Chapter 7: The Empress' Escorts

[Tianluo Empire's Training Grounds—Hours Before Meet Up]

Situated west of Tianluo's palace lay the empire's military training grounds.

Densely packed with trees, the grounds were nearly impossible to spot from above.

Running drills were conducted all around the kingdom,

While sparring took place in dojos.

But for the elite few,

A more guided form of training was required.

"Haap!"

A strand of long silver hair flowed gracefully through the air as the young woman swung her wooden sword in a horizontal slash.

"Hmp, too slow."

Her sparring partner, a younger woman with blue hair, narrowed her eyes and dodged the attack with ease. She barely tilted her body to evade the incoming strike.

"T-That's unfairrr!"

The silver-haired young woman gritted her teeth and pointed an accusing finger at the blue-haired lass.

"You just don't learn, do you? We have been taught by both Master Guo and our eldest brothers, yet it's you—"

The blue-haired woman ducked just in time as the silver-haired girl went for an underhanded sweep with her wooden sword.

"—who lacks discipline, Devika."

The blue-haired young woman finished her sentence.

"Bla bla bla! Big words coming from you!"

Devika dashed forward.

"Trying to close the distance is meaningless."

The blue-haired woman said coldly as she exposed only one side of her body.

She kept one hand behind her back, her wooden sword never leaving the space in front of her.

"Hiyah!"

Devika thrust her wooden sword toward the blue-haired young woman's face.

The young woman merely blinked, seemingly unhurried. She tilted her body once more, tapped Devika's wooden sword to deflect it away from her pristine face, and tripped her in the same motion.

But instead of faltering, Devika smiled.

"You can't pull the same trick on me twice!"

Rather than falling face-first onto the ground, Devika caught herself mid-fall and propelled herself upward.

Her body flipped through the air, executing a corkscrew maneuver.

"I win this time! Takamine!!!"

Devika threw her sword.

Unable to deflect it in time, Takamine could only watch as the wooden sword bounced off her blue hair.

"Guh."

Takamine immediately brought a hand to the spot where the sword had struck her.

"Takamine, Devika."

The two immediately turned toward the masculine voice.

An old man emerged from the surrounding foliage.

He wore a simple blue haori, with a black kimono underneath and, of course, a grey hakama.

"Master Guo!"

The two disciples bowed respectfully.

"Enough, enough. Her Majesty has issued a task."

The two disciples straightened up and exchanged glances.

"You two have been assigned as Her Majesty's escorts and personal guards."

Takamine seemed to take those words in slowly, as though tasting and digesting them to ensure she understood their meaning. She merely nodded, though she couldn't help covering her mouth.

Perhaps out of disbelief.

"W-What?! Both of us? But Master! Aren't we still hatchlings, as you always call us?!"

Unlike Takamine, however, Devika leaned closer to Guo, her eyes sparkling with sheer excitement.

Guo stepped back and crossed his arms.

"It is an important mission. Your brothers are currently investigating those people. You two are among the only elite few I can confidently entrust to Her Highness."

Guo's eyes sharpened as he looked at the two.

"Let me tell you one thing, and one thing only."

Guo Renjie turned his back on his disciples.

"Never make Her Highness angry."

He glanced back over his shoulder before continuing.

"You may question her choices. You may disapprove of her actions. But there is one thing you must never do..."

Devika nodded, her arms drawn close to her chest in suspense.

Takamine, meanwhile, grew more serious, her eyes glinting with cold calculation.

"Do not ever provoke her sovereignty, and most of all—"

"BREAK TIME! WHERE ARE MY DESSERTS?! MILK TEA?!"

A petite figure hopped off her desk, pointing accusingly at the poor servant girl standing before her.

"Eep! They're coming, Your Highness! Mercy! Mercy!"

"Hmph! You are four minutes and thirty seconds late for my scheduled delightful break nano ja!"

The petite, red-haired empress crossed her arms before leaning toward the servant's face. Her pink irises gleamed with cold malice.

"What if I break your whole family's limbs, hm?"

"Eeep!"

Then, the door opened.

"Your Highness, don't bully the servants too much."

Yumiko appeared in a prettier kimono, now dressed in pink. Her long hair flowed freely once more.

"Hmp..."

The empress merely turned around, leaving the servant, whose soul had practically left her body from sheer shock, to collapse onto the ground.

"We will depart this evening, Your Highness."

Yumiko looked at the cute and short empress before her, who was staring out the window. The reflection of the empress' proud face was clearly visible in the glass.

"That is so, yes. I simply want to enjoy a nice milktea. Oh...and macarons nano ja."

Yumiko could only sigh.

Of course, of course... As a child, food was apparently the only way she knew how to enjoy life.

They did say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. But for the empress? Even more so.

Thinking back... one of her cabinet members had been encountered because of food.

Then, a servant arrived with the requested milk tea and macarons.

After placing them on the empress' desk, the servant dragged the other girl, who had passed out, out of the room.

Now, watching the empress happily devour her snacks, Yumiko couldn't help but smile a little.

"Nobody is stealing them from you, Your Highness."

"Fho shed shomeone will shtil from me?!"

The empress glared furiously at Yumiko, all while wolfing down the macarons.

Five minutes later, the empress patted her mouth with a handkerchief.

"That does the spot nano ja!"

The empress nodded to herself, evidently satisfied.

"I'm glad you enjoyed your break time, Your Highness."

Yumiko smiled.

Then—

Knock knock.

"Your Highness."

An old voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, revealing Guo Renjie. Behind him stood two young women.

"These girls will be your escorts, Your Highness."

The silver-haired girl behind Guo Renjie peeked out before revealing herself with a cheerful smile.

"Hello, Your Highness! I'm Devika Rajan. The oldest!"

Devika smiled warmly and waved her hand.

The other girl stepped forward as well, standing beside Devika.

"Takamine Reika desu. Pleased to meet you, Your Highness."

The blue-haired girl bowed respectfully, her movements elegant and calculated.

The empress took a good look at the two young women.

Both were beautiful. At first glance, it would even be fair to assume they were frail, and that THEY were the ones in need of protection.

But Vanny could tell these girls weren't to be taken lightly.

Moreover, there was their attire.

Simple black dresses complemented by breastplate armor. Such an outfit was something only the elite could ever hope to wear.

The empress nodded, then turned toward Guo Renjie and gave him an approving look.

Then, she looked back at the two.

"So you are my escorts nano ja?"

The empress crossed her arms, a proud smile spreading across her face.

"Stand proud, for you are about to undertake something your entire bloodline can boast about nano ja!"