Chapter Five

Before The Emperor

My ears rang shrilly with the loud clatters of horse hooves colliding heavily with the dirt road, crunching

shriveled leaves and branding the soil with hundreds of U-shaped impressions. The sun had almost fully risen now,

causing the streaky tones smeared lazily across the sky above me to gradually fade away into a brilliant turquoise color

and the shadows of our procession thrown on the ground to gradually shrink beneath our feet. The forest was slowly but

surely awakening, coming to life and filling the air with piercing bird calls and several other distinct sounds I couldn’t

recognize.

How long had we been traveling?

I sluggishly opened my eyes, which seemed to have accidentally closed from the severe exhaustion weighing

down on top of me, and brushed aside the cloak that fell over my left cheek. Nothing appeared familiar to me; it all

looked the same, a dizzying entanglement of trees and vegetation that seemed endless. My throat had gone raw close to

an hour earlier, completely scratched dry from my loud screams and cries (which everyone about me remained entirely

indifferent to as we continued forward), and I had finally given in to silence and rode obediently atop the large, elaborately

decorated white horse I had been placed upon outside the hunters’ cabin. The masked general sat closely behind me,

holding the reins tightly on either of my sides, and he hadn’t spoken a word since we had started our journey. As a

matter of fact, none of the soldiers who were riding various horses behind us, or the catlike girl who trotted anxiously on

foot to our right, had said anything the entire time. Now the tranquillity was starting to burn my ears.

“...Heads aware, men!!” the general suddenly cried out over his shoulder, causing me to jump in the saddle and

the cloak draped over my head to slide limply off my body. (I had no idea why this lovely silk cape had been thrown

over me at the beginning of the trek, but my throat was so sore that I had no energy to ask) “We approach the gates

now! I trust that no one will be allowed within ten feet of the procession, hmm?”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” the soldiers called back, releasing one hand from their horses’ reins and lifting it to their

foreheads. “No one will get close, sir!”

“I hold you to that,” he replied, then faced forward a second time and gazed down at my position in front of him.

“...Your eminence, you must remain hidden,” he told me gently, seizing hold of the cloak that had fallen from my

shoulders and tossing it lightly back atop my head so it fell loosely over my shoulders like a blanket. “At least until we

reach the castle. I cannot risk you being seen by any commoner and possibly be put at risk. Please, stay in disguise until

we are safely within the palace walls.”

“...Who the heck are you to tell me?” I snapped nastily, and even I started at the raspy sound of my cracking

voice. “You haven’t explained anything to me yet! What are all of you flipping out about? Do you want this stupid

necklace? If you stop the horse, I swear I’ll give it to you!”

“Your eminence should not make such an offer,” he answered clearly, raising his eyes to the road ahead once

more. “The Eye of the Blind chooses who shall bear it. No one else has any right to it...or any destiny.”

“...D...destiny?!” I rasped hoarsely, glancing up over my shoulder at his face. I watched his enigmatic green

eyes--the only facial features visible between his scarf and helmet--dart quickly down at me before they surveyed the

approaching path again. I was angry now, for some reason; probably because I seemed to be the only one left in the dark

and had a sudden craving to return home. “OK, listen here, mister! I found this stupid *cough* necklace in my attic! I

found it in a small trapdoor in the floor, and then I put it *hack* on! There is no ‘destiny’ involved in that at all!! It’s

called a coincidence! And now I want to know what the heck is going on!”

“...His majesty shall enlighten you, Romanichel,” he responded, continuing to watch the road.

“That’s another thing!” I coughed irritably. “My name is Nikka! Nik-ka! Not ‘Royminishell’, or whatever the

heck you keep calling me! Hey! Are you listening?! Hey - !!”

“Look alive, men!!” the general interrupted me, turning to the knights behind him again. “We enter the gates!

Remember your orders!”

