3. A Friend

After I make my appearance at the banquet nobles and aristocrat alike are present. The Grand Duke and the Chancellor will be placing in my stead to converse with others.

The Captain is nowhere to be found.

That bastard. I imagined him being a devil on this occasion. Wait for my retribution asshole.

I didn't enjoy the banquet so when the time has finally arrived I headed unto our place.

The person I was waiting for, finally arrived in the night. The Gemstone Sisters escorted her to our usual place.

The inner garden full of fully bloomed roses.

"I can guess that you've got some trouble ahead of you Empress Aria. Alcohol is the best remedy for that cheers!"

Evelyn where quick to pour the alcohol in both glasses.

"So what's the catch?" She drinks from the bottle and drank the glass too. "Another job you want me to take?"

Nobody would believe me if I told them that the renowed female swordmaster and a Marquis is an alcoholic person and my drinking buddy.

Our meetings is just between us both. Our secret friendship started when I ascended the throne in the Northern Territory.

"I slept with a man and I didn't know his face to begin with."

"Oh? You sleep with a man and you didn't know his face. Quite easy..... WHAT!" She nearly spilled her glass.

"Yes." I drank from the glass and poured another one.

"Are you insane?" She's got a lot of guts to question me without minding what comes with her mouth.

"Probably?"

"Yes, Definitely You're one of a Crazy Empress."

"Im the only empress Evelyn."

I told her what transpired before I got myself knocked out by the alcohol last night.

"I KNOW RIGHT! What happened to the 'Dancing Empress of a battle field' and the Grand Duke told me that you told them when you where going back to the Northern Territory if I remember correctly your younger version is this. ehem." She began to mimic my voice.

"[Im not going to get Married to anyone for the Northern Territory. Im going to marry who I want in the future. So alliance by marriage is out of the question] and he said that you glared at them. I can imagine that though HAHAHAAHAHA!"

I tucked my ears because Evelyn is teasing me again and bringing back the past.

"Im not going to marry anyone Eve."

"Such a wallflower, so what do you plan to do now? Want me to investigate?"

"That is not going to help and I don't plan on investigating this."

"Such a waste for knowing who entices the First Empress of the founding Empire. What kind of man is he?"

"I didn't remember his face, enough of the topic you're going to tease me again if I say anything further."

"Quit sulking, You know me too well Empress let's cheers on that!"

Marquis Evelyn is a mercenary at first but the truth is she's the illegitimate child of the Count in the Northern Territory.

It's not a public knowledge I just happen to know her circumstances when I investigated the counts embezzlement when I was hailed as a queen and hired a mercenary to steal the documents necessary to bring the count down.

Evelyn required no payment she wants to be my subordinate just to bring the count down. After the turbulence between the count and I the matters is settled and I promoted Evelyn as a Baron.

Years passed and when I became an Empress I promoted everyone the merits they deserved.

" Before It slipped my mind, The day after tomorrow will be the last celebration of the Starlight Festival in the palace. There's a delegation in each countries who will be present."

"That's a lot of work and here you are drinking with me. Such an honor that I cannot pass." She ate the ham and drinks her bottle of wine.

"If the delegation will arrived at the palace the day after tomorrow it's possible that the man you've slept with is part of the delagation. What do you think?"

"It make sense, wait didn't I tell you that this topic is over?"

"A curious cat here Empress hihi."

Evelyn's words resonated at me if ever that man is part of the delegation I'm sure that he's not gonna remember my face because of the artifact that can change my appearance.

"Escort Marquis Evelyn to her estate and make sure that all is well when you come back."

"Yes, Empress. Have a good night."

"Aria~ My dear Aria hihi you're so pretty hic* More booze please hihi hic*" Evelyn drinking habits never changed.

"Marquis this way is the exit."

It's late at night so I asked the Gemstone Sisters to escort Marquis Evelyn back.

I returned to my palace late at night. Leila greeted me and I dismissed her as soon as she's done preparing everything I needed for the night.

"Have a nice vacation Leila."

