"Oh my goodness, what are you doing in the mud my lady?", Poppy who was retracing her steps said seeing Cecilia squatting on the ground.
"Nothing much, I'm just looking at these beautiful things", Cecilia said pointing at the flowers on the ground.
"Wow, I heard Cecil drops only bloom during winter but I've never seen anything like this before", Poppy said joining the Princess on the ground.
"Let's go now. I think we have had enough fun with this little beauties", Cecilia said and then both stood up from the ground walking away from the blue flowers.
In Western Gastonia, the border between Marina and the Capital Magenta a young man was standing before the mission commanders of the upcoming rivalry.
"You know what to do. You've seen the target yourself so it shouldn't be a problem", the Duke of Magenta finalised with a small smile and the other men seated beside him nodded in agreement turning to one another.
The masked man bowed to the Duke and then replied with a smile, "I will not let you down". The man with black hair and red eyes disappeared from the room almost immediately after speaking.
"Duke, can we really trust that man? He seems extremely dangerous for this mission. I worry that he might become a threat to us in the nearest future", the Emperor of the Marinan Empire, Moritz Marines asked with a small smile on his face.
"He wouldn't dare", the Duke said with a confident smile etched on his face.
Back in the Emperor's palace;
"Hang the Cecil drops over there and tell Maria to check in on the chiefs in the kitchen", Cedrick order the event manager who noted everything down.
"Don't worry, my Lord. Everything will be done to close perfection", the event manager, Deron Williams said confident slightly bowing to the Emperor.
"Excuse my intrusion, my Lord but the Emperor of the Marinan Empire Moritz Marines has just arrived and is seeking your audience", the Sir Lingus informed humbly.
The bright smile on the Emperor's face suddenly turned twisted and sly.
"Call the Princess and take me to him...", the Emperor commanded and they both strided to the throne room.
In the Empress's palace, the Princess was seated at the balcony overlooking the vast land of Gastonia which was just at her backyard.
"There's an intruder in the palace. I can sense evil intent", Cecilia said to no one in particular as she continued gazing at horizon.
"My Princess, the Emperor called your audience", Poppy said meekly and Cecilia who was already expecting this immediately turned to the Emperor's palace.
"The Emperor and the Princess are entering the throne room", the throne room announcer called out in a formal tone.
It wasn't common knowledge that the Emperor's success was due to his daughter's abilities as no one knew about her abilities.
The Emperor and Cecilia walked into the room hand in hand emitting an overbearing aura.
Some of the Empire's Dukes who were present were on their feets as well as the Emperor's Emirates.
The Emperor and Cecilia took their seats and the others automatically sat as well.
"The Emperor of the Marinan Empire is entering the throne room", the announcer said again and the Emperor of the Marinan Empire walked authoritatively as though carrying a storm along with him making everyone in the room rise to their feets except the Emperor and Cecilia.
The Emperor was said to be a very rowdy man who didn't care about the way things go in the Empires he visits and would do whatsoever pleases him.
"Our most heart felt welcome to Gastonia Moritz", the Emperor said with a coy smile on his face.
"Oh Cedrick, we both know how heart felt that welcome is. Anyway I haven't come here for greetings. Why's everyone still standing, seat seat", Moritz said standing in front of the Emperor as though the room was his playground.
"Emperor Moritz, would you at least be seated as you speak", Cedrick said getting frustrated by Moritz's outrageous personality.
"The last time I checked, I am also an Emperor. Anyway that's not why I'm here, I simply came to inform you that a very huge storm will be hitting Gastonia...", Moritz said still standing before the Emperor with his hands in his pocket.
"And what exactly do you mean by that?", Cedrick said as he rose up to his feet, all the while Cecilia sat down staring at the man with scrutiny.
"This man is planning to wage war against Gastonia and he's not alone in this. The Magentan Duchy is also rebelling and is working with him. I need to inform father about this", Cecilia said to herself smiling coyly at the foolish man standing so confidently before the Greatest Emperor in the history of Nalanda.
"Can I have a word with you father?", Cecilia whispered to her father who agreed immediately.
"Yes speak", the Emperor replied and Cecilia told him everything she knew the man was thinking. The Emperor smiled victoriously staring down at the madman before him.
"You do know you made a very foolish decision by coming here on my daughter's birthday, right?", the Emperor asked sarcastically and didn't allow him to reply before walking towards him, staring him down as Moritz was unfortunately a very short man.
"I advise you leave while you still have your head in place", the Emperor said in a murderous tone making Moritz shudder under the Emperor's gaze. Even Cecilia felt a chill run up her spine but she didn't feel frightened, instead she felt satisfied with her father's reaction.
"That would be all, you may all leave", Cedrick said and Moritz was the first man to walk towards the exit of the room.
"I'll be back Cedrick Bettor", Cecilia heard the man say and smiled at his constant foolishness.
It was only Cecilia and Cedrick left in the room.
"I must admit, he is exactly as rumours speak of him. Cowardly...", Cecilia said in a demeaning manner and Cedrick nodded in agreement.
"Don't let the crazy man ruin your mood, it's your birthday and you should have a beautiful smile on your face", Cedrick said in his "I'm a father tone" and Cecilia involuntarily began to smile.
Time passed quickly and the preparations for Cecilia's birthday party were all done. All the invited guests had begun to arrive and were welcomed by the head maid, Maria with petals of Cecil drops and perfume from the flower's extract.
--To be continued...