"My Lord, we have arrived at the Ophelia main palace."
Crystelle gets down from her family carriage and follows her mother inside the palace.
"Mom, where are we going?" asks Crystelle.
Grand Duchess Aria stopped her walk and faced Crystelle.
"For now, mom will find your father first, and then we will go to the emperor together." You must be a good girl and wait for me here; don't go wandering around; this is a palace, so you must be careful, okay, dear?
Crystelle just nodded obediently and sat on the chair that was near the garden palace.
She just stood there staring at her mother figure as it moved away from her.
Crystelle stared all around the palace with her eyes.
The main palace, the emperor's palace, will be to the east, where empress Seraphina, queen Evelyn, and third princess Larissa will reside.
To the west will be the Crystal Palace, where the crown prince Airel and fourth prince Atter will reside.
To the north, behind this main palace garden, there is Ruby Palace, the first princely residence that has been abandoned and out of sight for nine years now.
"I wonder how the first prince is doing there...how he survives in there without anyone to trust," Crystelle thought as she slowly walked around and entered the emperor's personal garden.
' Woahh! What a lovely garden, full of roses and white lilies; what a lovely view! Ahh, Elly wanted to have a garden like this too! Should Elly ask her father if she can have her own garden when we get home today? Crystelle lost herself in her thoughts.
How did you get in? This is a restricted area. Only members of the royal family can get in.
Gasp!
Crystelle turned toward the direction from which that voice came.
The wind is suddenly blowing so hard today.
She could only just make out that person's face. Crystelle got flustered and ran away from there. "I apologize!"
' Tch! "What a rude girl," said a boy with beautiful, charming ember eyes and shining red hair; despite his charm, his clothes are quite shabby.
The water, oh the water! I forgot to bring it to the head maid! She must be really mad right now! Hurriedly, that boy runs toward the Ruby Palace.
Crystelle pants after a fast run earlier. She sits down on the same chair again and waits for her mother to come.
After a few attempts, Crystelle finally saw her mother walk toward her.
' Elle! get ready. The Emperor wanted to meet you in person!
Crystelle tilts her head 'What do you mean, Mom? Does he only want to meet Elly? in person? 'Just Elly and him?' Crystelle wonders.
Grand Duchess Aria just smiled and nodded.
"Only Elle," she says. Please act like a proper lady in front of his majesty, okay?
"I'm done!" Crystelle exclaimed to her mother.
****
"So, how old are you this year, young girl?" His majesty the emperor, Emperor Albert Einstein Rodgo Ophelia, asked while sipping his tea.
"Elly turns 10 this year, your majesty," Crystelle said, trembling her hand while trying to sip her tea.
'Haha! Don't be so nervous. I am your uncle, so we are a family. even though you used to follow and play with me when you were a child back then. 'Oh, what a sweet memory.'
Crystelle blushes when she hears that.
Please stop remembering that thing, your majesty. I'd become a lady. Crystelle feels so embarrassed right now!
'Haha! okay, okay. So let us concentrate. So I heard that Lady Elle had a dream about her future a while ago. That's why I'd like to hear your response to the crown prince's engagement, so how about it, lady Elle? Ask his majesty directly.
Crystelle, take a deep breath.
"Here we go, nothing!" thought Crystelle.
"I, Crystelle Elera, would like to decline the engagement between me and his highness the crown prince, so please reconsider it, your majesty," Crystelle stated with determination in her eyes.
The emperor stared at her with his sharp eyes.
Gulp!
"Will I survive today, mom?" Crystelle wonders in her head.
"Your brother is so creepy!"