"You too Empress."

This is their vacation and they are permitted to take a vacation once in a while it's a holiday so this is perfect for their private life.

Before I fell asleep I felt a chill so I just covered myself with a blanket. I should order some repairs in the palace.

.....

The chill that the Empress feels is definitely a storm headed on the way.

It was nearly late at night when it's start raining and I woke up. Everything that makes a sound distrupts my sleep.

The Physician said that it was the effect of the post war that happened it's an illness called combat stress or in my previous world it's called PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder he said that soldiers who came back in the battlefield like me suffered from this illness.

The water on my bed side isn't really my taste right now . Damn I'm thirsty, alcohol would suffice.

I hope that Leila forgot to count the Alcohols stored in the kitchen before she went home.

I was alone to head in the kitchen. The guards weren't on duty because it's also their holiday today and expected to come much more later than usual.

It's okay since I was the strongest one in the Whole Empire and no one will dare to enter my palace.

It was raining heavily and Im on my way to the kitchen when I heard that the backdoor opened and some hooded person came into the light when the lightning started to illuminate.

The dinner knives were in my sight so I grabbed them and throwed in to the person to corner him.

"Show yourself!" The hooded person shriek in fear and begs for forgiveness.

"E-empress! I'm... Im sorry pl-ease s-pare my l-life!"

I personally grabbed the hood that his entire body is covering. Maybe it was an assassin sent to me by one of the traitors.

He was wearing such thin clothes and a see through adored with jewels, this was the dress of a prostitute.

The moment I saw those Eyes. I decided not to kill him.

I massaged my head who dared to send this young kid to my palace late at night?

"Dressed yourself and follow me."

His hood is soaked so I had to cover him up with my shawl.

"Use this and dry yourself. I don't want a drop of water in the hallways."

I strided to my room with the person in question in my back.

"£π√^¥€°."

The fire grew bigger after I casted the Elven Magic . "Warm yourself up." the young kid infront of me was scared. "Warm yourself or I'll burn you to death? Which one is it?"

"Y-Yes E-empress

I went to my closet and found some decent shirt and pants to wear. That young kid is like a yellow kitten drenched in rain and he have those peculiar different shaded eyes that catched my attention.

A red shade on the right and a rare green eyes like mine in the left side.

I tossed the clothes at him. "Use this and sleep in the sofa. If you dare escape from me I'll send you to the gallows at once."

I was headed to the kitchen to drink some alcohol but I didn't drink at all.

Someone should pay with their necks later.

Ariadna was awake and pretending to sleep but the young kid is shivering in pain and muttering something in his sleep.

"P-please... d-dont... I... I didn't... I didn't do... it .... ah... please..."

The young kid age is close to 14 or 16. Disheveled locks of curly hair with a bright yellow colors.

Do those bastards wants me to play with this young kid? Im not a pedophile!

The kids head was pacing and shaking so I remembered when Summer and Fall was having nightmares I tend to caress their hair to stop them from having nightmares.

I somewhat remembered those troublemakers to this one but it doesn't change the fact that he trespassed into my palace.

I used magic to render him to sleep and lift him up to my bed and covered him with the blanket like a tortilla and sleep in the left side of the bed.

What am I doing for this Kid?

The rain had finally stopped and he no longers have any nightmares so I manage to get a bit of sleep before waking up early in the morning.

I woke up and the Chancellor was already waiting for me at the door.

After I prepared everything on my own I opened the door and invited Chancellor Genesis on my room.

"Empress! What did you do to the young kid over there?"

The Chancellor is jumping into conclusion.

"Do I look like someone to bed a kid, Chancellor Genesis Euphemi Grant?" I answered sarcastically.

He sighed and bowed. "I will investigate this matter at once Empress."

"Enough with your mouth and bring the table and my documents here, also notified the Gemstone Sisters if they can come right now."

After I issued my first order they did bring my office here.

It was afternoon when the Kid finally awoke.

The Maids were interogating him as I sign the last documents needed for this afternoon.

