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(3rd Person POV)
"This is the training ground of the Agriches. As you can see, there are several well-trained soldiers in our territory. Agriches have been one of the best after the Gastors in terms of the manpower."
"We have been training them with the method given to us by our ancestors. It's easy to learn but hard to master."
Roxana was giving another tour of the Agriche Estate to Aston, Edmund and Panem.
Panem had been childishly asking several questions as if he was getting a treasure as soon as he learned something new. Among the trio, Roxana is only neutral regarding Panem. He had never shown any kind of hostility and that kind atmosphere around him makes it very easy to approach.
She felt a bit comfortable with Aston Phoenix after playing cards regularly, but after long hours of pondering on it, she has removed that from her heart. The only thing that currently matters to her is her survival entirely.
Any emotional or physical aspect of her is a topic for discussion later on. Her mind was focused on just survival. She was in a death game and a slight mistake will lead to her death. She can't allow herself to relax.
Edmund Talos had always been neutral towards her from an outside standpoint. But she could always feel the hostility in his eyes whenever he conversed with her or met her eyes. He was fiercely loyal and it was understandable why he doesn't like that his master might be taken advantage of.
It's a very weird trio - a ruthless murderer, a loyal servant and an innocent person.
Parm asked again with curiosity emanating from his tone, "But Miss, what if some other group tries to steal the method with which you train your soldiers? Do you have any countermeasures regarding that?"
Roxana answered that question, "For that, every brigade needs to have their soldier branded. With the help of that brand, we can ensure that they do not give out the secrets of the Agriche Estate. Not even soldiers, but the servants as well are branded."
Panem had an expression of slight uneasiness but he still jotted down the points in his mind said by Miss Roxana. Panem knew that was the harsh truth of the world but he couldn't do anything. He can only serve the crown prince the best he can and hope that the crown prince will bring a revolution to the country.
The reason why Roxana was ready to divulge so many secrets of their house is because she was ordered by her father. Her father ordered her to do that because of the transparency between the Agriches and Aston Phoenix.
Aston Phoenix may start to trust them when he gets to know about all of their good points. Especially regarding the military might of the Agriches, they rank second in manpower after the Red Gastors.
Aston was stroking his chin while watching the soldiers train. He asked without turning toward Roxana, "Where is the commander of your Military, Mikhail Genis?"
"He is currently not present here because he has been assigned a mission from the patriarch."
"Why are you calling him patriarch? Isn't he your father?"
Roxana humbly replied, "It's because currently, I am guiding you as formal guests of our house. All mannerisms regarding that is needed."
"I see. Anyway, is it done for today?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Then, we should head back. Let's go, Panem."
"Yes, your Highness!" said Panem enthusiastically.
.
.
.
While Roxana was guiding the trio to their room. She met one of the people in the whole estate that she didn't want to meet.
Her mother, Sierra Agriche...
Sierra Agriche had her slightly bowed down as her hands were interlocked in front of her.
Her skin countenance was pale, possibly out of nervousness. Her glassy blue eyes and her thin figure were worrying for anyone who would look at her. Her blonde hair and pale skin accentuated her beauty.
She was also accompanied by some female guards, who were there for her care as well as protection.
As soon as she saw Roxana, her face regained some colour as she asked with slight joy in her tone, "Ana, how are you? It's been so long since I have seen you. I thought you were avoiding your poor mother."
Roxana slightly hesitated as she glanced at us but then said, "Don't worry, mother. I was just busy guiding the guests who visited our estate."
"Oh my, Ana. I am so sorry that I disturbed you."
Sierra looked toward us as she said, "Are they the guests? As one of the wives of the Patriarch, I should also greet them."
Her face had an expression of anxiety as she focused on the appearance of the guests.
As her eyes glanced at Aston, her face turned into an expression of shock and disbelief.
All of a sudden, she rushed towards Aston and cupped his face in her hands.
"Ashil! Ashil! Where were you? I was so worried about you. Why did you not inform me when you visited us?"
At that particular statement, everyone present there was taken aback.
Sierra said with excitement laced in her voice, "Ana, look! Ashil is back with us. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Roxana was flabbergasted, she tried to speak something but Sierra's guards beat her to it.
They said, trying to calm her down, "Miss Sierra, that person is not late young master Ashil, he is the esteemed crown prince of Phoenix Empire."
But Sierra stubbornly replied, "No, you don't know anything. He is my son. How would I forget what he looks like? He has just grown up a bit. He is still the same as ever."
