We had arrived at the port of Rivania. My heart started racing the instant I stepped foot on this country. My legs are trembling, and my hands are shaking.
I clenched my fist to halt the trembling, and it seemed to work. I covered my face so that no one would recognize me. It's a good thing the cloak I bought in Calos City was big.
I noticed Correll's walking towards the carriage. When I noticed his eyes on me, I just nodded. He knew what I meant. He then entered the carriage. Correll stared at me as the carriage went by where I was standing. I smiled at him and watched the carriage go away.
A man in a cloak with a fine suit approached me and said, "Fana." I recognized him right immediately. I locked my attention on him. He didn't say anything further after that and headed to a carriage. I followed him inside the carriage.
"My things," I said.
He just answered, "Already inside." I gave him a nod.
"All right, let's go," he yelled loud enough for the carriage driver to hear. The man in front of me removes his cloak, allowing me to see his face clearly. We'll arrive at the mansion in an hour and a half.
"So, how was your trip?" he said, smiling.
"It was fine. Sometimes it's boring and sometimes not. Good thing Correll's with me I have someone to converse with"
"I see. I assume you explored the Calos city, am I wrong?"
"No, you're definitely right. It was the time for their festival so things were absolutely fun there" I replied.
"Yeah, it definitely was." He added
"How was the investigation?" I fixated my gazed on him.
"As predicted, things are difficult to manage. I still didn't announce my presence as intended since I was still working on the shadows. I let our butler go to meetings and events, and he simply handed over the tasks I needed to complete. As of now, there has been no progress." He stated unequivocally.
"Don't worry. We will soon find evidence. It'll be easy since Correll is working on the investigation within the palace. The main challenge will be figuring out how is to communicate with him; he's still not acclimated to magical messengers."
"The main challenge will be figuring out how is to communicate with him; he's still not acclimated to magical messengers." We must exercise caution. We will not reveal our actual intentions to them. They are certain that we have already lost hope and we don't have any intentions in pursuing the investigation"
"When is the Royal Ball?" I inquired.
"It won't be more than two weeks. They've already sent out an invitation. As predicted, they didn't realize we were already here, so they invited our mother." I see.
"But mother is too frail to even attend the Ball, so it'll be the two of us," he said.
"We're not on the list," I said with a puzzled expression.
"Don't worry. If the invited head of the family is unable to go, it is acceptable for the children to attend as a representative of the House. During the entry, we'll have the speaker say that I'm already the head of the family, and you, my sister, will be my partner. Besides, this will be your debut time in Rivania, as the Lady of the House of Portgas. So, dress nicely." He winked.
I gave him a kind smile. This will come as quite a surprise. Just thinking about it makes me thrilled and nervous.
"I will need to attract the emperor and the crown prince's attention. I will need them on my side when I will start with the investigations. That way it'll be easy for me to know about the Kravis family."
"Don't forget, the crown prince is still a suspect for us."
"I know. Let's surprise them" I grinned again.
Come to think of it I don't even know the crown prince's name!
"Oh, by the way, may I ask what is the crown prince's name?" I forgot to ask him that before.
He looked at me with a startled expression.
I furrowed my brow at him. What? Is there something I said that I shouldn't have?
"Are you serious, Fana?" he asked, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Yes, I am dead serious, brother. Why?" Now I'm intrigued.
"Unbelievable. You grew up and lived here. He was our sister's fiancée, and you have no idea what his name was?"
"In a way, yes. I wasn't paying much attention to him. I was angry at the thought of him marrying our beloved sister, so I didn't even look at him that much." In summary, I despised him, and I have no interest in him."
"You're unbelievable." He chuckled. "His name is Visarius Karcos le Rivanias."
What a long name.
"Okay, thanks," I responded in the most boring tone I could muster.
"Don't forget his name" Brother warned me.
"I know. I know" I assured him. Visarius huh?
It had been a long journey. We chose a path that no one could possibly follow. This one is only known to the Portgas family. We arrived at the mansion after a one-and-a-half-hour journey.
Our mansion remained the same as before. Only the setting has changed. The trees encircling the mansion grew in size. It cleverly darkened the region so that just a little amount of sunlight could pass through.
When I got out of the carriage, I removed my cloak. If there was a spy, no one would be able to see me clearly from a distance. I saw mother from the window above our mansion. We went inside immediately.
As soon as I steeped from the door, I saw our servants bowing at us.
"Welcome home, Lady Fana" I stopped. The last time they saw me was I was just a teenager in a state of rebellion.
"Thank you" I responded warmly. I missed them. I saw a woman who wore a dress of the highest position for a servant. Her hair started to have gray highlights to it. Her face already has a wrinkle.
"Nanny" I uttered. She looked so delighted that I could see tears welling up in her eyes. She would have embraced me tighter if I hadn't been their master.
Someone yelled my name before I could hug her.
"Is that Fana?" Fana, my dear Fana?" I looked directly at the woman. She's dressed in a nightgown. Her hair was down, and she appeared to be thin. It was my mum, I realized. Arana y farria des Portgas
She dashed downstairs, like if she was in a rush.
"Mother!"
