Chapter 10 - A day to be remembered

"A crow..." I repeated, a feeling of dread washing over me.

No way... he didn't come back did he? I gulped at the thoughts that rampaged my mind, but one thing that did comfort me was the lack of gunshots and shouts. That meant whatever it was, a crow or a person, was safe.

The door opened to reveal a maid, her face looked rather distressed. I stared at her expectantly, wondering why she was being so polite and not just grabbing me and bringing where I need to go as they usually do.

"Princess, dinner is ready. Your mother and father are awaiting you downstairs".

Oh... That's why.

"Okay", I answered, "can Edmund join us?"

She glanced at him with a nod, "of course. Seating arrangements have been made for the Arian heir".

We followed her, or Edmund did, I was being carried to the dinning where the strangest and most uncomfortable scene awaited me.

On the long table sat mother, feeding Victor whose eyes were glued to his father who sat beside him, eating away. They looked like a family with a distant father, but that changed the moment I met his eyes.

"Mallory, come join us!" It was like that moment when you recognise a friend at a party.

A maid placed a high baby chair beside him, placing my dinner in there and then lifted me up into it. I didn't really have a choice but to comply.

"Hello father", I said after I sat beside him. Before he could answer mother snapped her head towards me with wide eyes. Her mouth gapped and she started to stutter to my confusion.

"Y-You can speak!" She pointed a rude finger at me.

Oh... she hadn't noticed me speaking earlier? Man Mallory was truly out of sight and mind for her.

I hadn't ever spoken in front of or to mother. She really wasn't ever around. But I talked easily and without restraint to Mallory's father.

"You didn't know?", the Emperor threw her what could only be described as a look of disgust.

"Oh shut up you. You didn't know she existed until recently", she snapped back at him.

It's true... the look on fathers face was painful.

"What a strange child I gave birth to. If it hadn't been for the fact you could speak so naturally I would've thought you weren't of royal blood at all", she turned back to Victor who had started to wave at me furiously despite me ignoring him.

That was also true. Mallory had spent most of her life being told she didn't look like she had any royal blood. Rumours quickly spread that she was another man's child. Nobles would laugh behind her back and the concubines of the emperor would laugh at her face.

"That's not true", father suddenly interrupted, catching our attention, "she looks like the first empress".

The first empress? Who?

"Ha! Nobody knows what she looked like, what are you going on about?!" Mother just had to intervene before he could explain because he ended it there, just as quickly as he spoke.

He sat silently, sipping his water and occasionally eating.

"Is your brother coming today?" Edmund spoke so easily to the Emperor I almost gasped.

"No, but I'll tell him to come round tomorrow", was his answer, given back naturally.

The small boy turned to his food with a grin that was so infectious that I found myself smiling not too long after. But of course, when the boy noticed my grin he turned away with what was probably a scowl, but I couldn't be sure since I couldn't see it.

Dinner had ended in silence and as the maids came to clean the clutter I thought I should probably give a push to what could be a healthy father and son relationship.

"Victor. Dad wants to read the 'Knight in the forest' to you", it was a book he had been recently struggling to read and at his reaction I could tell he wanted it to be read to him. He turned to the Emperor, his father, who looked startled at my words. His face full of grins and childish charm.

"Really?!" The way his eyes lit up so innocently was adorable and I knew that anybody would have a hard time rejecting that.

"Of course I will, that is if you can take me to your nursery?"

"Follow me!" Just like that the wall had fell and Victor grabbed onto his dads hand to drag him off, but before they left, father lifted me too, an amused smile on his lips.

"You'll be coming as well. You too Edmund, keep up".

"Yes sir!"

I just gave a sigh of defeat and braced my self for a boring story, but to my surprise I became engaged with the book quite easily.

The book was thin and the story was illustrated by large drawings, not childlike, but rather something that should probably be in a museum of something.

The precise drawing, the bright colour. I was just as fascinated as the other children and father who noticed this chuckled deeply as he read while all of us gathered around him.

