Her body froze. One foot was set on the stage's platform while the other was still glued onto the staircase. Right then and there, she saw flames beginning to consume her frail body. She didn't know what to do- let alone know how to react. So she stiffened, as though time sat still for her to miraculously think. A full minute after they ended the speech, the crowd continued on shouting their supports and from a distance, Octavia could vaguely make out Albion's folk songs beginning to play.

Swoop!

The curtains to the stage were drawn open with an ardent yank. Inches right before her were the four top figures of the Empire and the Kingdom- Arthur, Nero, Atia and Arawn. Disgruntled by her cousin, she flinched backwards to make room when she realized that she had foolishly mistaken her footing.

Her foot slipped.

Long blonde hair flowing frontwards as it covered her with golden strands, she felt her whole body surrender to gravity and close the gap towards the unclean pathway, ready to massacre her beautiful white outfit with dry muds and dirt. She closed her eyes shut and braced for the collision. After what felt like eternity, her face suddenly felt the soft sensation of her hair swiping across. She let out a long sigh of relief. When her eyes fluttered open, she was speechless to discover one of the King's arms grasping her by the waist and the other held by a terrified Nero.

So much for a daring escape, she thought. Now, she was embarrassed in front of the devil Emperor.

"Are you alright?" Arthur muttered near her ear, worried. His breath flicked away the stray hairs that rested by her ears. Octavia didn't have the heart to respond. She scowled in Arthur's embrace, enraged by every single thing that has just happened. What was next? Her public execution? Actually, rather than having to bear with this ratchet state, the idea of a public execution didn't sound all that bad.

"Of course, she is," Nero responded as the three of them carefully descended the steps. Arthur funnily pursed his lips when Nero tugged him by the shoulders. "It's announced and it seems that both parties enjoy it!" He swayed his body left and right as he expected a reply from silent Arthur. Bored by the King's lack of entertainment, he stopped. "So, dear cousin, what did you think of my speech?"

Octavia felt her teeth clench almost instantly. Gripping her red scarf strongly, she cracked a reluctant smile. "Brilliant, Nero. Absolutely marvelous,"

Nero grinned with an unusual hint of worry. "I'm sure you understand your position very well now, Octavia. An Imperial Strategist is one who plans the future of our nation. In your case, you have to deal with our alliance," He lifted his arm from the King to pat his cousin by the arm. His voice came down to that of reassurance. "It doesn't need to be wars. As you are gifted with this position, you are to decide of the new definition for an Imperial Strategist. Your own true meaning,"

A fist tightened against her belt. "I'll keep that in mind… Nero,"

They paused while their eyes battled with squints. Loudly, Atia coughed for a long moment and made her way to exit the passage, crossing the gap between the tensed cousins. Arawn dashed between the two and grabbed Rhiannon and Morgan out with him, voicing in a hush, "Let's drink!"

Antony wanted to leave. Octavia knew but he was her assistant and an assistant wouldn't just easily leave enraged adults alone who were about to boil each other's brains. After a long moment, Arthur lightly held the young blonde at the small of her back. "You must be hungry!" he yelled in fake joy. Octavia couldn't help smirking from the remark yet her eyes remained vicious. Arthur was not wrong. She did often get unsociable when her stomach was empty.

Sick of the Emperor, she huffed. "Let's dine," she muttered, swearing loudly under her breath, and exited the track with the King, leaving the Emperor and his close subordinate with widening eyes.

"Is Octavia annoyed with me?" Nero quickly asked as he let go a sigh of relief. Antony gave a curt chuckle. How similar these two were but if that fact was mentioned, he would get a left, right, center from both of them. He wiped the sweat trickling down his temples with a white cravat. Nonetheless, little did they know that they were both secretly afraid of each other.

"Octavia is rarely annoyed, sir," he replied. "She is usually crossed,"

"Would you care to listen as to how I'm about to chop the Emperor's limbs and stuff pies made of it into that non-prudent mouth of his?" Octavia voiced as she and the King took a slow walk back to the foyer. Arthur was quiet for a while, amazed yet fearful of this little vexed woman.

"Why not?" Arthur replied coolly, thinking his response would somehow top over Octavia's raging words. The fair-haired came to a break in her stomps and crossed her arms. Her brows furrowed. "Is something the matter with being the Imperial Strategist?"

