Chapter 5 Secrets And Schemes

• The sixth month of the year of the creator, 2,020.
• Asghavia, Volcaris.
• Lolo Nerina's smirk grew as she sat in front of her dressing mirror while her maid brushed her pin-straight hair, dark as the eventide that flowed glossily to her waist and began styling it into a single, elegant braid.
• Centuries of planning and waiting were finally coming to an end. Today, she would be officially betrothed to the imperial prince and in the tenth month of the year, be formally engaged and married to him; able to live in the Unity Rock until the day of their wedding.
• It all lay on her shoulders now to bring the reign of the Estors to an end. From the day she was born, her dear father and mother saw great potential in her that they did not see in her elder brother, Orion.
• Her mastery of magic grew as she advanced in age, surpassing the understanding of her Nebulosi teachers to the point where she began to practice magic on her own.
• Neither her parents nor her brother possessed any magical ability.
• Her ability stemmed from her grandmother who was a powerful Nebulosi mage, but because it had skipped her parents and only sibling, Chief Topher, her father, had no other option than to ask the emperor to send Nebulosi teachers who were spell masters and advanced mages to train his daughter and because of the relationship between the two kingdoms, the emperor had no choice but to agree.
• She was also trained rigorously in archery, swordsmanship, horseback riding, and politics but much attention was given to her magic.
• Her magic was unlike any other that the Nebulosi spell masters had ever encountered.
• Oftentimes, she did not require the use of spells to channel and bring her power forth.
• In her spare time, she practiced malignant forms of sorcery that sometimes left her teetering on the brink of madness.
• At sixteen, her father began preparing her to finish what his ancestors could not do. To take back the kingdoms and rule the entire continent. The plan of action was both simple and highly complicated.
• "You look stunning, my Lolo," Her maid, Delia praised as she added a gold head ornament to Nerina's hair as the finishing touch.
• "I know," Nerina responded proudly as she gazed at herself in the mirror.
• Possessing a rare siren-like beauty that most women did not have, with thick, dark eyebrows that resembled a raptor in flight and full, inviting lips that had been painted a cherry red, she was arguably one of the most gorgeous noble women in all the five kingdoms.
• Delia smiled subtly and retreated to the wardrobe to fetch Nerina's outfit for the banquet happening in the Unity Rock that night.
• After helping Nerina into a pristine scarlet dress with full sleeves, cut in a V that exposed her cleavage, made her pale skin stand out, and was cinched at the waist by a diamond chain.
• The ends of the long dress pooled around her legs like she was standing in a pool of blood. Delia placed a pure gold necklace with a pendant bearing a golden eagle which was the crest of her tribe, around her graceful neck.
• Nerina's intense icy blue eyes focused on Delia through the mirror. "Have you gotten the information I need as I instructed?"
• Delia swallowed in fear. She had been hoping that Nerina had forgotten all about it, but she had been foolish to think like that. Nerina never forgot anything. Ever.
• She searched her mind for a suitable lie but she knew that would be an unwise decision because Nerina could smell a lie before it could even be uttered.
• "I-I…" She stuttered, at a loss for words to explain herself.
• Nerina stood from the padded leather stool and turned with a heart-aching grace to face Delia, causing her to take a step back, terrified of the flaming anger in the Lolo's blue eyes.
• Nerina reached forward and grabbed Delia's chin with her long fingers, angling the shorter girl's face to meet her piercing gaze.
• "You…what?" A flash of anger crossed her face but was quickly replaced by a calm, controlled smile.
• Delia fell to her knees, gripping the hem of Nerina's dress. "Forgive me, my Lolo!" She pleaded, tears streaming down her round cheeks. "I forgot about it, but I swear, once we return to the winter isles, I will set about getting the information to you. I swear on the creator!" She begged, not wanting to face the wrath of Nerina.
• "Get up," Nerina commanded, her voice sharp, and Delia quickly obeyed, though not daring to meet Nerina's eyes.
• She knew Delia was lying to her face but she decided to play along and see just how long her maid could lie to her.
• "I have trusted you with this because I shared my teenage years with you, but the next time you conveniently forget about this, I will not hesitate to sever your head from your body.
• "Ensure you carry out my instructions the second we reach Sejukgheim. Do you understand?" Nerina snarled like a wildcat, her voice low and dangerous.
• "Yes, my Lolo," Delia whispered, her body shaking like a leaf on a stormy night.
• "Get out of my sight, and tell my father that I wish to see him immediately," She ordered, turning away as she dismissed Delia.
• Delia promptly exited the chambers that had been assigned to the Lolo by the head servant of the Unity Rock.
• She knew of the Lolo's plot but wanted no part in it. She had already gotten the information that the Lolo required but could not bring herself to inform her about it.
• Despite being a citizen of Sejukgheim, a personal servant and confidante of Lolo Nerina, she was fiercely loyal to the imperial prince after he had put himself in danger to save her life when she was still a child with his vast knowledge of magic and spells.
• However, there was no way she could inform him of the plots against him, his tribe and the continent, without Nerina finding out.
• All she could do was to withhold the information from Nerina as long as she could until she was able to figure out a way to either somehow thwart the schemes of Nerina or inform the prince of which both options would result in losing her head, a head that she desperately wanted to keep connected to her neck and the rest of her body.
• "Nerina, you are the embodiment of perfection," Chief Topher, a tall said in admiration as he took in the willowy form of his daughter.
• "Thank you, Father, for that astute observation," Nerina replied, a smug smile dancing on her lips.
• "As gracious as ever, my dear." Chief Topher said sarcastically as he sat on a chair and observed the luxurious chambers he had made sure his daughter was given.
• "I trust the accommodations are to your liking?"
• "It will suffice," Nerina said, fiddling with the huge, silver ring gracing her long ring finger.
• "Father, we have come a very long way to get to this point and now, it is finally happening, but there is one thing that bothers me," She said, her brows furrowing in thought.
• "What might that be?" Topher asked, tilting his head to the side.
• Arched brows furrowed, she began to pace back and forth in deep thought.
• "I have been thinking, Father, what if the imperial prince refuses to be wed to me? Would we have to switch to our second plan or what?"
• Chief Topher smiled confidently.
• "You need not worry about such a trivial thing, my dear. The prince would not go against his father, not after what happened when he tried such a foolish thing before. We need not bother ourselves with our second plan as long as you play your part seamlessly."
• Her father's assurance calmed Nerina's racing thoughts and slowed them to a stop.
• "I shall play my role exactly as we have planned, Father. Soon, we will take back what was rightfully ours."
• They shared a malicious grin.
• Lolo Nerina raised her eyes, fixing her stare at the man she was supposed to marry, who sat peering at her with narrowed eyes.
• Wondering if he had already begun to suspect her, she cleverly schooled her expression into one of obeisance, affection, and humility, as she had practiced many times over the years.
• The prince noticed the almost imperceptible change in Nerina's countenance but it was so quick that he thought he must have imagined it.
• "The festivities will now begin in the great hall!" The royal herald announced as guards on both the upper and lower levels led the crowd out the main doors and to the great hall for the proper celebrations, with the emperor, Daegal, Nerina, and Chief Topher leaving last surrounded by the emperor's personal guards.
• Nerina hooked her arm around Daegal's, who stiffened at her touch but made no move to detach his arm from her grasp.
• It was his duty to be kind and receptive to the woman he was supposed to marry.
• She felt his arm become rigid immediately she held onto him, but as he made no move to free himself, she smiled slyly and exchanged a knowing look with her father who nodded discreetly.
• It was all going according to plan.