The Two Empresses
Broken

"...are you okay? Are your eyes black like pandas?" tapped Cerlina while eating meat-filled bread with vegetables, her eyes watching Saciel's black eye bags.

"For staying up," Saciel answered. He grabbed the toast and ate it slowly, making Cerlina even more astonished. Aunt poured some tea and gave it to Saciel. "Thank you, Auntie."

"Is Miss having a problem with romance?" ask Aunty. Saciel is shocked to death and chokes, causing Aunt and Cerlina to help him.

"Why... romance?" saciel asked as he downed a cup of hot tea with just a few sips.

"Insting, maybe?" chirping Aunt. Saciel groaned and stood up, then left the dining table. "Miss?"

"I want to work first. Bring me some biscuits in the office" Saciel said.

"It's not usual for him to act like that" Cerlina murmured. Aunty laughed a little hearing that.

"That happened when Miss Saciel was 12. At that time, he had a crush on Count Montreal's youngest child and almost a week of no appetite" Bibi said. Cerlina little o-o heard it.

"She's adorable as it turns out, too" said Cerlina. The butler came in and saluted.

"Miss Cerlina, Mr. Requiem, I mean Duke Requiem came to see Miss," said the butler. Cerlina nodded and finished her breakfast, then rushed down to the hall and found Lao waiting with Julian.

"Welcome, Lao," said Cerlina.

"Thank you for giving me some time, Miss Great Priestess. Can we have a chat for a second?" ask Lao while saluting, as well as Julian.

"of course. Let's move to the living room" Cerlina said as she walked, followed by the men in the back. "Please prepare snacks and tea for our guests."

"Well, miss," replied the butler. After they all sat down, Lao handed him a piece of paper along with a pen.

"What's this?"

"The letter of approval to hold the election of the crown princess" Lao said. "The people are beginning to doubt the elders and some nobles are declaring to support this election" Lao said.

"With your condition like a dead man, you had time to take care of the country?" ask Cerlina wonder.

"Well, we can't linger here, son. You have supreme power after the elders, so you have the right to approve me or to refuse."

"...how many people have approved this?"

"The representatives of the 7 Eternal Wizards are me, the council, then the highest status nobles and representatives of the people" Julian said.

"So no one asked the elders for approval?" ask Cerlina.

"Representative elder, Erika even ran away with Yorktown. Boldstone is currently in the interrogation room for questioning" Lao replied. Cerlina sighed and signed the paper after reading it carefully.

"When will the election of the crown princess take place?" ask Cerlina.

"If everything goes well, I think in 3 days it will start" Lao replied.

"You also have to be prepared, considering that you are also a candidate for the crown princess" Julian said. Cerlina let out a small groan, but nodded to hint that she understood her responsibility. "Where's Saciel?"

"He is currently working. You want to meet her?" reply Cerlina. Julian just shook his head. "Oh yeah, is there any news about the person who poisoned me?"

"...there is nothing" Julian said.

"none? Whatchu mean?" ask Cerlina upset.

"I and Istvan have searched all areas even the desert, but there is no trace of the shrine maiden" Julian said.

"Did he die?"

"I doubt it" said Lao. "There's a chance he's alive, but not in this dimension."

"Is this because of Vatra?" ask Cerlina.

"It could be, he's a demigod" Lao lamented.

"What are you talking about?" saciel asked as he walked into the living room.

"Again?"

"It's serious, I'm collecting signatures for approval for this election" Lao said. Saciel sighed and stared fixedly at Lao's glove-covered hands. "Don't focus on my hands."

"We have to save yourself" Saciel murmured.

"For what? The country still needs us."

"Then who will take care of the 7 Eternal Wizards if you die? You don't even have any offspring" Saciel replied. Lao was silent for quite a while, making Julian speak up.

"Saciel's right, Lao. If you die, we can't find another leader" Julian said. Lao sighed and looked at Saciel.

"Have you heard about Julian's garden?" ask Lao. Saciel nodded, making Lao sigh again. "There is a possibility that we can get medicinal plants from the kahyangan garden, but no one knows where it is. So. I don't think it's any good."

"We have to try. I'll figure out a way, you just think about the state. Auntie, get all my gear ready."

"Hey, who told you to go? You can't leave Careol" Lao said.

"You can't stand in my way, Lao. I'll meet that god damn thing and I'll get that medicinal plant, ' Saciel replied. He left the living room, followed by Cerlina in a hurry. "Do you want what?"

"Help you to meet the god damn thing" Cerlina replied with a sweet smile. Saciel smiled complacently and nodded. They stepped outside, where the horse carriage was already waiting to take its master away. "Take us to the temple of Oorun."

"Eh? You crazy?" ask Saciel.

"No. That place was the ideal place to meet Oorun" Cerlina replied. The coachman nodded, leaving Saciel with no choice but to approve and enter the carriage. They immediately left the Arakawa residence, making Lao sigh in surrender.

"It seems useless that you forbid them" Julian said.

"Leave it. They are already far from our reach, all we can do right now is support. Let's go, we have a lot of business" Lao said with a sincere smile. "Oh yes, you call Vristhi to come to my place."

"Good."

...****************...

"Your Majesty, there is someone who wants to meet you," said the royal butler.

"Who?" ask Max. Before the royal butler replied, Dark breezed in casually without any fear. "Oh?"

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Allow me to convey a few things to you," Dark greeted in a sweet tone.

"You don't have manners, do you?" satir Max while holding his head with his right hand. "Just this time I found an uncivilized person entering the palace like that."

"Oh, that? Isn't His Majesty the same?" reply Dark cynical. "Oh, did I offend Your Majesty?"

"No, go on," said Max. The butler was about to ambush, but Max raised his hand to make him quiet.

"His Highness the Crown Prince and the members of the royal family have already dared to set foot in the Careol region without permission," Dark replied with a cold smile. Max laughed and waved his hand.

"Is that so? Means we're both in a disadvantageous position, like that?" ask Max.

"To be more precise, you're the only one in an unfavorable situation."

"Oh? You have the guts, as it turns out," said Max as he pulled his scythe from behind the throne. "Want me to chop off your head?"

"I doubt Your Majesty can do it" Dark replied as he flicked his fingers, followed by an explosion from outside. "One."

"Dear you!" maki Max while crashing and swinging his scythe. Dark dodged, but his left hand did not survive. Before retreating, Max again swung his scythe and smashed his right eye.

"Aragh!"

"You still dare to act?" max asked while pointing his scythe at Dark's neck.

"Of course, you think I'm scared?" reply Dark while pulling Max and burning him with black flames