CHAPTER 2
I relaxed in the warm bath as the warm water soothed my tensed muscles after training. Leaning back I enjoyed the natural light filtering through the trees surrounding the bath and inhaled deeply as the scent of freshly picked flowers swirled along with the mist.
A warm bath after a sweaty training made me feel refreshed and that's just it. Though I should have been enjoying these privileges as the captain in the royal guard, I felt hollow and disinterested.
The calm environment of the palace, the beautiful surroundings, and the cheerful aura of the citizens are just the mask worn to fade out the war raging in the far northern regions. It has been more than half an year since the main troop niyayiru* was dispatched. It consisted of 5,00,000 soldiers lead by vice commander of the royal army and four royal guard captains to act as joint forces with the northern province under her majesty queen inohika's* monarchy.
I sighed at the thought of my comrades at the battlefield. Despite my confidence over their skills in the battlefield, I could not help but feel uncomfortable. The political situations are unsteady in the northern province of the kingdom ever since the state ruler of bringha the southern province died a month ago with his heir crowned the next king. It did not help that the crown prince Ivanizh Wakashi is just 15 years young boy of playful attitude and friend of the princess of kaneha.
Idaha the northern province's state ruler, Mikashi Soniro had messed up the peace conference between the main nations causing the allied states to break their treaty with the empire.* The war broke out not long after the break of bond*, between the allied 8 states and the northern province.
I shook my head absently when I remembered the event when lord Mikashi insulted the allied state ruler.
I was pulled out from my thoughts when something fell softly on my head. I perked up as the soft flower glided down from my black hair and fell into the water creating soft ripples.
I smiled absently as once again the thought of my friends surfaced my mind. The sound of soft laughter filled the once quiet environment and I let out an exasperated sigh. Now I even started to get hallucinations.
Rubbing my forehead absently and I got out of the bath. Wrapping myself in a fluffy white towel, I almost fell back into the water as I heard a loud bang along with laughter coming from just behind the bamboo fence separating women's bath from men's.
Frowning at the sounds of snickering coming from the men's baths and I quickly made my way towards the changing room to dress myself.
The baths were reserved only for the royal guard captains and currently only three captains including me, were in the palace duty as others were out in the battlefield.
As I placed a hand on the handle of the men's baths, the palace bells chimed seven times officially marking the start of my duty and end of the snooping.
I sighed again for the umpteenth time today as I reluctantly let go of the handle.
Taking a few steps away the baths, I raised a delicate brow seeing the maid named vima, with her hand full of towels and faraway look on her face walk straight into a pillar. She lost her footing and landed surprisingly graceful on her butt as the towels fell around her.
I snickered softly at the comic sight, I stopped before her.
"Didn't dream enough at night?" I teased holding out my hand to haul her up. Vima blushed and pouted at my teasing as she took my offered hand gratefully.
I watched in curiosity as she dusted herself and straightened out her outfit. She had golden brown hair and hazel eyes that glowed contrasting to her pale face. She was naturally beautiful, but today she was carrying a particular aura of radiance.
"Arigato. Ayaka-sama." She bowed and started picking the towels strewn around her.
"Tell me vima-chan. Are you taking those towels to men's bath?" at my question her pink blush burned red.
"Y-yes. The guests from the empire had arrived yesterday late after sunset. They have been allocated quarters near the greenhouse. According to their request, we readied early baths for them."
She replied her blush still evident on her face despite her business-like tone.
The emperor* had sent a part of his elite force for joining forces with the royal army for assistance until the conflict against the allied states ends. The elite corps- as they were called, consists of a bunch of high-ranked, presumably talented members who not only skill but had both experience and knowledge based on warfare.
By joining them into the royal army, the elite corps had authority over the main royal force, meaning, they can control the entire defence force of the kingdom. The people who had authority over them would be the queen and her successor, the commander and vice-commander of major royal defence forces.
"Anything else ayaka-sama?" vima asked as she balanced the now properly arranged towels in her hands.
"No. thank you for the information. You can go now."
"And. The princess woke up an hour ago. She is currently with her majesty in the council meeting."
She informed me and continued on her way after I smiled at her thanking her for the update.
Princess Chizurukina azarinoha, the heir of the kingdom's ruler, Queen Inohika Azarinoha is officially turning 16 tomorrow. And her majesty makes sure that the princess does not remain coddled by the royalty surrounding her and hence had started to teach her properly, filling the duty of a responsible mother and a devoted queen. Along with state affairs and official works, the princess had to train physically and mentally.
She certainly had expectations and responsibilities even before she turned 16.
A small squeak and clattering of metal shook me from musings and I subconsciously reached my sword, only to catch air.
Startled, I cursed my absent-mindedness before dashing towards the men's bath.
The moment I opened the door of the men's bath, a puff of warm steam struck me making my vision hazy for a second.
When my vision cleared, I saw six half- naked men with only a towel draped over their torso who stood snickering and teasing a very red vima and another man- no boy, who was also red. It wasn't hard to guess why, though. Their toned body and chiselled muscles shined in the morning sun the droplets of water glittering on their skin. Both attractive and strong equally.
