DILEmma

A high rank Lord stood by the window in a room in the first quaters of the palace with his hands clasped behind his back, immersed in a world of his own thought.

The room barely aerated was dusty and littered with old books and shelves

Lord Tydor was a prime minister in Urah,a dear friend of the Emperor,he wore an expensive red robe with a breastplate over it,his grey shorthair packed in a ponytail reached the level of his neck as few strands fell down his face and his grey beards were cut like mutton chops.

His thoughts were interrupted when the door suddenly flew open and a younger demon came in,a wary grin spread across his face.

Tydor turned to see prince Marcus.He was dressed in royal robes with a sword beside him,his short blond hair drapped around the friddled collar of the black shirt he wore.

"Did you succeed?"

"Well partially I'll say"

"What do you mean".

"Would have been a complete success had it not been for the healers and birth workers there.She's gone anyway".

"And the child...."

"He's alive"Marcus responded and looked away.

The older demon spat on the floor and kicked a chair behind him.Marcus quickly jumped out of the way to prevent the chair from hitting him.

"Curse you Marcus!"

"Curse your luck old man"Marcus retorted.

"I did all I can but she wouldn't just die.Just wouldn't give up till she got him out"

Lord Tydor's mouth turned down his face now wore a deep frown

"Curse those damn physicians,they ruined everything!"he snarled.

"Yeah she's gone anyway and the child,it's not too late to get rid of him since he's but an infant"

"He's the Emperor's son you dog!"

"Watch you mouth old man!"Marcus shot back, pointing a finger at him."You know nothing of what I met at that place that I was almost caught by the Emperor".

Tydor walked towards him and pushed away the hand.

You are in no position to talk back at me Marcus.Judging by your current situation you'd best bend to my will am sure you would prefer that to death".

Marcus gaze fell to the floor and he lowered his voice.

"It happened a long time ago,why do you still use this against me?"

"Now my boy don't get too cheeky,if I don't you wouldn't listen to me.Every one knows of your arrogance...just remember,one tiny mistake,one wrong move could make it reach the Emperor's ears.Remember offences don't age,even in ten decades to come you will still be killed".

Marcus gulped in saliva his gaze still lowered.He hated when Tydor addressed him as a boy.He was prince and Tydor never paid his respect to him or addressed him as your majesty.He hated it but could do nothing about it.His tumultuous past was Tydor's manipulating tool,one he couldn't run from a secret of his only he had discovered and had agreed to keep it for earshot as long as Marcus was his lapdog and Prince Marcus had no choice.It was all to save the one he loved,for her he would do anything.

"The child is the main reason we had to kill her, he's not an ordinary demon"

Marcus raised his head and their eyes locked.

"What are you implying?"

The Lord quickly averted his gaze and turned towards the window again."

"Prince Marcus, some things are better left unsaid.We both have our own reasons for doing this, only difference is that I seek not my own gain but in the end we have one goal,deleting his existence".

"He's not untouchable is he?"

"I don't know but would have been easier had he not been born unless the Emperor makes the choice".

"Why would the Emperor ever think to murder his own child, I don't understand".

The Lord shook his head.

"You'd best try not to understand anything young prince.I doubt the Emperor would ever think to murder his own son but what I have this feeling we have to act speedily for the grace time has given us will last but a short period.

Prince Marcus arched his brows.

"How long,and what do we do?"

Lord Tydor turned to face Marcus eying him over his shoulder.

"We cuddle wisdom young prince, walking with careful footwears"he said in a low tune that Marcus had to strain to hear.

Then he vanished leaving the prince in the empty room.

**************************

Carolene had hurried down the stairs after shutting the doors to Fiona's ward.

She found a huge window at the second floor of the building at the hallway and flew out.

As she flew,her mind recollected all what the empress had told her after giving birth.

Fiona had handed her a note and had warned her to flee the birthhouse as soon as he saw the Emperor.

She had warned he would destroy the birthhome and everything in it upon his arrival for she knew her husband too well.

He would go to the highest extremes to protect whom he loved.

Although guards were stationed, Carolene had stuck around earlier to make sure no one got in.

Hot tears fell down her cheeks as she thought about her mistress.

The empress had been like a sister to her ever since she could remember and if she were to serve another in her next life she wished it would be no other person than Fiona.

The Empress had told her she was poisoned and would not escape death's arms tonight.

Sadly,that was about all what she explained to her about the situation and the healers had helped sustained her till the short moment she had with her husband one last time.

Poor Empress,you will be missed Carolene thought as she wiped her face with the back of her palm.

The Emperor would have seen her dead body by now and he might come after her because he had seen her enter Fiona's ward.

Carolene swallowed with difficulty,she wanted to get away from Urah as possible but even if she didn she knew the Emperor would still find her.

She clenched the note Fiona had given her tightly in one hand.It was sealed.

She wondered what was contained in it.

Perhaps these written words were the only thing that would erase her name from the Emperor's death list.

She held it out, studying it as she flew.

If the Emperor would kill her after handing him the note,Fiona wouldn't have given her.

She probably would have handed it to him herself.

Carolene had trusted the Empress with her life and her trust for her wouldn't start wavering now.

Now flying over a vast forest, she sighed and looked down then descended into a large tree and sat in one of it's branches.

Thankfully it could hold her weight and it's leaves,plenty enough to protect her incase it rained.

Carolene leaned against the tree trunk and swung her eyes shut.she would hand the note over to the Emperor tomorrow to fulfill the Empress's dying wish.

Tonight however,she would sleep here,being to frightened to return back to the imperial palace.

Amidst perturbant thoughts,she thankfully drifted off to sleep.

***************************

Someone stood in the hallway dressed in a physician's workclothes and carried some some drugs and syringe placed on a tray.

He had watched the Emperor leave Fiona's ward and had been waiting.

At what he deemed the right moment he walked towards the door, approaching the guards stationed at the door he wore a broad smile.

If only he could use the spell that made people sleep it would have made his job easier for him and the Emperor had been too careful to put another spell in Fiona's ward that prevented him from easily appearing there,and causing any commotion would make the Emperor appear here that instant He would have to go through the hardway.

The guards at the door looked at him suspiciously then their eyes settled on the tray he held.

The Demon prayed within him they didn't consider his huge body statue for he looked nothing like a worker.He had even worn a glove on his rough hands and pulled his hair to cover the scared part of his face.

"Am here for the Emperess's medicine,she needs to take her medicine and am already a few hours behind the supposed time".

The guards eyed themselves then one of them spoke.

"You look familiar".

The demon didn't look suprised.Of cos he would look familiar he was previously one of the most famous sorcerers in the realm though only now an offender.

He read their puzzled facial expressions they didn't look like they recognized him.It had been ten years since his banishment an these two looked like newly appointed chief Knights.

"On the Emperor's orders we are not to let anyone in."the other knight said.

"Listen brothers,I am behind schedule for this patient,do yourself a favor and let me in before she gets worse"

The demon watched as one of the guards nodded to the other which placed Both his index and ring finger on the side of his head probably to send a telepathic message to the Emperor.

In an instant,he punched both their abdomen knocking them both unconscious,he still held the tray in his hand ,careful not to drop it as it might alert the Emperor wherever he was.

Having scanned the hallway one last time, opened the door and went in.