The sky was still dark yet the woman sitting in front of the small vanity table was now preparing for the long day ahead. Despite her aching and bruised body, Astrid had managed to slip into a fresh set of tunics on her own, securing her bosom with a soft cloth before putting a thick dark gambeson in place.
"Your Highness, you're up earlier than usual today," The handmaiden entered the room in haste seeing her mistress holding a pair of golden hairbrushes to set her hair in place.
"Good morning, Shea. I need to see Father before starting my day. I heard he hadn't left his office still," Astrid looked at her reflection while her handmaiden worked expertly with her long ebony hair, putting it into a tight ponytail in order to withstand her long grueling day at work. Shea smiled tenderly at her appearance, grabbing a vial of clear liquid in front of her.
"How's the rumor mill today, Shea?" Astrid tilted her head mechanically, giving Shea an easier access to do her task. The clear liquid meeting her eyes instantly, the two of them watch her sapphire bejeweled eyes turn into a boring ashen state followed by a slight frown on her handmaiden's face.
"There was talk about a marriage between the Duke of Rio and Lady Shannon, servants were buzzing like bees going back and forth between two households since the start of the week. Rumor has it that the lady was carrying a child, it was a scandal that's been keeping the noble's mouth busy for sure," A child before marriage was indeed a scandal that will be the center of everyone's ridicule for a while, Astrid felt sorry for the Lady, she knew just how much of a handful the Duke of Rio was.
"The Duke of Rio sure was a fool, oh well, it looks like I have to congratulate Lucius for the future of his sister," Her Vice Commander Lucius would be the last to be in a joyous mood for the celebration, he treasured Lady Shannon so much that it scared all her potential suitor for years. The lady was a year past the Empire's marrying age, and it was her fool of a brother to blame. Not that she could reprimand Vice Commander Lucius for being such a doting brother.
Shea continued to narrate the words that been circulating among the social circles while she helps her put on her breastplate in place. It was Shea's little task to gather all the rumors for her, after all, Princess Astrid has more urgent task to tend to. Commanding the Imperial Knight was one of it, but it would be bad not to know the events unfolding away from her prying eyes.
It's been five years since she joined the Imperial Knights in secrecy, hiding her identity as the sole heir to the Imperial throne wasn't the easiest thing to do especially when her father, the Emperor Lindel Von Malthor II was a doting and overprotective one at that. Princess Astrid has always been a gifted child, but instead of learning her wife's duties, Astrid, unlike other noble ladies, decided to dedicate her time and effort to learning the sword, the ways of governing an empire, and everything that only the men of the empire were entitled to. It was her inferiority that pushed her to strive harder than anyone else in order to be worthy of the crown as the future ruler of the empire. After years of hard work and the long list of accomplishment behind her name as the knight Astel Pyrestorm, the title of Knight Commander of the Imperial Knights finally become hers.
"Good morning, Father," The Emperor, despite his age and his deteriorating health, was still as active as before. She knew that he would stay up all night just to read all the documents that needed his attention, and since the passing of the late Empress, her mother, the emperor's insomnia has only worsened by the day.
"You're up early, my dear," his hoarse voice making her heart ache, but Astrid refused to show an ounce of pity for her father.
"And you should be sleeping by now, Father," draping the blanket gently on his frail shoulder that he gladly accepted. Astrid felt a sense of relief every time she saw her father before she proceeded with her day. It was the only time that she could see him because of her duty as the head of the imperial knights.
"I'm fine, my dear. I'll just have to finish reading the report about the Northern Harbor," The Northern Harbor had been swarming with magical beasts for the last few months, an unusual occurrence since most magical beasts can only be found in the Kingdom of Haybeast in the East.
"The talk with the head of defense in the Kingdom of Haybeast went smoothly than I'd expected; it looks like they will handle the situation on their own. It should be okay for now, but I don't think we should just stay on our grounds and not look into it further," It worries her to let the Kingdom of Haybeast alone knowing how barbaric they can be at times. After all, the Northern Kingdom was the border between the Aetas and Haybeast. Each kingdom holds a significant duty to protect the capital city of Pariah and a conflict between them would endanger the stability of the Empire.
The Empire of Shentis was divided into four Kingdom: The Wind Kingdom of Aetas in the North, a land of fertile soil and prosperous harvest, the most powerful Kingdom in the entire Empire. The Fire Kingdom of Haybeast in the East, a land where the Magical Beast lived harmoniously with its people. The Water Kingdom of Valtos on the West, the protector of the Empire, the land of magic and sorcery. On the south, the desert and forgotten Earth Kingdom of Hayes. At the center of them all, was the prosperous land of Parriah; an open country where all the four-kingdom gathered, where the Shentis palace, the home of the current Emperor was located.
"I agree with that, but don't you think we have a more pressing matter to be discussing right now, my dearest Astrid?" She knew that tone a little too well; her father was so invested in finding a husband for her that it drove her crazy at times.
