Chapter 49 Meeting My Father's Servant

Chapter 49 Meeting My Father's Servant

Taya's POV

We left our royal escort behind and walked two miles to get to a valley between tall hills. The place is quiet and hidden from curious eyes by the hills.

Liori is asleep in my arms as I refused to let anyone else carry her.

"Wait here," Emperor Namon's mother says after we have reached a clearing with soft grass. "I need to make fire."

She gathers a small bunch of dry wood and sets them down a few steps from us. The firewood catches fire on their own without her lighting it.

She has no such powers since she was banished from the home of gods. It must be her son who lit the fire.

"Thank you," she says.

She pulls out a shimmering white scroll from under her coat. It is totally blank as if nothing has ever been written on it.

She holds the scroll above the fire, letting the smoke touch it before rising to the dark skies above.

"I wish to return your precious property, Bethmary. Come for it now for I am waiting in a safe place," she says.

Several minutes pass and she repeats the same words, then waits a long time again.

"Are you sure the scroll is as important to her as you said it is?" her son questions in an impatient voice.

"It is extremely important. Such an item is not allowed to be in this world. But the path to this world is a little lengthy," his mother answers.

A huge, bright light appears only a step away from the fire and quickly transforms into an elegant woman in a purple outfit.

She snatches the scroll from Emperor Namon's mother. "You really cannot stop being foolishly selfish, even in this awful world," she chastises.

"Watch you mouth, servant! It is my mother you're speaking to," Emperor Namon angrily reprimands.

His mother looks back at him with disappointment in her eyes. "Bethmary has the right to be angry. The scroll shouldn't have come to this world. I owe her an apology," she says.

He shakes his head. I imagine that he finds the graceful act of apologizing for wrongs humiliating. While I think that being outrightly wrong and making no apologies for it is what is truly disgraceful.

"Beth, I am sorry I felt I had to do this. You would not have answered me otherwise," his mother says to the messenger. "I have an important message for our Lord Tiran."

"The only message I will deliver to Tiran is that you have not changed the slightest. This is the world that befits you," Bethmary responds in a strict tone.

Emperor Namon's fists clenches in rage, but he doesn't intervene. It's clear he is fighting to control himself. He lifts his hand and touches the back of my neck as if to distract his mind from his mother's conversation with the messenger.

"I stole your scroll for a good course, Bethmary. My message is important and Tiran will blame you if he finds out that you ignored my-"

"Tiran would have wanted me to ignore you, Feya," Bethmary counters.

She starts to fade into a bright light once more.

"You used to love Axon, remember? This message is about him!" Emperor Namon's mother shouts.

Bethmary turns back to fresh and clothes, curiosity vivid in her eyes.

"What is about Axon? Tell me," she demands.

Emperor Namon's mother, Feya, gestures at me to step forward.

Bethmary stares as if noticing my presence for the first time.

"Where did you get those eyes?" she asks.

"Um . . .. from my father, I think," I answer, assuming that I got my rare eyes from him since my mother, a human, could not have had golden pupils.

"She is Axon's daughter," Feya adds.

"I am not a fool! What spell did you use to make this human look like this, Feya?" Bethmary bursts in anger.

"Axon had a lover in this world before he disappeared, Beth. I have no idea who the human was, but this is Axon's daughter. Harom tried to kill her only several hours ago. He is in this world to ensure the end of his brother's bloodline," Feya defends.

Bethmary looks astounded. Her expression softens.

"This is a lot to take in. A child of Axon's blood would the biggest blessing to the home of gods. Tiran will be exhilarated to hear about her existence. He will know what to do with Harom," she says, looking at me. "It is an honor to meet you, dear. Your father was an embodiment of devine perfection. We still miss him."

Her words are the most comforting thing I have heard in a long time. It's good to know that she still values my father even in his absence.

"Thank you. You're extremely kind," I say.

She smiles. "You have your father's wisdom too. Your grandfather will be impressed," she complements.

"Taya will be the new heir to the crown of gods. That is the reason Harom seeks to get rid of her before Tiran can learn of her existence. Let Tiran know that his granddaughter is ready for the tests," Feya says.

Bethmary's eyes narrow with suspicion. "What are you gaining from this, Feya? You wouldn't be helping Axon's child to acquire her father's crown unless there was something you are getting in return," she accuses.

Feya hangs her head, her gaze shifting towards the ground. "I need to leave this world. Only someone with that crown would give me another chance in the home of gods," she answers.

Bethmary frowns with disgust.

"Taya is my mate and future Empress. My mother has every right to be helping her daughter-in-law," Emperor Namon speaks in defense of his mother.

"Mate?!" Bethmary gasps.

Her glare goes back to his mother. Feya has a guilty look on her face as if she is remorseful of something else we are yet to know.

"You bribed Malachai to make Axon's daughter your son's mate? Did he even know who she is before accepting your bribe? Tiran will throw you to hell when he learns of this!" she chastises.

So . . . my mate bond with Emperor Namon was a result of his mother bribing the god of destiny? She knew he was losing the favour of gods and did what she could to save his powers and Empire. And I ended up with a mate who loathed me.

"What is done is already done, Beth. My son and Taya already have a child. Axon's granddaughter. Even Tiran must accept that we are a close family now," Feya says.

I am furious. I could have had a mate who loves me for real. Like Viyara had her soldier mate who would do anything to save her. But this woman made me a slave of her son.

"Having a child does not equal marriage. My bond with Emperor Namon is broken. We are not family, but I need the crown of gods to find and save my father," I say to Bethmary.