Zero grabbed her hand before gently lowering it while a bewildered Athena stared back.
"That's enough...let her go".
"Why should I release her?... It is an offense to slander royalty"she said and Zero poked a finger in his ears while tilting his head.
"No...I didn't hear a thing"he muttered and the chief Knight rolled her eyes in disbelief.
"Are you really vexed by her utterances or the fact that you found her atop me".Zero said causing a loud gasp to escape her lips.
"What!"
He nodded to Mia whose eyes was drifting from one person to the other.
"Go on".
Mia returned the nod,curtsied then sprinted off.
"I only love one man and he's dead!"Athena snapped but he ignored her and walked on.
"There's something about her... she's a courtmaid but she has powers which are sealed so her magic energy becomes undetectable" he said regretting the words as soon as they came out.
"I—I didn't notice... how can you tell?"
"Tssskkkkk!"Zero's face curved into a brief smirk before glancing her way."I have my ways".
"It is said sorcerer's have great mana perception to percieve even the the smallest amount and they can even detect sealed magic energy".
The emperor's Knight didn't respond but he could sense Athena's unsettled eyes behind him.
He stopped walking and turned to her.
"Now you're thinking I am a sorcerer?"
"First of all I know nothing about you so am not sure—"
Athena's lips pursed together when Zero appeared before her,list face leaned in,his gaze as though searching for some thoughts hidden somewhere beneath those eyes.
"I don't care whatever it is you are thinking but the moment you try digging about me,I'll kill you and believe me,we never take back our spoken word".
He said before vanishing out of sight.
we?...Who is we?
Unknown to him, the more he spoke these threats the more he piqued her curiosity.He was the emperor's Knight but no more than a middle upper tier level semonio just like her or was there more to it?... he had succeeded in stirring up something within her that craved to know what fed him the balls to be certain he could take her life...only the royal families were known to be bound to keeping their words and deep down,she had meant every word he said.
Athena percieved the smell of a semonio nearby and she turned to see Prince Marcus.
"Someone got into a fight with her beloved"he said.
"What are you doing here?... shouldn't you be in Edor helping Prince Garrith with his wedding preparations?".
"What do you mean what am I doing here?...am I banned from seeing a woman I love"Marcus chuckled but his words only stirred anger within her.
Her brows drew together as her eyes darkened,she clenched her fists,resisting the urge to hit him.
"Prince Marcus!!"she called out firmly."Don't toy with me"
Prince Marcus erupted in laughter.
Athena glared at him,she had always known Marcus since back then at the imperial academy and he was always one to tease and flirt with women and she disliked that the most about him.
Prince Marcus however knew she hated this and used that to his advantage to get on her nerves anytime he felt like it.
Athena inhaled deeply before exhaling in an attempt to calm herself.
"Prince Marcus...I don't have time for this right now"
"A birthday celebration is coming up,I over heard Father and Garrith talking about it".
"What birthday celebration?"Athena wore a puzzled expression and Prince Marcus leaned in to whisper in her ears.
"The imperial crown prince's"He said before throwing an arm over her shoulder.
"I just couldn't contain the excitement.. something tells me something fun is going to go down"Prince Marcus sniffed in the air. "I was drawn here by the sweet fragrance of blood"
"The emperor's got some real balls to expose the game in public"Athena said.
"He wouldn't do that if he was unable to protect him...I can assure you,teleporting the imperial crown prince will not work this time..."The prince folded his hand,his eyes serious and demanding.
"What are you all planning?"
"Nothing has been said yet...The higher ups must be relectant to disclose their next move for some reason,I think they might fear a mole amongst us"
"Oh no the mole isn't amongst you lot... she's right here seeking an opportunity to get her revenge...".
Athena's eyes flashed with a deadly glint of rage as Prince Marcus studied her.
"I am right here why then do you not take my life".
"Oh you're not what I want?".
"Athena you can't fight a king "
The prince said as he stalked towards her his teeth pressed against each other exposing a set of sharp canines,brows furrowed through pleading eyes.
"He will crush you".
"If he does that after decapitating him then I'll have no regrets"Athena snapped,her chest heaving.
Prince Marcus could read the pain in her eyes as she gazed into his.
Just how much and how long would she remain obsessed with the deceased.
Whatever she was planning could make her end up like the dead knight.If she really meant these words then she might have already began digging her own grave.
He pulled out his sword before pointing it at her.
"I am here now...you can take your anger out on me...Spar with me".
************************
The night's soft breeze found it's way in as her curtains fluttered in the wind and beyond her window the moon poured in it's faint glow across her floor in quiet ribbons permitted by the rhythm her curtains were dancing to.
Mia laid upon her bed with an arm over her head and the other across her waist,the day's labour still lingering in the faint ache of her muscles yet her thoughts remained on the face of the Emperor's knight.
For some reason he seemed familiar,like she had seen him before but where?
When Mia racked her brain but couldn't find the answer,her eyes grew heavy as the ceilings above her blurred.
Her lashes trembled for a while,she had barely drifted off into the darkness when suddenly Mia's eyes flew open the moment the remnants of her consciousness percieved a semonio in her room.
She summoned a flaming blade and placed it's sharpest side close to the intruder's neck as he bent over her on her bed.
"Who are you?"Mia demanded."Don't move or I won't hesitate to slit your cursed throat".