When they were alone, Gilyn would call the Holy Empress the name he picked out. Her mood slowly began to improve. However, the light in her eyes had long since faded away. At the party she hosted for the Imperial envoy, he could see the hatred and despair which consumed her heart.

After the envoy left, Gilyn watched as the Holy Empress play with the caged bird. He glanced at the bright blue bird, "The Imperial King gifted this to you for being such a good host. You must really treasure it since you look at it every day…"

The Holy Empress didn't respond.

Gilyn cleared his throat, "He told me in private that he wanted you to have this so you wouldn't feel so lonely… Meret… Did you and him…"

She turned away from the bird and pulled out a paper and pen. She wrote on it and held it up. -We did. It was far better than the nights with the King-

Gilyn was furious. He took the paper and shredded it up, "Meret! Y-You can't do such a thing!"

Her eyes were distant as she looked at him. She made no effort to write or explain herself.

Gilyn sighed, "I am sorry for getting mad… I know you have been through much while you have lived here. I wish I could help, but I am too weak. There is nothing I can do to the King. I won't tell anyone what happened, but you shouldn't either. If the King finds out, he will certainly kill you."

The Holy Empress said nothing and only reached her hand into the cage to pet her new bird.

The King was so angry about hearing reports that the Imperial King kept eyeing his wife that he finally paid her a visit. He demanded that she perform her marital duties. But after having Simon taken from her, the Holy Empress was now filled with hate at the sight of the King.

So she lashed out.

The King then proceeded to beat her unrelentingly. The bird squawked inside the room as it tried to protect its owner in vain. The King was so furious, he took the bird and killed it. And Gilyn…

He was forced to stand outside the door and listen.

After the King left, Gilyn rushed into the room to see the Holy Empress. He was shocked to see her looking out the window with an empty expression. Her skin was covered in bruises, but she paid it no attention. The bird that she treasured was laying on the ground dead.

Gilyn approached her slowly. He clutched his hands as he tried to remain calm. He had long understood the affections he had for her. Every time the King was near, he wanted to kill him and take the Holy Empress for his own. However, he knew he couldn't.

It just wasn't their fate.

He spoke hesitantly, "Empress…"

"…He will kill me Gilyn."

Gilyn was shocked to hear the rough sound of her voice. It was as if someone had their tongue froze and was trying to speak. It was harder to understand, but not impossible.

Who would have known that the first words she said to him would be this?

After that, she began to act more secretive. Gilyn could tell something was different about the Holy Empress. Her eyes regained their determination to live. It was only a few months later he caught her packing a bag. He stopped her, "Meret! What are you doing!?"

She looked at him with cold eyes, "Must leave."

Gilyn was shocked, "You can't! The King will track you down and kill you!"

She gave him a weak smile and suddenly embraced him. Gilyn was shocked to feel this feeble woman in his arms. Her smell intoxicated him. He closed his eyes and embraced her back. She turned to look at him with a smile. She kissed his cheek, "Gilyn… Thank you… And I'm sorry…"

He furrowed his brow, "For what?"

A single tear rolled down her cheek, but she did not respond. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her poisoned blade. She struck at Gilyn, slashing him across the face. He collapsed to the ground shrieking in pain. She stared at him with a fearful expression and forced herself to run away.

The poison wouldn't kill him. However, it was laced with the venom of a snake that would produce intense and overwhelming pain. It would not only immobilize him, but also cause him to go blind in one eye.

A few days later, Gilyn knelt on the ground bowing to the King. His face was bandaged only revealing one of his eyes. The last trace of emotion he had was forever gone. Now, only an emotionless expression would remain.

The King spoke, "I will forgive you for allowing the Holy Empress to escape on one condition. I need you to track her down and find her. Since you are the one who understands her best, I think you are well suited for this job. If you do this successfully, I will forgive your transgressions and assign you to the head of the Royal Army."

The head of the Royal Army? At that position the King would have to listen to him. He would be much more able to protect the Holy Empress then.

"Yes, Your Majesty… But may I ask a question?"

"Ask."

"What will you do once you find her?"

The King smirked, "I will bring her back to the Palace of course."

_______

Gilyn opened his eyes fueled with anger. He always had a bad feeling about tracking her down, but he chose to ignore it. He was far too obsessed with finding the Holy Empress. However, the day he tracked her down and alerted the King, he had felt as though he killed the Holy Empress. When he heard it was Simon that would bring her back, he felt reassured. But the moment he saw the sadistic look in Simon's young eyes…

He knew he had sinned too great.

Simon was no longer the soft lovable boy he once knew. Now there was only a ruthless sadistic monster under that calculating smile. Gilyn knew just who was responsible for this tragedy…

The King.

Gilyn listened to the crowd's chants and angered screams. He too felt the unbridled resentment against the King.

The guards were frightened to see just how many people were crowding along the gate. It was as if the entire city came to participate. They were worried for a good reason. There were far more people at the gate than the number of guards that were inside the palace. Not to mention most of these individuals had been forced to take part in war.

They weren't just strong in number.

They were strong in terms of their prowess as well.

One solider looked at him, "What should we do?! Alert the King?"

Gilyn turned to the men in charge of the gate, "Open it."

"W-What did you say General?!"

"I said open it!" His voice boomed in anger. The soldiers froze stiff at his sudden roar. Gilyn tsked and walked to the lever. He began to pull on it allowing the gates to slowly open. He watched as the furious citizens poured in, all followed by the petite pale skinned girl.

Gilyn bellowed out, "Do not harm any soldiers who will not fight!"

I looked up at him and gave him a nod, "We will not kill those who will not fight us!"

Everyone shouted in agreement. The crowd only cared about two things. Killing the King who enslaved them and killing the Nobles who watched them starve.

Gilyn then turned to his men, "Any men loyal to me must not fight the citizens! Put down your weapons and let them pass!"

They saluted, "Understood!"

Even though we had the help of Gilyn and his men, there were still some soldiers who were loyal to the King. Entering the courtyard was the easy part. However, once we got inside the Palace, that was the hard part. There luckily wasn't as many men fighting us as I had expected, but there was enough to make the fight turn into a bloodbath.

We charged forward striking at the guards who dared to protect the King. The bandit Chief and I took the lead with the other men following closely behind. I channeled my inner anger in order to fight the many men as we advanced. It had been a while since I last killed someone with my own two hands.

I grit my teeth as I ignored their cries and the feeling of the blade stabbing and slicing flesh.

The halls were filled with wails and shouts.

I watched as the citizens fell to the ground with grievous injuries.

I watched as the guards held the stub of their missing limb while shrieking in pain.

The floor was soon dyed red.

The smell of blood.

Painful cries.

The deafening noises of clashing.

Was this what it was like to be in a war?

As I ran, my shoes splashed in the blood underneath me.