238 Chapter 236: New Year

Latest Trails game just got announced, let's go!

Giliath demands your power stones!

*

The Infernal Palace was now in a dormant state once more. It took another half hour for the platform to reach its destination, reaching a sealed room within the inner area of Valflame Palace. Unlike Grancel Castle though, they did not keep this room inside their vault that housed Erebonia's treasures. It was in a much different area that was connected to Esmelas Garden. One way in, one way out. It was as simple as that.

Once we all exited the room, Father was the first to bid us farewell, retreating to his private quarters for the night, while Claire remained on duty and wouldn't get to sleep until she and the RMP made sure that all of tonight's guests were gone and had returned home. It was the wrapping up point for Claire, but she still had some work to do before she could call it a night.

Back in Esmelas Garden, it was now just The Emperor, Emma, Princess Alfin, and me now, feeling the cool air drift around while listening to the sound of the constant running water that crisscrossed throughout the garden. Before we realized it, the four of us suddenly heard the tolling of a bell, striking all around Valflame Palace. It wasn't just Valflame Palace either, these tolls echoed throughout all of Heimdallr.

For the time now it was exactly 00:00AM, marking S1200 on the calendar. It was officially the next day, and the start of the next century.

"Haha, I guess we did stay up late enough after all to listen to the bell of the new year.", Emperor Eugent said with a laugh as we heard the bell's tolls resound around the garden.

"Yeah! Happy new year you guys!", Princess Alfin happily responded. Hearing the bell of the new year distracted both Emma and I, but I was quick to regain my thoughts, revealing a smile. Emma also smiled and nodded her head.

"A very happy new year to you two, Your Highness, Naoto, and Your Majesty.", Emma politely responded.

"Likewise, happy new year everyone.", I happily responded as well. My hand reached out, landing on top of Princess Alfin's head, ruffling her hair a bit. Seeing me do this, she smiled.

"Say Big Brother, could you lean toward me for a bit?", Princess Alfin suddenly asked me, causing me to look at her.

"Sure?", I responded, wondering what Princess Alfin was up to, but I did what she wanted of me, and leaned in. I only saw Emperor Eugent's eyes raise upward for a moment before I felt something soft touch my left cheek for a split second.

Time seemed to have slowed down during this moment before I realized what had just happened.

I felt a sudden peck on my left cheek, causing me to blink my eyes, realizing what had just happened. I looked over, only to see a light blush on Princess Alfin's cheeks. I saw her step back down and remained quiet as she blushed. Before we could process what had just happened, Princess Alfin took off, darting across Esmelas Garden and left the three of us behind in silence.

I could only look at Emma in silence, but seeing my eyes gaze at her, our two eyes met. Without having a need to speak, Emma likely knew what I wanted to say. She turned around, and started to run after Princess Alfin who could now be seen leaving Esmelas Garden entirely. This soon just left me with His Majesty.

A bit of an awkward air whistled across the garden as I turned around to look at Emperor Eugent in the eyes. In the end, he let out a sigh, shrugging his shoulders.

"That Alfin...", Emperor Eugent said as he sighed. "She is my daughter, but she is a really precocious girl. It does bring me joy to see her this happy as of late. I know as a father, she is due to spread her wings, but at the same time, it's only natural to feel worried. Especially since our future remains in the unknown.", Emperor Eugent said, feeling the stress leave his body after seeing his daughter suddenly kiss me on the cheek. He didn't seem against it, but I could see a firm look in his eyes, befitting that of both a fatherly figure, and a ruling Emperor. Among the long standing lineage of the Arnors, I feel Emperor Eugent III is quite high up there, even if he still is in the shadows of one of Erebonia's greatest rulers to date, Emperor Dreichels.

Reincarnation is definitely a thing here in the Trailsverse. I reincarnated from the outside, but reincarnating from the inside also does happen. An example of this is Emperor Dreichels reincarnating as Giliath Osborne. I am sure Lianne would have reincarnated or have her soul pass on to the Goddess Aidios by now, but one exception to this is becoming a Divine Knight pilot. Lianne should have perished at the end of the War of the Lions, but she didn't. She was revived, and became what's known as an Immortal, forever treading the flow of time to meet her destined end, which was what struck the later cold steel games. And on top of Immortals, resurrection was also a thing here, and it was mostly known to the witches of the Hexen Clan. The Gnomes were expert crafters and could create homunculi and so on, but strayed away from the acts of resurrection.

I did have interest in trying to find the Black Workshop at some point, because since I was born I worked with Roselia to cast that forbidden incantation twice. One to store mother's soul, and one to store the soul of Emma's mother. Both are in a deep sleep state sealed back in Eryn Village, but there will be a time to come to let both father and Emma know that their souls still exist to this day. And getting in touch with the Black Workshop, that will present an opportunity to secure new bodies for them.

According to Roselia, the spell is ready to activate, but I have a feeling it won't be used this time around. The next target of interest was Guy Bannings, whose death was set to strike in the coming year or two. I've been hesitant on getting into contact with Guy because his death was very pivotal to Crossbellians as a whole, and especially for Lloyd's growth. I am no messiah or anything, but I know that my actions have changed things as of late. If I were to save Guy, that could hinder what was to come to Crossbell in the coming few years.