While I stood there wondering, my wandering gaze locked with that of azure blue's. The one with azure blue eyes and dark indigo coloured hair stood there calmly his eyes staring at me.
When another blast of steam wafted towards me, the door shut behind me with a click, drawing the occupant's attention towards me instantly.
The sound of door closing was almost inaudible, but it managed to catch their attention.
They are always in alert and observant, even though they looked quite oblivious to their surroundings.
"Heh? Another peeking damsel?"
A sarcastic voice wondered. I turned towards the voice and saw a copper haired man and emerald green eyes with a cocky smirk walking towards me.
I felt him scrutinizing me with an appraising look.
Calculative and perceptive.
"The maids are cuter in this kingdom. What do you think shinpachi-san?" he sent her a flirtatious grin.
A challenger and tease in the exterior. Skilled in swords and words
My eyes shifted from him towards the man who had ruffled dark-brown hair and black bandana. He reminded me of bonoru, the other captain of the royal guard. He started flexing before vima, which made her turn impossibly redder.
Idiotic and alcoholic in the exterior. But strong and quick-minded
"Souji" a deep, calm warning made her to turn towards the source only to meet the gaze of the same azure eyes.
Calm and observant. His face a neutral mask. A deadly enemy to have.
I noted that he too was appraising me.
"Underestimating is the fatal mistake you do when you judge a person. Men of honour following the way of sword should know more than just to judge a person based on looks. After all, you are standing in the kingdom ruled by someone of the same gender you just insulted now. Sometimes, beautiful face and wicked brain can be as deadly as any sword."
A sharp silence filled the air at my calm words as my blue eyes were locked with very amused green ones. And abruptly the tension disappeared as a man with auburn hair and amber eyes started laughing.
"She got you there souji!"
Womanizer and a flirt. But honest and highly skilled. Quick-witted in his own way.
"Whoa! Did she just threaten him?" the guy with light brown tied up in a long pony-tail hair gaped openly.
Childish and idiotic. But strong, energetic and capable.
"Isn't she a sharp one? When she can threaten okita-kun like that" a man with shoulder length brown hair and glasses stated a mischievous smirk on his lips.
The main brains of this group. High intelligence, cunningness, experience and very skilled. The strategist. The man to stay away from.
The emerald eyed guy wore an amused expression and a slow grin spread that looked almost predatory. He leaned too close to my liking and stepped into my personal bubble.
I didn't flinch or step back but held his gaze steadily with an expression of indifference.
He leaned forwards more so that his breath fanned on my ears. His naked chest was only inches from my body.
"I would like to see you try and carry out your threat. But remember, I don't care for judging when it comes to a fight. If you oppose me, I will kill you." He whispered in a deadly- low tone in my ears.
He pulled back and smirked.
I let a slow smirk creep up my lips to mirror his.
"fine by me because I don't like people who judge."
With a last look at the indigo haired man, I turned and walked out from the bath as sounds of laughter were heard behind me.
*THE EMPEROR- the main ruler of the country. The kingdom of suriyan is ruled by emperor Desai Maneka. Suriyan empire consists of a sister empire- kingdom of kaneha, ruled by Queen Inohika. Four provinces, north-idaha, south- bringha, east-kinazhu, west-meryuneha. North totally. The east and west are under the rule of main empire with 29 states totally.
*QUEEN- the ruler of the sister empire- kingdom kaneha. Inohika Azarinoha is the sister-in-law of the the main emperor Desai Maneka. She is just, strong, capable and strategic leader well known as crimson queen among the people.(crimson – the colour represents both beauty and death. Crimson queen- beautiful but deadly.) she has a daughter chizurukina (main protagonist)
*NIYAYIRU- the royal army formed under queen Inohika-The Royal Defense Force, consists of two main division. Niyayiru or the army of sun, madhi or the army of moon. Niyayiru is the division that acts as the main army of the sister empire- protection of entire kaneha. It consists of totally 1,000,000 soldiers divided in infantry, cavalry and archers.
Madhi is the division that is strictly acts as the protection force for central capital, or central province- kaneha province, where the main palace is situated. Madhi consists of roughly 90,000 soldiers in cavalry and archers.
The main divisons are controlled by The Royal Defense Force commander and vice-commander and The Royal Guards who act as the commanding officers of the troops.
The Royal Guards are responsible for the manipulation and order execution of the main divisions. It consists of 7 captains under the direct command of the Queen.
*TREATY- when the empire captures other nations by war, the captured nations are joined under the empire rule either by alliance or by treaty. When a treaty is signed, the captured nation is subjected to rules of the treaty. According to which, regular taxes to compensate the spoils of war are collected. And the empire offers protection and freedom of life under empire rule.
*BREAK OF BOND- the nations that have signed the treaty with the empire are called allied nations. They are subjected to rules of treaty. One of which is, declaration of war by the allied nations to the empire nations will be considered as break of rules of treaty and the allied nations will be considered deserter and sentenced capital punishment.