War does not determine who is right – only who is left – Bertrand Russell
Artemis woke early and helped Alma wake up the others.
"Arty, before I forget," Alma reached into her pocket and pulled out something, "I know it hasn't even been a year yet, but you've been very helpful."
She stretched out her hand and Artemis took whatever it was. Looking into her hand, she noticed a gold bracelet with intricate, small leaf designs.
"It used to belong to my daughter. You remind me of her," Alma sadly smiled. "She couldn't read, though, but her personality stood out from all the rest. She passed away in her teens."
Artemis tore her gaze from the bracelet and let it fall on the plump woman in front of her.
"Here," Artemis stretched out her hand, giving the bracelet back to Alma. "If it's one of the only memories you have of your daughter then keep it."
Alma's eyes filled with tears, but she quickly wiped them away.
"It's okay if you cry," Artemis awkwardly patted the woman on her back. She wasn't really good with these kinds of things.
"I'm sorry, I'll just be a minute," Alma turned away.
"Alright, I am going for the breakfast cart," Artemis said, walking away reluctantly.
~.~
Even when Kouen was in his bed, he was still up to his eyes in work. That was all that ever interested him. That is, until he found a way out of his monotonous schedule – talking with Artemis. A knock was heard on his bedroom door. Thank goodness he rose early and prepared himself decently. He didn't want any of his generals getting the wrong idea of him.
"Come in," he said.
The breakfast cart was the first thing he saw. Then, in came Artemis. He wasn't expecting her this early.
"Good morning," she greeted out of respect.
"Good morning," he looked up and then back into the small book he was reading.
"I knocked on the door of your study but you weren't there. I met with Prince Koumei and he guided me to where you would be," she explained. "I didn't think it would be appropriate for me to enter your room, but he assured me it was alright."
"Indeed, it is," he replied. "You will be here for a while anyway."
"Oh," she put a finger to her mouth thoughtfully.
"And what is the problem?" he asked, still flipping through the pages.
"I forgot about the meeting," she replied. "Excuse me, but may I inform my friend and then come back later?"
Kouen looked at her, as if wanting an explanation.
"I am teaching her the basics of reading," Artemis answered.
"Then you can go and come back," he said and got up from his desk. "I will be in my office. I want to speak with you before the day is done."
Noticing that she still stood there, he gave her permission to go since the sun was already up.
"Well, as they say," she muttered as Kouen let her out, "make hay while the sun shines."
Kouen heard her statement and smirked. He said nothing, though. He had plenty of time later to take her up on her small, defiant ways.
~;~
"Please tell me you're free after breakfast," Artemis said to Asriel.
"Yeah and that's the time you're supposed to be helping me," she said while stuffing her face.
"Yeah," Artemis said after swallowing.
"You know, word says that Elise was 'sick' and that's why she wasn't seen much," Asriel then started up a gossip story.
"Senseless gossip," Artemis shrugged before finishing her meal.
"I don't believe it. The few times I'd passed her, she was pissed," Asriel said, "It's as if someone pissed in her cereal."
"And here she comes," Artemis announced as Elise walked up to where they sat.
"Why is it that you always seem to come when we're eating? I for one would like to digest my food properly after this," Asriel snarled.
"Shove off, bitch," Elise retorted. "As you can see, you're not important. I didn't come to speak to you." She then turned to smile at Artemis. "I came to speak with her."
"Yes?" Artemis looked up.
"I don't know what you are up to with Prince Kouen, but stay away. This is my second warning," she rolled her eyes and flipped her hair before walking away.
"Third time's always the charm," Artemis gave Elise the most infuriating smile she could muster up. Elise huffed and turned away.
"Yeah, that's right. Go on and eat the bitch flakes in your bowl!" shouted Asriel as she watched Elise's retreating form.
~;~
"Is there any way you could get Kouen to guillotine her?" Asriel asked when the scene was over.
"Kouen is my superior," Artemis began, "He isn't my lover or anything."
"I know, but he seems to be interested in you," she said, getting ready for her lesson.
"Let's stop talking about irrelevant things," Artemis got out a text book.
The two began on the topic Prefixes.
~;~
Kouen was conversing with Hakuei. The two were currently in Kouen's study.
"I brought what you asked for," she held out a small package. "What is it anyway?"
"It's something that belongs to one of the maids here," he replied. Hakuei placed herself behind the desk and looked at what Kouen was doing. He was currently studying a map.
"Is this the land we just acquired?" she asked, letting her hand caress the land of Kou.
"Yes," he replied.
"And you're planning on covering the area next to it as well," she deduced.
"If all goes well," he answered.
Someone knocked on the door of his study.
It was Artemis, but she wasn't in her maid's uniform. Instead, she was in a light blue loose fitted top and an Indian styled dress pants. Her hair was up in a pony tail that completed the whole Indian look… sort of.
"Good afternoon," she bowed. "I came in this because I don't think I have any other duties today. Don't worry; I talked to the Head Maid about it."
