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"At your service, Your Imperial Majesty."
Urduja appears with a surprised expression as soon as she finds out who must escort her to the capital. She cannot believe it. That person is right in front of her.
Captain Azarius of Diamond Moon Knights is right in front of her!
She scrutinizes him up and down while she is calming herself as she did not expect him to be her escort. That saves her time though. That is a good thing.
Azarius has jet black short hair with green eyes, wearing whitish and grayish uniforms which means that he is really from the Diamond Moon Knights.
Each imperial squad has distinctive clothing designed by the captain of the squad. Just as she sees Blue Rose Knights and Garnet Songs Knights, those two squad teams have a different color uniform as well with the elite knight's crest embarked on the left chest of their uniform.
Urduja snaps back when Gertrude speaks. She almost forgets that Gertrude wants to see her off, making sure that everything is set according to her liking.
"Please take care of Empress Urduja, Captain Azarius," Gertrude says in her earnest tone.
Azarius blinks as he bows. "I will, Lady Gertrude." Then he turns at her after he opens the door of the coach. "Your Imperial Majesty, the coach is ready." Azarius offers his hand to her.
Urduja nods and accepts his hand. She turns to Gertrude. "I will be back before supper. Is there anything you want me to buy while I will be at the capital, Gertrude?"
Gertrude smiles and chuckles. "Your Imperial Majesty, you have already asked me that for the fifth time already."
"It is because you did not say anything you wanted." Urduja shrugs, smiling. "I must go and see what I can bring as a present to the four of you."
She hops on to the coach and gives her regards to Azarius. She looks at the window and watches Gertrude and Azarius conversed earnestly.
'Gertrude really does her job very well. She always cares about Urduja. Perhaps, Urduja adores her ladies-in-waiting.' She has said this to her mind so many times but she can't help herself being so fascinated by their bond. 'She has people to rely on despite being treated differently by her husband.' She thought.
She has observed every lady-in-waiting of the real Urduja ever since she found out that Corinne was in Urduja's body. She envies Urduja for having these people but felt sympathy for she thinks that she stole them away from Urduja. It was never her intention to be in Urduja's body nor steal her ladies-in-waiting's affection.
She removed her hood but did not remove her cloak from her. She leans on her seat and closes her eyes, feeling peaceful for a moment.
"My apologies for the long wait, Your Imperial Majesty."
Urduja peels her eyes open and looks at Azarius who is already sitting across her. She smiles. "Has Gertrude threatened you so badly? You look a little distorted, Azarius," she says, snickering.
Azarius smiles wryly, feeling a little awkward from Her Imperial Majesty's words. "I-I am already used to it," he says shyly. He doesn't want to admit it but he wants to answer Empress Urduja concerning her question.
'Oh, based on his reaction, it could mean this is not the first time Gertrude has conversed with him. Could it be that the real Urduja used to come to the capital as well and Azarius is always the escort?' She wonders for she did not ask her ladies-in-waiting before if the real Urduja used to come and pass by to the capital.
Urduja chuckles at Azarius's answer. "Oh, Gertrude." She chuckles one more time, thinking how hilarious her lady-in-waiting is.
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From afar, Alistair watches the plain coach leaving out of his sight with his arms crossed over his chest and a stoic expression is overlaid on his face. Maximus informs him earlier that his empress has asked for an escort and a plain coach so she can stroll around the capital this afternoon.
"Maximus."
Maximus steps forward. "Your orders, Your Imperial Majesty?"
As soon as the coach is out of his sight, he pivots around to look at Maximus. "Follow Empress Urduja and inform me of her activities later."
"P-Pardon?" Maximus looks surprised about his order.
Alistair arches his eyebrow. "What?" he asks, slightly confused from Maximus's expression.
Maximus snaps back and clears his throat. "I am just bewildered, Your Imperial Majesty."
"About what?" Alistair asks as they take strides to enter the palace. He needs to go to his study room to tend to some matters and to read the reports made by Urduja.
Maximus follows Emperor Alistair behind. "This is the first time you will order me to trail Empress Urduja." It is surprising to Emperor Alistair that he even ordered Maximus like that. Like what is this emperor thinking?
Alistair halts and turns his head so he can look at Maximus. "You seem to want to meddle with my decision today, Maximus. If you want, you can be the emperor and I will be your assistant," he says in his icy tone.
Maximus shivers and lowers his head immediately. "Forgive my insolence, Your Imperial Majesty." He sighs. 'I know that I did not say something to offend him. But a fact.' He sighs again and raises his head to look at him. "Shall I summon Gerald of Blue Rose Knights to be your temporary assistant while I am away?"
