The news of Empress Consort Adelaide successfully giving birth to an heir spread fast throughout the Empire the next day. All of the citizens praised and congratulated the couple and the child as well. Most of the nobles expressed their joy by delivering various kinds of gifts to the palace that eventually piled up the Empress Consort's quarters that they had to put some of them to vacant rooms temporarily.
Meanwhile, Bernice was about to go back to her chambers from her stroll to the imperial library to gather books to read. She noticed some palace staffs carrying boxes of gifts and some furnitures to some vacant chamber in the palace. She was confused at what was happening at the palace so she decided to ask her lady-in-waiting as well as her tutor; Countess Roxanne Wright. When she came back, Countess Roxanne is busy rearranging the scattered books to the bookshelf.
"Madame Roxanne, do you know what is happening in the palace? All of them seems to be very busy," she innocently asks while tilting her head.
"About that your majesty, i am afraid that i am not in the right place to tell you anything about this issue. But you can ask your mother instead." Roxanne explained and bowed in an apologetic manner.
Bernice placed her books on her table first before agreeing to her lady-in-waiting's suggestions. But she remembered that her mother is always a very busy woman. She doesn't want to disturb her so she decided to wait for her at her chambers.
"My goodness your majesty…! These kinds of books aren't suited for your age yet!" Countess Roxanne gasped loudly upon the sight of two thick history books that she borrowed from the library.
"It's alright, Madame Roxanne. I am about to enter the Scientia Academy next year after all. So might as well study them in advance."
And besides, this might make mother happy that I am studying diligently. She thought of her self with a grin on her face.
The Princess is too smart for her own good. The Countess thought to her self before sighing in defeat.
Knowing that the little Princess that she is serving is considered a genius despite her tender age and her thirst for knowledge and wisdom cannot be stopped by anyone so easily. She put back the book on the table and served Calais some sweets as her afternoon snack.
After moments of contemplating on her seat, Bernice decided to go to her mother's chambers and wait for her there to personally ask about the scenes she frequently sees at the palace.
The truth is, the scene has been going for several days already and it bothered her greatly due to the fact that no one is telling her the reason why.
Countess Roxanne, hesitating on whether or not indulge her Princess' request, accepted it in the end and decided to accompany her to the Empress' quarters and carried her books while going on their way. And now that they successfully arrived at her mother's quarters and decided to stop at the bedroom. The little princess said to her lady-in-waiting to go back to her own chambers to attend to her other tasks.
"Are you sure, your highness? The Empress might not go to her quarters tonight now that her work has suddenly piled up," she questioned the little princess one more time in hopes of changing her mind, but she is a stubborn one; a trait that she inherited from her mother.
Bernice showed a reassuring smile and replied, "Don't worry Madame Roxanne, if she doesn't come to her room tonight, then I shall go to her office myself."
Roxanne sighed at her stubbornness and smiled in defeat. She patted her head before speaking, "I shall come back here after sunset to pick you up, your majesty." And with that, Countess Roxanne has left the Empress' chambers.
Princess Bernice was now left all alone at the bedroom. She stood up from her mother's bed and decided to move on the bedroom's sofa instead. There she placed her books and picked up the one above all of it. There she continued to study about how the Gryphon Empire were first established and its history up until the present.
…
A woman with a brilliant mind and a strong sense of justice. A crimson haired beauty that cannot be compared to every noblewoman in the Empire. Complimented with her extraordinary techniques not only with wind magic, but also fire magic as well. This is how Beatrice Valentine became known as the "Genius Enchantress" of the Gryphon Empire at the age of 19.
The populace expected that she would purse to learn the higher level than the 'Elemental Magic' which is the 'Spirit Magic', but this took an unexpected turn when it was announced that she will be betrothed to the Crown Prince Fabian who is 20 at that time.
Although she achieved many things whether it was in magic or academics, she could not escape the fate of being married to a man that her family arranged for her. This is her fate for being a noblewoman after all.
Throughout the time they were married, she tried and finally learned how to genuinely love him. But it soon changed when her first and second pregnancy occurred 5 years later.
Unfortunately, she suffered two consecutive miscarriages that took a very heavy toll both in her physical and mental health.
"This won't do. If you cannot give me a male child as my heir, then I have to bring a consort as your replacement." The Emperor coldly said to Beatrice, who is still not recovered at her trauma. He deeply emphasized the word replacement to her intentionally, making her mind descend further into madness.
"No! Please, give me one more chance! I promise I will give birth to your heir this time. Just please… give me one more chance." Although this would hurt her pride, she had no other choice but to beg if she doesn't want to be kicked out in the palace.
If she ever got kicked out, the House of Valentine will not welcome her anymore and would ridicule for her failure.
…In actuality, the moment that she was betrothed to Fabian was also the moment her family abandoned her for just a large sum of money the imperial family bribed to them. So coming back at that rotten house is already out of the question.
Her magic is not much strong as it was before due to her present health condition. She might die in the slums of the Empire when she really has nowhere to go.
When she recovered a year and a half later, the both of them tried again and Beatrice successfully gave birth to her third child. But the Emperor had enough of her the moment he saw that the child is a girl. The Empress did not have the strength anymore as she gives up at begging at him. In the end, Fabian brought in his beloved mistress Adelaide Greylorn to which he gave a title of Empress Consort.
She let out all of her pain and sorrow by crying silently at night when no one is looking and listening to her and coming back at her usual self at day. But still, she treats her daughter as a divine blessing of the heavens when her two first children left her too early.
And up to this day, she is still wearing up her façade to survive at the cruel walls of the palace.
…
Just like any other day, she is busy completing all of the paper works that piled up during her absence to spend time with her daughter the previous day. A person knocked on her office's door and her aide, Dame Veronica Rios volunteered to look on the person behind the door.
The moment she turned the doorknob and pulled it, the sight of Emperor Fabian made her stomach churn, she feels like something bad will going to happen. Despite her disdain, she bowed and made way for him to come in.
"I apologize for my ignorance your majesty, this way." She gestured to the empress with her hands. The Empress looked at him with a shocked face but immediately composed herself for the sake of her remaining dignity.
She stood up and bowed before greeting him.
"Greetings to the everlasting and radiant sun of the Gryphon Empire, Emperor Fabian. Is there anything you need from me, your highness?" She greeted him with a rather flat and monotone voice but Fabian choice to ignore it and went straight to the point.
"Yes. It is about the Empress Consort Adelaide and our child, Fariel ."