(III)In The Palace
"Think I can still pull off being sick?"Alina said as she got off the carriage.
"I don't think so,too late for that"Zoe replied.
We all got off the carriage and started walking through the courtyard,the hot sun scorching on us,one could feel the heat.
The courtyard was beaming as the flowers and the variety of flora decked the courtyard with its beauty,along with all that there were two big fountains on either side of the path to the inside of the castle.
They said the prince loved flowers,hence why the courtyard looked like a bouquet.
As we were walking through it we saw the prince Markus on the swing reading some sort of text from a book.he looked up from the book and started walking towards us.
"Greetings prince Markus"said father to the prince who came to greet us.
"Greetings to you too, Duke"the Prince said with a slight bow."I see you all have arrived which must mean you're here for the banquet?"he added.
"Speaking of which, I don't see many people around"father said, looking around.
"Well the banquet hasn't begun yet, it's supposed to start at evening and the guests should be expected at dusk but father invited the duchies a little earlier"the prince replied.
"I see well then where should one meet your father?" father asked.
"Oh father should be in the lounging room with Duke Erebus and Duke Alaunus.shall i guide the Duke?"
"Well then please do"
We started following the prince who was walking ahead with father as they were chatting.
"How is the duke doing? I didn't see you at the last council gathering. I heard you weren't in the best of health" asked the prince.
"Those nobles really do spread the news like wildfires but yes I wasn't in the best of health but I have recovered now."father replied.
"Well that's good to hear"
"How are the prince's studies going?"
"Most wonderful"replied the prince. "I saw Zane during practice he's really good at training"
"Well I'd imagine he would be considering how he sneaks out at night to train with his brother"Father said as the guards opened the door to the castle gates.
"Is that so?"the prince said.
'do they seriously think I can't hear them?though I would take the compliment.'
We made our way to the lounging room where the emperor was sitting along with the other two Dukes.
"Excuse me Father but Duke Maximus is here"said the prince.
"Oh Ray you finally made it!"exclaimed the emperor."Oh and I see your family is with you as well.I hope the journey wasn't too harsh.Come sit down"the emperor told father to sit down on a chair beside them.
"Oh and Fernand, could you escort the ladies to the guest room?"the emperor looked at the butler.
"Of course right this way miss"the butler said, opening the door and bowing down.
Mom and my sisters left and the prince asked me and Archie to go with him.
As we were walking the halls of the palace which were decked with decor and art pieces which Archie admired each and every one on the way like the mad man he meanwhile I was quitely walking with the prince.
"So how does this birthday thing with your family work?" I asked.
"Pardon?"he asked with a confused face.
"I mean why is the 14th so largely celebrated, y'know like it's just a normal birthday, no?"I explained my question.
"Oh!well that's because we get to use our powers at this point in time we aren't allowed till the 14th cause we might lose control"he replied.
"Really so you can't use energy until you're 14?"
"No we aren't allowed to since it's dangerous at a young age"
"Then what is this embarking ceremony?"
"Oh that is when you touch the family tree and finally connect with it to become an actual whitestar it's basically like leaving your mark and has been carried out for centuries even my dad did it"
We reached the backside of the castle and there was a path winding to a shrine which had a big white crystal shaped like a star engraved in its wall at the center.
"This is where the ceremony takes place"
"this is the emblem of the whitestar family"I looked at it with wide eyes.It let out a glow that would illuminate the place if it was night.
"Impressive isn't it?"the prince asked "this is basically our entire family's mark"
"It is indeed very impressive"Archie agreed.
We were admiring the emblem when suddenly a loud voice behind us spoke.
"What are you kids doing here?"We turned to look at a fair young man barely younger than my father but looked identical to the Emperor and the prince.
"Markus shouldn't you be preparing instead of being here it'll be dawn before you know it and guests would fill the hall by then"said the man in a calm voice.
"oh it's just you uncle Robert I got a bit scared for a second"the prince breathed a sigh of relief.
"Greetings mister Robert"me and Archie both said.
'uncle Robert? that's his uncle?well it's not completely wrong since they look quite alike.'
"You needn't worry uncle, for I am very much prepared I just brought the sons of the maximus family to see the shrine that's all."the prince replied.
"So Duke Maximus has also arrived,"Robert said."That means that little crush of yours should also be here" Robert said with a smile on his face.
"Who told you THAT!?"the prince exclaimed "I-uh-I mean what crush are you talking about?"he stuttered and was eying towards us as he stared at his uncle.
'He's flustered now?he looked like a completely different person before'
"Oh come on you already gave yourself away no need to play it off now"said Robert.
"It's not a crush I just asked her to dance ok"he said turning his head to the side.
"You're just like your father"said Robert to the prince.
"It's the emperor for you uncle Robert"the prince exclaimed.
"He's my brother and you're my nephew so that rule doesn't apply to me no matter how much you plead"Robert spoke.
"It's as useless as ever"the prince sighed.
"You have company so how about you run along with them I have things to take care of oh and tell your father to meet me tonight I have to talk to him"
"I'll send the message"saying that the prince turned to leave,us behind him.
We then kept chatting about the academy,studies until it was almost dawn when some servants came to ask the prince to prepare and took me and Archie to our rooms as well.
The banquet was about to start and we went to get ready.