The Two Empresses
The Crown Princess Candidate

"Greetings, Sir. Thank you for bothering me and Parvati" Stevan said, saluting. Vatra snorted hearing it.

"Well! What are beings like you here for?" cibir Vatra's.

"The same question for you, sir," replied Stevan calmly. Vatra smiled a cynical smile, his hand trying to reach him, but Stevan immediately rejected him. "Please don't touch me, sir."

"You dare also to the size of a lowly angel," said Vatra. Stevan laughed at hearing that.

"At least I was not rejected by all the creatures of Eurashia" Stevan replied. Vatra laughed loudly at hearing that.

"Damn it, you insulted me?"

"No" replied Stevan kalem. Vatra turned around and carried Vristhi away from the palace. Stevan sighed and slowly carried Phillip. Parvati walks in and sees Phillip.

"How's the Marquess doing?" ask Parvati.

"She was just knocked unconscious, but Archduchess Rosemary was taken away" Stevan replied. "Master Vatra took her."

"I understand. We better lay the Marquess in the room," Parvati said. Stevan nodded and took Phillip to the nearest guest room. Carefully lay the man down to rest. They rushed out and found Cerlina walking hurriedly over.

"What's going on here?" ask Cerlina.

"It's a long story, miss. We should move places to chat and clean up everything," said Parvati. Cerlina nodded and followed the two towards the palace garden filled with sea-blue flowers.

"What flower is this? It's beautiful" asked Cerlina.

"I'm sorry, I don't know the name of this plant. I'll get you information if Miss wants it" Parvati replied. Cerlina just shook her head and continued to walk until she reached an ivory-white gazebo.

"I'll prepare tea for you, Miss," said Stevan as he walked back to the palace.

"So can you tell me what really happened?" ask Cerlina. Parvati gave a sad smile to hear it.

"I'm sorry if my words are less pleasing, but this incident was caused by an angry Archduchess Rosemary. Not only that, he also allied himself with the enemies of our country."

"Who?"

"Vatra" answered Parvati. Cerlina staggers to hear it, until Parvati intervenes to hold it. "Miss?"

"Thank you, I'm fine" said Cerlina. "Why did Vristhi betray?"

"I don't know, it's better for Miss to ask directly with the Marquess who probably knows better" Parvati replied.

"Phillip how?"

"He's just unconscious, it looks like he'll wake up."

"... This news should not be spread. Our country's been pretty fucked up, lest there be a civil war here. Moreover, the elves could have used this time to heat up the people to defect" Cerlina said. "What about the victim?"

"Nobody died, on average, suffered fractures and bleeding, but it did not threaten the lives of the victims" Parvati said. Stevan returned with appetizing tea and snacks, but Cerlina lost her appetite. Looking at Stevan pouring a reddish-brown liquid on a porcelain cup, his mind was fixed on a problem.

"Lao?"

"...he is dying" said Stevan. "We're not allowed to go near the Duke, even just bring him food."

"Why is this so?" cerlina. He got up and walked away from the gazebo, followed by an anxious Parvati.

"Great Priest, where are you going?"

"Meeting Boldstone. He should be in charge of resolving this matter," Cerlina retorted quickly.

"Great Priestess, that's too rash! You can ruin your reputation!" parvati Sahut. Cerlina stopped and looked down.

"Then what should I do? If I keep quiet, it means I'll just be eliminated. I'm not as strong as Saciel, smart as Lao and firm as Vristhi. I'm.weak," said Cerlina lirih. Parvati slowly approached and clasped Cerlina's hand.

"Great Priest, no, Miss Cerlina. You have other abilities that people don't have. You are not weak, trust me" comfort Parvati. Cerlina gave a bitter smile hearing that.

"I can what? Just bless, cast out demons and do simple magic" he said bitterly. Parvati shook her head.

"Someday, Miss will show you the true power of Miss."

"Archduchess Arakawa" Parvati said, saluting. Saciel raised a hand to stop him. "What can I help you with?"

"The crown princess's election is still running?" ask Saciel.

"Still," answered Parvati firmly.

"Imend to the people that the election will start tomorrow morning at 8am. The longer we delay, the more people will lose faith. Soon," said Saciel. Parvati nodded and rushed away, leaving behind a confused Cerlina. "Thank God you haven't left yet."

"Where am I going?" ask Cerlina.

"Teaching Boldstone maybe?" saciel Goda. Cerlina laughed at hearing that.

"You like to be seductive" said Cerlina.

"sorry. But what Parvati said was true. You going forward to attack Boldstone will only damage your reputation" Saciel said.

"You think so too?"

"Sometimes I have to refrain from destroying myself. You know, my contract with the hellhound was already quite heavy, plus my stamina was meager and temperamental made me weak. But it doesn't change who I am" Saciel said. Cerlina laughed at hearing that.

"You're starting to look wise."

"No, that's not wise. Just a handle on life," Saciel replied. "On Vristhi.I think I know what he wants."

"What does it have to do with Lao?" ask Cerlina. Saciel nodded. "Is it possible that Vatra will help her?"

"So, I'm not sure about that. The search for some materials was delayed because I heard Tania was sick, while Istvan and Ilmol were gone. Who can I send to find the rest of the material? The forest elf tears can only be found in the elf region and the only person who knows the elf region is only Phillip," Saciel lamented. "Mermaid blood is still in search, mandrake is still less than 2 days away. Duh, hard!"

"It looks like we should go" Cerlina said. "Too long silence will not produce anything."

"You can walk in the woods?" ask Saciel.

"I'll be fine, brother. Don't be pretentious," Cerlina replied half-jokingly. Saciel laughed hearing that.

"I know, all right. We're the ones who left. But I'd better ask Julian to keep an eye on the city..."

"Let me take care of it, Archduchess," Stevan cut as he approached.

"You do, Stevan?"

"I'm willing, Archduchess. You don't have to worry," Stevan replied calmly. Saciel thought for a moment and nodded.

"Alright, the business here I leave it to you. Ah, stay alert with Boldstone. We don't know what he's planning after this. Can you?"

"Can," replied Stevan. Saciel smiled and clasped Cerlina's hand.

"You ready? We're gonna move fast."

"When," retorted Cerlina. Saciel flicked his fingers and the two disappeared from Stevan's sight. He gave a faint smile and turned around, finding a little boy similar to Oorun standing with a single Onyx orchid in his grasp.

"Welcome, Lord Oorun. What are you doing here with such an innocent child?"

"Just a reminder, you and Parvati should not interfere too deeply. You're just supervisors. Your mistakes during the war are still a record, Stevan," he said.

"Ah, when I helped that prince demi-human from the dead?" reply Stevan. Oorun put on a cold expression.

"And Parvati is trying to put the two together, are you crazy? That great priest alone is enough, you still intend to make them fall in love, huh?"

"My god, we never took care of their love affairs. It is possible that the seeds of love grow out of their own desire. We're just watching" Stevan said. "From that, you can't just want to have someone else kill Lord Vatra. He's too strong."

"That's what you think. I don't think so, just a little different," Oorun replied calmly. "I still can't stain my hands with his blood. Oluphemi could have been vengeful with me."

"I'm sure she's been grudging after you left her pregnant" Stevan said. Oorun frowned and instantly slammed hard on his head until the ground cracked.

"Your mouth is quite venomous yes to the size of an extinct angel. If I were you, I would be careful not to destroy myself. Well, but we are different anyway," said Oorun sharp. He walked towards the palace and disappeared, leaving Stevan who got up while trying to stop the bleeding in his head.