A week later, Glenn finally arrived, and as soon as I saw him, excitement bubbled up inside me. Without thinking, I ran up to him and hugged him tightly.
"Glenn! It's been so long!" I exclaimed, my voice full of joy.
He chuckled, patting my back gently. "I missed you too, Nerina," he said warmly. "It seems like you've been doing well."
I pulled back slightly, grinning at him. "I've been more than well! How's my brothers doing there? Are they alright?"
As Glenn and I continued chatting, still in a close embrace, Eliana was glaring at him from the corner.
Standing a few steps away, Eliana's eyes narrowed as she watched Nerina hug Glenn so tightly. Her fingers clenched the fabric of her dress, trying to maintain a calm composure, but inside, a storm was brewing.
'So this must be Glenn... Her Majesty's former lover from her homeland,' Eliana thought, her glare intensifying.
Everyone in the palace had whispered rumors of Nerina having a lover from her homeland before marrying the Emperor, though Nerina had never once confirmed such a thing.
Eliana bit her lip, silently fuming. 'How could he just waltz in here and hug her like that?'
She couldn't help but feel protective of Nerina. She had witnessed Nerina's growing bond with Augustus and didn't want anything to disrupt their relationship.
As she continued watching, she felt a pang of jealousy—not for herself, but for Augustus. She knew how much Nerina had come to mean to him, and this sudden closeness with Glenn worried her.
Glenn was just about to answer my question when suddenly we were pulled apart. Startled, I turned to see Eliana, who had stepped in between us with a polite yet firm cough.
"Your Majesty, is this your guest?" she asked, her tone steady, though I could sense a certain edge in her voice. "Shall we go to the drawing room?" She gestured gracefully with her hand, signaling us to move elsewhere.
I blinked, momentarily confused by her sudden interruption, but then nodded. "Yes, of course," I replied, glancing at Glenn with a smile before following Eliana's lead. She was usually cheerful and outgoing, why is she so cold today?
We sat in the drawing room, but the atmosphere was far from comfortable. For the past ten minutes, Glenn hadn't been able to get a word in because Eliana was busy glaring at him, her eyes shooting daggers.
Every time Glenn opened his mouth to speak, Eliana would immediately jump in, cutting him off with some comment or question that had nothing to do with the conversation.
It was both amusing and bewildering at the same time. I knew Eliana was protective, but this was a new level.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I chuckled softly and said, "Eliana, could you give us a moment alone?"
She looked at me with the biggest puppy eyes she could ever display, clearly unwilling to leave us alone, but I stood my ground with a gentle smile. "Please, Eliana."
She pouted but knew better than to argue with me. With her head bowed, she slowly made her way to the door. But before leaving, she glanced over her shoulder at Glenn, pointing two fingers at her eyes and then at him in a clear gesture that said, 'I'm watching you.'
I bit back a laugh, shaking my head as the door closed behind her. Finally, I turned to Glenn, who seemed just as bewildered as I was. "Sorry about that. She's... a little protective."
Glenn just smiled and sipped his tea, "It seems that you're well taken care of here."
I only laughed, "So how are my brothers doing?"
"They seem fine, His Highness Leo is still buried with papers as usual, Lorenzo would go on an expedition and help the nearby villagers and Lys would attend the plantation but most of the time, he's missing."
I chuckled softly, sipping my tea. "That sounds just like them. Leo probably hasn't seen sunlight in days with all those papers, and Lorenzo is always looking for an adventure. As for Lys... well, it wouldn't be him if he wasn't mysteriously vanishing half the time."
Glenn smiled fondly. "Exactly.... Although I got a little bit sadder without you there."
I chuckled at him, "Oh, come on, Glenn. You're exaggerating. I know that you have many friends there."
He only smiled at me and changed the topic.
There was a warmth in knowing my brothers were still carrying on, each in their own way. It made me miss them, but hearing about their antics made me feel a little closer to home.
I chuckled listening to his stories, suddenly Ember woke up because of the noise, his ears perked up when he saw me and jumped on my lap.
Glenn watched in amazement. "A fox? You have a pet?"
I nodded, gently stroking Ember's soft fur as he curled up comfortably in my lap. "Yes, August gifted him to me. His name is Ember."
Glenn raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "The Emperor gave you a fox? And you're on pet names now?" He leaned forward, eyes twinkling with curiosity. "It seems you're more than just well taken care of."
I smiled, looking down at Ember, whose tail flicked lazily as he basked in the attention. "He's far different from what they call him as 'Ice King'." I paused, then looked up at Glenn. "He's quite the opposite. He's kind, charming, and... warm."
Glenn sighed, leaning back in his chair with a small frown. "Just don't let your guard down too easily and don't fall for his charms. It wouldn't hurt to stay cautious."
I couldn't help but chuckle at how protective he was being. "You're starting to sound like Lys. Next, you'll be telling me I need to go back home and hide in a tower."
He thought for a moment before smiling at me. "Oh? That's a good idea! Why don't I take you away now?"
I laughed and shook my head. "You and my brothers. Always looking out for me. But I'll be fine, I promise."
We talked more a little while before we stood up and hugged each other in farewell, the warmth of his embrace brought a sense of comfort and nostalgia.
We were just about to pull apart when the door swung open, revealing Eliana and Javier standing at the threshold. Their mouth fell as their eyes jump between me and Glenn then they quickly turned into sharp glares aimed directly at Glenn, who was still holding me tightly as if this will be the last time.
I could practically feel the judgment radiating from them, but I chose to ignore it. Eliana had been protective ever since Glenn arrived, and Javier… well, he wasn't one to hide his emotions either.
With a calm smile, I looked up at Glenn. "Say hello to my brothers for me, will you?" I said, my voice warm.
Glenn nodded, his smile a little bittersweet as he finally released me from the hug. "Of course, I will," he replied softly, his hand lingering for just a second longer before he stepped back.
As soon as he moved away, I noticed Eliana's fists were clenched, and Javier was glaring so hard I thought he might combust on the spot. It would've been amusing if it weren't for the palpable tension in the room.
"I'll see you next time," Glenn said, clearly feeling the intensity in the air but choosing to remain polite. He gave a slight nod toward Eliana and Javier, whose eyes never left him.
The moment the door closed behind him, Eliana crossed her arms, a stern look on her face. "I don't like him," she declared, her tone firm.
Javier nodded in agreement. "He's too close, Your Majesty. Too close."
I just chuckled, shaking my head at their protectiveness. "He's an old friend, that's all."
But neither of them seemed convinced, and I could already tell that Glenn would have to work a lot harder to win them over—if he even stood a chance.