Inside the corridors of the main Crimson Palace, a tea party is being held with the three wives of the emperor as its only attendees.
Relaxing silence is a must to get rid of the stress of power struggles, palace matters, continental matters, marriage matters and empire matters. And with a moment of peace, tea is the best match.
The first empress, Aurelia Auguste von Scarlett. Related to the Auguste bloodline, a bloodline with a history of heroic generals and have groomed three empresses.
Aurelia has a noble demeanor amidst her relaxing presence and calm face. Her bright blonde hair is tied into a bun that perfectly matches her shimmering blue dress and together with her outfit, she's wearing a few jewelries like a pair of earrings, a necklace and her two invaluable diamond rings.
Her narrowed blue eyes that has a hint of purple hue and bright sparkles just like the starry night sky. Aurelia enjoyed the scent that the tea emitted then suddenly opened her eyes by a few millimeters, "I wish we could enjoy this peaceful moment every single day."
The simple third empress sneaked a glance at Aurelia while taking a small sip of her tea. "And never fight for something useless like the throne," the slightly terrifying second empress replied with a sarcastic tone.
The three women giggled. Their servants would most likely be shocked to have these three mature women especially the second empress, to express genuine happiness.
...
Other than a relaxing tea party event, the young royal descendants are able to stroll their own home without accidentally meeting their older siblings and getting a threatening glare in return.
"What is my mommy doing?" a young little girl asked a maid. She had a fluffy white teddy bear which has a pink ribbon on its neck, in her arms.
"Princess," the maid lowered her head and placed her hand on her chest, "Her Majesty is currently in a private event."
"Oh." She had a glimpse of a red-haired boy, then she had an idea appear in her head. The beautiful young princess ran towards where the boy was, before she suddenly stopped running and turned around. "Tessie, I will be going to my cute little brother," her usual bright atmosphere became freezing cold, "I don't want any disturbance, understood?"
Even if the little princess wanted to be threatening, she sounded like a young lion cub who tried to roar but instead meowed. So the maid, Theresa, wasn't too terrified and nodded immediately.
Arabella ran towards her little brother. Evan or Flavian has currently avoided a tragedy that could have ended his life if it weren't for his poison resistance.
"So.. brother is coming home, early than expected?" Evan asked his butler with his hoarse voice.
"Yes Your Highness," his butler paused and sneaked a glanced at the approaching Arabella, "It seems that he had successfully done his mission and returned without any problems."
Evan sighed before taking an arrow from a quiver on a near table. He positioned the arrow's destination to an exact bullseye, "Without any problems.."
He released his grip on the arrow and shot it almost to the middle of the target. Evan showed disappointment on his face before placing the bow on a table.
"Whoever tried to harm me is clearly stupid. There were four princes, one died and one is my brother and I have three older sisters."
"Don't forget your two other sisters, Your Highness," the butler said right after Evan finished talking.
"Illegitimate children are looked down upon, not that we are racists but illegitimate offsprings are proof of mistakes," Arabella interrupted the butler.
Evan looked at his older sister who is the sole daughter of the third empress. His eyes twitched before he placed a charming smile on his face as he lowered his head and placed his hand on his chest. His butler then followed.
"My beloved older sister has come to visit me. To what do I owe this honor?" Evan offered Arabella a seat.
She then sat while he pushed the chair a bit afterwards he went to the chair on the opposite side and sat. "Flowery words as always. Don't you mind cutting those thorns on you, pretending to be a rose with thorns is unfitting for a man."
A few maids who were at Evan's disposal, reappeared with multiple things in hand. The first maid carefully placed empty two teacups on the table. Another maid had a bow while a third maid had a quiver filled with sharp-tipped arrows.
While a maid poured tea on their cups, Evan and Arabella began a double-edged conversation.
...
At the same time; Frederick, Henry and Irene have also started a serious conversation. Unlike a peaceful or complicated tea party where two or three people talk about miscellaneous topics.
Frederick leaned on his varnished spruce table with his hands supporting his body weight. While Henry and Irene sat at two different sofas that face each other with a glass table in between.
"So, father. What do these two separate letters mean or what do you want to tell me?" Henry asked while he had two white papers with words written on it, in his two hands.
"Can't you tell, Henry?" Irene asked while crossing her legs and leaning on the sofa as she read the envelopes of the two papers.
"What?" He asked with an impatient tone.
"One is from Monique.. Aveline? And the other is from a relative of yours."
Frederick noticed how Irene got confused with the pronunciation of a noble surname, "It's pronounced as Aveh-leen, not A-vee-leen."
Irene looked at Frederick and saw him avoid her gaze. Suddenly she sighed.
"Lady Aveline's letter is expected but I have no knowledge about having an uncle. When did my grandfather who only had one son, ONE son and several daughters, now has TWO sons?" Henry showed his visible concern for his family tree.
"Then the woman who conceived your uncle has the best stealth— hiding skills that rival an occupation related to that skill," Frederick got infected with his son's confusion, "Alright, can you calm down? I don't even know what I meant."
"..." The three suddenly became quiet, creating an awkward silence.
...
....
.....
Irene suddenly stood up from her seat and approached the door. Her actions made the father and son raise their brows.
"What are you doing?"
"Where are you going?"
Irene winked her right eye before opening the door of Frederick's office. She greeted the soldiers guarding the door and escaped the harmless lions' den.
Frederick sighed before looking at his son who is looking at the door, "Why don't you follow her? This whole palace is like a maze for someone who came here for the first time, we don't want the Holy Empire's Celestial Saint to get lost."
Henry turned his head and immediately nods to his father and followed Irene. Frederick shook his head as Henry left his office, then he approached the glass table and took his so-called brother's letter.
"From," his eyes glowed viciously green, "Abaddon.."
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[A/N: Just wanted to clarify before anyone gets confused about Irene. She lost her memories, encountered some idiots, was timid but she trusts Henry and because of him, Irene trusts whoever he trusts.]