"The Emperor?" Lumielle asked, for once, she felt flustered. The young woman could not recollect a moment in which her father had asked for her presence outside of her birthday present. Every year, Elridge inquired what she wanted, and then, he gave it to her. This year, she had asked for nothing in particular. In fact, she had a small event to celebrate her birthday. The maids had all given her presents while the ladies at the tea party sent dresses and jewelry. Winning over the maids after giving them the dresses that Evangeline had bought was a smart move; she was building loyalty.
Smearing icing on her face, her brother had dipped his finger in the cake that he had baked to celebrate her birthday. He smiled, toothily, and she couldn't help but also laugh. Leo and Rowan gave her a present as well; it was a small bracelet that now adorned her dainty wrist. Though small, she couldn't help but feel as though it was far more genuine than the other lackluster parties that she had in the past.
Helio smiled at her nodding, "Tell Aris to come after his swordsmanship lesson, Heinz." Looking at the butler who gave a polite smile and nodded accepting her command. Dressed far more favorably, the female was now wearing an extremely beautiful gown. The bodice being a soft pale pink with sheer sleeves. Flowers adorned the bottom of her dress and there was luminescent embroidery that made the dress sparkle. Her hair had been placed down, flowing down her shoulders and reaching her mid-waist. In the past, Lumielle had always kept her hair short. It was quite a change.
Greeting the Emperor, she couldn't help but wonder what the purpose of this meeting was. The Emperor had never done this in her first timeline or had he done such a thing and she didn't remember? No. Lumielle would have engraved it inside of her soul if he had called her. "I heard that you celebrated your birthday," he commented placing down his papers and staring at his daughter.
Lumielle nodded sipping her earl grey tea, "I did. It was quite a small celebration but, I was quite satisfied with it. I thank the Emperor for his kindness in addressing this one's birthday." She spoke politely but distanced herself from the man that she had formerly pleaded. The man that didn't give her any fatherly love.
"I see," he responded back, "I will be sending for Countess Fleur to educate both the Crown Prince and yourself."
Lumielle's eyes glanced up at the Emperor, "I apologize for my haste but I already sent a letter to Viscountess Lorence. I heard that she taught the daughter and son of Cassiel and as I attended her tea party and estate, I believed that it would be best."
A sigh crossed the Emperor's lips, "I cannot recall Countess Fleur as I have already sent out a letter." She bit her lip somewhat annoyed by the Emperor's words. She understood what he meant, there was no way the Countess could be recalled; the Countess was known for her cruelty. The two children were brutally scarred from the experience and she remembered crying over the lash marks that stained the soles of her feet. She whipped the bottoms of the feet to make it inconspicuous.
"Then, I shall have Countess Fleur teach me and my brother shall learn under Viscountess Lorence. It would be wise for the two of us to have separate tutors after all."
Viscountess Lorence was a kind young woman; known for her love of children, she needed Aris to be taught by someone that he could trust. If the Countess was the one to teach him then it would be absolutely detrimental to his social wellbeing. Due to the abuse that both siblings faced from the Countess, they became more socially inept, and angry. Her brother became a recluse never wishing to leave the house.
"Since it is your birthday gift, then I shall let you make the final decision. I will also have Sebastian Tocqueville teach you magic. Grand Duke Everion said that his son flourished under his teachings," The Emperor stated picking up his papers once more to browse them. She remembered the Duke's son, Asterias. When she was seventeen, his father would be killed by her own. There was poison found in the offering of wine that Asterias gave to the Emperor and as punishment, the Duke was killed and Asterias was permanently burned on the left side of his face as atonement.
Nodding, Lumielle gave him a smile, "I am deeply touched by the Emperor of Endora's kindness."
The silence was overbearing as the door opened and a smile curved on her impassive features. The Crown Prince had entered. He was dressed formally and Lumielle wanted nothing more than to take a picture to encapsulate how dashing he looked. His blonde hair glimmered like his father's and his deep ochroid eyes scintillated with the sun.
Lumielle could tell that he was nervous; adults still scared Aris and as he walked forward and greeted their father. His hand was on his chest, his eyes placed against the floor as he took a set next to her. With ease, she took his hand, placing it on top of his own, "Aris is learning swordsmanship, Your Highness. He seems to be a natural."
