Royal Secret Commissioner
Chapter 9
Tales of the Holy War
"Now, now, come one and all, everyone gather around and come and hear the tales of the mighty warriors of the Holy Wars that fought for you and me.
They fought for our freedom, they fought for our lives, they fought to protect and they fought to serve."
The old story teller called out to all the people around the plaza, whether it be to travelers, shoppers, or store owners, about the story he was about to tell the story of the heroes of the Holy War.
He made it as if he was advertising some amazing merchandise that only came by once every hundred or even thousand years, pulling in the attention of all the wanderers that walked around and pass the stage that was set up in there.
In fact, the location alone contributed to the gathering of the crowd, not to mention that the content of the tale drew many like small bugs or insects to a bright intense flame.
The stage was right in the middle of the largest shopping district in the whole city and all those who came to shop must have passed by the center area once or twice on their trip.
All, which included a certain princess and her ever so faithful bodyguard, who happen to go by the stage and took heed of the crowd that gathered around. And since the princess was curious by nature she was drawn in by such an attraction, for from the time when the princess was little she had always loved listening to stories and tales.
Natsuki, however, seemed slightly reluctant about the matter once she heard what story the teller of tales was going to enlighten the crowd with.
It was a famous tale that if left as it is, its popularity would continue to grow, since now most people, if not all, already knew the story, just not in detail.
The Holy Wars, a long twelve year war that was fought for reasons unknown to the public, forbidden reasons only known by no more than a hand full, became an exaggerated chronicle of heroes, battles, and matters of-the-such.
Sooner or later, the stories told on by mouth and songs would eventually become a legend, a legend among men of how noble and valiant some war heroes fought for the land they live on now.
Natsuki sighed.
Normally she would get really annoyed at how the storytellers tell such exaggerations of the battles in the war and made even the weakest commanders seem like the bravest men alive and leave, but today, today was different.
Today, Natsuki was here as a bodyguard for the princess and was suppose to follow her mistress around all day long, to protect her of course.
As Princess Shizuru found a suitable place in the mist of so many people, she signaled Natsuki to come to her with the sweetest smile ever seen by the raven hair girl.
One would wonder at the pace of how she turns from an enemy, a rival of sort, to a compassionate loving princess.
Well, maybe not, but the Silver Ice Crystal did. She was astonished by the fact that in only one night Princess Shizuru managed to act like nothing had happened and just asked Natsuki to go shopping with her the very next day.
Her mind wonders off, thinking about how she got herself into this situation as she walked toward the smiling princess.
"NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"
The mighty Silver Ice Crystal shot up, being awakened from her 'sweet dream', her back becoming as stiff as a board, her face as pale as death.
Sweat clenched on her body for dear life, completely soaking her.
Why?
Why am I having this dream again?
After so long, I thought I finally escaped my past.
Is this some kind of sign?
Are the gods trying to foreshadow something that will happen in the near future?
She wondered, losing herself in thought, not even hearing the knocking on her own door. However, it only took her seconds before she caught back up with reality and opens the door only to find the princess there in front of her, waiting with the patient of a saint.
No one, and she meant no one was that tolerant. It was frankly freaking her out.
After all, she wasn't called the Ice Princess for nothing. She kept her emotions to herself so often some wondered if she even had any but in just a few days, this princess managed to pull out her pride, and while it was just pride, it was something.
Now, that same princess was in front of her with an eerie smile, all calm and sweet.
She was prepared for the worst as she asked the princess why she was here.
"Yes? Is there something I can do for you princess?"
Adorned with a classic thinking pose, Shizuru seemed like she was thinking long and hard then, finally the princess answered ingenuously.
"Ne, Natsuki would you go shopping with me?"
Emerald eyes blinked once, blinked twice, and even a third time in disbelief. Personally, from the luck she's been having this morning with the dream and all, Natsuki was expecting a little more than such a simply request.
Something along the lines of 'Natsuki, I would like to eat something sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and bitter at the same time, go get it for me in a hour' or 'ne, can you stand on one foot, juggle ten balls with your right hand, massage my shoulders with your left hand, and fight off a lion with your other foot' would have been what the raven hair girl was assuming that the princess was going to ask but shopping?
