As Emma stood up, she addressed him once more, "Remember, strength comes in different forms. Choose yours wisely."
As Emma reached Pastor Carloz in the handshake line, he extended his hand, giving her a solemn nod of acknowledgment.
When she took his hand, Pastor Carloz spoke with a measured tone, offering a blessing, "May you find peace in your life, Emma. May the path ahead bring healing."
Emma responded with a serene nod and a faint smile. "I won't disturb you for a while, Father. The alleged follower of devil will depart from here. So, you can govern Frearset on your own. Try to prevent divorces and victims of domestic violence, Father. You and I, both followers of darkness, Father."
Pastor Carloz, taken aback, retorted, "How dare you speak such words!"
"Yes, my actions might turn a couple into a widow and widower. But your actions, Father, have turned a husband and wife into a criminal and a corpse, leaving a child without both parents. Farewell, Father," Emma concluded with a firm yet sorrowful tone, leaving behind a palpable sense of reckoning and reflection in the wake of her departure from the funeral.
As she left Pastor Carloz to grapple with her parting words.
***
In the early hours, Nina's call echoed, urging Emma to prepare swiftly. They were set to embark together on a train journey, with the others having departed ahead, leaving just Nina and Emma.
"Take a look at yourself – you're like a princess already!" Nina exclaimed.
Emma chuckled softly at the compliment. "Well, a princess on a train journey, perhaps," she replied with a hint of amusement. "But let's hope there are no dragons to slay along the way."
Emma chuckled softly at the compliment. She adorned a sky-blue dress with delicately added ruffles that cascaded down the skirt.
Her once neatly coiled hair was now left to flow freely, adorned with a pearl ornament that added a touch of elegance.
The simplicity of her attire belied the graceful aura she carried.
Emma radiated a timeless charm, a picture of understated beauty that resonated with the early morning light as they prepared to embark on their journey together.
Nina laughed, "No dragons, just the challenges of the day. Now, are you ready for this adventure?"
Emma nodded, adjusting the pearl ornament in her hair. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go and face whatever awaits us, Nina."
The two friends exchanged smiles, their camaraderie evident as they embarked on a new day's journey, wrapped in the anticipation of adventure and the warmth of their shared laughter.
Nina had seamlessly integrated into Prince Alejandro's legal team for three months, and during that time, she put forth Emma's name as the standout graduate from Cooper Clove, their nation's most esteemed academy.
Emma, aware of the significance of the occasion, aimed to present herself in the best light possible. Nina had hinted at a direct interview with Prince Alejandro, making it clear that a casual look wouldn't suffice.
Emma, however, sought to balance professionalism with her signature style.
"Enough! You look stunning yourself, Nina," Emma playfully retorted, giving her friend an appreciative once-over.
Nina, blushing at the compliment, took Emma's hand, steering her toward a comfortable seating area. "Oh, please. Your style is impeccable. Prince Alejandro won't know what hit him," Nina teased.
Emma laughed. "Let's hope he's more impressed with my legal skills than my fashion choices. I can handle a courtroom, but a prince? That's uncharted territory."
"Who wouldn't be charmed by a brilliant lawyer with a touch of style?"
"I said enough, Nina!"
"Okaaaayyyy!!!!"
As they found their seats, the anticipation hung in the air, a blend of nerves and confidence as they awaited the unfolding of a significant encounter with Prince Alejandro.
Emma's carefully chosen attire only added to the sense of poised expectation.
"Will we start working right away once we arrive?" Emma settled into a corner near the window, while Nina took a seat beside her.
"Not at all. We'll take a break and have interviews after lunch," Nina assured.
"Ah, alright."
"Are you nervous?" Nina looked at Emma, offering a small smile.
"A bit," Emma admitted. "Perhaps it's because it's my first time traveling to a foreign land. Maybe I just need to acclimate once we get there." Emma's voice carried a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"Trust me, the prince is a good person. He's nothing like the typical prince. I mean, his demeanor. He talks like an equal. Sure, the three of us are peers, but he's still a prince!"
Instead of commenting on the prospective boss, Emma shifted her focus to another aspect. "Are the foods there delicious?"
"Ah, absolutely!"
The journey stretched on until three, and Emma inadvertently drifted into slumber.
Nina woke her as the train came to a halt, and they proceeded to retrieve their bags.
The train station was a charming mix of architecture, blending traditional elements with modern conveniences.
As Emma opened her eyes to the new surroundings, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement tinged with curiosity about the adventures that awaited them in this foreign land.
A brisk cold wind brushed against Emma's face as she stepped outside. The hustle and bustle of activities in this foreign land seemed eerily similar to her hometown.
Emma observed the unfamiliar faces around her and then followed Nina, who was already striding ahead.
"Come on, there's a wooden carriage over there that will take us to the palace."
Emma nodded, her attention absorbed by the surroundings. The place was adorned with colossal trees, their intertwining branches forming a lush canopy overhead.
It was a far cry from the urban landscape she was accustomed to, and she couldn't help but marvel at the natural richness that enveloped this unfamiliar city.
The horse-drawn carriage carried them along a winding path that led directly to the royal palace. Emma suddenly felt her heart racing, twice as fast, for reasons she couldn't quite pinpoint.
She took a deep breath, attempting to steady herself. Nina looked at her with concern, but Emma shook her head.
Finally, the carriage came to a stop.
Emma and Nina exchanged glances before stepping out. Nina presented a document to the vigilant soldier, and they were ushered into the palace.
Emma sensed something peculiar within her. As she stared at the mahogany door before her, her heartbeat only quickened. It wasn't due to her own nervousness, but there was something else.
The emblem. The golden lion emblem. Emma felt like she had seen it before.
But where?
And from whom?
She felt the emblem often intricately carved and woven with beautiful golden threads.
~~~
Emma's hand gently brushed against it.
"So beautiful."
"Really? It's the emblem of the country I come from."
"The golden lion? Are there many lions there?"
"Yes. Prominent families there often keep lions as pets. Even in the palace, two lions are commonly seated beside the throne of the king and the prince."
~~~
Yet what? Was there an impending revelation, an unforeseen twist in the narrative?
Emma's mind raced with possibilities, her thoughts a turbulent sea seeking answers.
The buried voice, a distant echo of forewarning, lingered beneath the surface, a specter of forgotten premonition within the corridors of Emma's mind.
As the towering doors of the palace swung open, unveiling the regal presence of Prince Alejandro, Emma unconsciously lifted her gaze to meet his eyes. In that moment, her eyes widened, and her heart seemed to momentarily pause.
Impossible.
"Damn it... Nina... I should've—" Emma began to voice her concerns, but the words hung in the air, swallowed by the inexorable progression of events that were already unfolding.
Prince Alejandro patiently waited, perched behind his desk of regal grandeur.
Flanking him on each side, two majestic lions with coats of golden fur lay in peaceful repose, their presence adding an air of magnificence to the room.
His fingers, adorned with an emblematic ring featuring a meticulously crafted lion engraving, delicately traced the lush mane of one of the resting lions.