With these thoughts in mind, I walked slowly down the palace corridor. In no time, I arrived at the location pointed out by the servants I encountered along the way. After two knocks on the door, a voice from inside called for me to enter.
"Sorry for the delay"
I murmured as I stepped into the room. Inside, I found the king and Albert sitting, enjoying a cup of tea. It was evident they had been there for a while. As they saw me, both of them placed their drinks on the table and greeted me.
"Don't worry, you've arrived just in time"
Said Albert, looking at me with his typical smile. After I took my seat, a cup of tea was passed to me by the king as he offered it. I really didn't know why, but these two were much friendlier than usual. Not that they aren't friendly normally, but both of them are the prankster type.
"You know, Ren, I received some reports that you were seen with a boy with white hair and golden eyes at the kingdom's foundation festival"
Said the king, keeping a sharp gaze on me. As I heard these words, I struggled hard not to choke on the tea. After placing the cup on the table, I looked at the king with a cautious look in my eyes. It's not like I wasn't expecting him to find out about my outing with Emi, but it's really surprising that he found out just a day after the festival.
"Where did you hear that?"
I asked, staring at the king. In response to my question, the king let out a small laugh and leaned back on the sofa in front of me. Albert continued to sip his tea as if nothing was happening, which honestly made this whole situation even stranger.
"Does it really matter? Look, I'm not scolding you for it; in fact, thank you for doing for her what I couldn't. But I was genuinely hurt that you didn't trust me"
He said. Hearing his words, I just raised an eyebrow in doubt.
"If I had asked for your permission... would you have allowed it?"
My words, instead of sounding like a question, seemed more like a doubt. The king promptly responded.
"Of course not. Though I'm thanking you, I am still the king. If Emi appeared at the festival, I'm sure the people wouldn't be able to fully enjoy... but, no one said anything about a boy with a similar appearance"
Said the king, his smile now making perfect sense. With these words, I finally grasped what he was trying to say, so upon hearing his calm tone, I couldn't help but ask.
"So... you're not angry with me?"
I asked cautiously while discreetly looking at the king. Hearing my words, he chuckled softly as he brought the cup to his lips.
"Why would I be? In fact, I'm grateful. Thanks to you, Emi got to experience the life of a normal person, even if it was for a short while. I did too when I was younger, just like Lucas and Albert. Among princes, leaving the castle is quite common and happens frequently... but it's a bit different with princesses, especially with Emi, who is known almost throughout the entire continent"
He said. Hearing his words, my first thought was that they made some sense. It's not because he forbids Emi from going out that he doesn't want her to, besides.
(The way Emi is, I'm sure she never protested against it, since that's the kind of person she is)
With this thought, I brought the cup to my lips.
"But my daughter's virginity is another story"
The sudden words caused me to spit out all the contents I had just drunk. It looks like I'll be staying here for a while longer.
***
"So... you did it?"
Faced with her older sister's question, Emi could only look incredulously at Asia, who stared at her with excitement and curiosity in her eyes.
"What exactly are you talking about?"
Emi asked with a raised eyebrow. Hearing her little sister's words, Asia couldn't help but feel happy for her, but at the same time, a pang of sadness hit her. Her little sister had entered the adult world before her.
"Asia, please don't tease your sister"
A third voice echoed in the room, calm and serene. It was Emi's mother, the queen. After her words, she continued.
"Darling, we know that you and Ren had your first time yesterday"
The words took Emi by surprise; within seconds, her cheeks turned completely red. The queen, noticing her daughter's reaction, put a warm smile on her face.
"Did it hurt?"
Asia, on the other hand, seemed even more excited by the conversation. This time, Emi's mother didn't say anything, which indicated that she also wanted to hear the story, but didn't ask Emi to tell it, making it clear that it wasn't an order.
"... It hurt a bit at first, but Ren was very gentle and careful, so I hardly felt any pain... to be honest, I thought the first time would hurt a lot more"
As Emi shared her experience, Anissa, Emi's mother, could only look at her with a warm smile on her face. She couldn't be happier to know that her daughter's first time was special for her, after all, you can't have that experience more than once.
Anissa continued to watch Emi with a smile on her face as she recounted all the events, from the dance to the moment when some girls declared themselves to Emi, thinking she was a girl. Then she got to the part where Emi proposed.
"Did you propose first? My little sister really left me behind"
Arisa commented with a sad look on her face. Watching her two daughters, Anissa turned her gaze to Emi with a warm smile and asked.
"Although it's a bit late to ask this, Emi, you really do love Ren, don't you?"
Hearing her mother's words, Emi replied with a smile on her face.
"Yes, I love him very much"