314 year, August 13 , Previously tro
The Imperial Palace of Dares
There were fifteen people in the throne room. They all discussed an event that happened nine days ago, namely, "Esh Rise's refusal from the legacy of his home and the subsequent departure from the palace." Men and women in the throne room argued about what they needed to do. Nine days passed, and the elite Imperial intelligence never found him.
"How is this possible? How does a fourteen-year-old boy manage to avoid elite scouts? "Thought Emperor Eger to himself, listening to the report of the captain of scouts.
"Sir, we believe that he has long left the capital, so I sent my people to nearby towns and villages." - Having completed the report, the captain of intelligence also expressed his assumptions about this. "If we fail to find him in the next week, I am afraid that we will not find him at all ..."
After his words, silence fell in the throne room. Each thought of his own. The heads of the ducal families, along with the marquises who arrived in the capital on his birthday, were silent, but only until the guard who ran into the throne room broke the silence.
"Your Majesty, a messenger has arrived from the city of Zover !!" He cried out, running into the hall, and immediately got on one knee, waiting for the Emperor's permission to continue.
- Speak! - said Egert, seeing how quickly he ran here. "This cannot be a simple message from the count, it is something important." He thought, seeing a printed scroll in his hands.
"Your Majesty, nine days ago you announced the immediate start of the search for young Mr. Esh Rise." - saying this, he opened the scroll.
- The guard of the city of Zover claims that eight days ago he left the South Gate and headed towards the city of Krival, which is located on the border with the Demon Nation. The suspect was dressed in high-end casual clothes and a cloak. Two swords were discovered on his belt: white and gold. Due to the fact that there was a hood on his face, several guards were embarrassed and began to closely monitor him. They are sure that they saw his gray hair and facial features, very similar to those of Esh Rise. - finished reading, he rewound the scroll and handed it to the retinue of the emperor, who, in turn, confirming his safety, passed it to Egert.
- Well, you can be free. Go to the barracks and rest. Said the Emperor, after which, having opened the scroll that had come from the city of Zover, he began to read what was written there. "" There can be no mistake, it's him! "- having read to the end, the Emperor only convinced himself that it was Esh.
After this report, the best scouts of the Empire were immediately sent to the city of Zover, and then to the city of Krival to confirm this information, and if it was correct, they were ordered to bring Esh Rise to the capital at all costs.
"I hope they succeed ..." the Emperor thought to himself, left in the throne room alone with two guards and his retinue, consisting of three people.
* BAM *
The door to the throne room opened, which was closed so that no one would dare to disturb his Imperial Majesty during meditation. The girl who came in was a short girl of fourteen years old with golden hair. She was wearing a school uniform.
" Did the classes end so quickly?" - When the Emperor thought to himself, the Emperor thought to himself.
He specifically sent Alice to school, so that she would not interfere with his search for Esh. He knew that she had long been in love with him, so he tried to isolate her from everything that could give her a clue where he might be. Egert knew his daughter too well. As soon as she receives even a drop of information about his whereabouts, she will immediately run away from the palace and go in search of him.
"We need to calm her down ..." - seeing the face of his daughter, the Emperor rose from the throne and went to her.
- Daughter, how are you at school? - smiling, he asked Alice.
- Good father, how's Esh going? - She asked her father with a tight smile.
Approaching each other, the Emperor looked into the eyes of his daughter and, with a sigh, decided to tell her a little. - "If I don't say anything, she will be furious and will go in search of him herself..."
- Everything is fine, we found his tracks and sent the best scouts of the Empire for him. Soon they will return and bring him with them. - the Emperor answered broadly smiling, to her daughter, who, having heard the words that finally, after nine days, they found at least some traces, was able to calm down.
"They found his tracks!" Now Esh is definitely not able to escape from the elite of our intelligence, this is out of the question! "The Princess of the Empire thought to herself, calming down. Finally, she could sleep soundly, not thinking that he could already die.
⊱ ———— On behalf of Alice ———— ⊰
All these nine days, I was terribly worried about him, the moment Esh abandoned the historical heritage of Rise's house, I, like all the guests at the evening party, were in shock, the only one who remained calm was his father, Edgar Rise .