So presently, I could only store that thought for now. It was set to happen after the Vermillion Trials then, so perhaps it would be best to not worry about it. Yet thinking about this caused me to stay silent for a good moment. Emperor Eugent was quick to pick up on my silence too.

"What is it exactly that you are in such deep thought about? Sometimes I forget that you are still a thirteen year old boy. At times you still act like a child, but in others you are more of an adult than the rest of the kids. Perhaps it's because you are Giliath's son, or maybe it's because you have an entire country riding on your shoulders like I do? I must say, it is not an easy task to rule a country. Such stress could cause your body to grow in complicated ways.", Emperor Eugent asked me with a hint of worry in his voice.

"Oh trust me, I know that very well, Your Majesty. Grandmother gets whiplash at every round table discussion we have at the end of each year. It's likely they're having one as we speak too. We may not have retaliations against nobles like you do, but each city always has one concern over their growth as a whole. Even I'm surprised Grandmother handles each year quite well despite her age.", I responded with an honest tone, and a respectful one.

"That I can agree with you. Her Majesty the Queen is quite a rarity in modern times, she handles the stress of ruling over a country quite well. I am sure there are many expecting eyes of who is to take over next. Yet I am not as ignorant as I am to Alfin and the others. Even I know Liberl's Queen engaged you to her granddaughter as well. That isn't all that's left to it either, the rumors of you growing a royal harem has come to reach my ears, prince. Please do look after Alfin, alright? Otherwise, I will personally come knocking at your doorstep, demanding an explanation.", Emperor Eugent said, letting his eyes grow into two crescent moons.

As he did that, the atmosphere tensed up around us, letting a serious air sweep around me, as if I was being pressed down by Emperor Eugent's current demeanor. I shuddered a bit seeing the seriousness in his expression, but in kind, I nodded my head.

"Don't you worry, Your Majesty. The least I'd want to do is harm Alfin, let alone the others.", I said with a serious nod of my head.

"Good. This was quite a pleasant small chat I was able to have with you. I am quite looking forward to the feats you will achieve in the coming years. Don't keep the others waiting too long though, so off you go. I will have arrangements for you in the coming week detailing your boarding, you are welcome to stay with us for lunch if you'd like as well.", Emperor Eugent said, explaining a bit of what was to come after tonight.

"Got it. You take care of yourself, Your Majesty.", I said in a respectful tone. I could see it in his eyes that he was letting me go for now, so I did just that, and started to quicken my pace across Esmelas Garden, eventually leaving the room, only to meet up with Princess Alfin and Emma again in one of the nearby hallways. One of these would eventually bring us to some private quarters, but I only saw Princess Alfin guide us. Emma also expressed her desire to return to the other girls, so she bid us farewell after changing out of her current outfit. It was just Princess Alfin and I left, and she guided me throughout the hallways. Yet just as we came across a certain end, we unexpectedly saw a figure waiting beside a door, a girl who sported lilac colored hair with an expected look in her eyes, only to glance her eyes in our way once the three of us met...

Yet as a certain part of Valflame Palace became a little busy thanks to Sherryl's arrival, back in Esmelas Garden, Emperor Eugent could now be seen by himself, seeing the prince he had come to get acquainted now dart after the others. His eyes didn't even wander before he spoke out, as if he was calling out to someone.

"I know you're there, dearest. My age might be catching up to me, but I know it when I see it.", Emperor Eugent said, turning his head in a certain direction. Obscure from view, a single person walked out from a corner, sporting a very beautiful vermillion dress, very similar to what Princess Alfin wore during the dance earlier. A smile appeared on the woman's face.

"Hehe, but you still let me watch this play out without any interruption, Lord Husband. It seems you've placed many expectations on this boy. Still, I didn't think of him to be Giliath's son out of all people.", The woman said as she approached Emperor Eugent. She was of course his wife, the current Empress, Empress Priscilla.

"So you heard that part huh? You should know the implications of this if people were to know about the prince's origins. I trust you'll keep it under wraps, yes?", Emperor Eugent asked in a serious manner. Priscilla nodded her head.

"Of course, my dear. Whom this boy comes from matters not, I haven't seen Alfin be this happy in quite some time. I can't but fear for the future though, I am curious to see how our neighboring nations will react to LIberl and Ereobonia joining hands. I fear you'll be hosting many more meetings to quell any uneasiness.", Priscilla said.

"We can only see. Who knows what will happen from here on. You are aware the boy has a harem forming as well?", Emperor Eugent asked.

"Oh yes. There have been quite a few girls who have proposed to him. Maybe I should start getting with Alfin to give her a few tips so she can stay on top of that mess?", Priscilla responded with a playful smile.

"You...", Emperor Eugent said, only to shake his head with a defeated look. "Still, it matters not. Let us retreat for the evening. But before we do, since you're here dearest, happy new year.", Emperor Eugent said, giving a rare smile at Priscilla. Priscilla responded with a smile herself.

"Happy new year to you too.", Priscilla happily responded as a look of anticipation appeared in her eyes of the future to come.

From a long distance away from Esmelas Garden, the two started to hear faint sounds of orbal fireworks firing off into the night sky above...