She turned around so fast- any quicker and her hair would have sliced Arthur's chest. She took a deep breath as if she was about to shout at him. But she couldn't. In the end, she regained her usual calmness. "Mother… was the previous Imperial Strategist," She started. Arthur quickly ushered her to a small gazebo. They sat down.

"Anyone who becomes an Imperial Strategist is more or less tied to an Emperor's ideals. Do you remember the Emperor before Nero? What do you think of that man?" She tilted her head towards him.

Resting his elbows on the central tabletop, he was taken aback to find the stone structures being very cold in contrast to the warm air. "He was mad," he hissed. "All he knew was to annihilate families after families in every land he lusted. And he didn't know how to stop," He paused to look at the moon through the stained glass roof. "Until death hailed him,"

"His empire was much stronger before, right? Until the times our paths crossed, his empire demolished its reputation on its own,"

"Indeed," He nodded with a shrug. "When I was young, the Divine Empire's forces just grew and grew,"

"Well," Octavia slurred and looked at the King. She admitted that he was always new to politics. So she didn't want to make Arthur feel any less comfortable but deep inside, her guts told her he was equally curious as well. Her voice came to a whisper. "Well, he couldn't have done it on his own…" Arthur lost interest in the moon and returned to look at the blonde's eyes.

He had an idea how the story was about to end. Yet, gazing upon Octavia now, like this, in her most vulnerable state, made him surrender himself to the woman's reflections.

This was the moment he could be of use to her. This time, she faced the biggest problem in her life and now, she was actually explaining it to him and no one else. This was a rare moment, he constantly reminded himself. And he wouldn't let anything disrupt this plain chat with her. Even if he couldn't fathom her clever words, be it so- at least he could let her know that someone cared to listen. Arthur beamed hearteningly.

"He asked for your mother's help," he replied- sympathy visible in his eyes.

"Yes, as the Imperial Strategist," Octavia mumbled. Silence. "Mother was the embodiment of intelligence. Anything she plotted would work on the battlefield. She knew very well of her own capabilities… Forgive me, Arthur. All this time you had to go through-"

"It's in the past," Arthur quickly said. "Please. Continue," Octavia stared for a while.

"Even if she knew that what she was doing was utterly wrong, it's obvious that she did them to protect us," Octavia resumed and began fiddling with her fingers. "God knows what would happen if she defied him. I know I wouldn't be able to see the light of day now. He was the cruelest man I knew. But due to his inhumanity, it enabled the Divine Empire to have constant victories. What is horrible is to know that… you are the cause of so many deaths for the mere reason to win,"

As she uttered the last syllables slowly, her eyes widened as though she remembered every single death she had caused. Arthur panicked to see her frozen. Gently, the King placed his hand over hers, warmth radiating throughout the blonde's shuddering body. Just the wrap of his large hands made her feel as though she was cocooned in solid armor. She felt safe.

"I understand," The King spoke before she continued. He had heard enough and demanding more would only hurt her. He had done his part, he thought.

"Mother…" she voiced emotionless. "Mother lost herself. She lost sight of life. She caused thousands of deaths to prevent the very few she feared to happen," Her fingers intertwined with the King's. As if realizing it just at that very moment, her eyes squinted with apprehension. "I think that's the reason why, Arthur. She became hollow during her last living days because of her position,"

Arthur simply waited to rearrange his thoughts. "But Octavia," he uttered. "Nero... He wished for peace and status- the Emperor now is not like that, is he?"

Octavia cringed at the remark. Remembering him had herself jolt with wrath again. She wished she brought down her sword. "I hope not,"

Arthur frowned.

"If he is…" he muttered. He noticed his sister and Morgan starting to approach them, waving along in their hands were honey-roasted apples on sticks. He took a while to examine them before looking at the whole garden. This was Albion, he thought. It was the symbol of peace and happiness. "If Nero follows the footsteps of his predecessors," He encouragingly guided Octavia out of the gazebo to join their friends. He gave a slight grip to their knotted fingers. In a way, the blonde thought, that wasn't the grip of compassion. It hinted the same fury as she did. "I won't let him use you,"

Octavia sighed in relief. Being the Imperial Strategist didn't feel as bad anymore- as long as she stuck to the King. It made her titter lightly when she noted how she would be now that the Divine Empire and Albion Kingdom had officially announced their trial alliance. "Thank you, Arthur,"

"Never," he hissed.