It's been two hours after Sir Radian toured me around. The room where I am at is vast, it's like three rooms within my household.
It's crazy how rich the family was, considering that they are the rulers of this empire.
Making my way to the table, I started writing letters first to my parents, and second to Adviel.
~Dear Mom and Dad, it's me! Isabela! After three nights of journey to the capital, I've finally made it. I toured around the imperial palace and I can't believe it's vast than I imagined. The people here are nice, though I didn't have enough time to see the emperor, because he's busy he never forgot to accommodate me with a butler. Everything is nice here, and I hope I could meet the emperor soon to talk about my standing here. All and all, please don't worry as I'm always fine. Take care of yourselves as well!
***From your loving daughter, Isabela~
I've made my first letter, and now I'll go with the second one.
So what should I tell, Adviel about this?
I started to think and write some words, but every time I did, I felt like it's not enough so crumpling it again and again.
I can now see I've made a mess, so before constructing any messages, I think I needed to rest my mind
My letter to Adviel could wait.
For now, I'll just have a small tour around the rose garden.
It might bring back some good and bad memories, but I needed some air.
Besides, staying in the imperial palace is not all that bad. I've also had my fair share of good memories in here especially with the emperor
Though time might change people and can leave a scar that's hard to heal
Feeling the breeze around the empty hallways, with echoes of small steps, took me back.
One, two, three steps, until I looked around and saw the sun's radiance engulfed the surroundings. It's supposed to be night, supposed to be cold, but I saw myself laughing to a very familiar man.
I was holding my umbrella, while smiling lovingly at the man who had this silver hair.
He continued to speak of jokes and I'll laugh it off. His hands would travel around the locks of my hair twirling them, before sniffing and kissing some.
His chuckles would be melodies to my ears, his smile would make the most of my day and his heartbeat actions of care would always flutter my heart nonstop.
I didn't know it back then, that they were all just some part of his plans.
That I didn't even realized, he loves his brother's fiance.
And yet, in a blink of an eye, the surroundings became dark, silver rays came to view, and cold breezes swayed my hair once more before crossing my arms over the other.
This place, even if it's vast and majestic couldn't be compared to the warmth I felt back in my household.
It's true that distance make the heart grew longing.
I miss them already.
"Aren't you cold?" A chilling voice spoke from behind.
It's way too familiar, and it almost made my whole body numb.
Flashes of scenarios where bad and good memories collided
Until I heard him speak again.
"Here, I got you a blanket," I didn't realized he had put the blanket over my shoulder.
I gazed at his shadows, then to his face that was inches away from me.
I felt the air inside my lungs. It's controlled, I can't breath enough nor can I breath out.
"You don't seem to have a fever, then good," he held my forehead for a second and compared to him. Then took a few steps back and smiled
"Oh, by the way, don't be so surprise, I'm Charles Delavoix, the second prince of this empire. It's nice finally meeting you Lady Isabela Vermier," he bowed like a royal member, but all I could was watch his graceful movements.
I didn't bother bowing until I heard him chuckled.
This is the second encounter I didn't think to occur.
Back in my first life, he was jolly like this, and it made me fall deeper in love with him
I just didn't think they were all just an act.
Now, what should I do? Do I take revenge on him, and do the same thing he did to me? Or would I want to know first why he did those things, what changed in him? And who was he before we met?
The last option could be it.
Now, I know I'm taking a huge gamble.
For now, let's sealed all the emotions I have, put them inside a box, and face this young boy with a smile.
A smile that hides everything.
"Greetings, your highness, I'm grateful we finally met as well. As you know, I'm Isabela from house Vermier and his Majesty instructed my father to go and learn from your royal family," I bowed enough to hold the blanket he gave earlier.
It made me feel warm, but the way he gazed up at my direction felt a chilling sensation inside my spine.
He chuckled after few moments.
"I did hear my father wants to take you in, I don't know why but he's quite fond of your dukedome at the southern empire. Aside from that, there might be talks about us being engaged..."