Sierra looked at Aston lovingly and though both were of different stature, she hugged him.
Aston was taller than Sierra by more than a foot and Sierra's flimsy, weak build paled in comparison to Aston's battle-hardened build, still, the scene of her hugging him didn't seem out of the ordinary. It seemed that a son was hugging his mother.
Roxana was scared out of her mind when she saw them hugging. Even if she had convinced herself that, she doesn't care much about her mother, there is still a sliver of worry for her.
Sierra took care of Roxana throughout her childhood, and she was Roxana's only support along with Ashil. One of the favourite highlights of the day for Roxana was when she hugged her mother after a day of gruelling training and she called her Ana lovingly.
After the death of her brother, Ashil Agriche, her mother turned mentally retarded. She had to be cared for by the caretakers from then.
That sight of Ashil dying at the hands of a person for not completing his mission was imprinted in both of their minds. Roxana tried to hate her mother but she couldn't. Spending around a decade with a person does that to you.
So, she did the best thing she could do. She ignored her entire existence, Roxana didn't meet her mother unless it was necessary. She just focused on her plan.
After Sierra had started getting ignored by her daughter, she didn't have anyone to talk to. She spent most of the time in her bed, talking with her guards occasionally.
She also met with Maria, and both became fond of each other. But she remained alone for most of the time till now.
Lant never cared about his wives, his only purpose in life after becoming the patriarch was to help the Agriches reach higher heights. He would sacrifice anything, even his soul for the devil if it meant that Agriches could reach higher heights and surpass other ducal houses, or possibly the Phoenix Family.
His encounter with Aston told him that with his current sources, it would be impossible to even reach close to the level of the Phoenix Family. They hadn't been ruling over the Phoenix Empire for thousands of years without any basis. They possessed overwhelming strength and influence.
There was a saying that if you were born with the Phoenix Bloodline, then you were guaranteed to rank as one of the strongest people in the Empire if you didn't face any setbacks. Phoenixes just like their name suggested, dwelled at those heights where no one could reach them.
So, Lant focused on making the Agriches stronger than the other houses. And if Roxana got taken even as a concubine by Aston, then it would open a whole new path for Lant and the Agriches.
Anyway, while Sierra was hugging Aston, she started sobbing slightly and said with difficulty, "I t-thought you were g-gone. I n-never thought I would ever meet you again. I am just s-s sorry about e-everything. I s-should have never a-allowed you to t-take that m-mission."
The guards were quietly signalled by Roxana and Panem was ordered by Edmund to leave.
Aston was surprised when the whole thing started but he thought to go along with it. He put his hand behind her head and stroked it gently to calm her down.
Sierra brought herself out of Aston's chest and wiped her tears off with her hand. She put up a brave smile and had an excited face. She grabbed Aston's face and squeezed his cheeks.
"Look at you! You have grown so much, I can't even believe that my son would grow up to be such a handsome boy."
Seeing Aston not talk, Sierra gets slightly anxious as she asked, " Ashil, are you fine? You haven't said a single word till now. "
Aston replied quickly, "I am just feeling overwhelmed, miss Seirr-"
For a moment, Sierra seemed horrified and asked anxiously, " Ashil, why are you calling your mother, Miss? You used to call me mother with so much love in your tone. What happened to y-"
Realising her mistake, Sierra started fiddling her thumbs nervously, she said meekly, "I-I see. I-I am s-sorry again. I came up to you t-too strong. I k-know you must b-be still a-apprehensive of me. I should have realized it sooner. I w-was just v-very happy seeing y-you."
She sighed a very deep sigh and said in a bitter-sweet tone, "If you don't want to meet me again, then you don't have to meet me again. But still... I hope you come to see me again."
Then she tip-toed and kissed Aston on his forehead. Her hands lingered on his face for a while before she quietly went to her room.
There was utmost silence throughout the corridor and no one squeaked a single word.
Roxana tried to speak up and bowed in front of Aston, "I am so sorry, your highness. I apologize on behalf of her as she has shown disrespect to yo-"
Aston held up his hand and replied stoically, "No, there was no disrespect done. I should go to my room."
"Let me guide you to the room, your highne-"
"No, that won't be required," said Aston gravely.
Leaving Roxana frozen in her place, Aston headed off to his room along with Edmund.
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(End of the Chapter)
[Sierra Agriche Illustration]