"I know the girl is very beautiful, and you may get carried away for a moment, but to become the bastard child of a noble family as a crown princess? You know that's difficult, Algis!"
Prince Algis sat silently and listened to his father's rejection again. Ever since he had told his parents, the King and Queen, that he had announced his engagement to Adriana, these discussions had become frequent.
"One of your father's concubines is also a commoner? Why can't I make a girl of mixed blood the Crown Princess? Is the bastard child of a noble lower in caste than a commoner?"
"Algis, she won't be like a pure-blooded noble princess. Ethics, character, public appearance. How could she possibly compare to a noble's daughter who has been educated since childhood?"
Another reason slipped from King Emperatriz's lips.
Prince Algis smiled and leaned forward. "Father knows that Adriana is better than those noble princesses. She is perfect. Even Mother is enchanted by her beauty and kindness."
Prince Algis managed to get the impression that his father had given up arguing with him. He smiled and stood in front of the large table where piles of parchment and papers were arranged, and his father sank into them. When he became king, Prince Algis was sure he would have the same difficulty.
"I didn't expect you to lose your love! But you can take Adriana as a concubine instead."
Prince Algis could not imagine Adriana becoming a concubine. The beautiful girl was jealous. Even Prince Algis found it difficult to interact with the other girls at the party. He only wanted to be friendly.
"No! She'll be a queen, just like mother!" Prince Algis was desperate.
There was another reason why he had chosen Adriana. The girl possessed a magic that few others in the kingdom possessed. It was the magic of purification. And its level was very high. Surely, one day Adriana's purification magic would be useful for the people of the kingdom. Although Prince Algis hoped that no trouble would come that would force Adriana to use her magic. He still loved his very much and didn't want to see his loved one suffer.
A knock at the door made Prince Algis turn his head to find his trusted servant standing at the door, looking tense and slightly sweaty.
"I will officially introduce her as Crown Princess on Adel's birthday next month. I hope Father and Mother will write a letter of approval before then and send it to Adriana's family in the south." Then Prince Algis saluted as a form of courtesy. "Excuse me, Father!"
There was no reply. But Prince Algis understood. No parent wanted his child to get into trouble. It was just that from Prince Algis' side, he didn't see any problems at all, just more sides to prove love.
The door to the king's study, which was in front of the main room, was closed as soon as Prince Algis came out of it. Prince Algis' trusted servant followed him with small steps and a slightly bowed head.
When she almost reached the door of his study, the servant who was following Prince Algis ran forward and opened the door. After Prince Algis entered, the servant followed him inside and bent down in front of the large desk, which was almost identical to the one in the king's study, waiting for Prince Algis to sit down on the chair behind the desk.
"What is it, Borneo? You rarely enter the king's study because you don't like the suspicious looks of the soldiers there."
"Forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty, but you have just received a message from the South!"
"The South?"
It seemed that Prince Algis had not sent an invitation to Adriana's family who lived in the south. Although rumors of his affection for Adriana must have spread throughout the country.
"Have they said anything?" asked Prince Algis.
Borneo didn't answer, instead handing him a letter written on shabby paper with even the edges slightly burned. "Is the city to the south having such a hard time that they don't have any decent paper to use?" he muttered to himself.
In this case, when sending out the invitations, it seemed that Prince Algis also had to provide resources to make Adriana's family look worthy of appearing at the state banquet.
Your Highness, Princess Adriana is in danger.
The message Prince Algis read was very short, but it left him speechless. His mind suddenly went blank for a moment, then he gasped and stood up quickly.
"This is an emergency message, Borneo!" Prince Algis exclaimed.
Then he half ran out of his office. He no longer paid any attention to the manners he had learned, directly or indirectly, throughout almost a lifetime.
"What a disrespectful attitude you have, Algis!"
Prince Algis' father looked furious. He stood with his hands clenched and the veins in his neck protruding.
"I'm sorry, Father! But there's no way I can overstep your father's authority to use the Imperial Army." Then Algis pushed the letter with the shabby paper in front of her father. "I request permission to use a battalion of Imperial Knights. I will go to the south to fetch Adriana!"
Prince Algis' father stared at him in disbelief. "I know you love her, Algis, but..."
"Even if Father doesn't permit me to bring the knight's army... I'm still going south!"
"Algis! If you're like this, I'll take the title of Crown Prince away from you!"
Prince Algis was shocked. But he smiled instead. He thought it was something she liked very much. That way, having Adriana would not be any more complicated. The life of an ordinary noble, despite having the blood of an emperor, seemed to be fun.
"I'm going anyway!" said Prince Algis. He bowed his head in respect and then left his father's study.
Vaguely, before the door to the king's study closed again, he heard King Emperatriz tell his subordinates inside to give orders to the king's guards.
"Your Majesty ...." Borneo, Prince Algis' servant, sounded worried.
"We are getting ready, Borneo! Hopefully, any danger that tries to get close to Adriana won't happen. It's only Adriana's worry," Prince Algis muttered.
Borneo was silent, but his footsteps could be heard behind Prince Algis.
They went deeper into the palace, passing through the corridors until they reached Prince Algis' private room. The door was spacious and carved and gilded. Inside the room, various types of luxurious items were arranged.
"Where are you going, Algis?"
Prince Algis did not expect his mother to approach him so soon. Did his father immediately tell his mother, who was in the Queen's palace and took care of almost everything in the palace?
Borneo looked transfixed as he hugged Prince Algis' riding clothes. He gave a code with his eyes for Borneo to come out of the room. After taking a deep breath, Prince Algis turned and smiled at his mother.
"Greetings, Mother! May you have a long and happy life!"
"If you behave like this, I may not live long!"