Chapter 565: Mistress (2/2)

”Taking the exam, mistress. On a planet some distance away, along with all the other students. Is there a problem?” he asked with a kindly smile.

Her foot that had been bobbing up and down till now suddenly stopped.

”Yes, something is very wrong,” she looked towards the man, ”Someone just tried to catch a glimpse of her fate. Someone powerful enough to escape with their soul intact after undertaking such a thoughtless task.”

The man went silent and the smile vanished. His eyes moved left and right under the blindfold and a moment later he stood up.

”Shall I go and fetch the princess?” he asked casually.

If one didn't know any better they would think Ceni was just a room or two away, and not on another planet in the deep space.

A pondering expression adorned her face for a moment before she hesitantly shook her head.

”As much as I want Ceni beside me, I promised her freedom until she turned eighteen. Find out everything that happened since she has left the kingdom. Every little detail. I want to see who is ignorant enough to dare meddle in my affairs!” she relayed her orders and gestured with her chin towards the door.

”Yes, mistress,” the man was about to turn around but paused, ”Should I inform the master?”

She shook her head, ”No need. He is busy with the ceremony. I will tell him when it is time.”

”Yes,” he bowed and slowly walked out of the hall.

She sat there for a few more minutes before snapping her fingers again.

Everyone that had vanished reappeared all at once in the exact same positions, as if they had never left. But this time they acted as such, or perhaps they really couldn't see her sitting on the throne.

They went about their tasks normally.

One thing to note was their expression. All of them had the exact same expression on their faces.

A twisted grin, wide enough to show all of their teeth. It never left their face for even a second.

The light came in from the multicolored windows casting a shadow behind the throne, a shadow much bigger and much MUCH different than that of the picture perfect Royal Concubine herself.

It did not belong to a human.

Two thin long horns erected outwards with several pairs of wings. Where her legs should have been was a black mass of swirling darkness.

Vague faces and occasional sounds could be heard coming from this swirling mass. The faces were of many different people, but they were all doing the same thing.

Begging. Some for relief, others for death. Their cries for help echoed in the hall but no one else could hear them or if they could, they did not care.

***

Back on the planet, Ceni gently cradled Hao Xuan's injured head in her lap, softly moving her fingers along his nose and eyebrows completely unaware of the two forces that were fighting over her.