Chapter 52 goddess Of Good Hearts

Chapter 52 goddess Of Good Hearts

Taya's POV

I got my own personal chambers after Princess Rana's arrival, so last night was my first good night since I arrived in this palace. I was informed that Emperor Namon needs to act like he does not favour any of his potential wives. Thus I was given guest chambers on the third floor of the main palace and all of my stuff was brought in.

I went to the palace library while Emperor Namon and his mother gave Princess Rana a tour of the palace. They looked beautiful and happy together. Is it strange that I do not feel envious?

I took the time to find the palace's old library and gather all tests and books addressing mysteries of gods.

Since my father is still alive, finding him to help me fight his envious brother might be easier than passing my grandfather's tests and acquiring the crown of gods while at the same time fighting Harom.

I read the texts four hours before sleep and for several hours after waking. I am yet to find anything that might give me a clue of where exactly my father is.

I decided to take a break from the reading and process everything I have read so far.

. . . . . . . .

I take a seat next to one of the many fountains within the palace ground and watch everyone go about their day while I think. Now and then a servant passes by and greets me with a genuine smile.

Then a soldier dragging a human slave by the chain around his neck slowly passes by. The soldier bows his head in respect, but the bound slave appears too distressed to do the same.

The soldier suddenly forces the slave to halt and kneel only few metres from me.

"Do not move an inch until I come back and tell you to do so!" the soldier orders.

He leaves the slave and rushes back the way they had come. The slave turns his head and stares at the fountain behind me. There is a longing look in his eyes, like he craves something deeply.

I notice that his lips are dry to a point of cracking. He has been thirsty for a long time. It must be the reason his eyes are glued on the fountain, on the clean water he cannot have.

Unless . . . someone is kind enough to deliver the water to him. I get up and approach the fountain. I have no container to fetch the water, so I fetch as much as I can onto my palms.

I carefully turn and walk slowly to the kneeling slave. His eyes are wide as stares up at me.

"Drink," I say, lower my hands to the lever of his mouth.

"M'lady . . . I am extremely thankful!" he exclaims. "No one . . .. has ever been this kind to my kindred. I wish that your compassion can save me, my dear. But it cannot!"

"Drink," I insist.

He sighs and drinks the water from my hands, every drop of it. Sad tears fill his eyes.

"Why will the water not save you?" I ask.

"I am . . . going to be fed to lord Namon's dragons," he stutters.

Oh! The soldier was taking him towards the slaughter hall? How did I not think of that?

"Why would she care for a slave?" I hear a voice ask.

I look up and realize that we have got an audience. Not just servants and soldiers, but Emperor Namon, his mother and Princess Rana as well. There is astonishment in their eyes, and disapproval in Emperor Namon's face and his mother's.

So I take steps back to the fountain and fetch more water for the slave. Pissing off the cruel god delights me. So I offer the slave more water again.

"She is kind. She is the daughter of Axon indeed," one of the servants say.

The crowd starts murmuring in low voices.

Princess Rana appears to grow anxious. She suddenly rushes towards us, using her fingers to hold her flowing gown from touching the ground.

"Poor thing! He looks so hungry and scared. Why can't his life be spared?" she speaks loud enough for everyone in the crowd to hear.

She now cares about the human slave? Can I tell her how annoying her pretense is?

Emperor Namon approaches, his eyes now calm unlike when he watched me offer the slave water from my palms.

"Princess Rana, you have impressed us once more with your kind heart. The slave's life will be spared just like you asked. He will be fed and sent back to work," he says to the Princess.

There is a look of shock in her eyes. It takes her brain some time to realize that she should be grateful for the slave's spared life. It's not like she cared about him, just the attention. She forces a huge smile and hurries to hug Emperor Namon. He embraces her tightly and pecks her face.

"Thank you, goddess Taya, for saving my life. You're too good for this world," the kneeling slave says to me in a low voice.

I feel happy because I did succeed in saving his life. Princess Rana made the request to spare his life with the sole goal of taking everyone's attention away from me. Emperor Namon surprisingly accepted her request when he would have dismissed me. That is prove that he can be better, but to someone he truly loves.

"You're welcome," I say to the slave before two soldiers drag him away.

Emperor Namon and his love turn away as well and leave. His mother approaches me.

"Are there no better things you can focus on, Taya? Your grandfather's tests will begin soon. How will feeding human slaves be of help to you?" she asks.

"I am not taking a lecture about passing my grandfather's tests from someone who has been repeatedly banished from the home of gods," I say.

Her mouth gapes in shock but she doesn't respond. She shakes her head before turning and walking away.