“Aye, sir!” they consented at the same time, and after several piercing shouts the stallions behind us galloped

forward. I watched blankly after the soldiers striding heavily forward on horseback, but soon my eyes were drawn

away from them. Before us loomed an enormous arch, at least forty feet tall and as wide as the path we rode on,

constructed entirely out of a breathtaking copper and embellished with amazing carvings of magnificent eagles. The

archway separated two colossal walls of brick, both of which led off endlessly in either direction and stretched up

impressively towards the sky. Between the vault was a pair of solid metal doors, at least three feet thick and decorated

with the same birds as the arch; they were open now, revealing before us a bustling marketplace atop a floor of sandy

brick. Thousands of people rushed around in every direction, all dressed in the same medieval clothing I had seen on

practically everyone I had met, along with wooden carts filled with various objects and hundreds of animals, including

chickens, horses, and some that sent a shiver up my spine (like that one there, with the horns and wings...what was

that??). The silence that had tortured me so brutally before was literally torn in two and replaced by the tumultuous roar

of the dense crowd. I didn’t put up any fight now; I wrapped the shawl tighter about me and hid my face, with the

exception of my eyes. The general kneed his horse’s side, and we continued deeper into the depths of the mob.

“The imperial forces have returned!” I saw some sort of decrepit old man shout, scooping up his long, billowing

robes and running towards our white horse. I let out a quiet gasp and clenched the cloak over my shoulders as he drew

up beside us, smiling through a mouth made only of gums. “A gold piece for an honest man, eh, sir?” the man cried,

thrusting his arms up towards the general, who cast him an icy glare through his green eyes. The horse snorted

uncomfortably, tossing its head and swerving slightly to the side. “Need bread for me family...you can spare it, don’t be

greedy, sir!”

“Ho there!!” a loud voice yelled, and I stared in surprise as one of the soldiers, astride a large chestnut horse,

galloped heavily out the crowd towards us. He pulled a immense wooden club from his belt, leaned slightly to the side,

and gave the old man one hard smack backwards, sending him sprawling clumsily down onto the brick. “Stay back!” the

knight warned, holding up his club a second time as the man climbed back onto his feet, muttered a loud curse, and

darted off into the crowd. The soldier pulled his horse back around, turning his head towards the general. “My apologies,

sir! The old ones seem to slip through the cracks!”

“I see,” the man behind me replied coldly. “Do not repeat the mistake. I want no one near her eminence, do

we understand?”

“Aye, sir!” The soldier pulled on the reins again and galloped speedily out into the mass of people before us, some

of which let out squeals of fear and leapt to one side or the other to avoid being run over. “Hear me well, all of you!!” he

bellowed loudly, slowly turning his horse about in a complete circle to survey the entire marketplace. “Make way for the

captain of the guards! Get aside, and don’t get near! Anyone coming within ten feet of the general shall immediately be

arrested and punished severely! You’ve been warned!”

The crowds immediately began to shout loudly, shoving against each other in an effort to get as close as possible.

Several other knights rode up behind us, shoving aside people with their clubs or feet. I heard the general emit an angry

growl through clenched teeth. “Idiots,” he muttered under his breath. “Can’t they even follow simple orders?”

“Some gold to a needy lass, general!” a woman in her late forties sobbed desperately, throwing the shawl draped

over her shoulders around her back so she could fall to her knees beside the horse’s hooves and reach up towards us.

Tears were streaming down her wrinkled cheeks and tangled gray hair was falling limply around her face. “Please,

general, my husband just recently passed, and I have four innocent children - ”

“Get away, I said!!” the general behind me snapped nastily, ripping his right foot free of its stirrup and giving her

a vicious kick directly in the stomach. I hid my eyes beneath the cloak as she let out a piercing screech, tumbling down

onto her back and clutching her wounded belly, more teardrops flowing down her creased face. The general exhaled an

aggravated snort, kneeing his horse to a quick canter. The people about us were forced backwards to either side as the

stallion sauntered impartially forward, cutting through them like a sharp knife. “Keep them back!!” he bellowed to the

surrounding guards, who were having enough trouble of their own with other peasants reaching and grabbing at them as

well. “Remember what I said if anything happens!!”