Shopping was definitely not what Natsuki thought the princess would request.
In itself, shopping sounded easy enough and not really any hard would come out of it. However, this was the princess that 'brought down the moon' so the Ice Crystal was not letting her guard down.
The Pillar gave those gleaming red eyes an expecting look that practically said 'bring it on! I'll take whatever else you have to throw at me' but no, no other thing was demanded of her other than a simple question.
"Ara, can I take Natsuki's silence as a 'yes' to my question? … or is she too busy staring intensely at me to answer?"
Shizuru giggled innocently at the glaze Natsuki was giving her while at the same time was enjoying her view of the new bodyguard's face glowing bright red, turning more into a cherry by each passing second.
"WHAT?! I was NOT staring!"
The raven hair girl replied fiercely, raging on as if to make sure that the princess knew she was not doing what she was.
"Ara, if Natsuki says so…"
That was it, though Natsuki had no intention of scaring the people she works for, one ice cold Kuga Death Glare was served up.
Expecting someone to cower in fear, the Ice Crystal got anything but that. The chestnut hair girl was not even affected in the slight bit!
Thinking that the crimson eyed just didn't see it, the Pillar sent another death glare straight into deep pools of red but gained nothing except the very same response.
"Ara, if Natsuki stares at me so intently, I could only guess what she is thinking."
The princess responses with a tease, that causes the raven hair girl's face to turn into a tomato.
"Ahhhhh!!! Whatever, let's go shopping or whatever you want!!!"
Emerald eyes raged on in defeat and resigned to their fate.
The Ice Crystal could feel a tap on her shoulders, turning her head to the side to see the courageous person that dared to bother her while she was in thought, she found none other than the source of her problems, Princess Shizuru.
The said princess whispers to her bodyguard in amusement.
"Ara, Natsuki should listen to the story, it is quiet interesting, or does she find me more so?"
Blushing profusely, the Pillar was forced to turn her attention to the stage.
Actors on the stage strung together many famous tales of the Holy War. The first performed was one of the more famous tales of the war, the story of the Queen of Hell, as they nicknamed it.
It was mainly about one of the famous Pillars that fought in the war, being torn between loyalty to her kingdom and love toward her important person who was rumored to be a commander from an enemy's kingdom.
The Queen of Hell, such a title for someone who valued loyalty as much as love was simply an unfitting title, one would think, but there was more to it than that.
(STORY OF THE QUEEN OF HELL)
Queen of Hell, the title given to the Pillar was not because of anything she's done or wanted to do, but it was because of her Child, the manifestation of her loved one.
Because she didn't want fight against her loved one or against her kingdom, she locked herself away in a tower in the mist of her kingdom.
But that was the start of the problem, the Queen of Hell's heart was a filled with so much uncertainly and confusion, she unconsciously called forth her Child.
Her Child, Kagutsuchi, grew so large and became so powerful because of her love, but it had no clear objective, causing it to go wild, attacking allies and enemies alike, killing all in sight.
Eventually, news of this reached the Queen of Hell and she put a stop to her Child but what done is done and could not be reversed.
Filled with guilt and pain, she took on all the sins done by her Child, making them her own, though no one really placed the blame on her once they knew her story but the fear of her Child granted the title, Queen of Hell, to her.
(BACK TO NOW)
Witnessing the next tale the actors played out, sent sorrow and regret into Natsuki's heart as well as the feelings of anger and betrayal.
It was the legacy of the Ice Princess.
Author's Notes:
Ah! Sorry, but Happy (late) Valentine's Day!!! I know I promised to update as soon as the reviews hit 40 but I didn't get online to check my email until last night or else I would have updated yesterday! Once again, sorry!
But setting that aside, would anyone like to guess what the Ice Princess did that gave her that title or why everyone feared her so much? Or if it wasn't clear enough you can always guess who the Ice Princess is… Though it is kind of obvious….
P.S. This time, even though I don't want to but since I have so much work to do and haven't been working on other stories as much, I won't update until the reviews hit 60. So if you want the next chapter soon, review!!!
It's ok if you don't but I just won't update as fast and it might take up to days, weeks, or even months!!! But either way, thanks for reading, all forms of comments/concerns/questions/suggestions are welcomed.