After Esh gave the relic of Rise's house to his father, he left the room with him. I, like all the guests, stood in a complete stupor, but realizing what was happening now, I ran to his room, in order to convince him.
Running into his room, and seeing that there was nobody and nothing there , I went to the bed on which he slept, and falling on it began to cry. This is the only thing left of him, his smell, and nothing else, he didn't even say goodbye to me, and not only me, he didn't say goodbye to his family! With Amy and Roxy, even with his mother Julia, he just left.
All night I lay on his bed, remembering the funny and sad moments when we spent time together , I even remembered the moment of our first meeting. I was three years old, and ten days before my fourth birthday, my maids helped me choose the dress that I would wear on him , but I did not want to celebrate this day, so without inventing anything smarter, I sobbed out of the room .
- Your Majesty do not run away! - One of my maidservants shouted, namely Casey. She was my personal servant who knew what happened that day.
But I n e listened to her , and still continued to run away from them, trying to get away as far as possible, so far, to me, could not find, but it mu did not happen. I closed my eyes with my hands and quietly cried, continuing to run forward, and then this happened, I, no matter where I ran, ran into something and fell. Opening my eyes and wiping them with my hands from tears, I heard the cry of a maid, to which I was still running after me.
- PRINCESS!!! She cried out, but I did not pay attention to it, my eyes simply could not tear myself away from the boy whom I had fallen on.
- Umm, are you okay? He asked, raising his head and looking into my eyes, on which tears had not yet dried.
- BUT? - Involuntarily burst out of me when I heard his kind and gentle voice.
"He didn't even look at himself, but asked if I was okay?" - thinking about this, I asked.
- Who are you?
"I ... Esh Rise." He answered with a slight hesitation.
- Esh Liz? I asked, with my young and burry voice, wiping my tears.
- Yes, are you okay? - nodding, he again wondered if everything was fine with me.
- Y-yes, I'm okay!! - I declared, blushing a little and quickly rising from him, I handed him my little pen. - I'm sorry to fit into you... - I said, helping him up.
As soon as he got up, he shook off the dust and by that moment the maidservants, who were supposed to look after me, had already run up. Having run up to me, they immediately began to examine me for bruises or sores, but not finding anything, they breathed out and the main servant Casey , accompanied by another servant who helped her , took me by the right hand, and we went back.
"I didn't introduce myself! Please ask what my name is, please!" - mentally I begged him to ask what my name is.
- Wait, you never introduced yourself!" - hearing his voice, I slowly turned around and, making the most beautiful curtsy that Casey taught me, began to speak.
- My name is Alice Kraus, the first Princess of the Kraus Empire. See you again, Esh! I said with a sweet smile on my face, and in my head I was glad that he still asked this. And after I said this, not paying any attention to my surroundings, skipping ran towards the fitting room.
Already there, I, along with Casey, chose a dress for myself. I really wanted to like Esh, so I took this choice very seriously.
- Casey, what color does Esh like? - looking into her eyes, I asked my question..
- Esh? I beg your petition, Mrs. Alice, but I cannot know about it . - Looking at me with surprised eyes, she answered .
- Then can you go and find out from him? - Then, I still did not understand how much a shameful thing I asked my servant.
Casey, listening to me, left my room and went to Esh, a few minutes later she came back and started talking .
- Your Majesty, he likes the bright blue color. - Having said this, she looked at me, and then at the dresses that are here .
- Bright Blue? - Having argued with her, I also began to look for dresses with this color, seeing one of these . - I want this!!! - I cried out and grabbing this dress, I quickly began to change clothes.
- Ho ho, I will help you, Your Majesty. - Covering her mouth with her hand, Casey laughed and came up to me and helped me change clothes .
- You look great. - said Casey, who helped me change clothes .
- Thank! - Thanking her, I quickly went to the dining room in which Esh was with my family.
Entering the dining room and seeing Esh, I did not consciously smile. Having greeted Esh's parents and sister, I took a seat next to him, and we began to dine. After lunch, his parents left, and Esh and Amy Lee were about to go out together .
- Esh ... where are you going? - Seeing how he begins to leave, I asked uncertainly .
- We wanted to take a walk around the palace ... he replied, and when I was about to cry, he came up to me and asked one single question, which immediately removed the tears from my face. - Do you want going with us?
