The marriage was successful and even though Feliz was grumpy throughout, he had managed to put on a calm face.

After the marriage, it was finally time for the newlywed couple to leave for the Isidor duchy.

Valentina - I can't believe my little brother has become old enough to get married. Sia I am relieved that you are the one marrying him. ( *Hugging them both* ) I hope you both get all the happiness of this world.

Alexis - I hope the same as her majesty. If you both ever need me I am right here. I hope you both will have a happy life ahead.

All of them smiled at each other and consoled Athena who was in tears seeing Artemisia married.

Artemisia - You can always visit me, no need to cry.

Artemisia hugged her and bidding them farewell, she and Vercil finally left.

Vercil - It was good that everything went smoothly.

Artemisia - Ha I was thinking that his majesty might plan for something to create a chaos.

Vercil - He did seem surprisingly calm today. But that's good I guess, I hope he doesn't create a mess anytime soon. It'll be headache to deal with.

Artemisia - Hah! I hope so...but I heard Ina has planned for something?

Vercil - Oh it's for our honeymoon. She was adamant on sending us somewhere good.

Artemisia - ( *blushed* ) Oh? W-where did she plan to send us?

Vercil - ( *clearing his throat* ) It's a place in the countryside. It's known for it's scenery and peacefulness. I think it'll be a good change for a while, ( * looking outside* ) away from his ever noisy capital.

Artemisia - ( *looking at him* ) I guess so.
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The wedding party was held a day after the wedding and after attending all the necessary events, they were finally out for their honeymoon.

Artemisia - Ina but what if something happens while we are gone and you need us? I don't think we should somewhere so far away while the situation is still unstable.

Valentina - Don't worry so much Sia, I won't need you both. You are newlyweds, go and enjoy these days a little. Don't worry about me!

Artemisia - But we can also go somewhere that isn't so far...

Valentina - No no, you must go there- I mean- that's a great honeymoon spot, just how you both may like, a calm place. You won't find such a place anywhere near. So just go and don't think so much about me!

Artemisia - But...

Vercil - ( *keeping a hand on her shoulder* ) I think sister is saying the right thing Misi, my sister is capable enough, it would be fine. Don't let the negetive thoughts affect your mind. Nothing's going to happen while we are gone. Everyone will be safe.

Valentina - That's right Sia, so now go go go!

Valentina made them enter the carriage and bidding farewell sent them off finally.

Artemisia - ( *worried* ) Vercil, I am not having a good feeling about this...

Vercil - ( *Smiled* ) You are just overthinking Misi. Nothing's going to happen.

Artemisia - ( *Sighed* ) If you say so...

Vercil and Artemisia were soon out of the capital relieving a little of Valentina's stress.
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Valentina - With Vercil gone now...I just have to prepare to kill the beast without worrying about him getting hurt.

Valentina - But for it to appear in the capital? It doesn't look natural, it's as if someone is trying to intentionally lure it. But who could it be? There are a lot of people who are capable of doing so, but I don't even know if it is intentional or not.

The day of the attack was drawing closer and Valentina was preparing ardently to fight it without getting hurt. But still she was a little scared afterall it wasn't just any small creature...

Day of attack :

Valentina - I am going to the main market.

Valentina announced and her maids immediately started making the necessary preparations.
Soon the preparations were over and Valentina was all set for her first visit to the main market after becoming the empress. It was a place famous among both commoners and nobles as well as frequented by both.

Valentina - I have to stop the attack at all costs today. It hasn't been long enough since I've become the empress and such an attack will be perceived by the people as a divine punishment. Everyone will think that the heavens are enraged because of me being the empress but the situation can be made completely different if I successfully defeat the magic beast and prove my capability infront of everyone.

Valentina clutched her heart determined to turn the tide in her direction. With high hopes held in her heart, she set out to her battlefield all prepared to face the sudden but known enemy.
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She reached the market after riding the carriage for a while. It was bustling as usual. The energy of the market seemed like it couldn't be rivaled. There were smiles everywhere and seeing the atmosphere, Valentina felt a tingle in her heart.

Valentina - I must protect these smiles.

She thought to herself as she got ready to kill.

Within a few minutes the moment she had been waiting for finally arrived. A roar came from a distance shaking the whole market. No one had the time to register what was going on but as soon as they saw a dragon flying towards them, they starting running here and there desparately trying to save their lives.

Some clung to Valentina hoping for her to save them while some tried to escort her away since she was the future of the empire.
But she put her foot down and refused to leave.