The minute she reached me, she hugged me tightly. I gave her a hug in return. I'm not sure how I missed this. Her embraces were comforting. I'm starting to feel like a child again.
"Fana. I'm glad you're here. I'm so glad" she started crying.
"Me too, mother," I said as tears streamed down my cheeks. I grip her slender arms with caution, as if they are delicate. I observed her face; there were dark bags under her eyes, wrinkles, and my mother appeared to be unhappy as a result of the circumstances. Who wouldn't?
"I'm back, Mom. I'm home," I informed her.
"Fana, my darling. I'm delighted you've arrived. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment."
I wiped her tears away. My poor mom.
"I'm here mom, and I'll never leave you again. I promise" I said and then I hugged her.
"Alright. My sister, Fana, is already here, so we'll have a modest party tonight. Only us and the servants will be present. Make preparations now,"
"Yes, your Grace" The servants then went.
"Fana, mother, let us go to your chamber. We'll discuss quietly there," Herano said. We nodded and walked inside my mother's room. I helped her cautiously ascend the steps.
We entered Mother's rooms and took our seats.
I took a seat next to her.
"I know you're already aware of what happened to your sister and father, Fana and Herano. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner." I can hear grief in her voice.
I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner." I can hear grief in her voice. We understand," Herano replied as Mom began to cry again. She is suffering.
"Oh Fana. Your Father. There was no day that he didn't think about you. There was also no day that I didn't worry about you"
"Mother, I am so sorry"
"No, it's alright. Don't be sorry. What matters most is you're here. You're home" she caressed my face with her soft palms.
I touched her hands. I feel the warmth.
"Mother, I am sorry for asking you this but, do you have an idea who is behind all of this?" Herano asked.
"Herano! That's not the right time to ask mother!" I yelled.
"Don't worry. Herano hasn't asked me about it since he came. All of this was done by the Kravis family. On the night of the tragedy, I noticed a man wearing a coat with a crow emblem standing outside our residence. I thought it was only my imagination, but I'm sure it wasn't." We simply sat there silently listening to our mother's sweet yet angry voice,
"I told your father about it, but he wouldn't listen." That night, I couldn't keep my anxiousness in check. It tightened up even more when he decided to accompany your sister. The prince had ordered her to return to the castle by midnight. He even sent guards to keep her secure, yet it still happened. They couldn't protect your sister or your father," she sobbed.
At other words, the prince might be a suspect, or someone working in the castle could be behind all of this.
"Fana, I'm terrified. I'm afraid I'll lose all of you," she said, her eyes wide with terror. She was traumatized.
"Don't worry about us, mother," "We will track down the culprit. I vow to you; we will bring justice. Even if it means through blood," I said.
"No, dear, it would make things worse," mother begged.
"Mom, believe me. Have faith in Herano. Have faith in your children. We are not weak. "Believe in us," I said as I stroked her cheek.
"You look and act just like your father" she said with a sad face
She wrapped her arms around me and embraced me hard. I looked at Herano, and he seemed to be thinking the same thing I was.
Mother then went to sleep, and I went to my chamber to prepare for the modest feast we'd have later. My ladies in waiting and nanny were already waiting for me when I entered my chamber. They smiled at me, and as I looked around my room, everything changed. It was already encrusted with gold, and jewels may be discovered within. I'm confident Herano constructed this. Oh, how nostalgic.
"Lady Fana" nanny called.
I immediately hugged her.
"I missed you nanny Lina"
"I missed you Yuli and Rona"
They were crying. They served me when I was still a kid.
"You've grown so much now. You look just like your father" nanny Lina said.
"You are so beautiful, my lady" Rona added
"It's good to be back home" I smiled at them
"It's good to have you back here" they said in symphony
It was already nighttime. They prepared a bath for me.
"My lady, it's time for you to take a bath" Yuli said
I went to the bathroom. They loosened my clothes and assisted me in taking a bath. It felt weird at first. I was used to doing everything myself, but now everything is done for me by servants. I didn't say no; instead, I let them do what they wanted.
"It feels nice to serve our lady again," Rona remarked as she poured some fragrance into the bath tub. It had a lavender smell to it. My personal favorite.
They basically took care of everything for me. I was treated like a doll by them, from the way I was dressed to my make-up and hairstyle.
"My lady is more attractive. When your hair was in a bun, you looked great. Actually, everything looks really good on you," nanny remarked. I gave them a kind smile.
In Havania, I used to dress in simple clothes, and I barely wore make-up or jewelry. I even let my hair down. Correll once questioned if I was a tomboy. He claims I act a lot like a guy. I used to despise gowns and considered make-up and jewelry to be a nuisance, but now I have to wear such things.
I thanked them and proceeded to our dining hall.
I noticed a variety of meals being served. I noticed my gorgeous brother dressed like a duke in a nice suit. This evening, I saw my mother, and she looked gorgeous. She is, nevertheless, always stunning. "Fana, you look lovely" mother commented
"Thank you, mother," I replied.
We then began to dine and have fun with the servants. It was a one-of-a-kind gathering. The mansion threw a feast for the first time since the tragedy happened. My mother smiled once again.
We had a good time and slept with a smile on our faces.