Aileen heard a sound that she thinks is a monitor for heart rate. The place was dark, but the last thing she remembered, she and Viishaun were facing the sun as it started to crawl out from the bed of clouds.She could not help but ask herself where she was. Then, the sound of a creaking door had called her attention, followed by footsteps and the sound of a baby crying. "Ssshh... sweetie. Mommy had not yet woken up. Do you wanna touch mommy?" says a guy who was holding a one-year and three months old girl."How is she?" a woman in her mid 50's asked."What happened? It has been three days. Are you sure nothing is wrong with my sibling?" says a lady who entered the room only a few minutes after the other visitor.Aileen could hear voices. She knew it was her foster family, her mother, and her older sister. She also recognized the guy was her fiance, but what bothered her was who was the baby? And, who were they referring to as 'mommy'?'Viishaun...' she uttered. However, it was all i
"Your excellency, you have been spacing out since you returned from the war. You are even crying and calling for a lady's name while napping in your office."Viishaun sighed and felt anxious as the days were approaching. He was anticipating the day of their encounter. Even if he wanted to find the lady, he's scared it would ruin the present. He thought there was a possibility that if he didn't wait for that day, Aileen might not be able to transmigrate. He vows to change the present only if he and the lady meet."Tell me, have you met a lady in the battleground?" The son of the butler and his close friend teased him, to which the king replied with a beaming smile."I haven't met her yet.""I don't get it.""You won't get it," Viishaun replied."What about Princess Elvira? Aren't you betrothed to her?"The secretary had knocked on the door before Viishaun could utter another word. "Your excellency, his royal highness is looking for you," says the secretary, who was ordered to get Viis
"I'm sure this forest is covered with mist and dangerous thorny vines," he uttered as he visited the witch forest where Lady Khaleesi stayed back then. However, as he went there, a peaceful witch forest welcomed him, gone with the mist, dangerous animals, and vines that killed those people who tried to get there in the past."This can't be! What if these small changes will affect the future?! There must be a secret witch house here!" Viishaun threw the rock in the air, hoping it would bounce back, but it didn't, which means the forest is not mystical anymore.All of a sudden, the king heard a brushing of leaves and a broken twig. He knew someone was watching him from a close distance. "I know you're there. Don't make me come looking for you,' Viishaun uttered as he drew his sword."As expected from a war freak. You didn't bring marquises with you? Just because you're skilled means you can fight four bandits at once.""Want me to prove it?" He replied, and in a blink of an eye, he dec
"Your excellency, stop skipping meals," says the butler, wearing a concerned look on his face. "What's going on with you? Shall I report this to his royal highness? You've been acting strange since that day," says the Marquise-general."Instead of worrying about me, worry about the investigation I asked you to do. Haven't you found strong evidence yet?" Viishaun replied, still refusing his meal."His highness, the first prince is committing a capital crime."Viishaun sat straight on the edge of his bed and glanced at his trusted Marquise-general. Then he crossed his arms and uttered, "You know I can be convicted as treason for accusing the first prince. You better have collected evidence for that."The Marquise-General laughed and crossed his arms as he replied," With all due respect, your excellency, Do I look like someone who cites things without upholding?"Viishaun smiled and mumbled, "It's payback time."He would have waited to meet his wife before he started changing the prese
The news about the execution of the first prince was circling around the empire. The empress had fallen depressed and decided to end her life. Viishaun smiled with bitterness as he put a flower on the grave of both the deceased empress and first prince. Viishaun finds no happiness with all the villains gone. He was starting to lose interest in everything and realized if the beneficiary of all his effort to be the most powerful was gone, what would be the sense of having immense wealth, fame, and even the throne itself."It's such a waste. These people had everything within their reach, but they decided to ruin themselves," says the emperor. He was also sad about the passing of his wife. Despite not loving the empress with all his heart, it was undeniable that the lady had a soft spot in his heart. "Shaun...""Don't call me by that name," Viishaun replied as he looked away. The pain of remembering his wife’s sweet voice as she calls her by that name opens a wound in his heart."Viish
"Lady Scheriziel, I have an important thing I want to tell. Where are you?" A lady holding costume had been looking for her."I'm here! Could you fix my hair? The performance is about to start.""My bad. I was too occupied with the news from the central empire."Hmmm? What about it?" Scheriziel replied. "The first prince was executed by the infamous second prince. Then the empress committed suicide," the assistant replied. "You should not run your mouth without proof. We're talking about the royal family.""That was what I heard when I was buying alternative material on the market."Scheriziel was interrupted by another lady who had news written all over her face. The lady approached them and uttered, "You won't believe this. I heard the king of the western border had taken over several provinces. I heard your manor was not spared by the cold-blooded king of the western region. Have you exchanged letters with your father?"Scheriziel shook her head and thought that must be the reaso
