Chapter Five - The Capital of the Asten Empire

KATHERINA CHELSEA LAYLA EVIE HADASSAH.

That's the name Eirwen gave me after traveling together for two months.

And as I thought, he was traveling in disguise.

He told me that to other people he looked different from what he truly looks like because he was using a spell that changes his appearance.

But it didn't work with me, because I'm an Immortal.

Most importantly, my telekinesis finally showed up, right in time.

Now I can talk telepathically with Eirwen, which makes my situation tremendously easier.

And after those goddamn sixty days, we finally arrived at so-called Gefroren, the capital of the Asten Empire, we entered the palace in the back door, once Eirwen was in a long and secret mission.

["We'll do as we agreed. You will let me with a nanny, and then you will spend time with your real kids. Most importantly, with your heir, once he's the one who's met you before your journey, and must be missing you the most."]

["Mm-hmm, you're right. I have to pass some time with them. I will officially introduce you to them in a few days, okay?"]

["Oh, come on, Eirwen boy, no need to hurry. I won't miss you."]

["Eirwen boy, my ass. Even if we count your real age, I'm still six years older. And ouch... that hurts."]

I laughed and he smiles at me.

["Haha, what a joke. If you count my real age in human years, I will be much older than you."]

["Says the one in a baby's body."]

["Haha..."]

["Anyway, no one would believe in you. So, I'm the older one here in everyone's eyes."]

["You're an idiot, that's what you are."]

["I miss the days when you couldn't talk at all."]

["So funny. I remember very well that you said that you were anxious about the day I would start talking. You can't go back now."]

["I regret that day."]

I laughed again.

["And that's because you aren't even really talking."]

"Greetings, Your Majesty, the Emperor! Did you call for me?"

A woman in her late fifty's said, bowing to him, in respect.

It's strange to see because I don't take Eirwen seriously at all after those two months of traveling together.

"You can raise your head, McRae. And yes, I called you here. I trust you with my life because you're the one who raised me because my mother died when I was a little kid. So I'm trusting you with Evie, she's my new daughter. I adopted her in my journey, now she's a Hadassah too."

Oh... so she was his nanny.

And she'll be my nanny?

This is really an honor because taking him seriously or not, he is the Emperor!

"Neither the Empress, the Queens, or my children know about her yet. I opted for spending time with them first, before announcing the existence of the new princess to them. That's why I called you, to be her nanny. She's exactly ten months, but she's a very energetic and smart kid. And I trust that you will keep this a secret for now."

So he knows how sweet talk, what a surprise.

I think I'm one of the very few people who know how's his true nature.

And with 'his true nature' I mean... how idiot and childish he really is.

"Of course, your majesty. I won't let you down."

She truly respects him.

"I know you won't, McRae. That's why I chose you. You're like a mother to me, and you are neither influenced by the Empress nor by the Queens."

That's really a good thing.

If there's something I remember very well from my book of destiny, is that the Empress started abusing Davey when he was four, because she didn't have Eirwen's attention as she wanted.

But I'm not gonna let that happen, even if I have to take his place and became her target.

She's just an arrogant human, after all.

"As I will have to spend a few months with them and my children, you must go to the Ice Castle in Schneeflocke, it is empty, so they won't suspect anything since they don't pay much attention to it either. Take good care of her. When the time comes to introduce her to them, I will call you back here."

"As you wish. I'll take care of her as if she was my own daughter. Just like I took care of you."

I really like this grannie.

At least, I will be safe for a while with her.

"Thank you very much, McRae. I must go now, or they will suspect that something's wrong. You must go right away."

["Already?"]

["Didn't you said that you weren't going to miss me?"]

["Idiot."]

He petted my head.

"Don't worry, Evie, everything will be okay. We'll see each other again soon. I'll miss you too."

Why am I feeling like I'm gonna cry?

["Be careful. And take good care of your children."]

["I'll be. And I'll take good care of them. See you soon."]

["See you soon, Eirwen boy. You must go now."]

He smiled and pet my head once more, then he turned back and left.