Hearing his question, I immediately calmed down and jumping from the chair on which I was sitting, took his hand and went for a walk around the palace.
Remembering all this now, I feel how my face begins to burn, in childhood I could calmly take his hand and not worry about anything, and now, after all that we have experienced, when I take his hand, I blush ...
After that day, it all started, we met once every two or three months, and in winter and summer, when the capital is very cold and hot, I generally moved to their estate for a month or even two . We spent time together, I'm with Esh and his sisters. We walked around the sea and his city of Aquos, went to the forest for picnics, and even to hunt with his father!
And then everything changed in the seven years he started practicing fencing, a boy of seven, on an equal fight with the elite and the Knights of the strongest army Kraus Empire, and not just on an equal footing, in the end, it is they even overcame one after another ! Due to training, he began to devote less time to me and his sisters, but if he could talk and walk with sisters at any time, then with me, only when I or he come to each other's home! Without noticing it, I began to be jealous of him for training! The servant who saw me at these moments began to giggle!
And then something happened that no one expected. Esh challenged his father to him, and he accepted it, but on condition that it would be a duel on real, iron swords and with a full set of armor, he agreed and a duel began a month later in the capital. A thirteen - year - old boy, against the strongest swordsman of the Kraus Empire! All tickets were sold in a few hours, and the day of the duel came. Esh was dressed in light leather armor and had two swords on his belt merrily, and his father, on the contrary, was dressed in heavy iron armor with a two-handed sword.
My father announced the rules of the duel, and it began to begin. Esh drew his two swords, he looked very cool, but the people who came to the arena began to make fun of him for choosing such a stupid battle style, against an elite swordsman in heavy armor, but he just did not listen to them, strengthening his body he rushed on his father.
* DZIN * * CLANG * * DZIN *
Sounds of strikes against iron armor were heard from the arena, Uncle Edgar could only defend himself, and Esh was so fast that he could deliver thirty beats per minute. My parents and the Esh's family, who was doing business with us in the Imperial Lodge , looked at this fight with surprise in their eyes, and my father generally looked at it with a twinkle, his eyes glowed from what he saw.
Gradually, Uncle Edgar lost ground, and he was forced to strengthen his body with mana in order to somehow catch Eshe in speed, but this was not destined to happen . Esh leaping from his father, took the stand and began to stand his father, realizing his intentions he ran to his son, his speed was so high and that each viewer saw it, unconsciously put his hand to his mouth, waiting for the end of the duel, but the next second, all the spectators with round eyes looked at what was happening at the bottom of the arena. Esh spy evaded all attacks of his father, sometimes fending off, sometimes avoiding them, he slowly but surely began to attack him
* DZIN * * DZIN * * CLANG *
Again, metal thumps were heard, and I could no longer sit still, jumping from my chair, I squeezed my hands on my chest and mentally prayed for his victory , picking up my idea, his sisters also in steel from their seats, and took their place next to me and started to pray. As my father said, this duel, we will not soon see B was conducted in the arena The struggle of the strongest people in all and Empire have been invaded Kraus, and perhaps in the world !!
But everything should end sooner or later, and Edgar's stamina has finally ended, Edgar and Esh have moved away from each other. Edgar's metal armor was all in abrasions and cuts, and there was not a single scratch on Esh, then all the spectators understood who was the winner, but everyone understood that his father would not give up until he fell to the ground from exhaustion or they won't lose their weapons , and they already clasped their hands cross to cross, on their chests, sat comfortably to watch the baby beating, but they were mistaken. The next second, Esh enveloped his body and swords with an element of lightning and spoke , his words echoed throughout the arena, and all people would turn their eyes or their eyes on his opponent.
- You can surrender, and we will finish, I see that I have already exhausted you, the victory is in my pocket. - Having said this, he stood in a rack.
- No, son, bring the matter to the end, I still have a chance! - answered his father, also taking up a defensive stance.
Hearing the answer of his father, Esh smiled and further strengthened his body with an element of lightning. Lightning began to come from him, like from his swords, which, in contact with the ground, raised layers of dust. And then he rushed forward.
* DZIN *
All spectators held their breath and expected that when the dust finally settles on the ground. As soon as this happened, everyone saw how Edgar was standing on one knee, and his sword was lying under his feet, cut in two.
