10. Under the Ruthless God

10

Under the Ruthless God

The outing by the lake is a beautiful place, a gazebo that overlooked the glittering Queen’s Lake, a lake known for its crystal blue waters and beautiful swans. Sileas has to walk towards the opposite wing to have a glimpse of the splendor of the lake, but the heat and reflection of the sun burns her in the glass palace. Her humanness was far too obvious again.

She didn’t think that this would be the most she’d ever see her husband. Under the glittering second sky of the country, the queen’s lake, and with Lotir, who kept stirring the conversation between her and the emperor. The princess is nothing but relentless, despite the first time they ever met, accompanying her on her wedding night.

Her efforts weren’t in vain. The conversation wasn’t awkward, but new. She never talked to him past the politics of court and the economy, and now, it doesn’t feel right to talk about business outside of her office, and from Lotir’s face, she doesn’t want to tell them to talk about business. She moved the conversation about random stuff that comes to her mind, often about their childhood.

“My brother often swam in the lake naked” Lotir said out of nowhere, while gazing at the glittering water. It was still early in the morning, which made the wind comfortable, and the sun was forgiving. “He used to run from the mansion behind the palace and strip all his clothes towards the lake. Mother had to ran after him a few times.”

The emperor glowered in his sister’s direction. “Lotir” his low voice reverberated, but it was friendlier than his usual threatening tone. “Talking about me like that is unbecoming.”

“To whose reputation? To you? I think your reputation would improve because of it”

She bit her lower lip to keep from laughing out loud in front of the emperor, while lifting her teacup to cover her smile and the amusement bubbling in her throat. The leisure air around them, fully relaxes the muscle on her back. She could feel her spine relaxing a bit under the heavy dress.

“Lotir, I am the emperor.” He reminded her.

There was a time when this country was just a kingdom. Not that it was all peace, but this kingdom hasn’t laid any conquest with the neighboring countries then. The past kings were too busy with their own squabbles to even think about taking territories and lands. But it wasn’t until the neighboring country Estares, who tried to covet their land, which made Dracone become defensive, then soon took the offensive. It was Eitr who thought, if they were going to invade his country, he’s going to also invade theirs and become an empire, and that he did.

The last king—his father—sent him to the frontlines as rumors arose about the touch of madness in him, and more came with it, the only relief the people had was Lotir having the same abilities as Eitr, which meant something could control him, and with their engagement and marriage, he would be tied to truly serving the empire as well, and to continue the bloodline.

“You are my brother and male” Lotir shot back. “Are we listing out facts about you now? Has your ego not grown to the point of exploding?”

She held her breath then. Noticed the prickle in the air as Eitr raised a single brow, with his hands folded in front of him, as just like in their early meetings, he hasn’t touched a single edible confectionary. He barely took a sip on his tea.

“Lotir, there are limits.”

She doesn’t seem to flinch at his cold tone. “You are slowly turning into someone I don’t recognize.”

“The old me isn’t fit to rule over this kingdom.”

“You want conquests rather than ruling.”

Sileas gasped. This took both of their attention as she was barely able to stop herself from reacting. Lotir had just laid out the truth that she has been plagued with, as she mostly did the governing herself. Sitting at that desk, she saw the lack of administration on everything, as most of the attention is for the war. The conquests. The revenge and blood that the Emperor grew up with.

But the people were neglected, and Eitr’s attentions are else where.

Eitr sighed. “I’m leaving.”

Lotir doesn’t stop even though Sileas hoped she will. “That’s what you’re good at. Leaving. You’re so good at walking away.”

“If that were true, the both of you wouldn’t be on this table” Eitr’s growl echoed in her chest. Her heart pitching inside her ribcage to the point of bursting. The dragon-like growl prickled her hair. “If I didn’t step into that field and become what I am, we would have been on the chopping block. Our people would be slaves, or worse. Pets”

Then he stormed off. Without ever having looked at her direction since sitting on the gazebo, and thankfully, Lotir let him off.

Lotir sighed. “Forgive me for stirring trouble. I was… testing something.”

She frowned. “What? You just seemed reckless. He could kill you and have no repercussion from doing so!”

“Calm down, he won’t kill me” Lotir paused. “Well, not now, but he didn’t” She paused. “He’s changing”

“I could only imagine what he was like before then.”

“He… is going through a lot.” Lotir seemed to deflate. Her shoulders sagged and her expression glum, while she stared at her hands on the table. She puckered her lips as if she tasted something sour, and sighed. “I was testing if he would do something more… heinous.”

“Like kill you.” She supplied.

“Something like that, but less… evil.” Lotir crossed her legs and pointed at her empty plate. “Why aren’t you eating anything?”

The sudden change in subject caused her to struggle in comprehending her words. The circular marble table is filled with many of the confectionary that the siblings loved in their childhood, and Feina had only prepared a few that Sileas liked per her request. But she has never gotten used to eating in such volume. Not when she could hear her grandmother chastising her about her weight or her size.

One of the many requirements of being an Amertine is maintaining a lithe and elegant figure. She shouldn’t be too skinny, but she needs to be lean and muscular enough to pass as a shifter. Female Draconi often looked whatever their dragons were. Northern dragons were large and muscly, which mean in their human forms they are tall and muscular. The Amertine fell under that, which is one of the reasons why her grandmother was taller and infinitely stronger than her.

She gingerly picked through the sweets as the overwhelming tastes were also new to her, she tried to hold her expression. “These are delicious.”

“Then eat more.”

“Not too much. I… already ate in my office.”

Her companion sighed. The earlier topic passed, but now she softly smiled at her, better than her expression before. Sileas is glad to see her move past it so easily. “You are a horrible liar.”

Her back shot straight as the panic heated her veins and made her nervous. “W-What? I’m not… lying.”

“See? I won’t ask further. Just keep eating” she placed more cakes and different kinds of bread on her small plate. Even pushing the plates towards her. “See how good of a friend I am?”

She smiled. I do, she whispered in her mind.

She never had a friend before, and she’s glad that its her.