Eden’s Pov

I was walking through the halls straight to Tsu’s room, maybe either to apologize or knock some sense into him- it depends on his reaction to my presence. I stopped in front of his room and held my hand up to knock but before I could I was stopped by someone. I looked up and saw his guard with an irritated expression on his face. I quickly took my hand from his grasp and stepped back a bit staring at him.

“Rong’an what are you doing here?” I asked.

“That is such a self-explanatory answer, your Majesty,” he replied.

“Don’t change the subject, why are you here at Tsu's room late at night?” I questioned. 

“I am his guard, your majesty, it is my job to check up on him to make sure he is alright,” he answered.

Why is this man so aggravating right now, he is completely avoiding my actual question. I swear on my honour if I ever get agitated one more time.

“I should be asking what are you doing at his suite late at night if I have the permission to ask? Especially after that little heated argument that happened on the way here. Are you sure you can have a civilized conversation with my Prince with your unleveled emotions right now? You should mind your own business when it comes to another empire’s secrets.” He made a face that seemed like he was judging me. 

He slowly started to circle me as he said so, and I didn’t want to acknowledge his statements but it went straight to my head which also hit my heart. I stared blankly at the floor as my fists started to clench.

“Oh have I angered you, let me step back before I get hurt by the so-called crowned prince of the Wolf empire. Although you can’t blame me, I am just doing my job. You were always looking for something to get my Prince from his family- expose my people for their lies. But don’t think that we don’t know what you and some of the other empires are doing. Just because we hold one of the most powerful sources of magic in the whole world. Your empire is below us, remember that the next time you open your mouth about anything. I can easily say a word and your little play-play empire will crumble to the very ground. Just like what happened to your father-”

I turned around to him and grabbed his neck with a swift and strong grasp. He didn’t move, nor falter- he continued to smirk through his teeth. And then I looked into his eyes and saw something, was that emptiness I saw? No that can’t be, I don’t have my mother’s right eye, but why do his eyes look so lifeless even though he is living and breathing in front of me. To think about it when I look at anyone’s eyes in Tsu’s empire- they all had the same look: emptiness or maybe mind control. No that can’t be. Mass mind control is near impossible. The only people or things rather that could manage such control were gods or their leaders?!

“Better release me before the very thing I said becomes your present.” he stuttered.

I released him and saw him collapse in front of me.

“Remember this before I leave. I am of higher regards and influence than you. A crowned Prince versus a simple Guard like you; who do you think they will believe if this was to surface.” He looked me in the eye, “Remember that the next time you open your mouth about anything I do.” I finished off.

I took the opportunity and turned on my heels and proceeded to my room. I walked all the way there, furious and downright confused. I slammed my door as I entered and chased every maid I saw in my room. I stared at the mirror as I remembered the conversation I just had.

“UTTERLY DESPICABLE!” I shouted as I threw things around the room. 

I worked up a whole sweat doing so. I didn’t throw anything valuable, just books, clothes and anything that could not be damaged easily. I paused as I clasped on my knees, leaning forward and panting. My fists clenched underneath me, I wanted to just do more than just scream- I wanted to kill that lowly servant. I heard the door open and there was silence.

“I will talk to you tomorrow, just be sure not to leave this to the maids. It's your mess.” my mother said before leaving.

I slowly started to calm down after I started to clean up my room, but before I could finish- a book got my attention.

