They entered the palace gates and were amazed by the sight before them. Streets lined with white marble led to the royal palace towering in the distance. There were fountains with golden showers symbolizing the beauty and wealth of the Berrilan kingdom. Hundreds of colorful flowers spread along the streets, filling the air with a tantalizing fragrance.
Taneaya was still mesmerized by the beauty on display. "It's like a fairytale world..."
Eran smiled. "Hmmm..."
Taneaya looked at Eran sarcastically. "Ckk...An annoying person like you wouldn't understand!"
"How can you say that, I just cleared my throat, not saying anything," Eran protested.
Taneaya only glanced sarcastically at Eran, then looked back outside.
After entering the palace area the carriage carrying them stopped in the courtyard of one of the luxurious buildings.
There stood a man in a red robe. Behind him were two soldiers guarding him.
"Yuwin," Aldrich greeted after seeing the person who greeted him. The man smiled broadly.
"Aldrich, I'll talk to you later," he bowed when he saw Theo and Taran behind him.
"Best wishes to the emperor and his descendants," Yuwin said, saluting Theo.
"Ah..." Theo saluted.
"All honor to the king and his descendants," Yuwin continued to salute Taran.
"All honor to the King and his descendants," Taran replied.
"It is my honor to welcome the holy prince and the prince of the east," Yuwin said, bowing. He dared not look at the two men.
"Raise your head Yuwin, and call me Theo, I'm just a mercenary," Theo said, patting him on the shoulder.
"That goes for me too, just call me Taran, and cut the formalities, I'm not used to it," Taran ordered.
"Very well sir," Yuwin said, then she continued, "Please rest first, we have prepared a place to rest," Yuwin said as she opened the door for the group.
"Aldrich, please escort our honored guests," Yuwin asked his friend. Aldrich nodded.
"Alright, let me take you," the new general said.
As they all entered, Catallina walked at the end of the row, leaving the two of them behind, and Yuwin approached her and bent her knees before the red-haired girl.
"All praise to the only beauty in this kingdom, welcome Princess Catallina," Yuwin said with wisdom.
"Ahh...shhh...your voice is too loud, don't be like that Yuwin, keep this a secret," Catallina said in a panic. Yuwin smiled at Catallina's expression.
"Don't you want to see the King and Queen, they miss you very much princess," Yuwin said.
"I just want to ask you to take me, I've forgotten to walk around here."
"Ah, you haven't changed princess."
They walked down the streets of the area reserved for the higher-ups of the de Golden clan. The atmosphere was still quiet with not too much activity.
"The atmosphere hasn't changed much since I left," Catallina said as she breathed in the morning air, then continued, "Ahh...The air is so refreshing, I miss all this so much." Yuwin smiled.
"You are right princess, this is thanks to His Majesty's very wise leadership. The king, royal advisors, and clan officials are working hard every day to defend this kingdom," Yuwin explained enthusiastically.
Catallina was very happy to hear that, she could judge from Yuwin's very happy expression.
"You are also one of those who never rest Yuwin," praised Catallina.
"Thank you for your praise princess, but I still have a lot to learn from the other elders," Yuwin explained reluctantly.
"You are one of the futures of this kingdom Yuwin, I'm sure in the next few years you will shift your uncle's position to become the young Counselor of the glorified Yuwin, hehe."
"Thank you again for your praise, princess, but you are praising me too much. I am not sure about that, father would prefer to continue being an advisor on the noble side rather than accompanying mother every day," Yuwin explained.
"Ah...You're right," Catallina said with a shudder of horror, "I do miss those two, Uncle Sander's babbling and Aunt Farla's horrible scolding." They both laughed and then remembered their childhood.
"It seems Aldrich doesn't know your true identity,"
"That's right, I was quite surprised to find out that the one leading the attack was the newly appointed general, I never even knew his name or face before."