I let out a frightened squeal as an old woman with thin silver hair pulled back in a disarrayed bun seized hold of

the cape over my shoulders and pulled violently downwards, almost tearing me from the saddle. I caught a glimpse of

her ghastly face, shriveled and pale with age, staring out at me from a black hood hanging about her. She was gaping

distantly up at me through a pair of frightening white eyes, and it was only then that I realized she was blind. “Get away

from here!!” she hissed hoarsely in a shaking voice, and even though the intense clamor of the surrounding mob pounded

against my skull in a deafening roar, I could still hear her voice burning in my ears. Her gnarled, speckled hands clasping

my cloak had begun to quiver. “Please, get away!” she rasped pleadingly, giving my cape another tug. “You can’t stay

here!! Please, listen to me - !!”

“You evil demon!!” the general roared furiously, whipping his cape aside and pulling his sword from the

scabbard on his belt. The woman finally released her hold on me, reeling backwards as the blade of the man’s weapon

whistled through the air where she had been standing. “You cannot escape me, you witch!” he hollered rabidly, and I

watched after her in stupefied shock as she began to shove her way back through the crowd, out of sight. The general

turned back towards his surrounding soldiers, thrusting a enraged finger out in the vague direction of where the woman

had gone. “Seize her immediately, men!! Arrest the monster who dares approach us so closely! I want her in the

dungeon and on the scaffold by this time tomorrow, do you hear me?! And you all will join her if she is not found this

instant!!”

My hands were still shaking from the appearance of the woman and how she had grabbed hold of me so

suddenly, but I managed to pull my cloak back up around me and settle myself back into the saddle. Behind me I could

hear the general muttering a consecutive string of irritated curses beneath his scarf as he slid his weapon back into its

holster, then threw his cape back over it.

“Stay back!!” one of the knights on horseback in front of us shouted again, waving about his club and feet in an

effort to clear our path. Even though it felt as if we had been trying to move through the marketplace for hours, the

enormous front gates were still visible over my shoulder. I exhaled a weary sigh, turning about to face forward once

again, and then suddenly my eyes caught a small shape standing only feet from my right foot. It was a young boy,

probably only about eight or nine years of age, and about four feet tall, with dark, unruly hair falling messily to the nape of

his neck. He was staring incomprehensibly up at me through a deep pair of amazing green eyes, hidden behind a wide

pair of foggy glasses, with a look of wonder on his face. He was the only one, besides the blind old woman, who had

actually seen my visage beneath the cloak. Something about the silent astonishment in his eyes captivated my vision.

We stared back and forth for several moments, as the horse continued to force its way through the vicious

current of people pounding towards us, and all of a sudden something beneath the boy’s shirt began to struggle and thrash

around. He drew in an inaudible gasp, gazing down at his chest in surprise, and began to try and restrain the unseen

object when suddenly a brown, shaggy creature popped its head out of his collar. It was the strangest animal I had ever

seen, even more so than the purple rabbit-thing in the forest: it was completely covered it a dense, fuzzy coat of chestnut

fur, and all that was visible through it were a pair of enormous pink eyes. It shuffled back and forth in the boy’s collar,

scanning the bustling surroundings with quick, excited motions, until the boy finally clapped both hands atop the animal’s

head and shoved it forcefully back into his shirt. By this time the horse had passed by, and I watched him over my

shoulder.

There was an ear-piercing howl that emanated from somewhere behind me, and the boy let out a startled cry as

the sleek body of the catlike woman I had seen in the hunters’ cabin landed skillfully on all fours between the horse and

his position amongst the crowd. “You! You stay back!” she snarled threateningly to the boy, her tail waving menacingly

through the air behind her. “No approach Master Amari! You is bad boy....Go home now, before you get in more trouble!

Go on, shoo!!”

The boy paused only for a second, casting a longing glance over the girl’s shoulder towards my position atop the

horse (still watching him), but after one more intimidating hiss from her lips, he whirled about on his heel and dashed

back out into the crowd. “Now, all listen to Tama!!” the girl announced loudly, straightening herself up and holding both

of her slim arms up over her head. “You no go near Master Amari no more, you hear?! You all stay back, or you get

punished!! Anyone even touch Master Amari’s horse, get thrown in dungeon, yes?!”

