A FEW hours prior to the event, Alesteria woke up as if her eyes had been stung by bees, making some maids snicker and grin at how such an adorable princess would have puffy eyes that she couldn't even open them. So, they gave her an ice pack to lessen the swelling. "Are you feeling alright, your highness?" Bella asked as some maids are getting Alesteria ready for today's party. The theme is a fairy garden, complete with faux butterflies but real roses decorated around the venue, which Alesteria saw when when she used her mana to construct a little dimension that can view whatever the user desires to see, using a small mirror she had in her dresser. 'The venue is honestly beautiful, but that is to be expected from Bella.' Bella was the one who organized it so Alesteria knew it will be beautiful. She was also the one who helped with her receivance banquet before so Alesteria knows that she is more than capable. And she did not disappoint. "I'm fwine. Dwaddy and I made up so I cwi
THE NOBLE children all stared at Alesteria, who was drinking her tea, while the latter was starting to feel uncomfortable from the overbearing gazes directed at her.There is some small chatter going around and a few words but most of them much rather spend their time looking at Alesteria than to interact with each other.The other children who were not staring at Alesteria were whispering to themselves about her, and it was practically the same thing."The princess is so pretty!""I even thought she was a fairy when she came out!""She is so elegant. How amazing!"Alesteria, who heard all of it, can't help but feel a bit sheepish.Of course, she acted like an exquisite lady when she walked out to welcome them, but that's because she's afraid of what the noble women present would say about her if she makes a mistake.In a party such as this, authority and power are everything."They are still not over it
THE CHATTER that once dominated the room suddenly went silent, even the slightest background noise went quiet; along with her question, the snickering and laughter all stopped as the atmosphere became heavy.Alesteria set her cup down gently, turning her head to Margaret with a tight grin and strained face.Alesteria is not a fool. She recognizes when someone is attempting to exploit her for their personal gain, attempting to make themselves appear good just so they can push the latter later on.Alesteria has seen individuals like this before, but she has never seen a female, let alone a kid, act so boldly that she forgets the customary pleasantries.Alesteria is not one for such a custom but this girl has crossed the line.'And she wants my brothers? After acting so arrogantly?'Alesteria wanted to laugh mockingly at the ignorant girl.She then remembered something from her lessons with her etiquette instruc
TRISTAN FINALLY got the rest that he deserves after a long night of filing the documents and sending them out to each department, reducing Xerxes' workload by half.He chose to look through the corrected documents and place them in the authorized pile, while the others were placed in the rejected pile, because he had nothing else to do for the rest of the night.He'd done it in just 7 hours, leaving him more fatigued than ever; he could feel his limit finally catching up with him.When Xerxes returns, he dismisses him and allows him to rest in his palace room, which he hasn't visited in more than a week.Tristan has his own house outside the palace but is he willing to travel far when he is so exhausted to even walk?Of course not.Tristan walked to his room, almost dragging himself, and as soon as he reached the door to his room, he breathed in relief and threw himself off the bed, without bothering to change his clothes or
EVERYONE WAS deafened when they heard the emperor's announcement to Bella, who just stood there accepting the punishment. Tristan was tempted to argue, knowing that Bella had served the emperor since his coronation, long before he met Alana. Bella was present when Xerxes met Alana to safeguard the late empress from the noblewomen who are longing for him following his divorce from the former empress, Morgaine. While serving as the empress's lady-in-waiting, Bella oversaw everything in the empress's palace. She was present when the princes were born, she was present when the princess was born, and she was present when Alana died. In addition, Bella is in charge of the princess's inner court. She is essentially the princess's palace's head maid, and without her, they will have to find another who is as trustworthy as she is. And Tristan was well aware that this would be difficult. Also, Bella had become a signific
ALESTERIA SMILED to herself as she saw her brothers running off with the painite in hand, going to her room to show it to Xerxes so they can stabilize her mana. Alesteria was aware of what had occurred to her; she was not actually asleep, but instead astral projected her soul out of her body to give them some time to fix the catastrophe she had created within her. This is the only means she knows of preserving her physical body. She knew her body's power was rejecting her soul's mana, and now that the lock for that mana had been shattered, she was suffering the consequences. No one can see her soul in the same way that they saw her body since her soul was simply a speck amid hundreds of others, only hers was brighter and stronger. 'I did help them get to the painite, but I wonder if it will be a long process.' She thought as she wanders around the room. 'Maybe it will, maybe it won't.' The met
"ISN'T THERE enough greens in her meal? Or maybe we should add more?" "How about this one? Bananas are rich in potassium, so she should eat this first." "Why in the world are you holding a banana right to her mouth, are you a barbarian?!" Alesteria groaned at her brothers' incessant attempts to feed her, while Xerxes sat beside the bed, a file of paperwork in his hands, scrutinizing the food made for her. It's been a day since the incident, and they're still refusing to let her move, much alone leave her bed. All of her necessities are delivered to her, and the staff only give her a half-bath in bed. "Iwt's jwust a fevew. Iwt's nothing too sewious." She commented, trying to stop her brothers from feeding her another fruit. Alesteria did manage to have a fever after she woke up yesterday, causing another set of chaos in the room as her brothers and father yelled at everyone, especially the poor physicians who scurried to the bed to examine her. They said it was merely a mild feve
BEYOND THE walls of the capital, in an estate where the solitude is their friend and coldness has been their ally, a boy with brown hair stares outside the window with a hollow gaze, a man by his side slowly pouring tea on his cup. If one could tell, the man was a bit anxious. The newspaper reporting on the event in the capital has now been circulated outside and has reached their estate. He has seen the newspaper and is aware of its contents, but he is debating whether he should disclose it to his master or let him discover it for himself. If he does the latter, he may be punished for failing to inform him sooner. There is no other choice but to choose the former. The man let out an anxious sigh before pulling a newspaper from behind him and placing it on the table gently, gaining the boy's attention. "Her highness has become the talk of the empire once again." The man commented, earning a slight glance from the boy.