"Girls, take him to the bath and cloth him properly and send him to the Garden afterwards."

"But Empress, He's a boy that dares to come in to your palace. He's just too dangerous to be left around you." Pearl Commented.

"Too much worries cannot cause us anything Pearl, I need him to confirm something so guide him to the garden."

"Yes Empress, We'll serve him as we have served you."

The four of them left and Rubia guided the boy to go to the bath.

The Chancellor came back.

"Empress that boy." It seems like he now knows it too by the way he speaks of him now.

"That boy's eyes is quite similar to your Royal bloodline, who died during the Battle of the Throne for Northern Territory."

"The green eyes is a very rare color in the Empire but that kid's eyes is the same as mine.The only one that can plot to hide an offspring is my My dear 3rd elder sister who died a miserable death by the hands of my first brother."

That's why I have no choice but to come back to the Northern Territory.

"But if he's 12 or 14 that doesn't match with the year you have taken control of the Empire. Do you want to summon the Head Priest for confirmation?"

"There's no need to summon the Holy Bastard , if I can confirm it with my own but do summon the Head Court Magician. We both know that besides me and my siblings, there are beings that have that familiar eyes."

"Yes, Empress and calling the Grand Priest with that term is unbecoming of an Empress."

"Seems like Kyrant influence you in the nagging area."

"I am merely your Chancellor Empress."

"Tell Kyrant to go find Captain Levi, I'm sure that he's somewhere in taverns or alleys and he cannot find his way home again because he's too drunk."

"That reminds me Empress the other day Grand Duke Kyrant brought you back in the palace. Just before the banquet."

Is it possible that....

"Where is it?"

"Huh? The main gate of your palace. I saw The Grand Duke escorting you to your palace."

"I see. Well I'm going on a stroll so keep things here at the office."

Should I contact Evelyn to investigate?

"Yes Empress, but before that allow me to escort you."

"Do as you see fit Chancellor. Did you found out where that kid came from?"

"I dispatched the shadows and they will report to you as soon as they find the culprint."

"That's good."

I arrived in the Garden and sent Genesis back , The child arrived with Rubia with his head down.

"Leave us for a moment Rubia."

"Yes Empress."

After Rubia left. The kid just closed his eyes and bowed his head.

"I- im-- Im s-sorry.. P-please forgi-give me.."

He's stuttering and nervous to even look at me. Am I scary enough to frighten a kid?

That yellow hair of his isn't just an ordinary yellow, now that it's been out in the sun.

"Hey Kid, Sit down."

The kid sat down. "Im gonna ask you questions if you lie there is nothing that I need of you and face your head and open your eyes when talking to me."

"Ye-yes E-empress!"

"Who sent you here last night?"

"I-I d-don't know h-his f-face, T-the m-masked man said that if I go to the palace w-where the E-empress i-s, he w-will f-free m-me. I-m s-sorry E-empress urkkk..."

He held his mouth but ends up vomiting.

He collapse through the floor right infront of me.

A faint light appears on his forehead confirming my intuition.

"Rubia! Summon the Court physician right now!"

A few minutes later.....

"Empress, the childs constitution is not stable."

"What do you mean he's not stable?" The sisters took care of him properly and washed him as I told them. Plus the blessing protected him for suffering injuries that's life threatening.

"Pardon me for Intrusion Empress, but when we bathe the Kid, there's a broken bones and swollen muscles on his body. He's been treated with Medicine and Healing magic by Leila so he's now in a perfect shape."

"Thank you for giving us an information, The boy....He's been abused by the people before he got here." The court physician looks worried and a face of pity is seen through him.

I remained silent this kid is precious.

"Empress if I may ask who is this kid to you?" The Court physician asked.

"I'll make an announcement for that later."

Rubia escorts The court physician outside.

"Pearl and Emerald summon the Grand Duke here at once and notify Chancellor that the information about this kid should be the top priority."

"As you wish Empress."

I'll protect you this time so please be healthy and wake up.

"You are the last Remnant of Elvendale and I cannot let them harm you anymore."