Chapter Fifteen
_ A Visit to the Palace
* * *
As the party neared its end, Elite went to collect Ian, and by chance, she found Sophia speaking with the children. She smiled politely:
"Your Highness is here?!"
The Empress turned and smiled broadly:
"Duchess, I was speaking with the Little Duke regarding a visit to the Crown Prince's palace in his spare time..."
"Ian, do you like the idea, my little one?!"
Ian nodded enthusiastically, and Johann smiled while carrying Lux, looking at the Duchess with pleading eyes:
"It would be lovely if they exchanged visits from time to time; it would be better that way..."
In a kind manner, she lowered herself to the little Princess's level and spoke to her:
"And of course, the little Princess is always welcome."
'There is no harm in forming a clear friendship with the future Emperor, but necessary measures must be taken...'
The Empress smiled cheerfully, clapped her hands with a sort of excitement, and said:
"If the children become friends, wouldn't it be wonderful if the Duchess and I became friends as well..."
At this, the children's eyes brightened with excitement, which made Elite smile and look at the Empress, saying:
"It would be a great honor for me..."
The two ladies shook hands, and after that, they bid each other farewell. Their farewell was smooth, unlike the children who felt frustrated.
"Next time, bring Moon with you..."
"Alright, see you soon, Johann."
The children could barely part from one another; even Lydia bid Ian farewell with a sad face...
* * *
"Mother! Is something wrong?!"
His small, considerate voice was enough to bring her back to reality. His mother looked at him with warm eyes, her hands still playing with the soft, red strands on that little head...
"Johann! Sit down, my little one."
Johann sat on the sofa opposite his mother with a beautiful and sincere smile; she had almost forgotten her child's smiling face.
"Did you enjoy playing with the Little Duke today?!"
"Very much, he is a truly wonderful person, and the Duchess is very kind."
Johann was honest in his desires and even his criticism, and it was the first time she heard Johann praise an adult other than his uncle...
'Is the Duchess that good?! Is it right to seek her support?! ... Perhaps I need to meet her several times until I understand her character; real situations are what reveal a person...'
"Johann! Since you will officially move to the Crown Prince's palace tomorrow, why don't we invite the Duchess and the Little Duke to the Crown Prince's palace?!"
Johann's expression brightened, and he clenched his small fists with excitement and said:
"I agree..."
Sophia smiled at her child then looked at little Lydia, and Duchess Altan's words were echoing strongly in her head:
[ "I will protect his heart and mind from this chaos, and surely the Empress will do the same in protecting His Highness the Crown Prince... and the Princess..." ]
[ "And of course, the little Princess is always welcome" ]
'What was she hinting at? That Johann's position is attractive for any noble to cling to and increase their power. The Little Duke, thanks to his mother, has immense power even before he ascends to his position. If Johann can win the Duke to his side, it would certainly be a good support for him. The Duchess will benefit somewhat from Johann's position, but what does she need with the Princess? And what does she mean by protecting the Princess?.. Does she have a specific goal?! Or a desire for a strong alliance? For as it is clear, the Duchess does not like to impose her desires on the Little Duke, and if her desire was to arrange a marriage alliance, she would gain nothing from the marriage...
Let us get to know the Duchess first and learn what her intentions are...'
* * *
"Didn't I tell you to take caution so as not to reveal yourselves?"
"We followed Your Majesty's words, but the man disappeared... We didn't leave a single spot without searching for him."
The knight bowed his head pleadingly, his body trembling with all its might, and he delivered his report with a shaking mouth; for the man before him is merciless and would not hesitate for a second to cut his throat...
"Continue the search for now. If this man is truly still alive, he will cause a lot of trouble..."
"We follow Your Majesty's orders."
The knights spoke in unison. The knight breathed a sigh of relief and raised his head for a second to see his master, the holder of the highest position in this Empire...
The knights departed, and the Emperor clenched his fist in rage, then relaxed it and smiled mischievously...
'Let us first get rid of the annoying remnants...'
The large painting hanging there contained an image of four people: the man standing in the painting was the previous Emperor with his cold personality, and sitting on a chair was a beautiful woman with black hair as dark as night and bright, spring-like light emerald-green eyes. The smile she wore was warm. She was carrying a beautiful child with a bright face, about a year and a half old, with black hair very similar to hers except for his eye color. With her left hand, she embraced a ten-year-old child who looked exactly like the Emperor. The Empress was smiling warmly; everyone in the painting was smiling, even the cold Emperor...
It was her last painting; it was painted less than two months before the Empress's death. Everyone knew what was hidden behind the Empress's smiling face except for the aura of death. She had suffered greatly after giving birth to the Second Prince, but the intense care after the birth made her hold on a little, but her body began to die slowly, and she had expressed her desire for a final image to bring them together...
Arthur passed his hand over the gold frame of the painting with emotion, and the coldness of the atmosphere added to his terrifying and dark gaze. He gripped the frame so hard he nearly broke it, but he relaxed his grip quickly and withdrew his hand...