"No need. I can manage. Just follow Urduja." He continues walking and waves his hand, not looking at Maximus. He did not wait for Maximus's response.
As he enters his study room, Alistair leans on the closed door. "Why would I even want that wench to get tailed again?" he asks himself, wondering about the order he blurted to Maximus.
He has no idea why he said those things. He just hisses and ignores that thought.
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Urduja squeals in her mind the moment she arrives at the Vlaurora, the capital city of the Lucelence Empire. She already takes a stroll around the shops she has seen while Captain Azarius trails behind her.
She is excited as she really feels like she is a historical movie where Victorian dresses and steampunk fashion exist here. She can almost mistake herself for being a Hollywood artist in a taping show.
She gently taps her cheeks. 'This is reality, Corinne! Get a grip of yourself!'
From shop to shop, Urduja visits them. She halts and almost shrieks in happiness as soon as she spots a bookstore.
"Captured Imagination," she utters the name of the shop, smiling widely.
"This is a notorious bookshop here, Lady Corinne."
"Really?" She turns at Azarius.
"Yes, Lady Corinne," Azairus says politely.
She purses her lips into a thin line, trying to contain the laughter upon hearing him addressing him as Lady Corinne. She has asked Azarius a favor not to address her as Her Imperial Majesty or Empress Urduja in public as she doesn't want to stir up a commotion if her subjects have found out that the empress has visited the capital.
She doesn't want to be a subject of ridicule as she wants to take a stroll peacefully.
Since Corinne is dressed up in simple yet classic clothing, no one can tell that she is from the imperial palace. Perhaps she can be mistaken as a daughter of a noble because Azarius is addressing her as 'Lady.'
Good thing that she even tells him to call her on her 'true name' without even telling Azarius that was her real name, not Urduja. Which Azarius gladly obliges with her request. He understands her standpoint as well.
"I must go!" she says, excited a little.
Azarius nods. "If you need anything, I will be here outside of the shop, Lady Corinne."
"Certainly," Corinne agrees and nods, smiling.
The moment Corinne enters, she immediately asks the shop clerk where to find the section if it is all about mana and aura elements. She gives thanks to the shop clerk and goes to the book section.
She hastily comes to it with a dazzling smile plastered on her lips. She looks for books that are all about lightning aura elements. She also takes books about the other elements to use as a decoy. So that no one will know that she is only after the lightning element book.
Corinne ushers Azarius to pick the books she brought to the coach which he gladly obliges of Her Imperial Majesty's orders.
"It seems you have taken a liking of the books here, Lady Corinne," Azarius says with a smile.
Corinne nods, grinning. "Of course. I enjoyed reading, especially if it will benefit me," she says meaningfully and snickers. "I am famished already. Do you know a particular eating place here in Vlaurora? Something that will give you privacy and fewer people to dine with?"
She hasn't eaten her lunch yet. She intends not to eat her lunch since she wants to taste the food here in the capital.
"I do know some places. I can take you to a delectable yet cozy restaurant, Your Imperial Majesty."
"Please do. Lead the way, Azarius." She nods her head.
They go to Fancy Grape, a tavern that is the one Corinne looking for. Azarius has to lead her that way. She was fascinated as soon as they arrived. They choose the table which is far away from the people who are eating and pick the corner to settle down.
"You can sit across from me. I insist, Azarius."
"But..." Azarius pauses as Lady Corinne arches her eyebrow at him. He gulps. 'I didn't know Empress Urduja is a bit frightening...' He thought. "As you wish." Hesitant, he sits across her after bowing his head before her.
Corinne smiles. "Will you be the honor to order us the food? I am not familiar with the food here. I am hoping for your expertise here in this place," she says the moment the waiter hands them the menu of this food. "I'll pay for our meal." She smiles.
"Very well. It is my honor." Azarius orders the flavorful food he has eaten here. He wants Her Imperial Majesty to have them eaten.
As soon as the waiter is out of their sight, Corinne faces Azarius with an earnest expression. "I wish to discuss some things with you, Azarius. I am glad that Maximus picked you to be my escort. It saves my time to even ask you to see me."
Azarius is confused by her words. "Pardon me, Your Imperial Majesty, but what do you wish to discuss with me?" He can't help but wonder.
Corinne raises her chin, smiles, and blurts out, "Become my personal knight and have a title of 'Empress's Shield'."