Under The Night's Aegis
Chapter 04
"The princess from Rachzel? How...? I haven't heard of the emperor of Rachzel's family after the war. The last thing that I heard is they're all killed at the war." Astrid said.
Her brows met, and she developed a troubled expression on every feature of her face. As a result of what they had heard, the knights were tense. But as they soon noticed the princess' anxious expression, they started to worry.
Kaiser also noticed it. His fingers slowly went to her ear to fidget it for her to calm down.
"What is it? Is something bothering you?" Kaiser asked.
"It's nothing. I just remembered the damage the war had caused both sides." the princess said.
Kaiser smiled at her. He knew from her expression, she was feeling, rather guilty of what had happened to those people after their victory.
After their empire's victory, Astrid had told her father to keep all those knights from the other party to be held in the emperial prison. Her father, the emperor, of course did not agree... at first. But the princess was stubborn.
She told her father. "The fact that they are still alive, means they still have purpose in life."
Finally, the emperor gave in and permitted the princess to follow her wishes. The emperor a wave of some kind of shock wash over his body as he heard his daughter. He felt so disconnected from his daughter, as though he no longer knew anything about her.
After all those things he had let his children witness after their mother's death? Does he think everything would still be fine?
The family was already beginning to drift apart when his wife, the empress, and their mother passed away. Almost as if they were no longer a family.
Astrid felt bad for the princess from Rachzel, afterall, she had lost her family in the war. She knows, she knows it will hunt the princess.
She still had vivid memories of the times when nightmares had caused her to awaken in the middle of the night. To Astrid, it was pure hell, like she was being hunted by that memory.
How could she ever forget?
"Astrid, you're worn out. The servants will lead you to your room. Take a siesta and get plenty of rest. You appear stressed."
"I'm fine." Astrid said, not looking at him.
Kaiser stood up and touched Astrid's elbow gently. "If you don't want the servants to escort you to your room, I'll gladly do. I'll even sing you lullaby."
The princess rolled her eyes. "I'll have my attendants escort me to my room. Now sit down and continue your meeting with them."
One knight had called for her attendant. When the attendant came, Astrid stood up and walked towards the door but before she left, she smiled at everyone.
"I shall rest now, have a good evening!"
The knights gave her a warm smile and bid their goodnight' to the princess. When she left, they continued.
And just like that, several weeks have passed.
"The servants are preparing for the Boris Knights. The half-blood knight would come here in a few weeks. That just means that I'm gonna see Beau soon." The purple haired mage said.
"You seem pleased to see Beau again, Nikos. Are you planning to do another research with him? Allow me to join! I may not be as skilled as you two because I gave up learning a long time ago, but I swear I'd be helpful."
Astrid clutch both of her hands in front of her chest with a determine and bright look on her face. Nikos sweat dropped from the princess' expression. He knew he can't just turn her down.
But oh well... even if he says no, she'll still come. So instead of letting her watch them, why not let her join them? That'll be less work for them!
The mage grinned at princess brightly as the princess wait for his answer in anticipation but before he could say yes the door of the mage tower opened.
"Your highness, his grace requested for you."
The butler of the house etched gentleness in his tone of voice. The princess smiled and bid her goodbye at the mage before going out.
"Is something wrong? What does he want to talk to me about, Butler Eduardo?"
"I apologize, I do not know why does his grace want to talk to you about, your highness."
Astrid nodded her head and just went to follow the butler. The butler was kind and gentle, and old. But even so, he does his job great despite his age.
When Astrid came in front of the council room she quickly opened the door without knocking and threw a confused expression at Kaiser. Kaiser quickly stood up from his seat as she enter and closed the door.
"I apologize for suddenly calling for you princess Astrid. Your father has sent a letter."
Astrid mentally sighed as she heard the word father. She walked towards the knight and took his father's letter from his hand before opening it.
Mi Unica Hija, Astrid
My child, how have you been? I heard from Kaiser that you've been doing well, but I'd like to hear it directly from you. I hope that you are in good health and good spirits.
Moreover, the former imperial princess of Rachzel has been in the company of the Boris Knights. I had previously commanded them to look after her, because, naturally, that's something I believe you would do as well.
II pray you are doing well and getting ample rest.That is all I have to mention.I'll be looking forward to your reply to this letter. Please continue to take care of yourself, my child.
Your father,
Emperor Victorino Celestino De La Frontera
By reading her father's letter, Astrid's expression turned into sour and confusion. It was the first time his father wrote something like this. It doesn't sound formal or important at all! Like she had just read senseless letter.
Astrid gazed at Kaiser who's continuing his work from his table and back to the letter before face palming herself with the letter on her hand.