* * *
The morning was bright and beautiful; the birds were singing and the sun was warm, reflecting its enchanting light onto Altan's main palace in the Imperial capital...
In the luxurious dining room, lavishly decorated with crystal chandeliers and fine tableware, Elite was looking at her little one who was eating his food, trying to imitate the adults. His appearance was amusing, making Elite forget to eat and focus her attention on him...
"My Lady!!"
"Is there a problem, Rosie?!"
Elite turned to Rose, who sat beside Ian, guiding him occasionally. Rose smiled with a warm look like a motherly figure:
"Shouldn't the Duchess eat her breakfast as well?!"
Ian raised his head from the food and looked at his mother, who had only eaten a very small piece of her food. The child was shocked and with genuine concern:
"Is Mama tired?!"
"Certainly not, why this worry?!"
"But Mother ... is not eating her food."
"I was busy seeing my beautiful little one eating, I will eat my food now, do not worry..."
Elite felt tense seeing her child worried, but she realized the matter and went back to eating her food while smiling at her child, who despite his shyness, did not resume eating until he was sure his mother had eaten a lot...
Rose enjoyed watching the mother and her child, who possessed pure hearts and limitless affection...
The mother who would not hesitate for a moment to cut the neck of anyone who causes harm to her child, and the son who resembles his mother; he was strangely mature for a child who had only asked about his father once. It was not the look of a child asking about his father because he misses him, but rather the look of someone asking about an enemy to take retribution from him...
'If the previous Duke were alive, would the Young Duke be the son who would kill his father?! The matter is truly confusing..'
She went back to focusing on the meal of Ian, who eats well and rarely grumbles...
"Mama, why don't we go to the Elexia palace? I didn't see Danny and Lori well yesterday ... perhaps I'll take Moon with me."
"I am also thinking of going; let's see our schedule today and do it..."
The child became very excited, but Gabriel entered quietly and bowed respectfully:
"Good morning to Your Graces..."
Elite looked at him in confusion, then looked at Rose and Ian, then returned to Gabriel, who was the most knowledgeable person about noble etiquette:
"Speak, Mr. Gabriel."
Gabriel extended a very luxurious gold invitation card with a drawing of a golden sun; it was the crest of the Imperial Family.
She looked at Gabriel, then at the invitation and took it. Before she could speak, Gabriel said with sobriety and calmness:
"It is urgent from the Empress; it just arrived..."
Elite opened the invitation and was surprised by the content, giving it to Ian and signaling him to read it out loud...
Ian left the cutlery and took the letter carefully, and in a clear voice, he read:
[ Good morning, Duchess,
My letter may be informal, but I will fulfill my words at the party, as a friend of the Duchess...
As you know, today is Johann's official entry into the Crown Prince's palace, and therefore Johann had a strong desire for his first guest to be his close friend, the Young Duke. Thus, I wished to invite you today to the Crown Prince's palace at two in the afternoon, and I sincerely hope with a truthful heart that you accept the invitation.
Empress Sophia Orion von Di Roshan ]
Ian looked at his mother with sparkling eyes, and she understood her child's desire.
"Shall we fulfill the Empress's invitation?!"
It was an affirmation more than a query, so Ian clenched his small fists with excitement and looked at his mother:
"Certainly, and I will bring Moon..."
"Alright, I will write the reply and tell them to allow Moon to enter."
"I will start getting ready, now..."
Elite extended her hand to call her excited child, but he left his seat and headed quickly to his room. She smiled affectionately at him.
"It seems children get excited quickly when there are friends."
It was Rose who spoke; Elite looked at her and laughed:
"I haven't seen him excited because of someone like this before."
"It seems he found a friend who shares his thoughts..."
Rose spoke kindly. Elite pouted slightly and said:
"Because of the Prince, my child will forget me.."
Rose laughed then signaled to the servants. The servants moved in unison and cleaned the table in seconds, then a servant quickly brought high-quality paper and a special pen and placed them before the Duchess. Elite smiled at Rose, who had begun to understand her mistress before she spoke, for it was Elite's habit to write a quick reply immediately, no matter the time or place...
"I will write a reply of acceptance, and I will ask for permission to bring Moon with us, and you, Rose, will come with us..."
"Alright."
Rose did not object, for she knew that Elite was very careful about her child and that she trusted her greatly, and she wanted to prove that she was up to the responsibility entrusted to her.
* * *
When a carriage carrying the Blue Dawn crest entered, the gates of the Imperial Palace were opened with a welcome...
Ian was almost hanging from the window while carrying a somewhat large cage, but it was light for its size as it was made of a strong and light magical metal. Elite knew her child and his passion for his private things, so she had prepared the cage as soon as the Griffin hybrid was purchased...
"Ian!! Sit properly, the carriage will stop soon, you might get hurt."
"Alright, Mama."
