Anastasia recoiled, her eyes wide with disbelief and fear. The balance of power had shifted, and the once-mocking girl stood stunned, filled with anger and resentment. As Elen turned away, Anastasia pushed her so hard that Elen lost her balance and rolled to the floor. "Lady!" The maids shouted when they saw Elen being pushed down by Anastasia. "Ellie!" Elliot and Maxwell shouted from behind and walked faster to where Elen was pushed. Everyone gathered around them as they saw Anastasia push Elen down; they witnessed everything. The maids whispered among themselves, casting disapproving glances in Anastasia's direction. Although Elen had been living with them for a week, they had all treated her kindly because she, too, was kind to them. "I-" Before Anastasia could continue what she was saying, Elliott was furious at seeing Elen on the ground. Her knees and arms had scratches, and blood started to ooze. "You, why did you push Ellie?" Elliot's voice shook as he struggled to contain
The imperial palace was a sight to behold, with its grand architecture and lavish decorations both inside and out. The halls were adorned with exquisite tapestries, ornate chandeliers, and intricately carved furniture. The lush gardens surrounding the palace were filled with vibrant flowers and sculpted hedges, creating a serene and opulent atmosphere. King Felipe Evreux, the ruler of this splendid domain, desired power and influence over his people. He enjoyed spending time with his concubines, finding pleasure in their company. However, none of them had been able to bear him a child, except for the empress, Regina Brosethorn. Early in the morning, the king summons the empress to his office and Regina was shocked by the news. She had always prided herself on her position as her son, the king's only legitimate heir, and the thought of someone else vying for the throne filled her with a mix of anger and uncertainty. As she studied the king's face for any sign of deceit, she found non
The Duke of Windsor and Chiara moved quickly through the grand halls. As they approached the emperor's chambers, the flickering torchlight danced off the knights' gleaming swords, casting long shadows across the corridor. Speaking their names firmly, the Duke and Chiara announced their presence, their voices echoing through the stone walls. After a tense pause, the door creaked open, revealing the hallowed space beyond. With resolve in their eyes, the Duke and Chiara stepped into the chamber together, united in purpose as they greeted the emperor. "Greetings to the highest sun of the empire, your Majesty. May the empire continue to prosper under your rule," the Duke of Windsor and Chiara intoned with a deep bow, their respect evident in their solemn demeanor as they acknowledged the emperor's revered status. "You may rise," the emperor replied, his gaze steady and commanding, exuding an air of regal authority that filled the chamber. "Thank you, your Majesty," the Duke of Windsor
The evening sun fades into the horizon, the maids flutter around Regina, adorning her with opulent jewels and draping her in a resplendent scarlet gown. Her hair is meticulously styled, and a delicate touch of makeup enhances her features. Tonight, she is to spend the evening with the Emperor, and so she presents herself with utmost grace and allure. There’s a purpose behind this arrangement – she intends to broach the subject of his illegitimate son, aiming to sway him into acknowledging another child. A son from her would surely solidify her standing as the Empress. With determination in her eyes, Regina sets off down the hallway, the grandeur of her presence illuminated by the flickering torches. The knights announce her arrival, yet the door remains shut, denying her entry. Her frustration boils within her as the seconds tick by, and soon enough, the Emperor’s assistant emerges, bearing the news that the Emperor is presently occupied with his concubines. “Your Majesty, it is the
In the early hours of the day, the soft glow of the rising sun filtered through the delicate lattice windows of the grand inner palace, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow across the high-ceilinged hallway. The air was filled with a gentle murmur as the concubines, elegantly adorned in flowing silk garments and adorned with delicate jewelry, moved with graceful hast into the chamber where they had been summoned to meet the empress.Each footfall, barely discernible against the smooth marble floor, echoed softly as the concubines made their way through the opulent passageway. The faint jingle of their jewelry provided a subtle accompaniment to the rustle of their luxurious silken garments, creating an atmosphere of timeless elegance. As the concubines neared the entrance to the chamber, a palpable sense of anticipation tinged with nervousness lingered in the air. The faint, lingering scent of sandalwood wafted from the partially open door, adding a touch of tranquility to th
The grand duke of Adelstein stood at his window, gazing out at Elen and his two sons playing in the garden with their kites. Elen held a pink kite, Max had a black one, and Elliot clutched a red kite. Their laughter filled the air, and for a moment, the duke allowed himself to smile. "My lord," Caleb knocked on his door, holding a letter in his hand. "We have an invitation to the temple, along with the high priest and the Duke of Windsor. I also heard that they're pressuring the temple right now." "How audacious of Dominic," the grand duke said with a smirk. "Very well, let's pay the temple a visit." "But my lord, the temple has also extended an invitation to the lady," Caleb hesitated, knowing the duke's protective nature towards her. "Dominic seems to know something," the grand duke said, his voice tinged with suspicion as he tapped his fingers on the table. "When is the date?" "Tomorrow morning at 9 am," Caleb replied. "Alright, I'll talk with Elen and the kids," the grand du