Kaiser noticed her. But he understood it in a different way. He felt pity for the princess as she was away from her family. He then stood up from his seat and went beside her.
"Is something wrong? Do you feel homesick? What do you want us to do?"
Astrid turned her head to Kaiser. At this point, her expression is unpaintable. She literally looked at her husband-to-be like he was the most stupid man in the world.
'Man are really stupid sometimes.' her thoughts said.
Astrid just shook her hand and stood up ready to leave. "I'll head to Nikos' tower. We're talking about something."
"What are you both talking of?"
"They had been conducting research during the war. However, due to the lack of time, they decided to delay it."
"I see. You can be reckless sometimes, do take care of yourself Astrid. I don't know what I'm gonna do if something dangerous were to happen to you."
Astrid nodded. Turning around from the duke she let out a sarcastic smirk, finding it hard to believe at what the he had just said.
She began wondering if ever this marriage will continue, will it work out? Will the things that happened when she was young not happen again? Fear started to creep in her as she remembers what happened when they were traveling.
'Fuck...'
With each step forward, she could taste the unease growing in her throat. She remembered the vivid memory of the arrow aimed towards her that day. She began to tremble, her heart racing, as she recalled the moment of near-death, terrified.
Her breath quickening. Her fear grew, manifesting in a slight tremor that swept through her body. This didn't go unnoticed by Kaiser, he stood up from his seat, observing the princess.
Astrid was frozen on her feet. Her vision flashing white as a sharp image of disaster replayed in her mind. Kaiser looked at her confused. Astrid felt a chill ran down on her spine as she remembers.
She knew it well, she knew what that arrow means well. It was the same arrow that was used to shoot her mother.
That green arrow with silver as it's tip. How could she ever forget? How could she ever not realize? She came to a realization , that the ones who killed her mother are after her, wait... is it only for her?
'How could I not notice it?! That arrow... how could I not remember it?!'
Unknowingly, Astrid's body started to tremble hard now. Both of her hands came to her shoulders, as if giving herself a hug as she trembled.
'I want to go home.'
Astrid's breathing started getting heavy. Warm fluids from her eyes started blurin her vision as she sat down on the floor with her hands on the floor leaving her shoulders.
"Solana!"
Astrid looked at the man who called her. Kaiser, no... a child Kaiser was looking at her with a gentle smile as he reach his hand to her. Astrid reached out for him.
Astrid touched the man's face who's in her vision is a kid. She put her head on his shoulder as she calm down. Kaiser wrap one of his his arms around her shoulder, while the other is caressing and tapping her head trying to calm her trembling fiancee in his arms.
Before Astrid knew it, she fainted.
"How's Solana?" Cadmus asked. "Is she okay? What did the doctor said?"
"The doctor said that she needs rest. Perhaps it's from the fatigue and stress she experienced while traveling." He looked at Cadmus in the eye. Worry was certain in the knight's eyes. "Tell Adlai, lead the training as of now. I'll watch over my Solana."
"Do tell her to rest as much as she needs. We'd like to see her at the training grounds soon when she's alright." With that, Cadmus excused himself.
Kaiser returned his gaze at Astrid. She looks peaceful while sleeping, a sleeping beauty. Kaiser began wondering what was on Astrid's mind that time for her to tremble, suffocated and faint.
Kaiser's hand caress her face, and her eyes. Kaiser had always love Astrid's eyes. Her eyes were like the sun, burning. And when it stares at you in a gentle look, it felt like warm as the summer. He wouldn't mind staring at it forever.
But... it's different. A memory flashed on his mind. It when he once looked in her eyes once again when they were kids. It was in a ball, and she was sitting far away from him with her father and brothers, on their own thrones. It was months after he last saw her. She was wearing a beautiful blue dress, she was extravagant and beautiful, but her eyes were cold. It had been almost a year since he last saw her, and he had hoped to see warmth and joy in her eyes, but no, coldness was in it. When their eyes met, his heart ached, pierced by the cold stare.
Kaiser chuckled as he realizes once again. This woman knows how to stir strange feelings inside him. A frustrating one at that.
He vividly remembers watching her from afar. The way her hand moves as she paints was elegant. The way her hair dances with the wind. The way her eyes shone as the sun hit it.
Kaiser sees Astrid as the light of his life. She was like the sun. Illuminating, radiant, and warm. Its light and warmth embracing and touching you.
She was the only thing he holds unto. The only one he thought of if he was a few feet closer to his death and whenever that happens, he wanted to go home and feel her again.
Kaiser held her hand and gently placed a kiss on it. He wonders if she knew, if only she knew, that he'd give and give up everything for her.
Kaiser leaned on her hand that he put on her cheeks. She feels warm. He inhaled and exhaled deeply.
'If only you know... how much you mean to me, Solana.'