"Hey, little girl, you're really beautiful, aren't you? Don't you worry, because your papa will be with you again soon! I'll take good care of you."

'Papa'... why I feel so warm after hearing her saying that?

It's not like I consider him my father, but still...

She held me higher and carefully kissed my forehead, then brought me closer to her chest.

"We must go now, the evil Empress and those Queens cannot know about you yet, little princess, so we must be very careful."

'Evil Empress' it's something that really suits her.

I already know that Empress Lena is someone who will give me a lot of headaches in the future.

And I'm not anxious at all to meet her or the other four snakes... I mean, queens.

What in the world Eirwen had in mind when he picked those five snakes as his women?

I can't understand it at all.

When I saw McRae's pitty face, I couldn't help but hear her thoughts.

[This poor kid, she deserves more than be around all those bitches in this damn palace. I wish she wouldn't have to come back here ever.]

Hey, you don't need to pity me.

I'm well aware that my situation isn't good at all.

[Empress Lena will make this child's life a living hell. What does that idiot had in mind to bring her here? Does he wants her to become the living target of his harem and his children?]

Oh, McRae, at least he didn't make me his illegitimate daughter like he wanted to do first.

It would be way worst than this.

[This beautiful kid... where in the world did he found such a child? And what must have happened with her parents? No, most importantly, what connection he had with them to take her as his adopted daughter, in the first place?]

Haha... You wouldn't believe it at all if I tell you the truth.

[What happened in all the time he was away? What was his secret mission?]

...Me!

[Well, I can't lose my time thinking about things I don't have the right to know, neither things that will put me in trouble. I'm just worried about this little kid and about him. And how could I not worry? Once I can't help if he's still a little boy in my eyes.]

She stopped in front of a simple carriage and after five minutes, a beautiful knight came at us.

"Mrs. McRae, the Emperor sent me to protect you and the child."

Oh, this is good, if Eirwen boy sent him, he must be skilled.

And I can't help but noticed how gorgeous he is, with his curly honey hair and those sapphire eyes, and what a body...

"That's a relief. I know how skilled Sir Gregory is, I'm at ease now. But we must go."

"Yes, Mrs. McRae."

So his name is Gregory, it suits him.

We entered the carriage and we left the palace right away.

[She must be Eirwen's illegitimate daughter if that childish guy's trying so hard to protect her.]

Hoho, what a thought, Sir Gregory.

He must be one of Eirwen's trustworthy knights if he knows his true personality too.

[But she's too beautiful to be his daughter.]

Haha, funny, and you're right.

Because I'm not his daughter.

"What's her name, Mrs. McRae?"

Now you ask, handsome boy?

"His Majesty said it was Evie."

[At least he knows his illegitimate daughter's name.]

Is that a joke?

"A beautiful name. I can't help but notice that she doesn't look like him at all."

[This handsome kid must be thinking that Eirwen's irresponsible enough to have an illegitimate daughter in his journey. He must be one of his best friends, but I can see that he doesn't know my kid as I do.]

Hahaha, this is amazing.

"That's because she isn't his illegitimate daughter like you must be thinking, Sir Gregory."

[What? Then why in the world that bastard would take this little girl in? He said she was the new princess of the Empire. What the hell...]

"Oh, no?"

His answer doesn't reach what he thinks at all.

He knows how to filter it at least.

"I thought she was because his Majesty said she was the new princess of the Empire."

Well, at least you are telling her the truth-

Pfft, this time.

[Those kids these days don't know how to tell the truth anymore.]

I don't know anything...

"He adopted her."

[Eirwen adopted a child out of nowhere? She must have something really special because he would never do this if she was just a random kid. He is smart, so he must have seen something on her.]

"What a surprise.."

[He must be thinking that Eirwen wouldn't do this without a huge and important reason. But I know that kid better, so I can tell that he would take this poor child even if she was magicless.]

What a divergence of thoughts, for my father's sake.

It may be sad, but liking it or not, Sir Gregory is completely right.

Eirwen took me in because I'm an Immortal.

We Immortals, in our pure nature, are way too overpowerful and too different from humans.