Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 40: Liza orchestrating her plan.

Chapter 40: Liza orchestrating her plan.

Nighttime, Traveling.

Critic Citadel, Critic-Ishire.

Liza travelled back home with a smile recalling her conversation and happening with the emperor, he was the one for her.

Evening, Citadel garden

The Critic Citadel, Critic-Ishire

She had waited for the emperor in silence and a solid gazing from the maids before he graced her with his presence many moments later.

"To what do I owe this visit from the most exquisite of ladies?" he had said the moment he reached her seat, Liza had stood up quickly with a smile

"Oh you flatter me too much" she had retorted, her figure had been half noticeable under the moonlight

Salvatore chuckled as he countered "Perhaps you are right" She had not uttered a word of rebuke before he continued "You are in the Citadel at almost Midnight why?" he waited for her answer

"Your majesty I could do with a cup of something warm, it was a long journey" she had whispered sweetly

He had looked like he was about to snap for seconds before he offered her a smile as the maids scurried to get her that she had requested be given to her.

Liza had gotten the cup from the maids who appeared to like keeping eye contact with even guests, she wondered why Salvatore let them do that, she took small sips of her tea as she thought about life in the Citadel.

He had barked suddenly yanking her out of her thoughts "Do not waste my time Liza" she had gasped, her palm to her chest ’he knew her name’ she had thought.

Then she had glanced around in the opposite discreetly before turning to the emperor to rasp "The company, Your Majesty"

He had nodded and turned to them and they had all left the room within a moment, holding his gaze and not taking their eyes off of him once.

"I want to know what your intentions are for my sister" she had said into the silence and the presence of the emperor

Salvatore had chuckled darkly "The marquis sent you here?" he had asked with a sneer

"No, Your Majesty, I merely wish to know as I fear for my sister" she lied through her teeth

"I do not intend to make her queen if that is what you wish to know, she does not have the wits" he admitted holding her brown eyes.

She had almost scoffed "And I assume you know someone who does?" she had baited

"Your sister, Lydia would have" he looked solemn for a moment but she busted through it with her words "She is not my sister!... Forgive me Your Majesty" She quickly apologised when his orbs turned livid

"What do you really want dear Liza" he had asked

She had faked a smile through paled skin "To have tea with and plead with you to take care of my sister" she lied again

Salvatore narrowed his eyes, but he let her have it, his room was getting cleaned there was no point rushing back there.

"Your sister would be happy as long as she is good" he clenched his jaw as he spoke does words.

"Thank you, I might be leaving Critic Arley for Critic Izinghale soon before your union" she confessed, intending to catch the emperor’s curiosity but he couldn’t care less what she wants to do with her life, she must be bitter both her younger sisters are leaving her behind while getting married, he nodded simply.

"I think you should leave Liza it’s not safe out here, and you should try getting over your confusion" he told her, hating how she looked so vulnerable and alone but disposing of the emotion quickly by asking her to leave.

"Alright, thank you for tea, I shall be on my way" she kept her practised smile.

"Mmm" he growled watching her with a predatory gaze.

He stood up as she did too, slowly he followed her silently towards the entrance, his eyes boring a hole into the back of her head. She stopped suddenly but he was too trained to clash with her, he sidestepped and continued the walk while she followed behind.

"Have a safe trip, a knight shall go with you" he spoke to her when they reached the entrance.

"No Your Majesty, do not feel obliged to do that" She tried to be modest but Salvatore wasn’t having it.

"A knight shall go with you" he pressed, his voice leaving no room for argument

She gave a slight bow while he took her left palm, which was surprisingly bare and not wrapped in a glove, he placed a kiss on her hand and before he could draw back, Liza pressed her lips to his left cheek, freezing the emperor immediately. He got over his shock stood straight and met her eyes, he frowned before nodding towards her then awaiting carriage.

Liza got to the estate in the morning and she still could not stop the smile on her face, mission accomplished, she kept saying in her head.

*********

Morning, Tent.

Nowhere, Critic-Ishire.

Conan woke up first and did some warming up, his limbs felt funny so he did a few stretches before Helena woke up and just as she did he startled her with a question "Where is my steed?" she flinched before glaring at him.

"I am unaware of the varmints’ location, Lord obnoxious" she sassed, her arms reaching for her duffel.

"Are you calling me names after losing my steed?" he said with predatory intent

She glared at him before saying "I suggest you have a more loyal horse next time"

As they walked into what looked like the south to Helena, she suddenly began to sneeze, once, twice, thrice and she started to get enraged by it while Conan felt horrible.

"I hate when I keep sneezing, it gets to my head" she complained when her sneezing became consistent.

"I’m sorry" he whispered under his breath

"If only you hadn’t keeled over, or respectfully not crossed my path" she retorted her feet strutting faster.

He felt offended and slightly embarrassed so he said "I do not recall asking you to envelop me in all the fabrics you had"

"Where in hell are we, you obnoxious Critic Arlian?!" she asked again, when her legs started to shake, she was hungry and rapidly becoming angry.

He shook his head looking at her hunched self "I know a tree that bore a lot of fruits in this area, are you not hungry?" he invited the very hungry Helena.

In a blink of an eye she was standing behind him and as tall as she was whispered to the side of his neck "There’s a movement! There was a movement in the bushes" he flinched, looked down at her cold fingers squeezing his bicep and he frowned not finding it at all unpleasant, he cleared his throat after the shook him hastily, his gaze meeting her ocean blue ones before turning to the place she was unflappably gaping at, a steed he realised, his stead.

"Do you see it?" she whispered, he tried to understand if she was frightened or excited.

"I brought your sword along" she inputted her thoughts. So she wants him to fight it, frightened then.

"Oh so you brought the sword but not the steed" he reminded

She scoffed looking at him sideways "I told you the horse ran away after you fell, it’s not a doubt you could not even earn the loyalty of an animal... Ah! It moved again" she squeaked when the movement increased

He grinned as he started "I think that... " she cut him off "That what? What is it?" she asked her eyes wide.

"How about you release my arm? I need to check" he shrugged her off but she quickly clinged back to his arm

"Let us go together" she muttered her eyes steady on the suspicious area, while he chastised himself for gazing at her for too long.

"It’s ebony, I just need to get it without startling it" he mumbled, threading carefully with his booted feet "Ebony? Whatever is that?" Helena asked following his lead, her palm still on his arms.

"My steed, Lady clingy" he snapped

"Wow, that is good news, we can finally rest our feet" she admitted with a relaxed grin one that he hated himself for liking.

"Yes, if only you shut up long enough for me to hold it" he sassed in a growl.

"Don’t talk to me kike that!" she screeched

"Shhh... Ebony... " the horse neighed softly after hearing Conans call

"Come here boy, have you been following us all along" At Conan’s words Helena scoffed "And he only now feels inclined to show himself, what a steed" her words.

Conan got the horse, patted it, smoothened its mane and swiftly climbed onto it.

He looked down at the bundle of stress but still very grateful for getting taken care of him he voiced out "We should be able to travel faster now, are you reaching or not?"

She glared at him from her position "Were you intending to leave me behind?" she spoke a question

"Why then are you not getting on it?" he snarled impatiently

Her nose flared "That is because I do not know how to, Lord obnoxious, help me!" her words shocked him but he had no time for her long talks.

"Come here" and in one swift motion, Conan had Helena in front of him on the steed, his large palm on her waist, she wriggled out of his hold before settling on it, then letting out a hyah! That only made the horse huff.

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