Free Web NovelChapter 19: Chapter 19
Hera sat in the palace library, the biggest she’d ever seen, studying the empire’s history. The array of books seemed unending.
"Princess?" Iris called in a hushed tone. "Where are you?"
"I’m right here, Iris, what’s the matter?"
"Oh, nothing, I wanted to inform you that your man came around for the council meeting, and he happened to see me." Iris was being coy, and her smile looked questionable. "He asked me to pass on a message, which is that he would love to see you after the meeting."
"Iris..." Hera grumbled. "Why do you keep trying to push this man onto me?"
"Because he seems like a good person." She raised one finger to count her points. "He’s also rich and handsome," she raised another finger. "He’s a senator’s son, which means we could achieve our goal a lot faster with his knowledge, and last of all, he likes you."
Hera looked down at her book and fiddled with her hands.
"But..." Iris said, "I’m really not trying to force you to do something bad or against your wishes. I just want to help you and your sister so your kingdom doesn’t keep getting threatened by this hellish empire."
"I understand, Iris," Hera said. "I really do. But, you seem to want more than to help my family." Hera chuckled. "I had no idea you had become a matchmaker."
Iris grinned. "I would say I have an eye for good people."
"Good-looking people, you mean," Hera corrected.
This made Iris burst into a fit of laughter. She raised her hands in surrender.
"We should probably head down." Iris mused. "We wouldn’t want to keep anyone waiting."
Hera bumped into Penelope, as they headed out of the library.
"Who the hell do you think you are to bump into me?" Penelope screamed. "You don’t have a functioning pair of eyes?"
"I’m sorry, princess," Hera said apologetically, "it was a mistake. I didn’t see you."
"Of course you wouldn’t see me, you lowlife." Penelope’s eyes blazed with anger.
"That’ll do, princess," Iris said. Her eyes had darkened, and she loomed dangerously close beside Hera.
Penelope looked Iris over, from head to toe. "And who are you?" Her voice dripped with disgust. "What gives you the right to speak to me?"
Iris closed the distance between them, looking her squarely. "I don’t think you understand who you’re actually speaking to, princess. But I’ll warn you and warn you properly. The next time you say such vile things to my face, it’ll be the first time you get taught proper manners. Hold that tongue of yours, or I’ll teach you how."
Penelope’s eyes widened in shock, but she said nothing again.
"Hera," Iris said while still looking at Penelope, "let’s leave."
They left Penelope standing at the door of the library in a daze.
"I don’t think that was a good idea," Hera said, a little distraught, "but I’m glad you said those things to her. She’s so rude and haughty. She’s like a counterfeit version of her horrible sister."
Iris laughed so hard her stomach hurt. "You surprise me every day, Hera. I didn’t know you had a mouth like that."
"I have a lot of other things you don’t ." She winked. "However, it just so happens that I am a princess who needs to uphold as much honor and decorum as I can. And not simply behave like a rabid dog."
Iris whistled.
"Do you think we should wait here?" Hera asked when they got to the foot of the stairs.
"What? Of course not. You don’t want to seem too eager now. You have to act aloof, make him come to you, not the other way around." Iris replied.
Hera chuckled and gave Iris a funny look. "So, this confirms it then, you’re running a match-making agency."
"Let’s just head into one of the halls. I think the breakfast room is closest. We could see when the council meeting ends."
Two servants were deep in a conversation when they entered the breakfast hall. They scurried off immediately. freewēbnoveℓ.com
In the silence of the room, Hera couldn’t help thinking about her sister. She hoped fervently that she was safe wherever she was.
"What was she growing up?" Hera asked.
"Who? You mean your sister? " Iris said.
Hera nodded.
Iris gave a small smile. "Honestly...." She paused, pondering the question earnestly. "Your sister was the best gift we could ever ask for. She was always there for everyone, never wanted to see us cry or be sad."
There was a glint in her eyes as she recalled the memories of their time at the order. "You know, one time, she took a punishment for me. I had tried to escape many times. And each time they caught me, they would strip me in front of the other girls, and our mistress, she would beat me till I was bloodied and unconscious. Your sister had had enough of it one day and asked to take my punishment.
She never scolded me or asked why I always tried to escape, even though it was futile. She simply took the lashing and smiled at me when it was done." A tear ran down her face, and she sniffed.
"But why did you try to run away? How did you end up in such a terrible place?" Hera asked, a little shaken.
"The order isn’t really a bad place," Iris said defensively. "It is a society that has existed for thousands of years, so their rules are as rigid as they come." She sighed. "As for why I tried to escape, I would say I was young and defiant. My father, General Baros Giovanni..."
"General?!" Hera squealed. " You’re the daughter of a general? From where? Wow." Hera was astonished.
Iris smiled a little. "Calm down, princess..."
"Princess Hera?" A voice called from the door, interrupting their conversation.
Both Hera and Iris whipped their heads back to see who it was.
"I thought it was you," Niko said, sounding pleased.
"My lord." They both stood at the same time.
"We hadn’t realised that the meeting was done. I hope all is well." Hera said coldly. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Niko smiled at her. " Don’t be so formal with me, princess. I thought we would be past that by now."
Hera offered him a tight smile.
"Could we perhaps take a walk around the castle?" Niko asked.
"I don’t think that’s appropriate, my lord..."
"Please, Hera, call me Niko."
Hera sighed. "I don’t think that’s appropriate, Niko. I am still under the patronage of the king and prince. It would be unbecoming of me...."
"Perhaps Iris may come along. So we could be a group of three instead," Niko suggested. "That way it wouldn’t seem so improper."
Hera glanced at Iris, who was trying hard to hide her smile. "If you insist, then we may tour around the palace."
The three of them began their walk around the palace. From the outside, the sheer magnitude of the building was intimidating. Everything about its intricate designs and architecture still made Hera marvel.
"You seem taken by the building?" Niko asked.
"I am actually," Hera replied. "I have never seen anything like it before. It must have taken ages to complete."
"My father told me that its construction began even before the time of his father. But as time changed, they had to upgrade the designs, which ended up taking a lot of time."
"That’s absolutely amazing, " Hera replied.
They talked at length about the empire and its many wonders.
"Tell me about yourself, Nikolas Aetos. You seem to be really interested in getting to know me, so I might as well return the favour."
Niko smiled. "Where do I begin?"
"Anywhere."
"Alright then. I am the last child of ten children. I have six brothers and three sisters..."
"Ten children?" The idea felt foreign to Hera. A house full of children.
Niko laughed. "Ten children," he confirmed. "I have no idea how my mother managed, but she did."
"How was it?" Hera asked eagerly. "I just have my sister, and she was hardly at home, so if I’m being honest, I was basically an only child."
"It was a wonderful time. We gave our parents the worst days of their lives. My brothers would always get into fights with one another, and there would be blood everywhere. My sisters..." He scoffed. "They were basically witches."
Hera burst out in laughter. "Why would you call them that?"
"Because they were. They would always lie about us, the boys, and since my father loves them too much, he’d always believe everything they said. The game was rigged against us simply because we were boys." Niko continued.
Hera laughed loudly, tears falling from her eyes. "This is honestly the best thing I’ve heard in a while."
Niko smiled. "Are you free tomorrow, Hera? I would love for us to explore more of the city together. Of course, with your friend and as many guards as you would like."
Hera turned back to look at Iris. She walked so far behind to give them as much privacy as they needed, and Hera almost forgot she was with them.
"Of course, my lord... I mean, Niko, I would love for us to explore more of the city.
Penelope watched them from the library window as they talked and laughed. Her blood boiled when she saw the smile on Hera’s face. She was going to make sure she wiped that expression from her face.