"Aldrich is my friend Princess, from childhood, he was trained directly by General Aymin. Sometimes I feel sorry for him, you must think General Aymin is very strict and totality, right," said Yuwin.
"Hmm...No wonder I've never seen him, I can't imagine how hard his training must have been."
"Now he's proven that, even with the help of two strong bands, he can successfully carry out his first mission," said Yuwin proudly.
"He led that mission, even the tactics we used came from his thoughts."
"Is that true!? Damn you Aldrich, there's even Prince Taran there who is known as a master tactician, I can't imagine how nervous Aldrich was when he took the lead back then," Yuwin looked excited and proud of her best friend. Catallina just smiled at her cousin's happy expression.
"Do your de Sun friends treat you well?" Yuwin asked.
"Yep, they're very nice. In that band, we left all social positions and degrees behind. Everyone was seen as equal, even with Theo we could all chat freely. And what makes me happy is that they don't question where we come from."
"Thank goodness for that."
"I'm very happy there, they're like my family and my second home," Catallina said with a peaceful expression. Yuwin was both pleased and relieved to hear that.
"Pardon me, princess, do your friends not know your identity other than Prince Theo?"
"There are two people besides Theo who know, Taneaya de Wind the princess of the Satascar kingdom, and Kain de Fire," Catallina replied casually.
"Princess Taneaya is also in the Band of de Sun!?" asked Yuwin in surprise.
"Yes, that beautiful gray-haired girl," replied Catallina, as she turned to look at Yuwin. "What's with that expression of yours."
"Ah, no, no."
Catallina nudged Yuwin's body with her shoulder.
"You like her huh?" Catallina teased.
"Ah..that, no," Yuwin replied.
The palace was in sight, they would be arriving soon, and Catallina would be going back to see her parents for a while.
***
The streets of the royal capital were buzzing with excitement as word spread of the award party. The citizens hailed them as heroes, their names whispered with respect and admiration.
Upon their arrival at the palace, the group was ushered into the grand palace to meet with King Berillan. The palace guards stood tall and proud, their golden armor gleaming in the sunlight. As they entered the grand hall, they were awed by the opulence and majesty that surrounded them.
The King, seated on his ornate throne, his wisdom was a fitting image for the face of the Heirs of de Golden Clan.
The rule of the Kingdom of Berillan had been in the hands of the Heirs of de Golden family for centuries, making them the unwavering ruling bloodline of the region. The lineage of rulers entrusted to lead the kingdom is passed down from generation to generation, and each family member holds a great responsibility to continue their family's legacy and honor.
Since the founding of the kingdom, the Heirs of de Golden have been a symbol of strength and stability. They are regarded as honorable and wise people who always strive for the interests of the people and the prosperity of the kingdom. They are known for their exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to protecting and advancing their kingdom.
Each member of the Heirs of de Golden family receives specialized training from an early age to prepare them to be strong and wise rulers. They are taught about the history of the kingdom and the code of conduct that a leader must uphold. They are also taught various skills and knowledge about politics, economics, and the military to ensure that they are ready to face the tasks and challenges of being a ruler.
When a member of the Heirs of de Golden family is about to ascend the throne, they must pass a series of rigorous exams and tests to prove their ability as a proper ruler. They must demonstrate strong leadership, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to the people and the kingdom. After passing all these tests, they will be officially recognized as rulers and given titles appropriate to their role as head of the kingdom.
The Heirs of de Golden's rule over the kingdom is based on the constitutional monarchy system. Although they hold the power as supreme rulers, there are limitations set by the kingdom's constitution that must be respected and followed. This constitution regulates the division of powers and responsibilities between the ruler and other governing bodies, including the advisory council and parliament.
Over the centuries, the Heirs of de Golden have faced numerous challenges and trials that tested their courage and resolve as rulers. However, with unwavering strength and determination, they have always managed to overcome all obstacles and maintain the stability of the kingdom. They were also known as fair and wise leaders, who always listened to the aspirations of the people and made decisions based on the public interest.
*****