The Legend of Carmine

The dead of King Ather was reported by Alor to Emperor Cyan, who said, "Maybe the King's death, could be the best way for him to be freed from his guilts. He was a living dead when he was alive. No medicine could have cured him. He was already in that phase. If he had lived, he would have been nothing more than a living dead. Maybe death was the best thing for him. Give my decree, to give him a royal burial in his ancestral shrine."

After the burial ceremony. Carmine was wearing a mourning gown and was sitting in front of her father's portrait for his mourning. As she sat there in grief, her mind wandered everywhere.

She could not help but think, Was she responsible for her father's death. She kept questioning herself. Should I have been more assertive of my intuition of Norand's invasion? Should I have not planned the escape of my brother with that dead body? Should I have not gone to see my father that day? She kept wondering was it her fault that had pushed her father to the edge of craziness or was it the Royal brother's fault.

Oh, her head ached with so many questions of which there were no answers. Finally, she concluded that no one could be blamed because she was also equally to be blamed as the royal brothers for her father's death. She consoled herself by telling herself that time is the most powerful thing and things were meant to happen. This explanation however cheesy it was, that she used to console herself. But, she truly wanted to believe in it from bottom of her heart.

As she was lost in her thought, Emperor Cyanx came to pay his respect to her deceased father. Cyanx footstep's got her back to her senses. After he finished paying respect as he was about to leave, Carmine said," Since, it's only, Your Imperial Highness and me. I want to ask you, had you already foreseen the outcome of asking me to be a General for your nation."

Cyanx had not anticipated getting such a question in this situation. But anyways he turned to her and replied, "Not exactly. But the turn of the event proved everything and more that I had anticipated about you, General Carmine was true."

"Because even though I gave you command to be a Norand's General. But you used your wits to not only gain the post but the respect that you deserve by proposing the challenge. If you had just accepted being a General from me. You would not have been able to last long. And then eventually you could have been schemed to execution or maybe you would have been schemed to death by others. "

"Carmine, you not only acquired what I had wanted but you also acquired the troop you wanted. I would eventually have to dispose of you now or later if you had not been able to pull off this situation. However, I am very impressed with the way you handled it."

Carmine said," I am very glad that I did not disappoint you. I knew it If I had taken the post with those unfaithful soldiers as you said I would fall to my death before even starting my first venture as the General. However, Your Imperial Highness weren't you afraid what if I had lost the duel. Wait... did you intentionally put archery in the second duel? Did you really plan, for me to win the duel?

How did you know that I was a good archer?"

Cyanx's replied, "Kinda yes, I had seen a eunuch dragging your target board from your previous personal training garden while it was been dismantled. I noticed that it had no dents anywhere except at the center. And the dent was so deep, that it had compressed on it. From that, I knew that you had never missed your target."

Carmine replied humbly, "Your Imperial Highness, you are wise, only a wise person like you could have seen through it."

"Your Imperial Highness, I have one more intuition. But I am unsure if I should say it. Anyways it's just us, I will say it. I believe that Your Imperial Highness really cares a lot for your brother Rulean. I know why you wanted me to guard the Ouran and Lapen border and not him because you know that Ouran is barbaric in nature. They have no value for human life when they come to war. They treat humans like animals. You are afraid, if he lost a battle, he would suffer in their hands. If I am General in Shar, even though if they end up capturing me, you still have enough time to provide reinforcement for Rulean. Isn't it? I really hope, he understands whatever you are doing. It is from your brotherly love for him."

Emperor Cyanx could not help but smile at her, " General Carmine, seemed to have read my mind so precisely." And he left her by herself.

The next day a eunuch hurriedly rushed to Emperor and informed Cyanx that General Carmine is leaving for Shar.

Cyanx who had just gotten up hurriedly dressed up and went to ask her what she was doing.

As he reached there, she was about to mount on her horse but seeing him she kneeled down to bow down to him.

Cyanx asked, " General Carmine what are you doing? Your mourning has not finished yet."

Carmine calmly replied, "Your Imperial Highness. I am no longer the Princess of Lapen, I am General of Norand appointed at Shar. I need to follow my duty. It is my priority, we had planned to leave today and we will be leaving today. The dead are gone and nothing is gone bring him back. Living ones have to move on. And I am leaving today. Your Imperial Highness"

Cyanx was speechless hearing her answer.

As she mounted on her horse. She turned one last time to Cyanx and said, " Your Imperial Majesty, I have given my alliance to you in the hopes that you will rule the whole nation with justice to all your subjects. I hope that I will never be disappointed by you and she kicked her horse and in lighting speed she was out of the palace gates and on the road.

The eunuch was ready to take him back. However, Emperor Cyanx's did not budge, he watched this extraordinary women's blurring image, as she rode the horse creating dust smoke until she disappeared from his vision.