Out of the blue, his words struck my thoughts
He couldn't be wrong. It's true that the emperor wants is for my father to cooperate with his plans since the southern part of the empire contributes to wealth.
Aside from that, father is known to be one of the legendary knights of the imperial squad. He's been called as the dark knight shadow because he moves like one before he retired from his position to concentrate on the business and title my grandfather left.
So he created a mighty army of soldiers making the southern border a shield to the enemy.
My parents were once engaged in an arranged marriage due to political reasons but my father fell in love with my mother first before my mother felt the same.
However, me and the second prince wouldn't be able to have this kind of happiness. Not when I knew him too well.
I sighed to dismiss his ideas and spoke of what I had in mind.
"Your highness if I may share my opinion," I paused as I bowed in his direction
"I knew that the emperor might have his reasons back in taking me in here but it wasn't what you thought about engagement. First is because we're too young and second, is because he might have something to teach me here," I gripped the blanket for a few seconds before finally landing my eyes in the boy's soul.
I know looking at any royal members' eyes is a sign of disrespect, but I couldn't help gazed back at his ruby jeweled eyes, not when he was this surprise to hear my words.
"Well, who knows what the future holds. But there's no impossibility of us getting engaged, right? Besides, I kind of like you," in a few soundless steps, he took the locks of my hair and kissed it before having his eyes set on mine with a following grin.
"Why?" I whispered and he must have heard that's why he chuckled.
Yet his hand is still caressing my hair.
"Maybe because we're truly fated to meet this night, my sweet lady," in a blink of an eye, he's already far away waving his hand with a smile before fading through the shadows.
I, on the other hand, has my hands on my chest, barely have enough air to breath.
It was when my feet touched the grasses that I realized, my vision started to get blurred.
Like raindrops, a few water sprinkled down the ground before my palms caught one of them.
The night was supposed to be cold, but why do I feel like my eyes are starting to burn?
***
"Good morning lady Isabela. I'm Rocca and this is my other twin Risa. From today onwards we are in charge of your everyday needs," two maids who have short hair got in front of me after opening the curtains.
I blinked a few times before facing them with a slightly messed up posture
The one who spoke named Rocca has light grayish hair compared to her twin who had more bluish hair.
Both of them are smiling. They are in their maid uniform.
I nodded and smiled, before they finally grabbed me and prepared everything from my clothes to my bath and to my appearance.
"There you go Lady Isabela. Nice and clean. Certainly, the emperor would be very delighted to talk to you this morning. So good luck!"
"Wait----"
After they finished doing everything to me, making me take a bath and changing my clothes, they closed the door to my room and led me outside without any preparation on how can I talk to the emperor.
The two maids might be a little bit hyper but indeed, they did a great job because I thought that the girl in the mirror is someone else.
Sighing, I had no choice but to walk towards the main hall before having heard a few talks on a slightly opened vacant room.
"You know that we're having problems around the tax on the empire"
"Each nobles don't want to participate"
"The people from our capitol are arguing that they have been taxed way more than what they could received!"
"If the emperor hears from this we will all be doomed!"
"And now we have only minutes to spare before the emperor grants us an audience!"
"So what should we do?!"
A sudden thought occured and this was also the time I realized that the empire was having a crises in economy.
***
"Oh, if it wasn't my future daughter-in-law! Come here and sit. I will be asking a few more question to you!" A jolly emperor said but what did I just hear?
Future daughter-in-law?!
"The reason why I decided to rebut my decision and make you come here instead is to learn the imperial family's etiquette, because I thought you'd be a perfect candidate to my silly second son. Perhaps you could change him for the better, Isabela..."
"Your majesty, I think there's some misunderstanding here and I didn't come here to be engaged. I came here because----" is what I want to say before I bowed and dismissed the thought
I can pretend for now, but I will take a risk.
"Your majesty, I'm grateful that you thought of me."
"Of course, your father and I are best of friends in the past until now!" He laughed heartily
I bowed respectfully
"Your majesty," I paused
"I have a favor to ask of you..."