The mob finally seemed to be grasping the concept of the orders given to them, and slowly some of the swarm

began to recede. I scanned the gradually withdrawing crowds for any sign of the frightful woman or the fascinating boy,

but I couldn’t see anything. I did see the original old man that one of the knights had slapped aside, rubbing his head and

cursing to some unfamiliar man, but nothing else recognizable caught my attention.

I heard the general exhale a relieved breath behind his scarf, and I felt him tug on the reins around me.

“Finally...” I heard him whisper. “The castle....I thought we’d never make it...”

I turned about in the saddle, back into my original position before I had begun examining the crowds, then felt

my bottom jaw unhinge and gape blankly at the sight stretched out before me. Somewhere amongst our grueling journey

through the marketplace, we had drawn up before an enormous, elaborate palace of some sort, at least 100 or more

meters in length, 100 more in height, and an inconclusive amount in depth (from my immediate position, it was

impossible for me to guess just how vast the building stretched out when it left my field of vision). It was beautifully

constructed out of sturdy timber painted varying hues and dense brick, surrounded by dozens of tall, refined towers that

seemed to stretch up endlessly towards the clouds. Before us lay an immense flight of granite stairs, leading up to a

massive pair of wooden doors, ajar at the moment and showing into an elaborate entrance hall beyond.

“....W...wow...” I stuttered in amazement, unable to tear my gaping eyes away from the magnificent palace.

“...I’ve...I’ve never seen anything like that before....”

The general behind me let out an amused chuckle, finally pulling his horse to a stop and gazing up towards the

castle. “Quite a sight, eh? But not as incredible as you, your eminence....I’m sure the entire assembly is awaiting your

entrance...”

I couldn’t seem to gape at anything else but the castle. Even the vivid descriptions in fairy tales hadn’t prepared

me for such a breathtaking sight. “...This...this is incredible...” I stammered. “...There’s nothing even remotely like this

back at home....Where the heck am I...?”

“....Come, your eminence,” the general replied, sliding himself easily off the saddle and landing lightly on the

ground. He turned back about to face me, then held a hand up towards my face. “His majesty will explain everything to

you. I am just overwhelmed that I managed to escort you here unharmed.”

“Ho!! Who goes there?!” a loud voice exclaimed, and the general turned about as two soldiers, brandishing two

large spears, came jogging up towards us. “State your name and purpose of coming here!” the first ordered, holding up

his weapon menacingly. “Or we shall be forced to arrest you by order of law!”

“I hardly find that necessary, lieutenant,” the general answered calmly, grabbing hold of the horse’s reins as it

began to toss its head uncomfortably.

Both knights drew in startled gasps, then instantly dropped their weapons to the ground and collapsed onto their

knees. “General!” the second cried breathlessly, saluting nervously. “Our...our most sincere apologies to you, sir! If...if

we had any idea it was you, we would have never - ”

“At ease, men, at ease,” he interrupted, and immediately they leapt up onto the their feet. “Now listen carefully

to me,” he told them firmly, gazing over at them through stern green eyes. “I want to you enter the palace and make a

request for a royal assemblage on my behalf. If they inquire to know its purpose, simply respond that General Amari

believes that he has discovered the young lady from myths.”

“Aye, sir!!” Both soldiers saluted (rather clumsily, I think, judging by the loud clang that came from their hands

hitting against their helmets), then immediately spun about on their heels and dashed awkwardly up the long staircase,

into the palace. I sat atop the saddle, gaping stupidly after them, until the general’s voice from below me snapped me

back into reality.

“ ---- shall be more than happy to make your acquaintance,” he was saying, watching distantly after the two

recruits (I really hoped he hadn’t said anything important). “Believe me, your eminence, no one shall be happier than his

highness to - ”

“You haven’t answered any of my questions yet,” I interrupted brusquely, probably ruder than I meant to.

