Nildan Laoren wanted to make small talk. I found it irritating, considering we were on two separate transport creatures flying at a terrific speed. I would have been sick if I could not control myself.
"Does Her Highness remember Canolita?"
"No," I snapped. I should have been around one year old when my uncle took me away.
"Why was I taken away?" I asked him in turn.
His eyes darkened.
"Arhost Saarhash was denied the position he coveted: Delegate of the First Family--"
"Is he aunt's senior?" I asked. From the corner of my eye I could see my aunt flush red. She quickly interjected.
"Her Highness is too benevolent. Please call me Royan Saarhash!"
"Replying to Her Highness," Nildan replied, as if he had not been interrupted, "it is contrary. Royan Saarhash is the senior. Arhost seemed to think that His Majesty would ignore the tradition and make him the delegate since he had a family first,"
"Uncle Arhost was married? He had a family?" I was stunned.
"Her Highness should not refer to that sinner as Uncle!!" Nildan and Royan cried together. I laughed. Why were they behaving like this?
"Tell me more about the Four Families," I decided not to bother about the fate of my uncle anymore, but then I thought of something, "wait, his family-- they are well, right?"
Nildan Laoren tried his best not to snort.
"I wonder if the family of a sinner can ever be well,"
"No!" I cried. I wanted to make sure every single piece of my family was intact, "at least they're not dead, right?"
"Her Highness is benevolent, just like Her Grace," Savitria said with a sweet smile.
I almost sighed with relief.
"Her Highness asked about the Four Families?" Nildan struggled to get me back on track.
"Yes." I answered.
"The Four Families are the pillars of Canolita. Each Family has their separate duties since time immemorial. The First Family is the Rulling Family. Her Highness is the descendant of the purest branch, therefore, you will be the future Empress of Canolita,"
I squeezed my lips and said nothing.
"The Second Family is responsible for conquests. The descendant of the purest branch holds the position of Commander of the Imperial Army. He is called Elvin Kushad,"
I nodded.
"The Third Family is tasked with protection of the Empire. They are both healers and guards. The decendant of their purest branch is Suran Olleen,"
"She's my sister," Savitria said with a sweet smile, "Her Highness could be instructed further in alchemy by her,"
I rolled my eyes.
"Her Highness is already a successful alchemist," Dan Kushad retorted.
"The Fourth Family, Laoren, is over the matters of the Imperial Court. Most of the serving eunuchs and ministers, advisors and scholars, come from the Fourth Family," he said with pride, "Geralt Laoren is over our Family," he said with a smile.
"How are you related to him?" I asked.
"He's my father," he replied without hiding his pride.
I thought about how Hhamir had said his father was an advisor.
"What happened to the fifth advisor's family?" I asked randomly.
The four of them, Nildan, Aunt Royan, Savitria and Dan, all looked at me in a shocked manner.
I pointed at Hhamir's mount in reply.
"That boy? He's the son of the fifth advisor?" They looked at one another, bewildered.
"Yes," I replied. I looked at Nildan Laoren, "is he from your family?"
Nildan Laoren shook his head.
"The fifth advisor is not from the Fourth Family. He is not even from any noble family. He got his title back when His Majesty, then a Prince, was young. They had been best of friends. His Majesty conferred him a title when he became Emperor,"
"I see,"
We passed the rest of the journey in silence. I was curious as to how then, that the delegates had arrived within minutes.
"We teleported," Savitria said.
Could she read my mind??!
"It is written over Her Highness' face." She said with another smile.
Okay. She could read my mind.
Heck!
The terrain changed. Mountains with snow capped peaks covered the area. This was apparently the great border that separated Valencia from the Southern Empire. Magic user clan or not, it was an Empire as big as Valencia itself. Big enough to reckon.
Nildan Laoren urged the procession to go faster.
We left the jagged peaks behind and arrived at a bustling city. It was built mostly with glass, and everywhere, again, was covered with snow.
Our procession was eye-catching. Nildan Laoren chose that time to announce.
"Residents of the Imperial City, welcome Her Highness!!"
A gasp ran the length of the Imperial City. The transport creatures came to a halt.
Everyone, young and old, went on their knees.
"Welcome back, Your Highness! These surbordinates greet the Imperial Princess! May the Empire flourish under your care!"
I was overcome with emotion. Dressed in a Hakorhi mage tunic, with a poison belt around her waist, a clasp going over her shoulder, dagger strapped to her thigh, mounted on a Flying Phoenix, Neiman Saarhash returned home.