Valentina - It is my duty to protect my people! And I will not cower away from it!

She roared back with a strong demeanor. Her eyes were filled with hatred at the moment, and she was looking so strong that the people felt assured seeing her determination.

Within a minute the dragon was near the market and was preparing for its first attack. It took in a short breath and opening it's mouth, breathed out the lethal fire burning many buildings down to ashes in a matter of mere seconds.

Valentina closed her eyes and summoning her magic chain threw it at the dragon. It immediately wrapped itself around it's mouth sealing it. The dragon got enraged by this and started thrashing about vigorously to get rid of the chain.

She was having a hard time controlling it but summoning another attack, she directed it towards the dragon hitting it with full force. The beast went insane and with the speed of a bullet flew towards her to sweep her off her feet and extirpate her. Even though Valentina tried her best to avoid the attack, it caught a hold of her left arm and keeping it between it's jaws, flew back up to probably take her somewhere quiet and relish her alive.
Valentina's heart that was beating wildly enough because of the fear within started to beat even harder if that was possible, to such a degree that she thought her heart was going to stop from not being able to take it anymore, but it didn't fail. Getting herself together, she calmed herself down as much as she could and gripping a dagger that she had brought along, tightly, took a deep breath, spun it and using every bit of power in her body, pushed it to pierce the eye of the dragon.
The moment the sharp object pierced it's eyes, the beasts movement came to a halt as it started to fly randomly due to the pain inflicted. Valentina was finding it tough to keep up because of the unpredictable movements and knew it was time to finally put an end to the show.

Enraged, the dragon flew up with a spine-chilling speed and threw Valentina's body up in the air to gobble her down as an atonement of her sin of harming it.

However, Valentina gulped and looked down at the dragon mid-air while she was still rising up due to the impact of the throw. The dragon opened it's mouth for it's prey and Valentina finally took out the sword she had been hiding for so long in a magic storage pouch.

She zoomed through the air while falling down and looked as if was about to be killed because of which the soldiers panicked and all the residents cowered in fear both while worrying about her well-being and the consequence that would follow if she didn't survive while trying to save them.

But exceeding everyone's expectations, Valentina fell through the air and just as she was about to fall into it's mouth, used levitating magic that she could maintain for only a matter of few seconds and using it's lower jaw as a landing platform, landed, using all her might, pushed her feet into his thick skin and allowed her body to shoot up like a cork as she jumped and grabbing the sword with her hands, embedded mana into it and with a scream erupting from deep inside her chest, used every inch of power left in her and maximizing the impact of the sword, pierced it's body along the length into two halves. A bright light emerged, blinding all the spectators for a second and from the light emerged Valentina, still alive, intact and victorious.
The light subsided and the devilish beast who had managed to instill terror in the hearts of everyone in such a short time span fell to the ground. Everyone present there rejoiced and started singing praise of the new brave empress. They all cheered for her and Valentina smiled seeing everyone's fear free faces and how their smiles had returned.
After a long time she had felt proud of herself and wanted the moment to last forever. The nightmarish dream felt so bitter sweet, bitter were the parts involving the dragon while sweet parts were the events that followed after but soon everything came to an end when all of a sudden the world started to go dim right infront of her eyes.
She felt as if the surroundings had started to go blur and within a few moments, her exhausted body collapsed. But before anyone could catch her, Athena appeared out of nowhere and managed to support her.

Athena - Looks like I am little late. I wonder what punishment is her majesty going to give me for not arriving on time. But to do that, you must wake up and regain your health first your majesty. Please, wake up soon...

Athena whispered to Valentina who was losing her consciousness but still managed to hear her and nodded a yes as she finally lost her consciousness in Athena's arms. She carried her up and helped her into the carriage and after doing so, got on top of her horse to reach the imperial palace of the empress to carry her into her room as well as report everything to the emperor which was inevitable since the incident of such a magnitude was not something that could be covered up by anyone.

Athena - ( *To herself* ) If her majesty didn't want the incident to be known, she would've tried her best to hide her identity but seeing how she didn't try to do any such thing must mean that she wanted every person in the empire to know about this story. Huh...this will sure cause unrest in the political world, I wonder if she will be able to handle everything after having such a grand revelation of herself as being the new rising power in the empire, with courage and strength enough to directly stand against his majesty. Alexis...things are going to get messy and tiring soon, brace yourself my boy!

Athena sighed as she continued her journey towards the palace trying to think of what the future held for everyone...