“Where am I?? Who are all of you? What is so special about this necklace? And why in the world does everyone keep

calling me - ”

“It would not be proper for you to hear it from me, my dear,” he broke in, turning about in place to confront me

once again. His green eyes remained locked impartially on my face. “Come -- your audience awaits.”

“My what??”

He held an offering hand up towards me, using the other to grip the reins and keep the horse in place. “Let’s

push on, Romanichel.....Your destiny expects you, you don’t want to keep it waiting...”

I hesitated for a moment, staring down at him in silence, then slowly reached out my hand, took his, and

allowed him to guide my feet smoothly down onto the brick. After that, I couldn’t seem to find my voice fast enough to

speak, and I remained quiet as the general gradually led me, step by step, up the enormous staircase and through the

massive front doors, into the castle.

My legs were beginning to burn now.

I was standing in the center of a gigantic main chamber, completely encircled by expressionless sentries atop of

a seemingly endless field of red carpeting. I had been positioned in this stance for close to ten minutes, and practically

nothing had happened, literally. The general, holding my wrist lightly as if it was constructed entirely out of glass, had

escorted me into the immense room where I now stood, placing me directly in front of an empty golden throne positioned

at the head of the chamber, atop a small flight of four carpeted stairs. After that, he had simply withdrawn from my side

and merged with the large semicircle of inexpressive soldiers surrounding me on three sides, where he had remained.

The massive room had become filled with a chilling, dense silence, so strong that I refused to let myself cough even

though my throat had become inflamed, and my vision slowly began to drift around me.

The chamber was incredible; its walls positioned twenty feet on all of my sides stretched up almost thirty above

my head, where they attached to an elaborate domed ceiling decorated with chiseled pictures of beautiful eagles. The

brick walls themselves were hidden in many spots by intricate scarlet tapestries and golden candelabras. In front of me,

about five feet on either side of the beautiful throne, were two separate arched doorways, leading off into a pair of unseen

corridors. Occasionally I could see flabbergasted faces of people peering out around the corner at me, whispering among

themselves, but even in the intense silence I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I had begun to pinch my arms and

hands in an effort to awaken myself from this incredible dream, but nothing seemed to be happening except my skin was

becoming speckled with painful red blotches.

My vision snapped forward once again as all of a sudden the entire population of guards around me bowed

simultaneously to their knees, and I could see the form of an elegantly dressed young man with long black hair tied up

firmly in a gold- and jewel-studded bun atop his head and a thick golden choker gleaming about his throat gradually make

his way across the front of the chamber and sit lightly aloft the stately throne before us. His billowing crimson garments

cascaded over the armrests onto the floor.

“Rise, please,” he ordered the guards, who immediately obeyed, with the exception of the general. He remained

kneeling on the ground, seemingly shocked by the appearance of the young man, with his eyes wide.

“What is the meaning of this!!” he roared angrily, bounding up to his feet and clenching his fists at his sides. The

other guards about the room cast bewildered stares over at his tense position behind me. “How dare I be so mocked,

where is the emperor??!”

The man seated atop the throne clasped his hands in front of him and leaned them on his knees. “....I am the

emperor, General.”

“Don’t deride me, Nemasu, I refuse to be slandered like this!!” the general snapped furiously, reaching up and

pulling his helmet from atop his head, revealing short, dark brown hair. This was the first time I had actually seen the

general’s unmasked face, and I was extremely shocked -- he wasn’t much older than me, in his late teens and probably

around the same age as the young man sitting on the throne, and was remarkably handsome, even though his enigmatic

green eyes were hidden behind a veil of fury. He pulled the scarf down from over his mouth and clamped his teeth

together. “This is not to be handled by a child......Nemasu, where in the hell is your father??”

“....My father is absent at this time,” the man on the throne, whose name I guess was Nemasu, replied clearly,

appearing to seem indifferent though noticeably affected by the general’s outburst. “He is attending a peace conference in

Fossoyeur at this time and will be away for several days in the least. I have been directly ordered to take his place as

long as he is removed.” Although the general’s mouth opened and closed with silent protests, the emperor directed his

vision down onto me. Through his refined appearance, it was hard to see how young he was until he actually looked

directly at you. “...Now what is this great stir I have heard so much about? I have been very busy, you must

understand, and do not wish to be disturbed over trivial matters.”

