ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ２： ＡＣＴ Ｉ
𝑮𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒓

A man with blonde hair and green eyes clasped his hands, crossing his left leg on the other as he sits on the throne owned by Halal Empire's Emperor.

His eyes looked down at the fallen royals kneeling on the ground with chains binding their neck and wrists. This would never have happened if they negotiate with him instead of playing tricks.

"What are we going to do with them, Your Highness?" One of the soldiers asked with his sharp blade pointing at the Emperor's neck.

"The royal family together with its blood relatives from a fallen Empire must be beheaded. It's a custom, is it not?" Napaangat ng tingin ang Empress na nanlalabo na ang mata dahil sa luha.

"No! Please, spare the lives of the children!" She pleaded, her head turning at the young children birthed by her and the Emperor's concubines.

"As the Empress of the Empire, you dare beg for your enemy? Preposterous! You don't deserve—" The Emperor was cut off when the prince throw his sword in his direction. Tumarak ito sa pagitan ng hita niya kaya nahigit niya ang kanyang hininga.

"Since your husband would rather die with his family than beg for mercy, then I shall grant his wish." He motioned his left hand, signaling the soldiers to behead them.

"Stop!" His hand was suspended in the air when a woman shouted and stood up. Her natural curly white hair cascaded down her neck, looking at him with her stubborn ruby eyes.

"I am Valencia Rothnia, the First Princess of Halal Empire. Though a fallen royal, I was trained in various ways in etiquette and politics. I have high influence in high society and have learned how to become a proper woman to serve my husband," she introduced, her fingers trembling as she tried her best not to stutter in every word she says.

"If you spare the lives of my family, I am willing to offer myself to be your wife and do everything in my will to serve and please you." He stood up and approached her, his eyes were piercing as he pulled her jaw to take a closer look at her.

She looks beautiful, like a doll perfectly made to be played. "Become my wife?" He let out a small laugh, mocking her seemingly bold yet stupid offer. "You think your body and looks is enough to be my wife?" He continued to sneer.

She felt shame washed over her, but despite the insult she received—she remained standing with her fists clenched. As the first princess, it's her responsibility to keep her siblings safe. She will not falter in front of this beast.

"A father's sin is not a burden by his children," she whispered as she glanced at her father who refused the negations and caused this disaster.

"True. But what should I do? Letting a fallen royal live is like encouraging them to seek revenge once they're back on their feet. Why must I do that?" He asked playfully, raising his left hand to tuck strands of her hair at the back of her ears.

"I swear on the name of Rothnia that none of my family members will seek revenge if you marry me. They will be under your disposal, and I shall forever be loyal and faithful to you and become useful in whatever means you find necessary." Despite her long speech, the prince doesn't seem to care. But he admires how she disregarded her dignity as a royalty and brazenly offered herself for the sake of her family members.

"If what you said is true, then prove it. Kill your own father in front of them to seal the offer, and I swear in the name of Sylvestre Empire that I, Eryx Sylvestre, the crown prince, shall pardon Halal Empire's royalty lieneages by demoting them of their titles and banishing them to become slaves." He was expecting her to shiver in fear and see river of tears reflecting on her eyes, but she did not.

Instead, she pulled his sword from his sheath and turn towards her father and beheaded him without batting an eye. Everyone in the throne room was shocked. The Empress fainted due to shock, and her brothers and sisters screamed and wheep in hatred and pain.

But Princess Valencia Rothnia did not even shed a tear.

***

"Your Highness, we received news from the capital." Eryx lifted his head to look at Ivor, his best friend, and at the same time, his first officer.

"What about it?" He lazily shifted his attention back at the economic paperwork of Halal Empire he was patiently reading for a few hours.

"There was an assassination attempt towards the Vermillion Caped General." Napatigil sa pagbasa ang binata at muling napatunghay kay Ivor, senyales na magpatuloy ito sa pagsasalita.

"She survived, but she was poisoned. As a result, she's incapable of fighting and is too weak to even weild a sword," Ivor continued.

She's poisoned and not capable of fighting anymore?

"The whole capital is aware of this?" Tumango-tango si Ivor.

Eryx tilts his head, brushing his index finger on his lips as he fell into his deep thought. He owed the Vermillion Caped General. If it wasn't for her, he's still stuck in Tamil blindedly thinking that Halal Empire is willing to negotiate. He and his troops could have died if Tamil were to suffer in famine.

He was planning to give her credits for winning the territory and ask the Emperor to bestow her the title of the Goddess of War. But what now? Her condition must have spread across neighboring empires, and once they knew the feared general has fallen, they might take that opportunity to start war once again.

"Immediately inform the troops we are going back to the capital tomorrow."

"What about Valencia Rothnia, Your Highness?" He closed his eyes and pursed his lips.

"We'll take her with us and see whether she will be useful or not." Akmang aalis na si Ivor nang tawagin itong muli ng prinsipe.

"Let the Imperial Doctors travel to the frontier to check on her under my orders and see if she can be cured." Tumango na lamang si Ivor at tuluyan ng umalis samantalang naiwan namang nag-iisip si Eryx.

Whatever happens, he can't just let his benefactor die.