- Fooh ... - Mentally sighing, I immediately ran down to his locker room, in order to be the first to congratulate him on his victory.
Running into the locker room, I jumped to hug him, his sisters did the same. At this moment, I was very proud that he considers me his best friend, but I was also angry that I am just a girlfriend, I want to be his girlfriend or even his bride!
After that, we went back up to the Imperial Box and began to wait for Esh. As soon as he got up, my parents praised him and asked him to greet everyone who came to watch his duel. He started waving people, and then I noticed that all the girls his age despite tons at him with adoring eyes, do not know what came over me then, but I went up to him and took him by the arm began to swing with it. The girls' eyes immediately changed, they were jealous, and then I realized that I had won!
The next day, he wanted to take a walk around the city, and I, asking his sisters to leave us two, went for a walk with him. If, then, I knew that this would be my last chance to confess to him, I would not even think about the consequences, I would tell him everything I wanted and quietly await his reply, but my last chance was missed.
We started walking by the arm, I am with a red face, and he, who did not pay any attention to it, just walked with me, we talked about different topics, about what he and I plan to do next, discussed the duel and just chatted about all nonsense. After visiting the church and praying to the Goddess Aria , we went to the pond in the center of the Imperial Park. There is a small legend that if you make a wish and throw pebbles into the pond, it will come true.
"Please, Goddess of Love, make Esh and I always be together!"- making this wish, I threw a pebble into the pond and we headed under the tree to have a bite.
I had to cook our lunch, so I very much hoped that he would like it, and my fears were not in vain. I salted the sandwiches! The cooks, who told me how to chop vegetables and what to do with them, did not say how much salt should be used, and I poured more than needed, but he did not even pay attention to it, but simply smiled and said.
- What delicious sandwiches. - Having said this, he took tea, which I also made and began to have dinner.
"Why? Why did you say that ... I know that I over salt why you lied to me!?" - thinking about it, my heart beat faster, and I quietly ate my lunch.
After eating, we packed all our things and went to the shopping area. Stepping outside the gate, Esh looked at the slaves, and disgust appeared on his face. Trying to get the guy away from this sight as soon as possible, I accelerated my pace and pulled Esh into the shopping area.
There was a small fountain, and Esh told me that if you throw a silver coin into it, then the desire could come true. He took two silver coins from his pocket and, giving one to me, made his wish. Throwing a coin into the fountain, I guessed the same thing as a pond in the park and, quickly repeating after it, took his hand.
After that, we just started wandering the streets, sometimes looking into nice little clothing stores. So we got to the entertaining area. After strolling a bit around the area and buying street food, Esh stopped at the most expensive jewelry store. Going inside, he, not paying attention to the rudeness of the seller, asked to show him the necklaces.
There he chose me a terribly expensive necklace, which costs fifty coins of white gold. I am sure that he did not want me to find out about this, but as soon as we got home, my mother, seeing this necklace, rounded her eyes and asked where I got it from. I honestly answered her question, looked at her uncomprehendingly, and then she explained to me the reason for her shock.
- This necklace is the most expensive that you can buy at all in the Kraus Empire; it costs fifty white gold coins. Stones that are inlaid in it can store one enchantment in themselves. - saying this, she smiled and clarified. - This is what Esh gave, right?
- Yes ... - hearing his price, I unconsciously tensed. Fifty white gold coins, that's a lot of money! Any aristocrat who does not have his own land and simply lives in the capital spends no more than fifty gold coins a year, and now I have a necklace that costs fifty coins in white gold!
Before the light began, I recalled all these moments, I smiled, I cried, but he was almost always there! Our houses are at a much greater distance, but I spent more time with him than with my father or my mother ...
- " I have to tell him how she felt. We are fourteen years old, next year I will be able to marry him! " - After all that he has done for me, I simply have to tell him that I love him ! I am sure that he has long been aware of this, we spent too much time together, he simply could not help but think about it!
Getting up from the bed and headed for the exit, to my mind the thought crept in, which almost made me races crying Xia.
- " And what if he does not love me? Suddenly does he have another? " - When I started to think about it, my hands began to tremble, but getting together, I wiped away my tears and resolutely headed for the exit . - " You can't think about it! I don't know anything unless I ask him personally! I must find him! "