A warm breeze swept through the streets. The winter is coming to an end in the Diurnal Empire as snow is melting everywhere. It will be spring in no time. Children are playing in the streets, and markets are chaotic as always. Everything is so peaceful. In this peaceful, happy capital, a huge palace with a thousand years of glorious history stands still. Where mind games are played by nobles every day, which is not very peaceful, it's the Imperial Palace. It is now 1885 in the Imperial calendar, the reign of the 54th ruler and the 21st Empress, Faria Fatima Diurnal. From the balcony of her study, Faria looks at the busy streets. Almost the whole capital can be seen from here. "Winter is not over yet. But it's already getting warm. If this continues, maybe we'll get a drought during the summer," Faria thinks. "No, it's kind of certain." Then she opens her mouth and calls out to her assistant and the Chancellor, Count Roger Vespertine. "Yes, Your Majesty?" He was doing his regular morning reporting when the Empress took a break and went to the balcony. "Don't you think the weather this year is rather odd? It is way too hot for spring." Roger looked out the window for a bit and said, "You are right, Your Majesty. Shall I talk with the Tower of Meteorology to bring a report?". "Please do. Hm, let's just set up a meeting with them," the Empress thought for a bit. "It's better to hurry up. If we get a drought, we have to get things under control before the occurrence. We can't let the civilians suffer. Let's set it after the cabinet meeting tomorrow. What do you say?". Count Vespertine bowed in a respectful manner and said, "I will send the word to the tower, Your Majesty." "Very well." Faria closes her eyes and calmly speaks. "Then there were the southern bandits you were talking about. I think it would be better to leave this matter in Grand Duchess Rillaboom's hands. She will get it done. And about the upcoming"
"That will be all for today, Your Majesty. I will take my leave then." Count Vespertine bowed before leaving. The door closed with a clicking sound. Faria stared at the door for a few seconds and muttered, "It's almost time for Ruby and Sapphire to come back." She smiled without knowingly thinking about them. The warmth in her face shows as she continues to work on the papers with a fountain pen.
Ruby and Sapphire. The two partner cheetahs of Empress Faria Fatima Diurnal. It is normal for children of the Diurnal bloodline to befriend a cheetah and spend their lives alongside it until death breaks them apart. But Empress Faria Fatima Diurnal had two by her side. A female, Ruby, and a male, Sapphire. Faria again looked out the window. The sun is totally out; it's almost time for breakfast. She revised the last page of her morning work and got off the table. Looking over the capital, Faria tensed once again. The sound of quick, soft footsteps in the hallway broke her thought. It's Sapphire. When he was overjoyed, Sapphire would purposely make sounds while walking. Faria smiled affectionately and quietly went to the bedroom. She sat on the kapok in front of the window. Ruby and Sapphire swiftly reached her and placed both of their jaws on her shoulder. Faria swiftly started patting them while talking.
"Did the hunt go well?"
"Grrrrr," Sapphire said.
"That's good to hear. I'm sorry that I can't play or go to hunt with you two these days. We'll go soon, I promise."
Ruby looked at her and made an angry sound, "Grrrrrr."
"Oh, you are not angry because you know I'm busy? Well, well, haha."
The short conversation had lightened up the mood. The three of them then quietly sat while closing their eyes. Growing up together since childhood, they didn't need to exchange words or expressions to convey their minds. Being together in peace was enough. Whenever Faria is sad, they will go and run together, hunt something, or race for hours. Whenever Sapphire would behave naughtily, Ruby would slap him with her paw, and seeing that, Faria would burst into laughter. But the two of them won't exchange anything for days, so they won't go hunting together or spend time with Faria together. In the end, Faria would have to solve everything. Besides the human world family, this was one comfort place Faria had had since childhood. The three of them weren't like different individuals but like a single entity. After a long while, Faria opened her eyes and looked through the window. She was telling Ruby what she thought about the weather, and Sapphire was lying on her lap. After listening to it all, Ruby smiled at her, as if she were comforting her by saying, "It'll be all okay. Do not worry." Faria smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead. Ruby also put her head on Faria's lap and started making sounds of pleasure as Faria was moving her hand through its neck. Suddenly, a maid knocked at the door.
"Come in."
"Your Majesty, breakfast is ready. The princes and princesses are all waiting for you."
"Okay. I'm coming. You may go. By the way, did all my lady-in-waiting arrive?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They just got off the carriages and are in the garden right now."
"Very well. You may go now."
"May the blessing of Agnee and Asman be upon you, Your Majesty."
Faria stood up and started to walk towards the dining hall. Ruby and Sapphire didn't follow her, since they would now go to the palace grounds and play with the baby cheetah, Ren. Ren is the partner of the 1st Princess Lima Asma Diurnal. They would often teach him different techniques of hunting through playing. As the cheetahs of the Imperial Palace usually follow their partners at a young age, they do not grow up under their parents. So the duty of teaching them falls upon the older ones. After a few minutes, Faria reached the dining hall. The guards bowed at her and opened the huge oak door.
"Good morning, Your Majesty." Everyone greeted her with a broad smile. Then Princess Halima Noor spoke: "May the blessings of Agnee and Asman be with you, Your Majesty."
Faria nodded her head and sat at the head of the table. "Bring the food." Faria waved her hand. "And...what is my daughter doing?"
The head maid came forward, but Princess Lima spoke right away, "She returned to the Dawn Palace a little after the sun came out, aunt. I went to bring her together, but she wasn't able to come."
"I see." Faria smiled while looking away at the window, where the direction to her daughter's palace was. "The food has arrived. Let's start eating." A quietness filled the room as everyone started eating. Children were giggling, and the maids helped the youngest ones while they ate. Faria looked at everyone with loving eyes and sank into deep thought. What a beautiful family she has.
"The Diurnal Imperial Family" is a family tied to love. It consists of the family of her deceased elder sister, the late Empress Meehnaz Ariana Diurnal. Her husband, Sir Rafayet Aman, their eldest son, Limon Asim Diurnal, and his younger sister, Lima Asma Diurnal, then the family of her brother, the late Prince Naifal Abbas Diurnal, which is composed of his wife, Princess Halima Noor, her two sons, Hadid Musa Diurnal and Harun Rashid Diurnal, and the youngest daughter, Ayesha Hafsa Diurnal. Faria's own family consisted of her son Mahin Iqra Diurnal and her daughter Farah Jahin Diurnal.
Author's note:-
The children of the Diurnal Imperial Family are ranked by their age. As such, they are ranked below according to their ages.
Princes-
1. Limon Asim Diurnal (9 years old)
2. Hadid Musa Diurnal (7 years old)
3. Harun Rashid Diurnal (6 years old)
4. Mahin Iqra Diurnal (1 year old)
Princesses-
1. Lima Asma Diurnal (6 years old)
2. Farah Jahin Diurnal (6 years old)
3. Ayesha Hafsa Diurnal (1 year old)