definitely get value in their eyes," said Vristhi.

"Eitherway. As I remember Comet being ordered to capture Saciel and die in the Holy Forest, I could not believe anyone, not even those of you who casually gave up her death. But I couldn't just sit back and receive the news, so I hired someone to do a tacit investigation to get the facts that were far from my estimation."

"So the point is, who are you on?" lao asked kalem, not disturbed by the bitter facts revealed by Ilmol.

"..i'm on the side of the right, but I still haven't found a bright spot. So I'll follow your plan" said Ilmol. "If you are found guilty, I will immediately reveal all your plans before the elders."

"That's fair. No problem, we accept that condition" Lao replied. "Well, now you can come back."

......................

"Miss Grand Priest, your tea is ready" said one shrine maiden, carrying her teapot and cup. Cerlina sighed and nodded, letting the shrine maiden pour a brownish hot liquid on the lily-carved cup.

"Lately my body's limp, can you call a doctor?" tanyanya sipping tea.

Soon a doctor examined Cerlina and shook her head. "He was poisoned."

"Call the temple girl who prepared tea for him!" said the temple chief in a high tone.

"She had run away before Miss fainted" chirped the temple girl. The chief of the temple grew angry and sent soldiers to arrest the perpetrator and threatened all the temple residents not to spread rumors. But that doesn't apply to Julian Zografos. He who heard the news from the plants around the temple was a little panicked and hurriedly faced Lao.

"Lao, Cerlina, he's..."

"Great Priest, Julian. Where's your manners?" reply Lao kalem. Julian almost cursed, but he took a deep breath and was able to control his emotions.

"The Supreme Court was poisoned" Julian said. Lao fell silent and sighed, taking Julian to sit in the garden.

"That's what I've predicted, considering Cerlina has an important role in Careol. We can't interfere."

"What does this mean? Didn't you say you'd protect her from harm?" ask Julian in wonder.

"Indeed. But we can't be rash, Julian. Take it easy, I won't let him die just like that or Saciel will slash at me. The Great Priestess is strong, believe me," Lao said calmly.

"Lao, tell me you're not joking with death, are you?"

"No. I'm not kidding," Lao replied steadily. "If anything happens to the Great Priestess, I will take responsibility."

"Did he know this plan?" ask Julian. Lao shook his head.

"What if we spread this news?"

"You're putting Saciel in danger, stupid. You forget, his current position is being a fugitive at Respher."

"Ah, you're right. He's the scapegoat, isn't he?" chirps Julian. "But no one is suspicious of the elders?"

"I still don't know about it. Well, now I have an insider in the temple. We can check the condition of the Great Priestess more accurately."

"...who?"

"The first daughter of the Phoenix family, Ilmol Phoenix."

...----------------...

"...severately, let me digest all this. So you accepted the heirloom without knowing what it was?" asked Saciel in surprise. Marchioness Geliza nodded behind her elegant fan. "Isn't that too...gigabah?"

"The "witch who gave it was a good man. He had already made a protective seal in Mizuki City, even healing the citizens. Why would I doubt it?" marchioness. Saciel could only scratch his head in frustration.

"Next time you better not take it for granted. It could have been good intentions in front, but not behind," said Saciel resigned. "Can I go to that place now?"

"If you really need it, go ahead, please" said Marchioness. "But I keep charging you for that heirloom."

"Marchioness! What does that mean?" sahut Nero's.

"Grand Duke, what he took was an heirloom object that helped us to survive the enemy's attack."

"Well, he has a point too. All right, I'll replace it with something else so can a bishop..er anything to take me?" Saciel. The Marchioness told one of the soldiers to pick up a bishop, and there came a little boy with an innocent smile and snow-colored hair.

"Marchioness Geliza called me?" tanyanya friendly.