After taking a few steps back, Anastasia wanted desperately to turn and run. But her legs were weak, and when she looked ahead at the glimmering water, she realized she could not retreat.
She remembered reading once that snakes did not attack people unless provoked—that they would rather flee than fight. So why, then, did the one before her seem so poised to strike?
Anastasia drew a trembling breath and looked around. Fear clawed at her heart, but if she turned back now, she might die of thirst and exhaustion before ever reaching the road. Yet if she moved forward, she risked the snake’s fangs.
She looked again at the snake. Something in its gaze unsettled her, as if it truly saw her—not merely as an intruder, but as prey.
A shiver ran down her spine. It felt as though even if she tried to flee, the snake would pursue her. Perhaps it was the danger sharpening her senses, but her mind raced with frantic thoughts. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of two stones lying nearby.
Trusting her instinct to survive, Anastasia edged sideways toward them.
The snake was not large. If she could strike it hard on the head, she might just survive.
Fear clawed at her, but in a flash of resolve, Anastasia bent down, snatched up a stone in each hand, and hurled them at the snake one after the other, retreating several steps as she threw.
Earlier at Old Temple, Royal Palace
The seer was standing beside the altar. A white duck lay dead, and his hand moved quickly as he used its blood to draw on the stone temple.
He chanted in a loud voice as his hand moved. Guards had been stationed in front of the temple for days. Although they had made no move, he already understood what was going on: the queen suspected him of killing the king.
At first, he was not worried, thinking he would die shortly after the king, as he had used his life essence to keep the king alive. But after two days and not dying, the seer felt something was wrong.
He was a great seer who could see other people’s fates, but, like the saying goes, no physician can treat himself. He could not predict his own fate. He was never close to the queen, so he also could not guess what she intended to do. Official source ıs N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
The king’s death was heaven’s will, but to cover up his crime, he had agreed with the physician that the king had been poisoned.
The poison was said to be powerful and without cure. When they thought they had captured Anastasia, the king had claimed the seer had found a cure to save him; who knew things would not progress as planned. It would have been best if he had discovered the mistake in identity before the ritual was started.
The seer sighed as his hands continued to move.
He had always known that killing someone heaven wanted to protect was very difficult and that the consequences were no joke. He had been willing, after all, the king was already on the path of destruction. It did not matter if he committed further evil but it failed.
The king even died two days earlier than the seer’s prediction.
He felt despair. He had worked for the king for so many years. He had been loyal and had helped him win many wars and restore peace in Nixel.
This time, the war from Gube was because heaven had come to collect its debt. No one could stop it.
Even so, he had managed to find a child of good fortune to ensure that the royal family would not fall. But after the king’s death, all he received was suspicion.
Although the queen had not acted yet, the seer, who had lived for so long, knew he would die a shameful death. He also understood that given the circumstances at which the king died, he looked suspicious. The Queen desperate to clear trouble for her son would rather kill by mistake than ignore a possible threat.
He did not care much about how he died; after all, now that he understood the queen’s intentions, he could take his own life. What he feared was that all the years he had put into reviving the worship of the old gods would be for nothing.
Since this royal family no longer favored his lifelong goal, there was no need to keep supporting them.
Fortunately, over the past years since the king took power, worshippers of the old gods were no longer killed. They were even allowed to hold their festivals. Although they were not as grand as they once were, and those who worshipped the old gods were looked down upon, it was a good start.
Moreover, a few nobles who had sought his help also became worshippers after he aided them. Although most of these nobles, for fear of being looked down upon and losing their noble status, worshipped secretly.
This was still good. The seer thought that, with time, these nobles would no longer need to hide; especially after he reopened the temple of the old gods in the palace.
The seer believed it was finally time to remove the shame the worshippers suffered from others.
After all, even if the king died, the crown prince had been advised by the king to listen to him.
The seer believed that as long as he proved useful, it was only a matter of course. Unfortunately, things never goes as planned. The king was laying sick, when Anastasia prayed for him at the chapel it became a curse to the king. After carefully looking at old scrolls, he realized that Anastasia was a two edge sword to the royal family. Her fortune could help them but her prayers could be a source of destruction to them. This was why he had decided to bet his life and kill her. He did not expect to fail and lose the trust of the queen and crown prince.
He felt annoyed for a long time, unwilling for his life long goal to die, he decided to make new plans.
The current ruling family was not the only royal bloodline. There were a few lords who could claim the throne.
He was well respected among the other priests of the old gods. So he sent his assistant to send word.
In less than a day, he found a council member who was a secret worshipper of the old gods. This man was also a cousin of King George.
So he sent a message to the priests, telling them that he had seen a divination and that this particular council member was the chosen king by the old gods.
He asked the priests to send a message to this councilman to see if he was willing. After all, usurping the throne was not easy.
This man must be willing to give it his all.
Hearing that the gods had chosen a king, the priests did not waste time and sent a message to the councilman.
When the councilman heard this, he was overjoyed . Of course, he was willing to fulfill the will of the gods.
After all, who would not want to become a king and have everyone else bow to them?
When the seer received the news that morning that the man was willing, he was happy. Although, there were other royal blood that were more suitable, they did not worship the old gods and were therefore unsuitable for his purpose.
Since he had decided to stop helping the royal family, it would naturally be better to deal with Anastasia, whose fortune covered the heavens’ will. The seer knew that with the wrath of heaven, the current queen and her children would fall. Whoever took the initiative first would seize the throne.
Thus, he ordered his assistant to find a snake.
Although he could not tell where Anastasia was, he could still send a message. Fortunately Elfrida had worn the princess dress when she was brought back. This could be used to find her location by his messenger.
Since the royal family already suspected him, the seer knew it was only a matter of time before he would be killed.
Even if the queen did not kill him for lack of evidence, he would no longer be trusted. What was the use of remaining in the palace without the king’s trust? He had helped the king for mutual benefit, and so he must kill Anastasia and allow the royal family to face the wrath of heaven. When that happened, with his guidance or that of his assistant the worshipper of the old gods would become king.
The seer felt it was a bit sad to prepare everything yet be unable to witness it, but nothing mattered more than achieving the goal in the end.
"Find her. Bite her," the seer stopped chanting and instructed the snake, which was coiled up in Anastasia’s dress. The snake began to move upon hearing the instruction, disappearing in no time.
The seer did not stop chanting. He continued as a smirk appeared on his lips. He would not let the current royal family trample upon him and still benefit from his power.