The Tyrant's Pet

[ WELCOME TO VOLUME 5: The Grimsbanne ]

There was once a time everyone knew about the Haimirich Empire, or at least, heard about it once in their life. Haimirich Empire was known for its advanced technology and prosperous land. There was never a time anyone heard that Haimirich Empire would go into battle and come back as a loser.

That empire was untouchable and it all just seemed a glorious nation would not go down anytime soon. With an emperor as clever and heartless who ruled the empire with an iron fist, there were only two routes any other rulers could take: one was to be his ally, or second, stay away.

However, for an empire as big as the Haimirich Empire, how could it fall overnight and as silently as a wind at that?

No one knew what happened. Matter of fact, no one remembered that there was a time this Empire once stood gloriously at the top.

All they all knew now was fables, evolving stories to fill one's curiosity regarding this abandoned land that showed evidence of life before it somehow became a ghost town. One story would say because of how bad life was in this land, many deserted it one after another, leaving their homes just like that. Another story would say that one particular night, everyone just fell asleep, never to awaken again.

Some curious individuals would sometimes set foot on this land, and their stories would just never match. This was due to the fact that some of them saw an empty land, yet, everything was well-maintained. Others' experience was the total opposite. For them, this land they stepped on to investigate was just nothing but full of skeletons and remains, and the empty street along with the silent howl of the wind simply sent dread down their spine.

With this discovery, another story emerged regarding this land and was granted a title of its own.

The damned nation. 

The story initially stated that the experience in this place would differ depending on the person. But like any other story, it evolved from mouth to mouth, until everyone just deemed this place a land one mustn't cross. Unless, of course, they were prepared for the worse.

A land that used to lure people to gain citizenship for a better life, was now eschewed by many. They wouldn't even talk about it

"But there was also this version of the story."

Inside a tavern, a man propped his elbow on the surface of the table. His brawny arm flexed, moving his finger as a gesture for two travelers to move their ears closer.

"There were many versions of this story about that land, but this is my personal opinion that this version just sounds and kinda makes sense." The man cleared his throat as his expression turned solemn. "They said that this cursed kingdom was once prosperous land, but then, a witch came one evening and cursed the emperor. Many speculate it was because the emperor didn't return her love, so out of spite, she cursed the emperor and the entire land."

"Just think of this," he continued as his voice lowered, looking around warily. "The mainland suddenly appeared out of nowhere, but then, many kingdoms supports it and willingly got absorbed. It's ridiculous how this small land that appeared out of nowhere is now one of the strongest kingdoms."

"If the reason isn't as shallow as this love and spite, it could be because Her Majesty saw whoever the ruler of the cursed land as a threat. So she took him down first to get what she wanted," he added with a tinge of certainty in his own conclusion.

Somehow, the man was confident about this argument. After all, the day one discovered the cursed kingdom, was only months after the establishment of this empire called the Mainland. It didn't have any name as everyone just called it the Mainland and it was ruled by a woman with no name. Hence, many would call her Queen, Her Majesty, Empress, or whatever the hell they see fit.

In it, the Queen introduced the existence of vampires, werewolves, witches, and otherworldly creatures. The information brought fear to many people except those royals who already knew about their existence.

The first thing that this Queen did upon establishing the Mainland was to spread her word. All kings all over the world received the same message from her.

"I do not mean harm nor do I seek to bring fear on you and your people. You have my word. So I expect the same from you."

It was a simple message, but it said a lot about what sort of person the woman sitting on the throne of the mainland. She wouldn't provoke anyone, but she could retaliate in the most disastrous way possible.

[ Do not provoke me. ]

That was the simplest form of her greetings. Hence, the establishment was smooth without people raising questions or protesting about what sort of people there were on the mainland. Furthermore, with already established lands like Maganti Empire and its currently strongest state Rikhill bowing to the Queen, and the Chivisea Dynasty that was also expecting a Queen in the future, many just accepted the Mainland.

"You know, saying all this is dangerous. No one can provoke Her Majesty. It's like she has eyes and ears everywhere." The man cleared his throat, hinting at the two travelers that he was risking his life just by telling them all his knowledge regarding this cursed kingdom and the sudden appearance of the rapidly growing mainland.

The two travelers frowned, looking at each other before one of the travelers tossed a small pouch over the table. The man grinned, picking it up. He checked the contents of it and his lips stretched in satisfaction.

"What else do you want to know?" he asked excitedly as if he wasn't as terrified and wary as he sounded moments ago.

Little did they know, a man sitting on the corner table was listening to this man's tale to the travelers. His silver hair was peeking out of his hood, setting his pair of crimson eyes at the woman across from him.

"Sounds dramatic, don't you think?" asked the silver-haired man to the woman as his lips curled up into to smirk.

"I wonder…" the woman's pair of greens shone as a portion of her curly hazel hair fell forward as she picked up her glass of booze. "... how many truths are in there in all those fables?"

The man leaned forward. "Want to make a visit?"

"Isn't that why we're here, Sam?" the woman arched a brow, gazing at the handsome man across her. "To find out the truth and see what Fabian was up to, playing as the Queen's henchman?"

The two of them looked at each other, nodding mildly, having this silent agreement to uncover the mystery enveloping the cursed kingdom that has a strong connection to the mainland.