It is a bit embarrassing but I made mistake on how they address Athaliah. I edited the previous chapters.
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"Pardon me, Your highness, Lady Vilma, it's time for departure."
Whatever conjecture my mother came up with was barred from being known with the knock of Baroness Bernice on the mahogany door. I wish I could delay it for even a second longer, hear the reason behind the confidence Lady Vilma has in this nonsensical plan. To gain any form of assurance from it.
But, I was ushered outwards of the room hastily, my right hand dragged rather brusquely. When the door was opened, I see the white fur cloak I requested. Contrary to my expectations, the one to drape it on my shoulders wasn't the baroness but my mother. I try to snap myself from the delusion of subtle reluctance in her movements, at the end, she patted my shoulder as if sending me to war.
"Don't forget what I've taught you. Athaliah." Lady Vilma utter a seemingly bittersweet farewell, I nearly feel emotional. But the years of abandonment and emotional neglect drains the tears before they could even form. Of course, afterward, comes the threat I was expecting. "You know the only way for you to live a happy life is to success right?"
It is rather selfish of her to say that after putting me on the spot. The blow to my reputation after the rejection from the emperor would probably scare every sane noble of the Vranid empire off. Safe for the lecherous and unwise ones or those from the Creon empire. Except, that empire is rather conservative with marriages, as can be seen from Prince Blaise's attitude.
Upon arriving at the castle entrance, I am greeted by duke Beneger and the eighth princess standing there alongside her ladies in waiting and several servant. Since only two envoys were allowed per kingdom, I came as my sister's accompaniment with only Baroness Bernice coming as our stylist. Though it turns out I am the gift and not a person tagging along in the entourage.
With long wavy locks of sandy blonde that appear soft to the touch and riveting meadow green eyes, she is reminiscent of nature, of earth, spices, and anything soft. It would be no surprise for males to want to escape into her relaxing bosom, I do not understand why they chose to send me instead.
Maybe because I am the disposable one.
"Athaliah, is it true that you're letting me borrow baroness Bernice?"
After I exchange pleasantries with the duke and my sister, she immediately bombards me with the question she has been dying to ask. Her desire to appear more beautiful most apparent with her shining eyes.
I cast a glance at Baroness Bernice, and knew this was the only way for her to come along. With the limited quote of people. At the news of her coming, I heard my sister was so excited, she decided to leave her personal stylist in this kingdom so that lady doesn't intervene. I wonder how she felt and what this spells for Baroness Bernice.
"Yes, Julia. Except when she has to attend to me, she is to be at your command."
Princess Julia is so interesting in the way her expression jumps for ecstatic joy and sulkiness in knowing we still had to split Baroness Bernice in between. But I had no patience to humor her and there is barely time left if we follow the schedule. So all of us each enter our designated carriages.
The queen frowns at me being too close to my sister. However, princess Julia had her own mind and decided to force me into entering the same carriage as her. Thus, the journey was not at all dull. I end up listening to information that I already collected beforehand.
Of the tragic background behind emperor of the Vranid empire, Joaquin I's ascend into the throne. It all began with his legitimate bloodline with his mother being the empress of the Vranid empire, and the dislike of the previous emperor- Javier II- for her lack of conservativeness and manners.
Long story short, the empress was framed with adultery and divorced when emperor Joaquin was still 7 years old. From that point, his life was filled with agony as the new empress from the Creon empire treated him with discrimination as she lusted for the throne. Not long after she bore two sons and one daughter, emperor Joaquin was sent to the battlefield at the young age of 14.
That was when his legend begun. At the young age of 16, emperor Joaquin had begun commanding the troops with his intensely bright mind and honed combat skills with one contribution appearing one after another. Before we knew it, he was falling cities one after another. At the age of 22, he had already won a small kingdoms and 3 states, as well as several cities.
The people started praising him as a hero, especially as he often donated his personal rewards to poorest towns and villages alongside creating scholarships for the impoverished. His generosity struck the heart of his people so much that an agriculture genius that discovered a way to protect the soil from winter coldness, through the invention of a new type of mulch which allowed moisture and heat be retained contributed his invention in his name.
Whether it was true or not, the previous emperor was rumored to fear his eldest son's achievements so much he commanded him to remain in the capital. However, that was just the beginning of his woes. Many of the nobles that have gotten sick of the tyranny of the Vranid emperor and high nobles plotted together with the commoners to use emperor Joaquin to overthrow the corrupt society. Though, some argue about who approached whom first.
In the end, the final place emperor Joaquin laid siege on was the castle he was born in. The battle ended very quickly, yet was brutal enough to cover the palace in blood. Though, apparently only the corrupt nobles, their foolish henchmen, the second empress and his half blooded siblings was slain. As far as I heard the previous emperor was detained in the very same prison he locked emperor Joaquin's mother in.
A very inspirative story if not for the continuation involving me.
Thanks to princess Julia's chatter I continued thinking of the emperor even after we arrived at the inn where we are to reside for 15 days. Up until the night and the following dawn. The shadow of a man I do not know breathing within the confines of my imagination. It was not until that morning that Baroness Bernice decided I was too lifeless and recommended me to frolic and cavort around like my younger sister.
A reality I do not have trouble with considering how most invitations to parties will not occur until two more days.
"Your highness, I heard there is a chess tournament going on in Caelinus teahouse. How about competing to alleviate your mood? "