The grand duke watched Elen as she held the necklace delicately in her hand, her fingers brushing against the silver chain. He could tell she was treasuring it, as if it meant a lot to her. Elen seemed uneasy, and the grand duke could sense there was more to it. He wanted to ask, but he didn't want to pressure her. "Don't worry, no one can hurt you," the grand duke reassured her. "Your brothers will come, too." Elen looked relieved. "Yes, grand duke," she said softly. After switching the subject, she left the grand duke's office feeling much better. In her bedroom, she finally felt at ease. "Hey, Lady!" Rami called out to Elen, who was seated on her bed, her gaze fixed on her hand as if lost deep in thought."Huh?" Elen responded, a look of confusion on her face."You've been staring at your hand for a while now since you got in here," Rora remarked, busy sorting through her wardrobe."Really?" Elen said absentmindedly. "Rami, the duke and I are visiting the temple tomorrow. What d
The much-awaited day for Elen has arrived. This marks the second time she will meet the Duke of Windsor and her first encounter with the high priest. Rami and Rora were already tending to her clothes and hair, which would transform her into a little princess of Adelstein. She was dressed in a pink puff dress with two buns in her hair, complemented by pink shoes and a pink bunny bag."Congratulations on becoming an official member now, my lady!" Rora exclaimed, her hands skillfully weaving through Elen's hair."It's not official yet," Elen replied, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of her lips."I'm sure the grand duke will make it happen," Rora insisted, casting a knowing gaze at Elen. "The grand duke dotes on you the most."Elen simply smiled at Rora's innocent belief. She knew the truth behind the grand duke's affections—her powers were what he truly sought, just as she sought his resources. They were bound by mutual need, their relationship a delicate balance of power and mani
In the afternoon, the grand duke was engrossed in his office tasks, finalizing documents to be sent to the palace in advance. Meanwhile, the monster egg remained hidden from all, especially the imperial family. A knock interrupted his work."Who?" the grand duke called out, still signing a document."Grand duke, it's me, Elen," came the voice outside his door, seeking permission to enter."Come in," the grand duke granted, awaiting Elen's presence. "What is it?" he inquired as she entered."Can I visit the boy?" Elen asked, her gaze averted, not meeting the grand duke's eyes."Why?" the grand duke questioned, his brow furrowing in curiosity."I just want to say thank you," Elen replied softly."Your servants can convey your gratitude to him," the grand duke suggested."But I want to thank him personally," Elen insisted. "He saved me.""And?" the grand duke prodded further, wary of involving Elen with the imperial family dynamics, given Lucas's status as the emperor's illegitimate son.
Three days had passed since Elen had awoken from her deep slumber, and the next day they were due to travel back to Evreux. The air was filled with the hustle and bustle of preparation as everyone busied themselves with getting ready for the journey. Meanwhile, Elen sat on her bed, observing Rami and Rora as they carefully packed her belongings."Can I help?" Elen inquired, her eyes hopeful as she gazed at them.Rami shook her head gently, "No, my lady. The doctor advised that you need rest."Elen's expression fell, a hint of boredom evident on her face. It had been three days since she had woken up, and she was beginning to feel cooped up from the constant vigilance everyone held over her activities.Rami let out a soft chuckle at Elen's eagerness and continued with the packing, making sure everything was neatly organized. She made a mental note to include a supply of medicine for Elen, anticipating the possibility of motion sickness during their journey back to Evreux.Elen's curios
The Grand Duke left Elen's room, feeling relieved that she had woken up from her deep slumber. He made his way to his temporary office, intending to catch up on his duties."Grand Duke," Theron greeted as he entered, placing a stack of documents on the table. "The boy who helped the lady wishes to see you.""The boy?" the Grand Duke inquired, his attention divided between the papers in front of him and Theron's words."Yes, the one who came to the lady's aid," Theron clarified."Very well," the Grand Duke replied, intrigued by the idea of meeting this young man who had displayed impressive combat skills at the marketplace. While not extraordinary, the boy's potential had caught the Grand Duke's attention."I will arrange for an appointment later," Theron informed him before bowing respectfully and exiting the room, leaving the Grand Duke to ponder the upcoming meeting with the mysterious boy.The Grand Duke sat in his office, reflecting on the mysterious young man who had caught his a