Hakuei observed the woman. She assumed this was the maid Kouen was talking about.
"Oh, I don't think I've introduced myself," she turned to Hakuei and bowed, "My name is Artemis."
The princess gave her a warm smile in return. "I believe you have something to discuss, so I'll be on my way," Hakuei excused herself.
When they were completely alone, Kouen gestured for Artemis to sit.
He looked over some papers he had in his hand. They were notes he made on the points in Artemis's works.
"Why do you believe war is bad?" he questioned. That was the basis of her work.
"Why are you asking me this question?" she answered with another question, "It's not like my views will change your views."
"As a leader of Kou, I want to explorer all ideas, even though I have opinions of my own," he replied with ease.
Artemis sighed before answering. "I've watched war tear up not only countries but people, whether economically, mentally, or socially. My family was a victim of all of those three things. In my opinion, the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. If that happened, then we wouldn't have the loss of lives."
Kouen stared at her before answering. "I am an advocate of war. I believe that if the world was united under on king, then it would be a better place. A war without fighting isn't a war at all. We all have to fight for something."
Artemis chocked on her spit… if that was even possible. "Unite the world under one king?"
Kouen wasn't surprised at her distaste for the idea. "The world wasn't meant to be that way."
"You say that war isn't good and that is exactly what I'm trying to stop," he explained further.
"You're using war to stop war," she deduced and calmed herself.
"Think of it as extinguishing fire with fire," he sat back in his chair and watched her. There was a host of expressions present on her face.
"The people will rebel," she said, "That is inevitable. People are all different and need to be ruled under different Rulers. That is just my view on the situation, but I will not deny that you have a point as well."
Kouen expected this. She was indeed a wise woman. She looked at both sides and made deductions. Beneath his hand, he smirked. Artemis was playing with the material of her pants.
"Here," he pushed the package Hakuei had brought to him.
Artemis's eyes lighted up. She could feel the energy that emanated from what was inside the bag. It was her wand.
"What type of magician are you?" Kouen questioned.
"Has this turned into a question and answer?" she questioned with a glint of mischief in her eye.
"I am a Yellow magician which is a lightning type," she answered, clutching the package tightly.
"You have a strong aptitude for life magic as well," he said, not waiting for her to explain.
"Yes, I do," she affirmed.
There was a long pause and the silence was almost suffocating.
"You are free," he said, disrupting the dreadful silence.
"I really don't have anything else to do for the d-
"I meant," Kouen locked his fingers together and put them under his chin, "You don't have to work as a maid anymore. You are free to return to your home."
Artemis's head lowered and her shoulders shook. It turned out that she was laughing. Her laugh was quite graceful, but quite disrespectful in the current situation.
"Thank you for freeing me Prince Kouen, but I think I've grown quite attached to this place. I've made a few friends here and they are very kind. I wouldn't give that up for the world," she looked at him with sincerity.
Kouen blinked slowly and watched Artemis impassively. He calculated this well.
"It isn't like I have anywhere to go back to," Artemis shrugged.
"Then work, not as a maid, but as a subordinate of my brother," he said. This caused her eyes to widen. She didn't mind maid work, but working under Koumei would be so much better.
"I'd like that very much," she stood and bowed. Inside, she rejoiced slightly because she didn't have to wear that horrid uniform anymore.
Kouen's eyes briefly widened but his expression returned to normal when she sat down again.
"Why have you freed me?"She asked. "I can smell an ulterior motive from afar."
"That shouldn't bother you," he replied, looking at his map.
She sank back into her chair.
Kouen, on the other hand, knew that things were going his way and that this was only the beginning.
~;~
He had dismissed her and was now on his way to a meeting with the country's leaders. He knew what the meeting was about, but he was not the least bit bothered by it.
When everyone was seated, the orator began.
"Lords and Ladies," he greeted, "Wouldn't you all agree that it is high time that Prince Kouen elopes?"
Oh my! I am so happy with how this story is progressing in terms of the support. I hope that I get even more readers and in turn, get more support. I decided to update again because I was really happy with the support I am getting. I want to introduce you guys to AnimeFreak145. She is my beta reader and full time supporter. She has two Magi fanfics so if you wanna check it them out, you can. Also, she writes for HunterXHunter.
Thank you so very much:
Mitsuyuki-Hime: Thanks for reviewing. I was absolutely encouraged by it. Hope your name was spelled correctly this time. Gyokuen will make her appearance. Maybe soon, maybe later. Who knows?
Handara: Your review made me blush! It encouraged me, so thank you!
Lunatic Forever Dude: First of all, your name is awesome. Secondly, thank you for your review. It was really flattering, but it could not attain its epicness if it wasn't for AnimeFreak145.
Zahedra: Thank you for your review. It makes me sooooo happy. I hope you continue supporting me. I will try to maintain Artemis's personality.
Smileyface209: Your review keeps me writing more. I love that you took the time to review on my story. I know it isn't up to par with being fully interesting, but I will try to make it interesting enough.
