Estelle looked at Nicolaus and took a deep breath.
"Savannah, Oliver, Reina, Richard, Yvonne..."
Estelle started to drop more than one hundred unknown names to Nicolaus but he remained silent and attentively listened to her.
"Lastly, Hailey and... Karl. Those people... got involved because of that promise"
She said while trying to hold back her tears.
"What promise?"
Nicolaus asked but Estelle paused for a minute.
"The promise of ending the war"
She answered as she got choked a little but she was still able to hold back her tears.
"You taught my son not to hold back his tears when he is sad or upset. A teacher should do what they preach"
He commented and patted her head and this act of him brought turbulence to Estelle's heart that tears started to come out from her emerald eye. Nicolaus was quite shocked that Estelle would easily give up as he thought that she would not give in because of their conflict. Somehow, he felt guilt and sympathy for the first time in his life.
"Father! Why did you make my wife cry?!"
Estelle and Nicolaus stiffened at the remarks of the Crown Prince.
"Huh?"
Estelle was shocked and wiped her tears.
"W-When did your bodyguard became your wife, s-son?"
Nicolaus carefully asked but deep inside he is panicking.
"Not bodygward, my wife!"
The little prince answered and got up to wipe the remaining tears of Estelle.
"William is here"
He said and hugged her with his tiny arms.
"Pfft! Ahahahahaha!"
Estelle let out a hearfelt laughter as she hugged back the prince while stomping her feet like a child. Nicolaus cannot understand but her laughter is contagious and brought calmness in his confusing heart that he has been secretly bearing for a long time.
"Your son is good at comforting. Better than yours, Your Majesty"
She said and continued to laugh.
"Yeah, you're right"
He answered and laugh along with her and so his son when he ruffled the little prince's hair
"Whoo! It's been a while since I laughed like that"
She said after she laughed out loud.
"Okay, that's enough. Let's continue our practice"
Nicolaus said but William is still clinging at Estelle.
"Should you not impress your future wife with how strong you are, my son? Ladies like strong gentlemen, isn't it Lady Estelle?"
Nicolaus coaxed him but it did not work.
"I don't need to! She is already my wife!"
He replied with an attitude.
"I have not allowed you yet to get married. You are still too young"
His father said but the little prince tightened his hugged on Estelle.
"Crown Prince, let me be honest with you. I only want to marry the strongest"
Estelle jokingly said and William immediately let go of her.
"Father, let's go"
The little prince said and even pulled his father's hand. They practiced until dawn and when Nicolaus carried his son, he immediately fell asleep on his father's shoulder.
"You are better at coaxing my son despite your short meeting with him"
Nicolaus commented as they walk towards William's room.
"So, will you already allow him to get married with me because I can coax him? A woman who is ten times his age?"
Estelle jokingly replied and laughed out loud.
"No, he should not get married before my Empress and I"
Nicolaus nonchalantly replied and he did not noticed that he is naturally smiling in front of her.
"You are not yet married to his mother? Why?"
She curiously asked and the Emperor stopped walking.
"Because I am married to someone I do not know"
He replied, but this time his tone is very serious.
"For real? Aren't you the Emperor? Why don't you just destroy that piece of paper? Tear it, burn it, throw it. Whatever you like, you are the most powerful person in this Empire, so why?"
She said.
"Because when I saw her name in that piece of paper, my chaotic memories and feelings started to calm down. The same feeling when I heard this person's laughter"
He just thought while looking at Estelle.
"Oiii~ Are you still there?"
She asked while waving her hand near the Emperor's face to catch his attention.
"Divorce can only be done when both parties are present in front of the Chief Priest. It is one of the laws that I made when I first sat on the throne"
He replied.
"Oh, I see...So, where is she?"
She asked.
"Nowhere to be found. Even in the four empires, there is no such name"
He replied.
"Really? That's strange... what kind of name does she have that no one can find her? Maybe... she is just a fictional character"
She commented.
"No, she is not"
He immediately replied.
"Huh?"
Estelle reacted.
"That person's name may not exist in the four empires, but it may exist in an unknown island, just like the island where members of the Posse of the Unseen resides"
Nicolaus seriously said.
"A-Are you saying that..."
"Yeah. Do want to know her name?"
"No. Nevermind"
"Estelle"
He said and Estelle's eye widened while looking at the Emperor.
"What?"
"Her name is Estelle Estridsen. Her last name is the same with the Emperor of the Southern Empire. His Holiness Giovanni, your father, resides in the Southern Empire. Don't you think there is a connection?"
"W-What are you saying...?"
"The reason why I want you to stay here is because I want to confirm if Estelle Estridsen and Estelle Montcroix is one and the same person"
"T-That's impossible... I never met you or anyone in this Empire. How come--"
"Your sister said, you just came to that unknown island three years ago. So, who are you?"
"T-that... To tell you the truth... I do not have any memory when I came to that island. Literally, nothing at all. When I opened my eyes, the Chief Priest introduced himself as my biological father and that my name is Estelle Montcroix and I have a sister named Vivian Montcroix. At first, I have my doubts but months passed by, years passed by, and none of my memories came back. When I asked my father, he said that I should just enjoy the present since the past remains in the past. I got a feeling that my past is a terrible one. The pain when my comrades died on that war is so much for me to bear, I felt so much pain that I started to felt the emptiness and numbness, so I promise myself not to seek for those lost memories of mine. So, Your Majesty, please do not bring up my name to any of the dirty secrets of your Royal Family. I do not want to get involved"
"What if you are that Estelle?"
"I do not want to repeat myself, Your Majesty. Leave me and my name alone"
"I will but you need to prove something"
"You sure like to annoy me"
"Remove your bandages"
The bandages protect the members of the Posse of the Unseen from all the evils. It serves as their holy shield.
"Are you crazy?! Why would I do that?!"
She angrily replied.
"Remove it and I will let you go back to your island"
Estelle got tempted on his offer but she got an omnious feeling about it.
"How can I make sure you will not go back with your words?"
She asked.
"You like betting, aren't you?"
He replied with a question too.
"H-How did you know that?"
She nervously asked.
"That's not important. I want to make a bet with you"
"What kind of bet?"
"If you are not Estelle Estridsen, you and the rest of the members of the Posse of the Unknown may come and go in my Empire"
"And what if I am really her?"
"You will live here in my Empire until I tell you to leave"
"And what if I refuse to bet?"
"I already know the location of the island, isn't it?"
Estelle got shivers on her spine when he mentioned again the island.
"What are you scheming?"
She asked then distanced herself from the Emperor and pulled out her daggers.
"You already know the answer"
Nicolaus replied and turned his back on her and entered William's room.
"Tch. What a fool"
Estelle said as she withdrew her daggers and left the empty hallway.