The Two Empresses
Early War

Phillip walked up to Cerlina and sat next to her with a tired face. Cerlina focused all her attention on him and stroked his cheeks gently.

"You okay?" ask Cerlina.

"I'll be fine if Saciel and Lao are okay" Phillip lamented. "Good God, why is there a battle almost every day? Now, two of the 7 strongest magicians are even tepar. Uh, a minute, 3 deng."

"Are you heard from Istvan?"

"Not yet, but I hear he's fine. Just cracked bones and sprained legs."

"Phillip, is it true that gods can have children?" ask Cerlina. Phillip looked at her straight and nodded, making Cerlina sigh. "We met one of the sons of the gods."

"Then?"

"He is the son of God Oorun and also half a human" Cerlina said. Phillip fell silent and sighed. "I thought you'd be surprised."

"I'm not surprised by that anymore. But..why did he attack us?" ask Phillip. Cerlina shook her head and stared at the floor, hoping that it could be hollow just by looking at it. They were unaware Saciel was walking down the stairs wearing a large scarf-coated nightgown.

"The situation in Careol is hot. Everyone was at a loss as to what was happening and the throne was still as empty as ever. If this continues this country can be attacked" complained Phillip.

"Not as long as we can strengthen our military power" Saciel said. Both were shocked and turned around. Saciel raised next to his eyebrows. "Why?"

"You're sober?" chirps Cerlina.

"so. Why are you guys so grim? Slaughtered by a god?" joke Saciel.

"It's more like a demi-god" Cerlina said. Saciel positioned herself on the sofa and placed her head above her hands. "And you must not believe."

"Who?"

"Son of God Oorun" said the two. Saciel was shocked and straightened his body.

"Huh, what? Oorun said? Just found out I had a child" Saciel said.

"Moreover me" lamented Cerlina. "It is natural that gods have children, even illegitimate children. But Oorun was never seen close to any god, not even humans, except his followers."

"Hey, they've never published their private lives" Phillip said. "Then I heard that Vristhi almost lost against him."

"No surprise. He's got to control the undead, not fight brutally" Saciel said. He is unaware that Vristhi is standing behind him with a deadly face, leaving Cerlina and Phillip dead. "What's wrong?"

"Sa-ci-el~ you don't want to be my undead yet, do you?" vristhi asked with a voice made as low as possible, making Saciel shudder and turn around. "Hm?"

"Not yet and stay away, you're terrible" Saciel said as she retreated slowly and sat down beside Phillip. Vristhi threw herself on the sofa that had been occupied while staring at three friends in front of her. "What?"

"Phillip, do you intend to marry these two girls?" ask Vristhi. Phillip shook his head and put on the face of the fisherman.

"No, thank you. They are better suited to be friends than lovers. How's Lao doing?"

"He's good" he answered briefly. Saciel was about to make a sound, but he paused. A waiter came in and brought him some snacks and tea. While waiting for the waiter to pour the tea, Saciel pulled out a slug of m-initial handkerchief with a tired face.

'This is the child why hold a handkerchief belonging to the demi-human? Is it possible.ah, not possible. They're enemies, Phillip's inner self, shaking his head.

"You why?" ask Cerlina.

"Eh? Ah nope. Who's handkerchief is that?" phillip asked, pointing at Saciel. The one asked shook the handkerchief with a flat face.

"No need to pretend, stupid. I know you're actually wondering why I'm playing it, right?" reply Saciel ketus. Phillip smiled a stiff smile, his mind spinning quickly trying to find an excuse to keep him from being suspected. "I forgot to return this."

"will not. You forgot Requiem had a connection to hell?" answer Vristhi.

"What do you mean?" ask Saciel.

"He's also part of 'close to death', just like me. Where there are crazy people who are determined to attack him," said Vristhi lazy.

"Well, you're right. But.." his words were interrupted when the butler came over with a pale face.

"Miss, the priests have come to pick up Miss Cerlina."

"How dare they come here when it's so messed up. Get rid of them" Saciel said.

"Sorry Miss, but there are Boldstone Elders as well" continued the butler.

"Send him home. Tell him the Great Priestess needs to take a break from her duties" Saciel replied.

"Add, until there is a result of the investigation Cerlina Arakawa will remain here" Vristhi said. The butler nodded and left the room.

"Is there still no result" asked Phillip.

"I heard the case was closed, weird right?" reply Vristhi.

"It is not surprising that the elders are intervening in this matter" Saciel said. They were shocked when the Boldstone Elder forcefully entered with anger implied on his face. "Hey, what the fuck are you?!"

"I'm telling you to hand over the Great Priestess now. Can't you hear the orders for a minute?" the Amuk the Boldstone Elder.

"Can't you be more civilized? This is Arakawa's residence, not Boldstone's house" Saciel asked calmly. He began to try to be calmer in the face of unpleasant people, although there was still a sense of cursing as hard as possible.

"How dare you say that to me as an elder."

"My position is higher because I'm the Archduchess. You still want to fight me?" ask Saciel. The Boldstone Elder was silent, but the clattering of his teeth he did not hide, making Saciel reveal a sinister smile. "Boldstone?"

"I'm sorry for my behavior, miss..."

"Miss, you say? You sure?" cut Saciel.

"... Archduchess Arakawa." Saciel smiled in satisfaction and let the Boldstone Elder sit down. "I'm here to pick up the Great Priest."

"Oh, good of you. But..after inside the attempted murder that happened to Cerlina, I doubt I can hand her back."

"You..."

"Boldstone, you're lucky to be alive after daring to insult Archduchess Arakawa. You're not going to face God Oorun today, are you?" snapping Vristhi. Boldstone stood up and trembled to see several pairs of eyes staring intently at him. He hurried away without greeting, making Saciel and Vristhi laugh out loud.

"Ouch, crazy! Did you see that pale face?" ask Saciel.

"You are outrageous, though not wrong," Phillip said, holding back laughter.

"It's fun, you know? After this what are we gonna do?" ask Vristhi.

"What if we find a way to cure Lao first?" chirps Cerlina.

"I agree, I don't have much to do" replied Saciel. Lao walked down the stairs and patted the top of Saciel's head.

"No need, Sweetie. You should focus on domestic affairs first," said Lao kalem.