“...Wh -- this is hardly trivial, your majesty!!” the general declared hastily, taking a firm step forward.

Nemasu raised one eyebrow. “...I shall be the judge of that.” He turned his head back towards me, ignoring the

general who was continuing to mutter rather audible curses under his breath. “....Maiden, please answer me this--where

do you hail from? I have heard many rumors, no doubt, but I wish to hear it straight from you--where do you visit from?”

“.......I--” My throat had become paralyzed, and I felt my knees shaking beneath the emperor’s stoic gaze. It

was such a simple question--why was my brain having such a problem thinking up an answer? Maybe because the

answer didn’t make sense, and any reply I seemed to come up with was going to have me thrown in an asylum or

whisked away to be exorcised. “Well, you see, sir, I was sucked out of my own world one night after chasing after

some man in the rain...” “....It’s perfectly easy to see that this weird necklace I’m wearing has incredible powers, didn’t

you know that?” “Ha ha, I’m sorry, I’m not actually here at the moment, I’m actually dreaming this whole situation.

Sorry for the confusion....”

The emperor cleared his throat loudly, causing me to start in place. “.....Did you not hear me?” he repeated,

more firmly this time. “I asked you a question, my dear....Most would think it wise not to ignore me...” Some of the

guards around me had begun to murmur quietly to each other, filling the large room with the buzz of subdued whispers.

“......W...well, I.....” I started to wring my hands together uncomfortably , cracking my knuckles and shifting

nervously from side to side. “......I....I’m.........no one, sir......Please let me go and...and I promise not to cause any more

trouble....”

The murmurs grew louder, becoming more of a soft roar instead of a muted hum, and the guards turned to each

other with expressions of shock and befuddlement. “...Didja ‘ear that, mate, the girl says she ain’t no one!!” “Aye, I did,

ye think she be tellin’ the truth, or be she lyin’ to attack in secret?”

I watched the emperor’s face become twisted with rage, and immediately he leapt to his feet and thrust an

enraged hand out towards the whispering crowds. “Silence!!” he commanded loudly, and everyone abruptly complied.

With an aggravated exhalation of breath, he slumped restlessly back down atop his throne and rested his forehead warily

against his hand. “.....completely surrounded by fools....waste my time like this....”

“Nemasu!!” the general snapped loudly. “Give her a goddam chance--”

“She has said herself that her presence holds no significance, and I am not one to argue!” the emperor

interrupted. “And you, my dear Amari, shall refer to me as ‘your highness’ in my father’s absence, is that clear?” He

turned his attention back onto me and the surrounding guards, then massaged the bridge of his nose with his thumb and

pointer finger, as if to soothe a vicious pain within his skull. “....I’ve heard enough. This conference is over.”

“Nemasu--!!” the general protested.

“And the girl, your majesty?” one soldier standing near my side questioned, seizing hold of my arm.

“There is no need for her,” Nemasu answered clearly, standing up and tossing his robe out behind him. “But

such a ruckus has cost me a good deal of time and energy. Escort her to the dungeon to have her hands removed as

punishment.”

“What??!” I screamed loudly, staring after him in shock as he slowly descended the staircase. Several other

knights had drawn up on either side to grab hold of me and start pulling me away from the throne, and now the chamber

was bustling with talk and mumbles. “You...you can’t do this!! I didn’t do anything!!”

“Precisely,” the emperor replied, turning his head to look me indifferently in the eyes. “Posing as one of power

and significance is a punishable offense. You’re quite fortunate I only ordered the removal of your hands.”

“No!!” I shrieked, now being dragged backwards by at least two pairs of guards. “No, let me go!! You can’t do

this!! Get off of me!! No, please, come back!! Help me!!”

I fell silent as a soft noise came from behind me, and as I turned my head towards it I noticed the form of the

general, who hadn’t moved from his original location, with his head directed down towards the carpet and his shoulders

quivering. What’s the matter with him?? I thought in confusion. Why isn’t he helping me?? He got me into this position

in the first place...why the heck isn’t he saying anything?? And what in the world is he doing??