Viishaun was preparing for his visit to Port Jesquiza for an inspection. They knew finding smuggler organizations using the port for their illegal business was one of the least priorities. It's more like an excuse to deny his royal highness blind dates for him. "I wonder if his excellency will get married someday. I'm quite concerned that the royal bloodline would end with him," says the secretary to the Marquise-General on their short break."It would be fun to watch little versions of him. He's good-looking, so he should spread his good genes, you know," the secretary added as he laughed between his words."How about you? Why don't you get married? You have passed the age of marrying," the marquise-general asked."It's not like I can't marry anytime soon. I just can't leave that guy in such a state. He does not look stable enough. He vanishes randomly and slaughters his enemy with one swoop. Sounds wild, right? It's all because he's still not over with his search for the lady. Why
"Uhm... may I have an audience with Duke Azrael?" Scheriziel asked as she stood in front of the gatekeepers."My apologies, my lady, but the master of this mansion had fled.""I see. That rumor wasn't just a talk," the lady murmured and heaved a deep breath. Then she added, "Please allow me to enter the premises. I need to get my things there. I used to work with the previous master of this manor."The two gatekeepers discussed things among themselves, but they feared his excellency's wrath. The king was fed up with unannounced visitors because there were always ladies soothing after him. "Please leave at once before his excellency returns. We don't know your real intention, but his excellency is not in the mood to see ladies hovering around him."Scheriziel stamped her feet and tried to explain she wasn't after the new master of the manor. "I have an important thing to do there, so please allow me to enter. I'll leave shortly after.""We really can't do much, missy." Scheriziel tur
Flame Stephan was staring at the family portrait hung on their wall. He heaved a heavy breath at the thought of remembering how he almost thought of breaking off the marriage a week before their marriage, but his fiancee changed into someone else. "It was as if she's no longer Aileen," he murmured to himself. He recalled how their relationship started rosy just like any other couple but turned static and cold as Aileen prioritized her career over him. For him, their marriage was only for the sake of the years they've been together, but one day the lady became innocently sweet. "Buddy, you may laugh at it, but I think I just fell in love deeper with your mom while hesitating to marry her back then. I thought I had fallen out of love, but it looks like we only needed to start a new journey to find our way back to love," he said to a two-year-old son, their third child. He put his son on the sofa and asked, "Who's that cutie in the picture?" Then the baby simply giggled while starin
The prince returned to the empire to receive his crown, and be hailed as the next in line for the throne. The ceremony took place at the Imperial Palace’s Vinziel’s mansion. The service is conducted by the Pope of the Orthodox Church of Capital. Attended by Nobles, Aristocrats, Royalty, and representatives of the Houses of Parliament. The first ritual is a homage by the Pope and senior peers as part of sacred communion. He was also anointed with holy oil and presented and invested with her regalia before being crowned. Then, followed by the placing of the crown and passing of the orb and scepters done by the emperor. Shortly after, the betrothed consort of the crown prince is proclaimed as crown princess, blessed by the empress. After receiving the orb and scepter, the crowned royalty subscribed an oath to govern the people according to their respective laws and customs. Wearing his regalia, he waved to the thousands of Alandeans who were lucky enough to witness his coronation. Stan
Side story 00 "My Queen, where's our Alena?" King Alfred asked as he entered the carriage and sat beside the queen. "I thought you fetched her already?" Athena asked. "I thought she was with you," Alfred replied. "Wait here. I'll fetch her," says Athena as she descends from the carriage. She knocked at Alena's room and asked, "My dear, what's taking you long?" Alena turned around and glanced at her mother. "She hasn't dressed yet?" Athena asked the nanny assigned to take good care of the heiress of the western region. "I don't know what to wear, mother. What gown do you think would make me attractive?" Athena chuckled and replied, "You still have four years before your coming of age. Should you be concerned with being attractive at the age of fourteen?" "Of course, mother. I can't show up to the imperial family looking unattractive." "Let's head out now. You don't want to make Vinziel wait that long, do you?" The young heiress looked away to hide her blushing cheeks. Sho
