Chapter 03 - The Moon Maiden

Guest abode of the royal palace.

The grandeur of the Royal palace was as exquisite as one could expect, the hallways were decorated with various exquisite decorations and everything down to the floor was shining as if it were screaming the word 'luxury'.

And in such a luxurious and overbearing place, a rare melody wafted through the air.

Calm, like a flowing river, and serene, like a field of grass, the melody penetrated the hearts of those who listened, capturing their minds and souls. The source of this enchanting sound emanated from inside a room where a young maiden, as beautiful as a flower, sang with abandon.

Seated by a small pond, designed as an ornamental feature, was the captivating maiden who possessed pitch-black hair, jade-like skin, and eyes as sharp as obsidian swords—she seemed to be the epitome of beauty.

And a mole just below her lips further enhanced her charm, rendering any man beneath the sky captivated. She could rightfully be called a goddess on earth.

As the melody intertwined with her beauty, it became even more soothing to the ears, illuminating the room with its resonance. Before long, palace servants started to gather around her, spellbound by her serene voice and appearance.

"Wow..."

"Am I witnessing a goddess right now?"

"How beautiful!"

Exclamations reverberated among the gathered servants as they whispered in awe while the song continued. The number of onlookers steadily grew until the beautiful maiden found herself fully surrounded.

“...!”

It was not known how much time had passed, but when the enchanting maiden concluded her song and opened her eyes, she was encircled by a crowd. Frustration and agitation flashed across her face as she observed the gathering.

To her surprise, an even more astonishing sight awaited her.

"Your Majesty..!!"

The Emperor of the Everhart, Edmund Ashborn, himself stood beside her, with all the servants either kneeling or bowing in deference to him.

The beautiful maiden who was frustrated by the sudden appearance of the emperor hurriedly bowed to show her respect.

Although she tried not to show it, she was very clumsy, but it rather looked cute to the observers instead.

"I didn't know our palace housed such a beautiful maiden, Javier?"

Emperor Edmund  asked his closest aid and his Guardian knight, Javier Ashborn, who also happens to be the former 9th prince.

While it was common for the prime minister to serve as the Emperor's closest aide, Edmund and Sage Chanakya were rarely seen together. Rumors circulated that the King harbored a dislike for the prime minister, but that tale is for another time.

Javier, who was just as mesmerized as the others, came back to his senses when the emperor called him out.

"The lady here is the daughter of Sage Theron, your majesty."

The duty of the Emperor's guard was to ensure the Emperor's safety, requiring them to be well-informed about everything happening around him. Thus, Javier received regular updates on events in the Royal palace. Given his familiarity with everyone working there, identifying a new face was not challenging.

Considering that he knew everyone working in the Royal palace, it was not that hard to guess the identity of a new face.

"Sage Theron? He had a daughter?"

The Emperor was visibly shocked, mostly because there were very few similarities between the beautiful maiden and the old man. Not that he cared.

"I didn't know he had a daughter this beautiful! I am glad that I invited his family to the royal palace."

Although the Emperor was already politically married to the only daughter of the Duke steelguard, his interest in her was merely a formality. Rulers commonly had multiple wives and concubines, and the Emperor, known for his womanizing tendencies, was always on the lookout for beautiful maidens. 

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that meeting Sage Theron's daughter brought the emperor even more joy than meeting the Sage himself.

The beautiful maiden, still agitated by the Emperor's sudden appearance, realized she hadn't yet greeted him. She hurriedly kneeled down and attempted to articulate her greetings.

"Gl...ory to...the grea...t  Ever…hart, long iev the emp..."

But before she could finish, a pair of firm hands gripped her shoulders.

"There is no need for formalities, my lady."

It was the Emperor himself, and his demeanor differed from when he sat on the throne. He appeared kind and easygoing, a contrast to his royal court demeanor.

"May I know your name, beautiful lady?"

The Emperor asked the maiden while helping her up to stand.

Stammering due to agitation, the maiden managed to reply, "It’s..Luna, your majesty!"

"Luna...AH!...You truly are as beautiful as the moon, my lady"

Surprisingly, the Emperor was a very smooth talker. No, it was something expected of him. 

In a situation where he was suppressed by his brothers and sisters, Edmund managed to ascend to the throne even though he wasn't the crown prince. One could only imagine how many people he had to win over to achieve such a feat. So, it was given that he had a sweet tongue.

But, what surprised Luna was the fact that the emperor spoke to her with a friendly smile, even though she was a commoner. It was a well-known fact that most nobles looked down on common people, with some openly expressing disdain.

Even in the Emperor's army, commoners were often relegated to basic ranks like foot soldiers and artillerymen, while most high positions were occupied by nobles. This was one of the reasons why Sage Braham was despised among the nobility—As Braham was by birth a commoner, just his existence as a prime minister was seen as a direct challenge to their privileged status.

The Emperor's affable demeanor was a stark contrast to the usual attitude towards commoners. Luna couldn't help but think that the Emperor must be a magnanimous and just ruler who loved his citizens without discrimination.

"I am not worthy to receive such high praise, My Lord," Luna said, calming down as she responded respectfully, this time without any mistakes.

"As expected of Sage Theron's daughter, like father like daughter, you are too humble, my lady," the Emperor complimented with a smile, turning around.

"Forgive me, My Lady, I have a prior schedule to attend. I hope we can continue our conversation some other time."

Regardless of his reputation as a womanizer, the Emperor, being the ruler of the great Empire, had numerous responsibilities, making his time exceedingly precious. With that, he turned back, and the Royal guards, along with Javier, followed him, escorting him to his next scheduled area.

"Glory to the Great Everheart, Long live the Emperor," the servants bowed down, acknowledging their exit. Luna also followed them as her knowledge of royal etiquette was still limited.

***

In the hallway, as Javier and the Emperor proceeded toward the scheduled meeting, Javier couldn't help but notice that the Emperor, who had just conversed with Luna, seemed happier than usual.

"You seem happier than usual. Is this due to Lady Luna, Brother?" Javier addressed the emperor as 'Brother’ instead of treating him as a ruler. It was a privilege granted only to him due to the trust the Emperor had in him.

"Hahaha, you can tell, Javier?"

"It would be hard not to notice," Javier replied nonchalantly.

"It was nothing. I was just wondering how I would control the new 7th Magic Tower master, since he is from a common origin just like that 'Oldman.' There will be no saying what they will cook up together, but..."

"You just got the solution," Javier interrupted him before he could finish.

"Hahaha, that's why I like you. You realize my intentions even before I could tell you, hahaha."

The Emperor was known for his womanizing ways, a fact acknowledged by everyone in the royal palace. But what they didn't know was that the Emperor was the one orchestrating this perception.

He wielded control over how others perceived him, manipulating their understanding without them even realizing it. His schemes ran deeper than what met the eye, weaving a complex web of influence that extended far beyond the surface.

'He really is scary!'

Javier thought as he observed the laughing Emperor, making sure not to betray his feelings on his face.

'I pity that beautiful lady.'

Javier gave off a sigh witnessing the Emperor's manic laughter. It would only be a matter of time before she became the Emperor's pawn.

---***---