The general slowly lifted his face upwards. He was laughing. “Hold on for just a moment....‘your highness’,” he

announced loudly, causing Nemasu to halt in place and the soldiers at my sides to stop abruptly. “...You’re a rather

scholarly man, aren’t you, ‘your highness’?”

“...Amari, what in the world are you trying to--” Nemasu began angrily.

“Then perhaps you can answer me this,” the general continued speedily, now glancing up to meet the emperor’s

eyes. “Do you think you can recite the legend dealing with the Romanichel?”

Nemasu glared over at him in silence, as if contemplating the consequence of each answer, then inhaled a sharp

breath.

“Ah ah ah!!” the general exclaimed bluntly, holding a hand up beside his ear in a sarcastic motion. “Just a

moment, your majesty, the fifth line.....Repeat it, would you please?”

“Amari, I do not see where this is going,” Nemasu snorted impatiently, crossing his arms. “The legend is

obviously referring to the Eye of the Blind, and there is absolutely no sign that this girl--”

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, your majesty,” the general interrupted brusquely, taking several heavy

strides over towards me and smirking cynically. “Now, your highness, you did say yourself that the legend is referring to

the Eye of the Blind, did you not?”

“Yes, but--”

“Then, your majesty, allow me to introduce to you....‘the angel from overhead’.” With one smooth motion he

slipped his fingers inside my collar and pulled out the unusual charm, letting it fall loosely against my chest. The crowds

behind me inhaled a simultaneous gasp, and suddenly the room was filled with a thick silence.

The emperor gazed impassively at me for a moment, and suddenly I watched his lower jaw fall swiftly open.

“....Th....that’s......Hold for a moment, general...”

“...The Eye of the Blind, your majesty,” he answered clearly, batting mockingly at the necklace around my throat

so it swung back and forth. “We discovered this girl, Lady Nikka, captured by the hunters and being held captive in the

Devil’s Mouth. Her unusual clothes and odd dialect were curious, no doubt, but this was what truly triggered our

certainty. And as you said yourself, the passage is most unquestionably referring to this talisman being worn by the

Romanichel herself, eh?....But I suppose you were planning on noticing that before you sliced her hands off at the wrists,

right, your highness?...Or at least, the true emperor would have.”

“......I....I......” Nemasu continued to gawk at me, his eyes wide and his mouth opening and closing, and suddenly

without warning he threw himself onto the carpet and thrust his arms out in front of him. “.......My deepest, most

sincerest apologies, your eminence!!”

“...Wh...What...??” I watched in total shock as the rest of the soldiers around me, including the four grabbing

hold of my arms, instantly collapsed onto their stomachs as well, their armor emitting loud metallic clangs as they

slammed into the floor, and began to chant monotonously in some sort of unrecognizable language. I rotated once in place,

surveying the dozens of heavily clad guards bowing low to the floor with their faces smashed up against the carpet, then

gradually swiveled back towards the emperor, who was still crouched ignobly down before his throne. The only one that

was still stationary was the general, who stood confidently at my side with his arms clasped before him. “....Wa...wait a

sec....”

“I beg your forgiveness, Romanichel!!” the emperor pleaded loudly, his voice muffled due to the fact that he was

speaking into the rug. “I...I was in no position to doubt you, and I am a worthless fool!! Show mercy to me, your

eminence, I repent, I repent!!”

“Should she show the same mercy you showed to her, Nemasu?” the general asked tauntingly, smirking. “You

realize that the punishment for infidelity is death.”

“Aahh!! Have mercy upon my foolish soul, your eminence!!” the emperor begged, and his voice seemed to be

cracking, as if he was holding back tears. “I spoke out of place, I spoke out of place!! I am but a child, Romanichel, I’m

not the rightful ruler of this kingdom as of presently--!!”

“You should be executed as a model to others!!” the general snapped contemptuously.

