"Where are we going father? " the crowned Prince of the Salthon Empire prince Lilac said to his father the Emperor Christian who stared at the road ahead. Christian simply smiled and said " Just to meet an old friend. "
Lilac adjusted in his seat as he thoughts run back to the love of his life a a common village girl called Morticia Gallubin. Just the night before he had promised her marriage and she asked for a bride price of sixty two acres of land in Tallinn Duchy. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration as he thought of ways to breach the request to his father the Emperor as he never like Morticia and her family.
The Gallubins were famous fraudsters in the Duchy of Tallinn and their third daughter Morticia had been accused of marrying men inorder to abscond with their wealth leaving them penniless. However, the Emperor's son Lilac refused to believe the accusation asserting that they are just mere rumours because of his blind love for her.
"My Lord, we're arriving at the palace gates", the coachman said to the Emperor as he halted the carriage in front of the gates of a big white castle. The Emperor smiled at the white gates of the castle, the guards who were stationed at the gate bowed and opened the gates to let them in. The road ahead was filled with beautiful trees, white and black sculptures.
"So they were aware of our visit?", Lilac asked as he gazed at the sculptures of horses as the carriage passed them.
"No, the crest on the horses'", Christian replied in a flat tone as he turned to the beautiful lady who was quietly seated beside him all along.
"It seems like the girl has great taste", Christian said in a whisper that only he and his Second Empress Lilian could hear him.
"I've known the girl since she was little, she's really a gifted bundle of joy", Lilian who also happens to be Lilac's mother said in a tone full of adoration as she viewed the passing sculptures.
"Each of these sculptures were handmade by her, the white ones signifying her happy moments and the black ones signifying the sad", she concluded pointing at the white and black horse sculptures.
It seemed as though there were more white horses than black but the one that stood out the most was the last sculpture before the palace. It was a sculpture of a black mighty horse with two heads and it stood on its hind limbs holding a sword in its forelimbs. The horse seemed to be agitated as it stood in a defensive stance.
"That one looks angry", the Emperor commented in a hushed, but concerned tone. The warm smile on the Empress' face instantly dissipated as she recollected the events of that particular day. She wiped the tears in her eyes quickly before they could come out.
"She made that one the day after her mother's passing, Regina. Her mother was my best friend", Lilian said sniffling in her tears. She would never be able to forget that day. The day the lowly Duke of Ganesa killed his wife because she caught him with her sister, the day the former Duke of Ganesa was beheaded for his heinous acts, the day a ten year old Saxena carved her heartache under the pouring rain and ended up with a long term ashmatic condition that lasted till date.
"My Lord, we've arrived", the coachman said as he alighted his stallion and drew out a red rug along the path to the palace's main entrance. The coachman bowed his head as the Imperial family of Salthon Empire alighted their carriages accordingly.
Firstly, it was the Emperor, Christian Zoltan Salthon. A servant pulled up the rear end of his long red and white cape accompanied by a beautiful designer white suit with gold embroidery and gold pocket assessories.
Secondly, was the First Empress, Marianna Julie Salthon. She and her two daughters Annette Julia and Anna Julianne wore light blue royal gowns with silver embroidery and sapphire hair and ear assessories. By now the royal family of Ganesa were standing at the entrance with big smiles.
Thirdly, was the Second Empress Lilian Rosary Salthon and her two sons, Lilac Christian and Luis Risus Salthon. They wore cream coloured royal attire with gold embroidery and gold assessories. The Empress is the Emperor's youngest and most beautiful Queen as she was still in her late thirties.
And lastly, was the Emperor's concubine, Amita Silesia Edine who was about to wed the Emperor based on an agreement between the Empire of Salthon and that of Rablio. She was the first daughter of the Duke of Edine in Rablio and she is already bearing the Emperor's child which has sealed the agreement.
"Welcome, Your Majesties; Edine", the royal family of Ganesa courtesied with Duke Rodney Saheb Ganesa ahead of the family. The Imperial family of Salthon nods their heads in acknowledgement of their gesture.
"Please come in", Saheb said as he and his wife Duchess Tanisha Millis Ganesa ushered the Imperial family inside. Inside the palace was just as beautiful as the outside, there seemed to be some kind of balance between the exterior and the interior of the palace. Just like the exterior, the interior walls were completely white.
"Your palace is beautiful", the First Empress Mary said in a weary smile on her lips with her daughters holding her from both sides.
It was common knowledge that the health of the First Empress had deteriorated over the years and her condition has become so serious that one could say she was one foot in the grave. Her daughters who were already engaged vowed to stay by her side till her dying day.
"Heh you have Saxena to thank for that. She was the one in charge of renovating the palace after our parents... demise", he said in a casual tone but one could notice a little hint of sadness he tried to hide. Lilian smiled sadly in understanding of his feelings.
"Speaking of, were is my little Rosa?", Lilian asked in a playful tone and got a glare in return from the Emperor. Then suddenly, Lilian felt someone pouncing on her hugging her from behind. It was none other than the first Princess of Ganesa, Princess Saxena Rosanne Ganesa.
-- To be continued...