hearing that there might be some problem at court her mind went back to the book she read.

isn't it time when Valiac took hold of the capital, he had already gathered loyal allies and had laid down a strong network of spies, the emperor and the crown prince were even more away of him and tried various ways to bring him down, but as grand as his situation seemed he was nothing but tired, he had avenged his mother, he had put his mothers enemies in their place, he had took his revenge but coming to this point was of no return.

he had thought that he would return to a scheduled life and spend rest of his life peacefully but that was just a dream , at this point he had understood, there no going back, as it only meant his death and of also the people around him, he was cold, indifferent and harsh but he knew his responsibility very well he could not just leave all these people and go.

he had only one option fight for the throne or see the death of his people and him, his life was tiring, no day he spent was different from the other one, he was no different from a dead person, the world did not excite him he only longed for a peaceful life, away from he people, he had act all day or did he wanted to be killed and taken advantage of,  and with this kind of life he became even more cold in dealing with his enemies, and Isia was one of he people to see his most evil and cold side.

"my lady letter from the capital!!!" shouted her maid as the entered where the lady and the madam of the house sat and made Isia come out of her inner world.

"give it to me" spoke Mrs. Hawthorne and Jia handed her the letter which opened and began reading, she had read only a few lines when her hand which held the letter infornt of her, dropped, hear breathing became heavy as she clutched Isia's hand who was beside her.

"WHAT! what happened mom?" asked Iisa as she rubbed her mother back and held back her hand from the other.

"what is it...the letter....give to me" spoke terrified Isia.

no this cannot happen its only been a year she cannot loose her mother, no no she would be alright.

"your father....the crown....the crown prince"

"quick Jia bring her calming herbs...lie down mom...it's ok...it's ok...NO! MOM!!!"

Iisa's mother fell back as her eyes closed...

"no mom!......huh she is alright, she is breathing, huh..she is!", Isia sat down breathing a sigh of relief, her mother was alright she had just passed out from the stress, but what is in the letter to make her so, Isia wondered as she took the letter from her mother's hand which she had clutched so tightly.

the letter was written by her father, in it he asked bout her mother's and her health and stated the reason for not being able to return these past two months, as Isia read further and further, her breathing became heavier and heavier, why is it happening, is it because she did not return tp the capital that the story took this turn, she did not return to the capital and caused her family's destruction so someone else took it in there hands.

why us the crown prince coming after  my father.

Isia wasn't sure of the crown's prince intention but one thing was for sure she needs to return to the capital immediately and deal with it or else the consequence will be unimaginable.

"ah mom are you alright" asked Isia as she helped her mother up.

"yes dear i was just shocked, I have heard of this crown prince from your father, he is a cruel man, ah" her mother spoke as she tapped on her daughter's hand.

"mom....." speak Isia as she looked at her mother, her eyes were filled of determination, "we need to go mom".

"where darling?", asked her mother although she knew what was going on in her daughter mind, this daughters of her prioritized no one other than her parents, not even herself, it worried her sick, how is she gonna live after they leave her, this time she was very worried that her daughter would sure return to the capital to help her father if she told her news but before she could stop her from learning it she herself passed out, huh what is the problem with her her daughter was far stronger than her, when she was born she had thought that she would protect her from all the worries in the worlds but now the case was just opposite.

"to the capital mom" spoke Isia and her mothers thoughts were proved right

"huh, honey even if I try to stop you wouldn't stop, I know you are worried about your father and you are capable too, but you father will handle it, do  not put yourself in danger, those in the capital are cruel, they don't see people as people but pawns, paws who each have their own value and once there value is lost they wouldn't hesitate to discard them" her mother spoke as Isia looked at her constantly trying to absorb everything her mother said.

"I know mom, I know father is capable too but i also know we won't be able to live here in peace while father struggles there, so its better to go there and try to help him in any way possible ok?" said Isia trying to convince her mother, to let her go there willingly, she doesn't want to upset her mother.

"I know but there is his other family, there is your half brother too and his second wife, who is from a proficient family although not so powerful now but they won't sit around and ket him fall"

i would also be happy mom, if only the enemy was not the crown prince

Although the crown prince was as powerful as Valiac but he was not weak, Valiac was cold indifferent, cruel, and was not law abiding but the crown prince was something else he played with people's emotion, he manipulated them until the end, is was a physo who used people without a hind of regret.

"mom, I would only be at peace if i go there and i am sure you would too, let's end this torture should we?" Isia persuaded her mother as she looked at her mother with hope, hope that she would agree to her.

"huh this girl, ok fine as you say, to tell the truth i also am not able to wait anymore, lets go to your father, he had urged us to return countless time now, lets go and be with him"

"yes!" replied Isia as she ordered Jia to pack.

After an almost a tow day journey they reached the capital and was now in the main street of the capital.

Isia looked out of the window and wondered,

in the end I had to come to the capital...........

the streets was filled with large shops of cloths, perfumes, sweets and everything onw would look for, in the center of the street there lied a huge restaurant, it had different arrangements for the guest to rest and enjoy tea while viewing the capital street, and in on of those was the one who Isia considered her doom, that was his usual place, he always came there for tea and a little escape.

As Isia was looking out her eyes fell on the man in black hanfu with golden design standing on the terrace with a man with a sword to his side standing behind him, the man in front's eyes were cold and almost lifeless, his stood straight  as he looked down on the street as of all the people down there were his pray and he was the hunter. 

Isia did not need to take another look to determine who it was. 

Her hand which was holding the window curtain of the carriage fell down and so the curtains as she immediately moved back and hid herself.

her hand were sweating by now, she just happed he did not see her, she did not want to be on his bad side or be in anyways noticed by him, she couldn't afford his wrath, it was too much already that she dream of the original Isia everyday she can't tolerate anymore of tortuous effect that he brought on her.

She wished, just...wished he did not see her.

She'll make sure to stay away from him.

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

"whose carriages are these?" asked Valiac

"your highness, its prime minister Hawthorne carriage, his eldest daughter and firs wife are returning to the capital", informed his aide.

"looks like prime minister has a unique taste in selecting the time for return of his most beloved family,"

the lady looks quite familiar............