“Empires of the World” I spoke as I read the title out loud, “Maybe this could help me a bit- that's if they have what I am looking for.”

~~~

“Your majesty, your majesty”

“Mhmm, one more minute.” I slurred.

“I gave you one more minute, ten minutes ago, Your majesty wakes up before the Head Maid does so herself.”

I was then pushed and I sat up so fast shouting, “I got it.”

“What exactly is your majesty?”

“Huh? Got what?” I looked to my side.

I looked and saw my maid- a small snowy skinned, well-dressed maid with her hair in a simple bun with little dangling jewellery.

“Dianna, what are you doing here?” I was confused about what was going on.

“To wake you up silly, besides you were supposed to wake up from a long time ago. You were to meet her majesty five minutes ago” she said making a playful twisted face while scratching it.

“I was to what!!!!”I said, jumping into the bath to freshen up and get dressed. 

“Your clothes are on the small table beside the cupboard,” she shouted.

“Thank You.”

“Welcome, I am going to tell Her Highness that you are coming,” she said leaving the room.

I fixed myself up with my best suit that had my royal robe with nice light-weighted armour. I loved it so much since my father gave it to me as a birthday gift. I grabbed my crown and placed it on my head in the correct way before exiting the room and going straight to my mother’s office. I knocked twice before I heard her welcoming me inside.

“To be honest, out of all the ways the maids find you asleep- I was surprised that Dianna told me that you fell asleep over a book. Not to be mean or anything but I wouldn’t be surprised if the book was about military-related topics.” she smiled.

“For your information, it was about politics,” I smirked.

“Is my son growing up before my eyes, I am so proud of you.” she laughed.

“Very funny mom. What do I need to do today?” I asked.

“You will be sorting through the archives with the rest of your cousins. The archive is huge so you are all going to be needed for it. And yes the record keeper and librarians are there helping you along the way. After that you will do your afternoon studies, then you are free to do whatever you want after.” she said.

“That seems fair enough. I will get right to it then.” I bowed and left the room and started making my way to the archive building. As I was walking through the corridors I heard a scream erupt through the compound. I saw a maid running towards me and I grabbed her holding her still as she trembled.

“What is the matter?” I asked.

“The guest, the Prince. He is unconscious in his room,” she responded after a few shakes.

“What?” I froze as I tried to fully take in what she just said. “Ok I need you to do me a favour, but you have to get yourself together.”

She slowly nodded after a few seconds, “Go get the royal medics, they are supposed to be in their usual place in the Medical Pavilion, quickly go.” I saw her running towards the building. 

I looked around and found five guards walking by.

“Hey, one of you go fetch some maids to tell them to carry a basin and a few towels and medicine. Another go tell my mother to come to the visitor’s suite. You in the middle get me, the record keeper from the archive hall. And you two scan the perimeter to see if there are any traces of human involvement around the suite to see if this incident was caused by a second party.” As I finished, they were on their way following my orders. 

I then swiftly walked into Tsu’s suite opening the door and saw Rong’an over his body trying to wake him up. I walked over to him, throwing him off, grabbing Tsu into my arms and carried him over to his bed. I slowly started to look at him, he was breathing heavily, sweating and was very hot for some reason. I started to open his garment to try to cool him down but had to try to avoid his skin- too hot for me to touch it for long. Then I saw the medics and maids come in and stood waiting for orders.

“Don’t just stand there, he is ill and suffering, end it. Maids get basins of cold water and clothes to pat him down to try to cool him down a bit. Medics get over here and search for what the problem is.

“I want a full examination in fifteen minutes tops,” I shouted.

I slowly moved out the way as I watched them get to work, I slowly saw the guards from outside come in.

“Your majesty, there were no remnants of no second party around the suite other than the ones we have authorized.” one said.

“Any recently,” I asked.

“Yes, the ones from earlier are his guard and a couple of maids.” another responded.

I pondered for a bit before it hit me. Why was Tsu’s guard here when I found him? When I came here, the windows were closed and it was a bit too dark to see Tsu’s body on the ground properly unless a light source was there. But all the candles seemed out for a long time. And if I remember correctly Tsu’s suite is supposed to be very safe so it's hard to have someone other than the ones he trusts in his reach. And the only person I saw was. I paused and looked at the very person I argued with last night. 

“You, son of a-” I started.

“What is happening here?” my mother entered the room. “Status update.”

“The Prince is still in unstable condition, the fever is high for a human, and we can’t find anything that would cause such a sudden illness. There is no breaching in the skin nor is there anything around the room that was poisoned.” one of the medics answered immediately. 

“Were the windows closed?” she then asked. 

“The windows were closed, I made sure of it last night before I slept, Your Highness,” Rong’an spoke instead.

“You answered that quickly, didn't you? Are you sure that you didn’t do so this morning before anyone could? According to the report, there was your residue and then the maids. And if you came into this room before the maid and closed the windows before anyone saw then it would be considered an obstruction and a crime towards both this empire and yours.” I spoke out. 

“I would never endanger my Prince, that goes against the very thing I vow when I started to serve my empire and emperor,” he growled.

“We don’t know that now do we? You lucky I don’t have the eye of my empire to look into your very soul and prove that you are the reason for all this.” I started.

“STOP!!!” my mother shouted, “I already woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, so I don’t want to hear any of this until we get Tsu in stable condition,” she said as she walked over to my friend and examined him with her right eye. 

I looked right into Rong’an’s eyes and stared him down till he looked away from me and turned towards Tsu’s body. I sighed and looked towards the bed and fought the tears that threatened to fall, Tsu, please be ok.