"Addressed to my Princess Selestia,
I have been lodging in the Emperor's guesthouse for two days. The moment I arrived, I was asked to acquire his guesthouse, for he was occupied with his blessing conference with the other ministers and rulers of many nations. An Imperial guard in the Palace told me that the Prime Minister will be seeing me after two days, for the Emperor will also not be attending. I felt like he just doesn't seem to want to see me. Or that he doesn't have much interest in Celeste, at all.
On my first day in the capital city, Cesarius, I learned something bewildering about the Emperor and the caves that possess Thuhelda's gold. The second was today, I learned that the guards that patrol the whole Empire are slaves from nations Thuhelda conquered. The process of delivering letters is stringent, so I will not be specifying those I've discovered.
Hoping this letter finds you well,
Grandel LeCelestine
Duke of The Valley, Celeste"
Selestia smiled as her eyes read the letter. "Grandel is doing pleasantly well. My question is, will he return to specify this information unscathed?" she chuckled.
"Milady, you seemed to be in a good disposition." Cecilia, her personal maid, smiled.
"Well, of course…"
Later then, her decent disposition was bothered.
"Milady, I have come to inquire." Duke Barlock bowed.
She rolled her eyes and her forehead creased as she looked at the man. 'What does he want? Of all the things, I hate to see him in my presence. Could it be that he's looking for his son?'
"Duke Barlock, a pleasure to see you…" she faked a smile. "…not." she muttered.
"Pleasure is all mine, milady…" he smiled back, though he was genuine.
"If I would guess, you are looking for your son, are you not?"
"Indeed, milady. Grandel has not returned for five days now. No one knew where he was, the people of the capital city told me that he was setting foot in the city of Shyna. I reckoned you know where he was since you two are always with each other."
'People did care where he went. I thought no one cared much about the Duke of the capital. Yet, they even knew where he was headed to. I asked him to take the route in Shyna, though it could only be a two-day journey to reach Thuhelda if he goes through the main gate, the route in Shyna was the best one. The main gates consist of many tattler guards, certainly, they'll tell the King who goes in and out of the walls. But Shyna on the other hand, the guards that patrols are all drunks, we could be invaded anytime because of them, they couldn't care less who goes out and who goes in the kingdom; thus it made it easier for Grandel to pass. Did the Duke figure that Grandel is leaving Celeste?'
Selestia feigned a subtle chuckle, "I've sent the Duke, Grandel on an important matter on behalf of me." Selestia then acted as if she were crammed with many crises. "You see, the guards in Shyna had been very irresponsible of the gates that lead out to Celeste. Because of them, we could be easily invaded, I worried greatly for the harvests, and what if other nations tried to take the chance and conquer Celeste? I could not bear to endure seeing that. So, I thought before I go and marry Thuhelda's Emperor, I might correct a few other things that it may be my last service in Celeste while I am still here. But I was too busy preparing for my marriage that I can't even set off outside the Palace, and thus, I let Grandel come in my stead. I'm afraid he'll take as long as three weeks in Shyna."
The Duke believed, always, he would. Duke Barlock was always certain that Selestia's words were always credible, generally, it was the reason he was easily fooled by the Princess.
"Very well, Your Majesty. I'm gleeful that he was safe. I for once thought you've sent him to step foot outside Celeste but truly, I was a fool. A benevolent princess such as you would not be feeding a noble in danger outside the kingdom." he smiled.
'Well, maybe I wasn't benevolent after all, Duke Barlock. Your son had already stepped foot outside Celeste and is lodging in Thuheldian hospitality…' she thought.
She wished she could say those words, but she shouldn't be, instead, she just gave a smile.
"Then, I will be visiting my son in two days."
"Very well…"
"May you have a nice day, milady?" He greeted farewell.
Finally, when Duke Barlock was out of sight, Selestia gritted her teeth. Her brows furrowed.
"I didn't know it'll take more expenses for this…"
Cecilia looked at her, she knew about what Selestia planned with Grandel, she was there. But it was unbeknownst to her what Selestia had truly planned.
"Cecilia…" Selestia called.
"Yes, milady?"
"Find Enric, this instant, and bring him to me…"
"Right this instant, milady…" she curtsied and left.
Selestia walked around the garden whilst she waited for Cecilia to return with Enric. Enric is Selestia's dog or so she thought he was to her. He was overly obsessed with Selestia that he'd praise her and do even the most unacceptable thing ever done. Enric was also capable of treason if Selestia ask him to.
'Enric had quite the resemblance with Grandel, if he stands in as Grandel, the Duke Barlock will not be suspicious of me. If this becomes successful, Barlock wouldn't have to beg me to tell him where his son is.'
"Greetings, Selestia…" Freiya stood behind her.
"What disrespect, Duchess Freiya…" she swerved around and viewed her. "You dared call me, a princess her name? You do not understand your standing, do you?"
"Apologies, princess…" she tauntingly tried to speak her title, it made Selestia even more vexed.
"I was just worried, somehow. You have been worked up lately. Is it because you're anxious about your marriage with the Emperor?" she giggled but to Selestia it was a menace.
"It is none of the business of the duchy."
"Then, maybe you were terrified of him?"
She glared.
"I know you've always wanted to kill me, Selestia." she smiled, her eyes depicting a loving shine within them. "But then you can't. For many years, you vied to earn the people's trust because you were afraid I, a duchess can overthrow you from your position. If you kill me, you would commit treason against the duchy, the people, and the Celestial Constitution. You always wanted to kill without the need for consequences, am I right?"
"What are you attempting to do, Freiya?"
"Take me with you, to Thuhelda…" she replied, and it vexed her even more.