The garden of Allandis imperial palace was packed with invited nobles and aristocrats to celebrate the seventh birthday of the prince. Some guests truly wish to greet the prince, but of course, there is an ambitious family who dreamt of settling close ties with his royal highness' son to gain favor. It is undeniable that social gatherings were one of the paths to the social ladder. Hence, it is like a battlefield instead of an ordinary celebration. Thus, the marquises are on high alert to ensure the safety of everyone. Since the empress is fond of flowers, she decided to use her beautiful garden as a venue for her son's birthday which took her a week to finish the interior, with the helping hands of servants. The table clothes are decorated with the usual embroidered sparkling diamonds attached to the hem of each blue cover, and on top of the tables are gold cutleries and dishware. Those with a vulture eye that captures the unspoken wealth displayed had assumed amassed fortune
The ocean side gives off an impression of being alive and happy with the presence of relaxing vegetation. There are evergreen estates both along and inside the ocean side. Pictures of light ocean growth should be visible along the shore. Palms trees stand tall along the ocean side getting into the rhythm of the breeze radiating from the body of the ocean. Moreover, there are hued blossoms close by, magnificent ones that light up at the sparkling of the mid-year sun. "Look how magnificent the ocean is," says Scheriziel while letting the sun kiss her cheeks. The royal family decided to have a one day vacation, free from all responsibility. However, the little one seemed to dislike the place as the prince plastered a disappointed look. Then, he crossed his arms and furrowed his brows while saying, "This beach again? Can't we go somewhere else, mother and father?" "This place is memorable for us that's why we always visit this place once annually. Don't worry, we're going somewhere els
Scheriziel rested her head on the emperor's chest as they soaked in the hot tub. Then she asked her husband, who was silent and staring blankly at the water. She said, "Are you alright?" "Yes. It's just that I'm quite sad about my old man's demise," Viishaun replied. It was not just the emperor; the whole empire had filled with a heavy heart as the former great leader bid goodbye for eternity. After fighting with his age and ailment, Argus XV left the world. The empress embraced her husband. Then she patted his head buried in her plump chest. She dared not utter a word but comforted him through her acts. "I've been mad at him for years because he has never been a good father to my younger self. I only felt reconnected with him after going back in time." "At least you two had lived well in this second life of ours. I'm sure he is happy wherever he is right now." "Right. I'm glad that my choice in this life turned out fine. At least he gets to see and play with his grandkid," he r
"Let me see your smile for a moment before I do my obligation later, my prince. Your father and I had to take turns to watch over you because we had to finish our duties and responsibilities," says Scheriziel while letting a one-year-old prince play with her fingers. Prince Vinziel giggled when the empress lifted and carried him. Scheriziel sighed and uttered, "We probably should spend more time with you because you will not always be this little. Once you grow older, you'll find your own path, and the time you'd spend with us will get shorter as you age." Someone knocked on the door and asked permission to enter the prince's chamber. "Your majesty, the paper for the foundation you asked for yesterday was waiting for your approval." "One moment..." the empress replied as she left the prince's chamber to visit the former emperor's residency. "Come, my sweet Vinziel," says Argus as he faintly sits on the edge of his bed. "I'll be back to fetch this little sweetie pie, father. He
The empire was filled with joy as the commemoration of the six-month-old offspring of the emperor and empress was currently taking place. As part of the tradition, a royal baby can only be baptized and shown to the public once it reaches six months. "How long will it last? I think our little prince will start crying any moment from now," Scheriziel whispered to her husband's ears. "We're almost back to the palace. Give me our little prince so you could rest your arm," says Viishaun as he gently carries the baby into his arms. He chuckled and added, "He's smiling now. It looks like my handsomeness works on him." "I hate to admit it, but it seems our little prince was quite unfair. How can he always be always in a better mood with you than with me? It was me who had him for nine months, yet he still likes you the most." "That's what you get for always picking a fight and making me run errands," he replied, recalling how hard it was for him to get a peaceful sleep before the little
With the curtains slightly opened, the sun is revealed – shining big and bright right back at the couple awaken by its cozy greeting. Scheriziel slightly opened her eyes as the sun kissed her skin, only to get lazy again at the beginning of another day."Rise and Shine, my life. We need to do a little exercise to prepare you for delivery," says Viishaun, reminding her of things they should do early in the morning. Then he kissed his wife's forehead, down to her nose and lips. "Five more minutes," her ladyship replied, still refusing to open her eyes again.Viishaun sighed and thought he wouldn't force her to take a walk and do a little stretching if it won't help her fast delivery. Scheriziel groaned and uttered, "Fine. You don't have to kick my inside, sweetheart."Viishaun chuckled as he helped the empress sit on the edge of the bed. Then, he took a royal robe to cover his wife."Soon, it will be the three of us walking here to greet the sun and clear sky," says Viishaun, holding