Her father's eyes looked at the young boy; they looked so similar that it was unnerving to Lumielle. "Is that true, Aristele?" That was surprising to both siblings as Lumielle caught the smile on Helio's face. He never used their names; he only referred to them as the Crown Prince and Princess. Yet, for the first time, he had uttered the names that they had been given at birth.
Was this a sign that something was changing?
Legitimacy had been a problem for Aris and his claim to the throne. Due to the fact that their father never acknowledged the two children, they suffered politically when it came time to pick a new heir. As such, Lumielle had forged a Letter from God—creating a narrative and marrying the Saintess, Lyanna, to her brother. The people loved her and as such, the matrimony happened in haste; only a year after they were wed, she passed away.
"Yes. I have been training every single day!" Aris said enthusiastically his words still somewhat shaky as Lumielle gently squeezed his hand; she was comforting him but she also realized something. Standing up, Aris looked alarmed.
"I believe that the two of you should have some time to speak alone. After all, I have already taken so much of your time, Father." It was a gamble; she had not addressed him as she had done previously but with a tender familial name. Aris held her hand still as the two looked at the Emperor of Endora.
A beat of silence, "You may leave, Lumielle. I will send Aristele back."
Curtsying, she couldn't help but flush at the sound of her name leaving his lips. How many times would she have died to hear this in her past life? It was all worthless now. It left a bitter taste in her mouth. Her father's love, the one that she had so desperately tried to attain, seemed closer than ever. Turning around, she felt her heels clatter against the ground. The sound stark against the hush of the halls. "Eva, leave me be. I'll meet you outside soon," Lumielle spoke, her words were filled with annoyance.
Evangeline bowed and as such, she was left alone. Her body had found the gardens; Lumielle decided to go to a spot that she had gone many times. When she had finally become the Queen Regent and older sister of the Emperor, she spent a lot of time in the gardens. In particular, he preferred a spot that her mother supposedly frequented. It was a white tree—known for its beauty and cooling effect. There was magic imbued inside of the wood. Her body seemed to know the pathway as she spent hours simply sitting underneath the tree. It gave her serenity in such a cluttered dilapidated environment.
Yet, as she approached, she realized someone else was there. White hair and bright blue eyes—he was on the verge of tears. Quickly, she turned around so that the two would not meet face to face, "Greetings." Lumielle spoke first, he had seen her and there was no point in trying to run away now. They had made eye contact.
Asterias Everion, the son of the Grand Duke, stood before this white tree with glassy eyes. He was absolutely gorgeous. The young boy had white hair, the color rivaling the beautiful wood of the sacred tree. Lashes were also the same hue and his blue eyes were stark—absolutely captivating, they sparkled like sapphires. From her memory, his face had always been masked for after the death of his father, he had been burned. An unsightly appearance that he always covered up. Yet, the boy before her was absolutely breathtaking. He was a year older than she was; "Why aren't you turning around?" He asked, his words were thick.
"It didn't look like you wanted to be seen," Lumielle spoke back. His mother had died this year; a disease that had taken her mind and her body. Poisoning it both. This child had lost both of his parents before he reached adulthood. What a shame.
There was a pause, "My mother used to remember me when she came here. This tree, she came here with Empress Verena." That was right. Both of their mothers had been close, apparently, the two used to play together when they were children. She had never interacted with him in her first-life, only hearing rumors that apparently, he was in love with Saintess Lyanna. It made sense, she remembered seeing them at events and even behind the mask, she could tell that he was smiling. Yet, Lumielle had forcibly sewn her brother and Lyanna together, ultimately leading to the Saintess's death.
"You can cry," Lumielle stated, her words were soft. The anger that she felt towards her father slowly dissipating with this conversation. He was facing her, but all he could see was the back of her body. Lavender hair that fell past her shoulders and a pink dress. She was tall, almost as tall as he was. A slender body with pink heels.
"My father says that men don't cry."
Lumielle laughed, placing her hand over her mouth to muffle the sound, "And has your father always been correct? I'm sure he isn't right all the time. You can cry. You lost someone important to you. There is no one else that can hear you. Just make sure that you wipe your tears when you're done." Reaching inside of her dress, she pulled out a handkerchief. Reaching a near branch, she tied it. "The next time you cry, make sure you use that to wipe your tears."
After finishing the knot, she brushed some hair behind her shoulder, "I'll take my leave. You were here first after all."