"Oh? I sense My Lady! I am off to greet her!" said Walliams as he disappeared, leaving only a shadow move away quickly.
"Please do excuse Walliams. He is the most excitable one in the group," said Josaf calmly to the guests.
"No need to be so polite, Head Steward Josaf. The younger ones tend to be like that," said Wesley as he eyed the stiff servant beside him whose eyes were brightly shinning. "The whole Palace is buzzing with news about the marriage. The King's edict will be presented to your young Lady as soon as she gets here."
"I see," said Josaf as he saw the young servant whom he assumed would read the edict while Wesley stood up and went to the window that led to the front.
**********
"Welcome home, Lady Marchioness," cried out the servants all lined up in front of Elizabella while she inspected them.
"Where is Steward Josaf?" asked Elizabella as she walked down the path and Walliams entered her shadow.
"My Lady, the Head Steward is currently entertaining important guests in the parlor. Judging by their vehicle, they are probably from the Palace," said a servant as he walked behind her and she briefly glanced at the parked vehicle in the driveway, making her stop.
"The Palace? What do they want?" she asked.
"We assumed something with the late Baron, My Lady," said the same servant as Elizabella pondered before continuing into her home.
"Walliams, stay with me in shadow form and listen in on our conversation. If they mention anything about your brother, I want you to quickly take him back to your parents where he will be safe," she instructed while Walliams felt his heart stop for a moment.
"Do you think they will try to take him by force?" he asked hesitantly.
"I am not certain, but the student who saw him was the Crown Prince. I hope I am just overthinking this..."
**********
"Welcome home, My Lady," said Josaf and the two servants with a bow or curtsy when Elizabella entered the parlor.
"Hello mother, father. Right. I heard that we have guests. May I know, who has graced our humble abode?" said Elizabella with a lovely voice and with a hint of authority, making the two guests stand in awe of her demeanor.
"Young Lady of the Harkins Family, may I first say that it is an honor to finally meet you face to face. When the late Baron was alive, I had the grand pleasure to witness the pure and brotherly relationship between him and the late King," said Wesley as he and the servant approached her before bowing to her while Josaf took her school bag from her burden. "My name is Wesley Gaines and I am the Head Steward for the Royal Palace. This young one next to me is named Miquel Weluk and is a servant from the Royal Palace."
"I see," said Elizabella with a polite smile and motions for them to sit in the free chairs around her stiff aunt and uncle. "Please, sit, the two of you."
"Thank you kindly," said Wesley as he notices that Josaf had placed the school bag on a desk and came back to pour her some tea as she sat gracefully on a chair.
Wesley thought that the mother-daughter pair were polar opposites. One was fidgety and even awkward, while the other was a perfect lady as she delicately picked up her cup of tea and took a sip. Even Miquel admired her from the moment he saw her walking down the path, followed by a trail of servants. She seems used to it, was their conclusion and felt deeply elated.
"Forgive me if my staring is rude, but I cannot seem to find any similarities between you and the late Baron, let alone your mother. I must admit, your looks are a higher degree than your elders," said Wesley as he noticed the Baroness stiffen more and turn paler as the young girl continued to nonchalantly sip her tea.
"It is true, my physical similarities with them are minimum at best; however, I had been told that I look more like my great-grandmother. I cannot control who in the end I will look like the most," said Elizabella as both her aunt and uncle relaxed a bit.
"I see. It is true that we cannot control certain fates," said Wesley as he was impressed with the young Lady who did not seem to faze easily. "Well, shall we continue with the matter at hand?"
"Please continue, Head Steward Wesley," said Elizabella as she placed the cup of tea to her lips before taking a small sip and bringing the cup down on the table.
"Before we begin, I must inform you that the King has given an edict to be read to the right person. Would it be possible, to test your blood relations with the late Baron and your mother?" said Wesley cautiously while observing the two parties' reactions. "Forgive my rudeness, but this matter is very sensitive. The edict can only be read to the granddaughter of the late Baron."
"How will you test our blood relations?" asked Elizabella casually as if the one who had to give some blood was not her, while her aunt froze on the spot.
"The late King had given the late Baron a Bloodstone for him to record his blood. Only his descendants can make the translucent stone shine red and anyone else would turn it black. Your mother also must do so as well so the edict can be read to the intended parties," said Wesley as the Baroness bowed her head timidly but would steal glances at Elizabella, while she had taken her cup for anther sip before placing her cup down and gently dabbing her lips dry.
"This is nothing too difficult. I accept your terms. Mother dearest, would you like to go first or shall I?" stated Elizabella with a light smile and gentleness in her voice making the Baroness calm her nerves a bit.
"I-I would like to go first," said the Baroness while Wesley presented her a small dagger and a large Bloodstone with a hint of red.
The Baroness carefully cut her finger and squeezed it for a drop. The red drop of blood fell on the large stone that could be the size of fist. It soon changed colors, from a pale red to a bright red, making the two Palace servants nod their head.
They looked up at Elizabella as it was now her turn. Josaf had taken the small dagger and wiped it clean before presenting the dagger to Elizabella who took it gracefully.
Seeing this, the two Palace servants couldn't help but be in awe of their clear, distinct differences that the two Ladies had in the household. Wesley smiled inwardly as he thought it was for the best.