"Thanks for reading to me dad!" Victor said, no longer trembling or pale faced.

I could see the flicker in the kings eyes as he looked at his son with a remorseful expression for a split second, he took to patting the small boy head with a soft almost invisible smile.

"Should I read more?" He asked.

That was the beginning of a reading marathon, where Victor and even Edmund picked up books and placed on a pile next to the Emperor of the ground they sat on and told him with cheeky grins to.

"Read it, now".

It was as cute as it was terrifying to see a grown man be bossed around by children.

But kids are kids, and soon enough the two boys who leaned against the emperor while they admired the drawings were snoring softly. Their faces glowed healthily with adorable smiles.

"You were right", he spoke up while closing the book, turning to me just as my eyes started to feel droopy. "Children just wait for you, they don't hold any grudges, but I...", he looked to sleeping Victor and Edmund with a downcast face, "I wish they did, at least then, I wouldn't feel so miserable about my previous behaviour".

His words seemed true. Judging by his guilt ridden face. I couldn't help but chuckle at him. It was funny, wasn't it?

Mallory would've been normal had this happened in the book. Jirael could've lived happily with the heroine and nobody would've bothered him, but just because this guy was so anti-social...

"You laugh?" He frowned at me.

"You're funny" I replied with a sleepy smile.

He stared at me curiously for a split second before he started to smile, wider than I had ever seen on him and then with a small breath he laughed. Somehow, I was laughing with him, giggling at the situation which wasn't at all funny.

It felt rather refreshing, and when we came to a stop, all that met our ears was a comfortable, long silence.

"Speaking of funny", he interrupted the silent air with a boyish grin, "I had some strange guests today. They left you something, said I should open it with you. That was why I came here".

He pulled out a letter from out of his red cape. From where exactly... well... I had to investigate that later on.

It was black, a dark obsidian black. Glowing against the bright candle light. The envelope was stamped down by a symbol that made me look curiously at my father.

A feather. Stamped on white wax.

A feather...

Curiously, I ripped the envelope, pulling out a white letter which stood out against the black envelope. I stared at the incomprehensible words with a look of disappointment.

I forgot... I can't read here... how anti-climatic...

Father leaned down beside, reading the contents out loud.

"Dear Princess Mallory Blackburn,

We have heard a great deal about you from our dear son, who irresponsibly and immaturely ran straight into danger. It has come to light that his grateful return was aided by you and had it not been for you the situation would've been very painful for us and our people.

We understand of your young age and are astounded by your intellect, which is why I presume you can read this letter."- father stopped just to snort before he carried on- "We will fully support you and have sent you our own to keep you safe and guided so please do not fret if you sight a few looming birds.

"We wish you all the best and so does our son. We look forward to meeting you in the future.

P.S. Make good use of that gift. Our son insisted".

Signed

L. Brennus

Just as he finished the letter, father pulled out a box made of fine black velvet and placed it on top of the letter. I picked it up distractedly, mind still processing what I just read.

"So Luka made it. Thank goodness" I gave a large breath of relief with a shaky laugh of excitement.

I did it! I kicked down that red flag!

"Is that his name? His father visited me unannounced and we signed a treaty of peace. That boy is safe, my child. Don't fret" he patted my head fondly, gesturing for me to open the box.

I did so, opening the delicate thing to reveal a red jewelled necklace. The Jewel was crimson, such a deep crimson that I realised they kind of resembled Luka's eyes.

"It's beautiful..." I admired it with dazzled eyes.

"It's Cyrus' Jewel. It can go for the value of this whole country".

"R-Really?!" My eyes almost popped out of my head.

"Yes. The Brenus are the only ones who know where the mine is situated so we rarely see them. That's why they're so special", he lifted the Jewel and put it around my neck, securing it at the back, "hide it from that mother of yours", he wrapped a black cloth around the Jewel tightly, shielding the world from its beauty.

"O-Okay..."

I was starting to feel a bit unworthy, but before I could dwell further of the crazily expensive Jewel around my neck, I remembered something else.

They sent their own?

Who?