Her tone was scolding and firm, and despite Ian's pout, he responded to his mother and sat politely, making Rose suppress her laughter; Ian is a very smart and largely mature child, but his behavior today was shocking. Rose was not surprised by Elite's behavior, for Elite loves her child very much but she dedicates herself entirely to making her son a kind and beloved child, and certainly wants to make him stronger and more independent, for she does not want him weak, unable to protect himself if the need arises...
Silence remained inside the carriage except for the sounds of scratching on the cage. The carriage finally stopped, so Rose stepped out first, then Ian, who gave Rose the cage and approached to help his mother. Elite looked at her child, who did not seem annoyed by her scolding. She placed her hand on his and stepped down quietly, then lowered herself to his ear and whispered to him kindly:
"My child is the best."
Ian's face brightened and he smiled while holding his mother's hand. Elite stepped forward accompanied by Ian, with Rose behind them carrying the cage. Elite was wearing an elegant and simple light gray dress, and she had her hair loose with a silver butterfly hair pin, while Ian wore a red shirt, black trousers, and black shoes, and as usual, the silver brooch decorated his shirt...
The area they passed through was wide and beautiful, and the path leading to the Crown Prince's palace was decorated with flowers. They moved toward the entrance of the palace, guided by the servants responsible for that...
The Empress and the Princes were waiting at the entrance of the palace. Sophia was wearing a beautiful and simple spring dress in sky blue, decorated with pink orchids, while Johann wore creamy white trousers, a sky blue shirt, and white shoes. The beautiful little Lydia was wearing a golden dress decorated with lace and white ribbons. The children smiled broadly but restrained themselves...
"Duchess Elite di Altan greets Their Highnesses."
"Ian di Altan greets Their Highnesses."
When Elite arrived, she offered her greeting, and Ian and Rose did the same. The Empress returned the greeting with a friendly smile, and after that, Johann spoke with an enthusiasm his mother had never witnessed:
"Mama, shall I take Ian and wander through the palace?!!"
Sophia felt amazed and smiled affirmatively:
"Take Mia with you.."
Johann nodded enthusiastically and pulled Ian with him. Elite signaled Rose to follow them, so she bowed quietly and followed them.
"Since the children have gone to enjoy themselves, why don't we wander a little?"
Elite smiled politely and looked at the girl who had been left behind, smiled kindly, and extended her hand to her:
"My little Princess, would you like to spend your time with us?"
Lydia's face brightened, and she held Elite's hand and looked at her mother. Sophia felt it was strange, but she smiled:
"It seems the Duchess likes little girls. Was your desire for a girl that great?"
"I desired a daughter in the past, but I am also happy with my sweet little boy."
"Are you thinking of marrying again?"
"I have never thought of it before; I am happy with my life."
Elite looked at Sophia and began walking with her to the inner gardens of the Crown Prince's palace, accompanied by the Empress while holding the Princess's hand...
* * *
They played to their hearts' content and released Moon and Lux from their cages to move freely. They discussed and shared their thoughts and dreams. After playing with the Griffins for a little while, the children handed them to the nannies and began wandering enthusiastically throughout the palace. After they had had enough of playing, they walked around the Crown Prince's palace talking, and the maids and nannies moved back to a safe distance to grant them privacy in their conversation.
"Have you heard of rare magical stones?! The Wishing Stone, the Memory Stone, and there are many types, but they are very rare and the probability of obtaining one is one in a billion. I read about them even in ancient books..."
"I heard of some of them, but I don't care ... what will these stones offer me? I have my mother."
"Ian, you are truly amazing; in ancient history books, many wars occurred to win these magical stones."
"Why should I care for them?! And then, what do you need them for?!"
"Perhaps to get rid of the Emperor without killing him."
"..."
"I may be devoid of feelings for him, but he is my father in the end."
"Why do you want to remove him?! What has he done?!"
"My father is greedy; I want to protect my sister, my mother, and this people from his greed. He would not hesitate to kill me if I were an obstacle in his path."
"If my father were before me, I would not hesitate to kill him; you seem kind compared to me."
Ian smiled with a kind face that did not match the voice and tone with which he spoke, which made Johann amazed, but he laughed and said:
"You are truly strange!! You know? I am not an evil person to kill my father, but I will monitor the matter and decide later."
Ian smiled, having enjoyed the conversation with Johann, then remembered something as he thought:
"I heard that the Emperor and the previous Duke of Altan were friends in the past; isn't it strange? The age gap between them is large and they have no common interests. How did they become allies?"
"The Winter War."
It was not the voice of Johann or anyone standing here; rather, it was a voice familiar to both of them. They turned toward the source of the voice: it was a massive man with black hair and eyes the color of gold...
Johann's face brightened as he looked at his uncle. Before he could do anything, Eric bowed in an exaggerated manner:
"Eric von Di Roshan, Commander of the Orlin Knights and Second Prince of the Empire of Sardia, greets the little masters."
"..."
"..."
..... To be continued ....
Note: For those who would like to see pictures of the characters, you can find them on my Wattpad account or Telegram channel.
@sara_luffy11