"The Empress and the Imperial Princess are here!" A eunuch announced our arrival as we came to the top of the wide steps leading into the Royal Court. The doors were wide open. It was a long hall, the throne up north, and tables on either side of the Court. Most of the seats were occupied. The officials were all on their feet, and each bowed as Mother and I passed by them.
Father was not seated. He was standing to one side of the Hall, twirling his scepter. He nodded to Mother and I when we curtsied. I gueseed he was still in a bad mood. No one had probably angered him like that before.
Mother led me by the hand to our seats, closest to the throne. I looked at the people seated next to us. A balding man with a trimmed mustache, dressed flamboyantly, caught my eye. He lowered his head in my direction when he saw me starring, but there was no mistaking that seething expression.
"Who's he?" I asked Ao-ye, who was behind me, along with Hhamir and Thanos, who had somehow gotten themselves into the Royal Guard Unit.
"That's Count Reldral," Ao-ye informed, "he's Royal Lady Alexandria's birth father,"
Oho? No wonder he was glaring at me so viciously. I looked away from him down the table. I should be the one glaring. Alexandria had hit me. I hadn't said a word the whole time she threw her tantrum. In any case, he should be glaring at the Emperor.
Father descended the steps leading to the throne and came to stand in front of me.
"Neiman, rise," he said. I obeyed, rising from my seat, and moving out to meet him. He took my hand and drew me to himself, securing with him arm around my waist, hugging me close. He put his hand under my chin, lifting it so I could look him in the eye, and kissed my forehead. My head brushed his shoulder, my face burning. What was the meaning of this??!! In front of the Royal Assembly as well? I wanted to melt.
"Look well," Father said to the nobles, officials, advisors and ministers, "have you seen well?"
Silence. Everyone was clueless as to what he was aiming at.
"This young woman is my daughter," Father said, as if everyone present were blockheads, "she has returned to Canolita. To stay," he looked around the hall, at everyone, "This," he squeezed me, "is my Neiman. Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss, Imperial Princess, sole offspring, heiress to the throne."
Most of the officials had wide open jaws. I was stunned. So they really did not know? What about the day I had come, and Nildan Laoren had announced to all the citizens with a loud voice? Where were they then?
Father finally released me, and I took in a gasp of air. He looked at me with a warm expression, a smile tugging at his lips. I smiled back at him shyly.
Turning to face the Court, he announced:
"Princess Neiman will be officially coronated upon her return from leading Our troops to the Rashar Plains. Eunuch Wang?"
An old eunuch came forward, bowing to receive the Emperor's decree.
"Begin to prepare for the coronation rites!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Eunuch Wang scurried out at once. No one even said anything. A classic case of information overload. First they had to wrap their heads around the fact that a princess missing for two decades had suddenly returned; and then she was leading the troops to battle, as well as getting coronated!
I was wrong.
An old man from the right side of the court rose, bowing:
"Your Majesty, Your Grace, your eminences, my lords and ladies,"
Father looked him over with distaste.
"What does Minister Shun have to say?" he asked.
"Your Majesty, I am grateful for your permission." He then turned to look at me directly, "are you not Neiman Hakorhi?"
"Watch your mouth!" Mother yelled, speaking for the first time since we arrived.
Minister Shun just smirked.
"Your Majesty, please bear with me. The Delegates are my witnesses in this matter," he turned to the Four Delegates, "your eminences, have you not been to the Rebellion Army camp twice now?"
Aunt Royan rose from her seat.
"Minister Shun," she said, her eyes glinting, "what are you trying to imply?"
Minister Shun smiled doggedly.
"Your eminence, please answer this humble self's question,"
Before anyone could say anything, I left Father's side and walked up to Minister Shun.
"You want to prove," I stated, "that I am Neiman Hakorhi, and not Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss?"
He was taken aback. I smiled, a chill coming into my eyes.
"Let me personally answer your question," I turned around and faced the Court, "by saying, that my name, ever since I was aware, is Neiman Saarhash,"
Everyone looked confused.
"My adoptive parents never gave me their name," I went on, "when I was young, I always wondered why, but never got an answer--"
Mother dabbed at her eyes.
"-- I have always been Neiman Saarhash. Only recently," I turned back to him, glowering, "when my sister became clan princess, did she grant me the clan name. And that," I went on, "was after I was told that I was adopted,"
He stared at me, fumbling for words.
"If you want more proof," I said with a smile now, "there is more." Walking away from him, I returned to Father's side, "every parent leaves an imprint on their child from birth," I declared, "and it is different from any other imprint placed on the person throughout their life. Minister Shun, if I am not Neiman Saarhash, then, how is this possible?"
I closed my eyes and awakened my birth imprint. I had never done it before. Why? I never doubted that Thzarmir and Shathelia Hakorhi were my parents. And also the fact that I just learnt that it existed not so long ago. Birth imprints were used by mages to determine a child's parents, in case of foul play. It was not a very honourable thing to unveil a birth imprint, and was mostly done on bastards. Minister Shun had pushed me this far, of course I would make him pay for it.
I opened my eyes. From my fingers a reenactment blossomed, and I enlarged it for all to see.
Two faces. Smiling. I didn't realize they were that old when they'd had me. Father in the reenactment was at least thirty. They both hugged a swaddled baby.
The reenactment faded. Looking straight at Minister Shun, who had fallen to his knees and was trembling, I growled:
"So you are convinced now?"