As the sun began to rise in Asteria, casting its gentle light into the room where Elen lay in deep slumber, a sense of urgency gripped the hearts of those gathered around her. The doctor, beads of sweat forming on his brow, had tried everything within his power to rouse Elen from her unconscious state, but her body remained unresponsive.The tension in the room was palpable as the grand duke, a grave expression etched on his face, questioned the doctor about Elen's condition. "When will she wake up?" the grand duke inquired, his voice tinged with concern."It seems that the medicine has not taken effect on the lady's body," the doctor responded, his own anxiety evident in his voice.A heavy silence hung in the air as all eyes turned to Elen, her face pale and serene in her slumber. The implications of her continued unconsciousness weighed heavily on the doctor, knowing the gravity of the situation.The grand duke's next words sent a shiver down the doctor's spine, his tone carrying a
Elen, still feeling groggy from her deep sleep, found herself wandering aimlessly in a never-ending white hallway. The complete lack of doors or exits made her feel trapped, like she was stuck in a never-ending limbo. The silence was deafening, and the sterile white walls seemed to stretch on forever, giving her the eerie sensation of walking towards her demise."Where the heck am I?" Elen mumbled to herself, her voice barely audible, "Am I... dead?"Despite the uncertainty of her situation, Elen pushed forward, determined to find a way out of this strange place. She couldn't shake the worry gnawing at her about the well-being of Rora and Rami."I hope they made it..." Elen thought to herself, a pang of concern tugging at her heartstrings."Child," a voice echoed through the empty white hallway, startling Elen."Who's there?" Elen called out, scanning her surroundings in confusion. But there was no one in sight, just the endless expanse of white that seemed to stretch into infinity."
The Grand Duke rushed through the marketplace, battling monsters along the way as he desperately searched for Elen. Despite his efforts, he found no trace of her or the group she had been with. The Adelstein knight arrived as well, aiding in the evacuation of civilians and joining the fight against the monsters. They scoured the area, trying to locate Elen and her companions, but they remained elusive."Grand Duke," Theron reported, "this area is clear.""Hmm," the Grand Duke responded, scanning the surroundings. "Find Elen and the group."As the Grand Duke set off once more in search of Elen, he encountered Rami and some knights still locked in combat with monsters, despite their injuries and bloodied appearance. Still, Elen was nowhere to be seen. Without hesitation, the Grand Duke jumped into the fray to assist Rami and the knights in clearing out the remaining monsters.Rami's eyes widened as she spotted the Grand Duke in the midst of the chaos, a mixture of surprise and relief fl
The Grand Duke and Theron were occupied searching for the monster's egg in the mountains when a villager was spotted shouting and running in their direction. The knights immediately intervened to prevent the villagers from getting too close to the Grand Duke."Grand Duke, it's a monster attack!" the villager exclaimed, prompting the Grand Duke to signal for the villagers to approach."Details," the Grand Duke requested, his gaze fixed on the panting villager."A monster has suddenly appeared in the marketplace, and the people there are in chaos," the villager reported between gasps for air."The marketplace?" realization dawned on the Grand Duke as he remembered Elen's whereabouts. Without a moment's hesitation, he swiftly departed, mounting his horse. "Theron, inform the knights and rally them at the marketplace."Racing with urgency towards the marketplace, the Grand Duke regretted not foreseeing the monster's imminent attack there. If he had known, he would have never allowed Elen
The next day, Elen felt her body was light and full of energy. She thought it was because of the good rest she had the previous night, along with the pastries the grand duke had brought for her. She planned to go to the market, eager to taste the delicious food Asteria had to offer."Good morning, lady!" Rora greeted as she entered the room."Good morning, Rora!" Elen replied with a wave."What would you like to eat, lady?" Rami asked while fixing the curtains."I'll just have the pastries today," Elen decided. "Uh, can we go to the market place?""I'm not sure, lady," Rami replied. "We should ask for permission from the grand duke.""Okay," Elen agreed, though she knew the grand duke might not allow them to visit the market.Rami quickly reheated the pastries for Elen to eat, and then they helped Elen dress herself. Considering the sunny weather in Asteria, Rami chose a light pink dress that would suit both Elen and the weather. They styled Elen's hair into two ponytails and paired i
The grand duke and Theron carefully surveyed the village, their eyes scanning every corner for any signs of danger. With Elen in their midst, safety was their top priority, especially with the looming threat of a potential monster egg hidden somewhere nearby."Grand duke," Theron reported, "my knights haven't spotted any suspicious eggs in this area."The grand duke nodded, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings as they continued their search. Hours passed with no sign of the monster's egg."Should we head back?" Theron inquired, concern evident in his voice as he observed the grand duke's thoughtful expression."Are there any bakeries nearby?" the grand duke suddenly questioned, a knowing look in his eyes as he considered Elen's well-being without directly addressing it."Huh?" Theron was caught off guard by the unexpected question."Don't make me repeat myself," the grand duke's tone was firm as he awaited an answer.