Nemasu was definitely crying now, and he slowly lifted his face from the carpet to reveal two trails of tears

dripping down his cheeks. He certainly didn’t look majestic and royal now--I could clearly see his immaturity and naiveté

beneath the teardrops dribbling to the floor. “No!! No, please, I entreat you, your eminence--!”

“How dare your show your face to the Romanichel!!” the general roared, and immediately the emperor’s head

fell speedily back down onto the carpet. I could faintly hear his subdued wails over the mechanical incantations

emanating from the other stooping guards encircling me. The general let out an amused, satisfied snicker, then turned to

face me with a respectful bow at the waist. “......Your command, your eminence...?”

My eyes were still wandering in absolute shock about the room, and I started at the sound of his question.

“...What?”

“What is your judgment?” he asked again, motioning down towards the emperor’s position on the floor, whose

head instantly snapped up again and stared at me through wide, tearing eyes. “Nemasu has disrespected you, claimed that

you are false. What do you wish his punishment to be?”

“....Wh...what?!” I cried, taking a step forward. “H..Hold on just a second, what in the--”

“....I...I was mislead....” Nemasu’s quiet voice choked from the floor. “Please show me mercy....wait until my

father returns....!”

“...Your eminence?” the general inquired a second time, slightly impatient.

“....N...no, no punishment!!” I exclaimed hastily, shaking my head back and forth. “...I...I don’t

understand.....What’s going on?? Can someone please tell me?”

“No punishment?” The general raised an eyebrow. “Highly unusual, your eminence, and highly indiscreet, if I

do say so myself.....Allow me to suggest--”

I let out a startled gasp as I felt a violent tug from about my waist, and one quick glance downward revealed

that the emperor had crawled forward and wrapped his arms around my hips. “....I...I am eternally grateful to you, your

eminence....” he weezed softly, tightening his grip about me. “...Whatever you order I will be certain to follow...!”

“....You’re hurting me...!” I choked hoarsely, grabbing hold of his arms and removing them from my waist.

“...Does...does this mean you’re not going to cut off my hands...?”

“...B...by no means, your eminence!!” he replied hastily, clasping his hands into fists. “I spoke rashly, I did, I had

intention of going through with it...”

“...You...you miserable, lying son of a--!!” the general snarled.

“Ok, then.” I straightened myself up and tried to appear majestic, praying that no one could notice my quivering

knees beneath my skirt. They obviously think I’m special and powerful.....Might as well play it up until I can find a way

home, right...? “You’re the emperor, right? At least for the time being?”

Nemasu leapt up into a kneeling position and pounded a fist against his chest. Several strands of black hair were

now trickling loosely down over his sweaty, flushed face. “...Yes, my dear, I most certainly am! Until my father

returns!”

“...Then maybe you can help me,” I said, placing my hands on my hips. “....I need to find....uh...a way back

to...where I come from. I think it has something to do with this necklace. Do you know anything about it?”

He nodded vigorously, almost unnaturally. “...Yes, yes, of course, your eminence!! The legend of the Eye of the

Blind has been passed down through the royal family for many a generation! I would be more than happy to share my

knowledge with you!!”

“...Um....yes, yes, that would be....er...splendid.” Oh God, I sound like such a retard...Who can talk like this?? I

stared uncomfortably down at his form still kneeling at my feet. “...Uhhh, you can stand up now. Please.”

He instantly leapt to his feet, saluting awkwardly. “As you command!” He whirled about towards the rest of

the soldiers, still sprawled across the carpet around me. “You heard the Romanichel, you idiots, on your feet!!

Immediately!!” As they all instantaneously obeyed, he turned back around towards me. “Follow me if you will, your

eminence....I shall reveal all I know to you.” He held out his arm to me, bent at the elbow, and after a rather long

hesitation I slid my arm through his. He turned back towards his troops, now on their feet and standing rigidly around

the perimeter of the chamber. “You all may return to your customary duties. I wish to remain alone with the

Romanichel at this time. And General,” he added mockingly, spinning about to face the reasonably annoyed- and

disgruntled-looking man standing behind me, “I am no longer in need of your assistance at this time. Good day.”

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