"Father, I don't think opening the gates of Parriah for everyone who wants to try and woe me was a good idea; what if our enemies start coming into the city as an excuse to win me over?" Astrid tried to talk him out of it a few times, but her father was a very persistent man.
"Oh, what nonsense are you spouting? I could be dying anytime soon; how can I face your mother in the afterlife without you finding a husband to take the throne and take care of you?"
"And I told you that I don't need anyone to take care of me; I can handle the throne on my own." Her confidence wasn't a bluff; Imperial Princess Astrid was trained to be the next Empress from the moment that she was born, the next ruler of the Empire of Shentis, and with her achievements so far, she knew that she could handle the throne better than anyone.
"Astrid, I never doubted your strength, nor I ever will, but if you'll be this stubborn, our lineage would end with you. How can I and your mother rest in peace with that knowledge in mind?" Astrid knew about her father's worries, but what can she do when the last thing on her long list of priority wasn't to be someone's wife?
"Can you stop mentioning death and resting in peace that often, Father? If this idea of yours won't work, you have to give up on your quest of marrying me off like you promised." There's no point in arguing with him for now, Astrid knew that despite her refusal to bend to his wishes, he was still the Sun of the Empire. He has his way of making things work on his favor, a trick that she was adamant to learn from him before succeeding the throne.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about this plan failing. Trust me, my dearest daughter, you will meet with your fated husband in no time; the prophecy said so," Before Astrid Von Malthor was born, the High Priest received an oracle, the child in the womb of the late Empress Athasia Malthor would be a daughter who would inherit the throne.
"She will be the sun that will reign brightly and righteously, the moon will be her companion; the stars shall align and bend according to their will and the land shall be blessed and unified for centuries to come."
It was an oracle that appeared after thirty years, the last Malthor who received a prophecy about their reign was her great grandfather, the previous Alpus Malthor. He died of old age and his reign was the most peaceful era the Empire had ever gone through.
After her talk with the Emperor, Astrid can't help but be anxious about the days to come. In less than a week, the Land of Parriah, the Empire of Shentis Capital would welcome everyone who wanted to partake in the quest to win her heart.
"Commander, are you alright?" Theodore Morandi, her right-hand man, approached her cautiously. The training has ended, with her winning against her platoon again.
"I'm fine, Theo. What do you want?"
"The Quest for the Crown Empress heart would be opening in a week, right?" He seems to be a little more eager than usual much to her surprise. Theodore devoted his life to the knighthood and seeing him interested in a quest that was meant to be for her sounded bizarre and absurd.
"Yeah, in a week," she mumbled nonchalantly, already feeling fatigued from all the training that she'd been through the entire week.
"So, are you interested in joining?" The question was not something that she was expecting, to say the least.
"What?"
"I mean, His Majesty said that it would be open to anyone, so I thought you would be joining as well. Most of the knights of the higher ranks decided to join," It was a variable that she hadn't thought of; her father said anyone could join, meaning everyone in the entire land of Shentis would be able to participate. Of course, the Knights have no exception since the emperor never made one either.
"When you say most of the knights of higher ranks, who do you mean exactly?" She was inquiring a little too much, but no one knew that she was the Crown Empress, and no one would be wise enough to even suspect when her disguise was impeccable enough to fool everyone for years.
"I heard that the second and third platoons would send their commanders for the quest. The neighboring kingdom would definitely be sending their unmarried kings and princes. There was a rumor that the Holy Church would participate also," Her mind was a mess with all the possible candidates that she had failed to consider when her father proposed the Quest. It didn't occur to her to even think about it, because she was busy devising a plan to make sure that no one would win her over.
"Knight Commander Astel, are you okay?"
"Oh, I'm just tired. Clean up the ground and assemble the knights; we'll be wrapping up for the day," Astrid commanded, not paying attention to her aide's puzzled expression. Theo went and did what he was told when she did not utter another word.
"You will all be resting for the next two days as part of the preparation for the upcoming Quest that the Emperor prepared for the entire land of Shentis, but don't let your guard down; on the third day up to the day of the gate of Parriah being open for everyone, it is the duty of the Imperial Knights to keep the safety of our people a top priority," In the middle of her speech, one of the knights raised his hand, and she gladly gave him permission to speak.
"Can a Knight participate in the Quest, Knight Commander Astel?" Astrid just wanted to disappear back to her room and sleep, but it looks like she has to postpone her plans. She needed to talk to the emperor once her duty as a knight came to an end for the day.
"I believed that everyone could participate in the quest; those who can manage to defeat me until the official start of the First Quest can participate. I wouldn't be generous enough to let any of you humiliate this squadron, do you understand!?" It wasn't her intention to stop anyone from participating but realizing that all the powerful families and kingdoms would be sending their best candidates, her knights would lose their chances before they could even step into the arena where the elimination would be held. If none of them could defeat her in training for the past few days, they certainly wouldn't make it either.
Astrid was the one who did all the upcoming tests for the Quest. Of course, the candidate for being the Crown Empress husband was anything but an easy path to take. He has to be someone who excels in the field that she deems necessary to fit in the role.
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