"Presenting the Light of Hope, Commander of the Chivalric Holy Order and Duke of Serene. His Imperial Highness, First Prince of the Scarlett Empire: Jonathan von Scarlett."
The large doors of the extravagantly decorated throne room opened dramatically. A figure in an elegant ceremonial attire raised his head with his exceptionally pale red eyes gazing forwards to the man sitting on the golden throne.
Then he turned his head to a side and offered his hand towards an ordinary-looking lady whose face displays discomfort and nervousness.
His mouth moved which everyone caught his words: Don't worry, I'm here for you. And as he said those words, his hand gripped hers more tightly. His faint smile and gentle words reassured the lady.
Irene along Frederick, Henry, two of the three empresses and unnamed servants saw this scene. For her who had forgotten the answers for each who, what, where, when, where, why, and how question. She felt somewhat nostalgic and a blurry memory pushed her into a stupor.
"Mother, why do mortals say 'I love you' to each other?" a familiar voice ringed in her ear which surprises Irene.
An image of a little girl laying on a woman's lap enters her vision. The mature-looking woman raised her head while caressing the girl's cheek.
She closed her eyes as she reminiscence a few memories. "This single phrase can move the heart of whom you told it to, but when it's not meant to be, the person you told it to would probably be awkward with you.. I think?"
"Mom!" she said with a slightly disappointed face as her small mouth formed into a pout.
The woman laughed. Her hand moved towards the little girl's ear and placed a strand of hair behind it, "Your mother has always heard this phrase but I don't know how those feel after I reject them."
She gasped then quickly sat up, "Then.. Then did Father also said that to you?"
The woman placed a thoughtful expression on her young and healthy face then her cheeks turned slightly red, "Well he does say it but.. ahem, in special occasions."
The little girl looked at her mother with disbelief, "Yeah right." She stood up and greatly emphasized, "special occasions."
Irene stood before the mother-daughter pair and felt something wet stream from her eyes to her chin. She touched her cheek, 'Tears?'
Her gaze was locked towards her moist fingers.. "ene.. Irene... Irene!"
She immediately woke up from her stupor and felt two large hands gripping tightly on both her shoulders. Her eyes were wide showing how surprised she is.
"Are you alright?" Henry pulled back his hands and scratched the back of his head, "I apologise for yelling."
"You should be since.. huh?"
Irene realizes that they aren't in the throne room and their current location is the garden which is meters away.
"Why are we suddenly here?" she asked with a concerned tone.
Seeing how she is greatly concerned and confused, Henry flashbacked to how Irene casted a teleportation spell which costs a lot of mana. Everyone was shocked and if her sudden change of action surprise them, they couldn't even believe that the commoner with Jonas would suffer from the slightest contact of magic.
"We shouldn't have requested your presence in greeting us."
"Brother." "Your Highness."
Jonas appeared with concern showing on his face like he had no intention of hiding his good will.
"I deeply apologise. I was yet to get informed that you suffered from hyperventilation and had recently recovered," he placed his hand on his chest then bowed.
Witnessing this man who inherits the crimson red hair which is a distant trait in the Imperial bloodline and first-born son of a powerful monarch, lower his head in her own two eyes.
This probably is the first time Irene could feel flustered as both the Crown Prince and Emperor converse and act informally.
"No, no. I was just lost in thought so— hence I accidentally used a teleportation spell," her voice dropped at the end.
"Enough of the apologies, I have a question for you."
Jonas looked at his younger brother with the corner of his eyes while Irene pointed at herself. Who does he want to ask and what does he want to ask exactly?
...
"I heard that prince who holds holy mana arrived earlier than we all expected." Allen has a darkened expression on his face.
The boy sighed, "Yes and he's already introducing a lady as we speak."
He rubs his forehead showing how stressed he is. "Why are my arrangements failing?" he whispers in a grumbled tone.