"ARE YOU really considering the proposal, Alesteria?!" Before Aldrich shouted his lungs out as he entered Alesteria's chamber, she was calmly reading her book about the empire's economic history and its victories during the war, doing her own research so she may better comprehend negotiations and how to utilize every card she has. 'Ah, they are already here.' Of course, the bad habit that her brothers have has returned. It is a good thing that she can feel their presence through the door or else she will jump out of her seat in shock. 'And I expected them to be angry and know about this, but I didn't realize it will be this fast.' The conversation between Alesteria and Enzo only happened two days ago. It was a secret conversation between the two of them, along with their chosen guardian present. Alesteria didn't use her mana around Enzo, just to be safe, and she knows that their conversation can be leak at any moment. She just didn't expect it to be this fast. 'Bastian might've
"YOUR HOLINESS, how long are we going to be here? I don't think the royal family even know we are still here; they might've forgotten already." Kairo turned his head to his assistant with an annoyed expression, his eyes sharp as he glared at him all the same, making him shut up and froze in his place. "Can't you see that I am still injured? And you want me to go back at this moment?" He said, annoyed about what his aide said but it seems like it is the truth. They have been staying here for over a week, which is long past the date they said they will extend; the prophets in the temple sending letters via the royal messenger begging for them to come back. Mostly for Kairo to come back since he left before he could even begin any work. "That's why we need to leave! You can get treated at the temple!" Kairo's aide makes a good point since the temple do have healers specifically appointed for the high prophet, which they need. High prophets aren't healers, they are by their name, pr
"YOU HAVE become my personal guard now." Alesteria paused for a moment as she looks at Klaus with a small smile on her lips, her eyes shining; while the latter nodded without a hint of emotion in his face. "That means you can accompany me to wherever I go!" Klaus nodded as he kept his formal attitude towards Alesteria, unlike his usual less tense approach towards her when he is just tasked to fetch her and make sure that she is safe. Klaus has never been assigned to a task like this, much like being an escort to a member of the royal family; so, technically, being the princess' escort is his first job. It is not as if he is a newbie either. He had trained under Bastian for months and years before he was even allowed to be a shadow knight, just as when Bastian left to be an envoy of the empire. Some may question why Xerxes decided to send Bastian instead of Tristan, and to be honest, Klaus knew why. Without Bastian, the whole empire can function normally and his majesty, Xerxes,
KLAUS CAN see Alesteria being frozen even after the high prophet, Kairo, left. He doesn't understand the flow of their topic or whatever they had talked about and it was as if the conversation is really just between the two of them; even if outsiders can hear it, they will be at loss too. Klaus' eyes turned to Alesteria and saw the look on her face as it was neither worry nor anger. It was acceptance and realization, that sooner or later, she and the high prophet will have to talk. Klaus knows that look all too well; he has seen it from the late empress when the emperor found where she was before. And now, seeing that look on Alesteria, he couldn't help but feel worried for the young princess. "Your highness? Are you alright?" Alesteria took a while to answer but she did nod at him, sighing heavily as she spoke. "Yes. I'm fine." "But you look like..." Klaus shakes his head and decided not to continue his words, and instead, he looked at her with worry as his voice was low and
"SO, ARE you going to accept this contract?" Aldrich and Aimilios stared at Alesteria as they finished reading the contract, the paper laid on the table while pastries and fruits are present. The atmosphere around them were the same as they had a day ago, only now was it lighter. Alesteria smiled at them as she placed the plate she has on her hands to the table, crumbs on the corner of her lips as she wiped them off. "It doesn't look bad, doesn't it? Aimilios nodded at her, his eyes glanced at the paper in the middle of the table. "Yes, but there might be a hidden statement here." Alesteria shook her head, her eyes also on the document as a small smile plastered on her lips. "I checked. There is nothing hidden." It has been a day since she received the contract from Enzo and what Alesteria did the first thing she woke up yesterday was to check for any fine prints that Enzo might've placed there that would cause trouble for her, may it be laced with invisibility magic or hidden
RUMORS ABOUT the war being into fruition has spread across the empire and many people were beginning to believe that it will become a reality, some of them fearing for their lives and livelihood. Others have been quite calm about it, not worrying whether it will be true or not since they know that Vlatka won't be defeated that easily. They were smart enough to think that it is just a rumor and since the emperor has not said anything, it means that it either came from the nobility who liked to gossip or from the enemies. However, since no proof was said otherwise about the whole situation, the rumor keeps growing and spreading like wildfire. But that soon ended when an announcement spread across the land from the emperor himself, in a form of a poster to bring the rumor to its end. "Step aside! I'm going to read it to everyone!" One man yelled as many people push themselves to the announcement board. One man yelled back, "Why do you get to read it?!" "Then how about you read it?!
IT IS a sunny day and there are many clouds in the sky, the weather is perfect for having a tea outside; which is exactly what Alesteria did. Alesteria was smiling as she drank her tea while her face expressed a serene glow and Klaus stood beside her, serving her pastries and sweets. "Would you like more, your highness?" Klaus asked as he paused momentarily while holding the tongs provided. Alesteria looked at the plate in front of her, nearly empty with a little bit of cookies left, as her eyes drifted on the plate Klaus has. It was macaroons. "Yes please." She is by the balcony of her drawing room, which is at the second floor of the palace overviewing the gates and the entrance to her palace. She decided to position the drawing room there instead of the third floor, which the main palace and the prince's palace drawing rooms are as it is traditionally placed there to keep visitors away from the people resting on the second floor, mainly for servants and maids. Alesteria deci
"SHE REALLY didn't show up." Ich mumbled as he stared at the street while he sat near the window; his room on the second floor so he has a clear view up to the end of the street. He sighed as he remembered his words, a conflicted expression on his face, while he looked at the distance. 'I shouldn't have said that.' He thought as he regretted his words. 'Why did I even say that?' Ich is confused at himself. He thought he would welcome Alesteria again after not seeing her for such a long time, for seven whole years of wondering where she is and if she is well, looking forward to the day they can finally meet again. 'What do I expect? I told her not to visit anymore.' The circumstances when they met is not ideal, but they did meet again and he was happy to see her all grown up; healthy and energetic as she did before. 'What if... She doesn't want to come here again?' Ich hate to admit it but Alesteria is a cute child before, but now that she is starting to mature and grow up, he c