Chapter 27: Day 1 at the Empire
The next morning, Lucius had a meeting with the nobles and the member of the councils, they were so noisy that Lucius got irritated "your majesty what did the felice kingdom offer that you returned earlier" ask by a count "I heard from the servants that you bought a woman who is she your highness" the other ask "what about the war with the kingdom is it over" Lucius stared with his cold eyes that made them shut their mouth.
"Could you tell us what happened your majesty" grand Duke Ezekiel, Lucius older brother whose the son of the empress, he has black hair with dark green eyes and has a tanned colored skin,his 3years older than Lucius "it would be best if you explained what happened your highness" Duke Florence was also eager to know why his grandson returned without any news of winning a war, Lucius sighed and his poker face stared at the nobles
"Princess Astria Faith Felice will be staying at the empire, she'll be one of the mages that will lead the tower,i took her in replace for peace" he said and they began to whisper "this never happened before" "was their princess a mage but how did she succeed in negotiating with the emperor" they mutter while his loyal subjects were quite surprised and was pleased about the news "this is unexpected" Ezekiel spoke and count Friar agreed "yes this is quite strange your grace how did he agreed for peace" he ask "hmm the princess must be extraordinary" duke Florence and he gave a refreshing smile 'if he agreed in taking a woman for peace, even if it's because she's a mage,it means he's interested in her and that would be good, making him marry might work' he thought
'ah that desperate look seems like Lucius will be a married man this year' Ezekiel thought and stared at his brother who was having a poker face that kept looking at his subjects like pest. Meanwhile Astria who was in the guest room of the main palace was looking around at the main hall while some maids are following her, she had a refreshing sleep and was energized to walk around the palace, she's wearing a blue light dress while her hair was neatly braided, she look elegant with her plain dress, anyone could tell that she was royalty.
"head maid did the emperor brought a princess"one of the maid ask while ria was staring at a portrait "hush don't ask when we're serving a guest,the emperor personally ordered to serve her so do your work" she said and ria just smiled,they might be a bit far but she can hear them thus ria was trying to concentrate so she can hear some important information and thus the wind reach the throne room where the nobles were having a meeting, she could hear some voices that she couldn't recognize but when Lucius spoke she knew it was him, ria was listening carefully when some suggestions shocked her
"why don't you marry the princess your majesty" it was a voice of an old man "she's a mage and a princess don't you think she'll be suitable as your empress" he ask and ria heard many voices that were rising "right she's a perfect candidate" "but her background is not enough duke" some protested but some agreed "silence" she heard Lucius angered voice and the nobles were quiet "your majesty im sure you already received our request,if you wish to marry someone whose capable and beneficial to the empire you might as well marry the princess you brought back, it's my dying wish your majesty and i hope you'll fulfill it" the old man spoke and ria was confused and surprised
'this can't be I can't marry the emperor,it will be impossible to return back at the kingdom if i became the empress' ria thought and stumbled so the maids hurriedly came near her "milady are you alright" the head maid ask "ah im fine im still tired from the journey, I'll return to my chamber, I'll be fine going back alone so you can all leave" ria "i see then please return and take a rest milady" they bowed and ria walks away from them, her face was frowning "you can't agree your majesty" she muttered
"Evan take the princess to the Sol palace and explain her about the change in the contract,after that summon the chamberlain"Lucius who went to his office after he left the meeting was exhausted, his grandfather was persistent and his brother was only agreeing to his suggestion, they won't stop unless they got what they want and Lucius couldn't even spill some blood because his grandfather was there, He can't get married because of the family that he had and he dislikes woman who will cling and ask for his affection but he knew that this time he can't get away so his choice was Astria he knew thay she'll be capable of being his wife without asking for help nor affection
Thus Lucius was aware of how capable the princess was that he even had the thought before of making her the empress "hah maybe i have the power to foresee the future seeing how my thoughts of her becoming the empress became true" he sigh and Evan was only gave a glare full of disgust "the princess is really pitiful how can you do this to her your majesty you promise her that she can return to her kingdom if you make her the empress it's the same as abandoning her life as a princess" he ask "why do you care" Lucius was mad from his outburst, Evan gulp he knew he crossed the line
"b-but your majesty she'll be disheartened hearing this news" he replied "Why must i care about her feelings when she's the one who need to beg and please me to save her kingdom" Lucius 'i knew that already but i thought you change your mind and cared for her' he thought "she has no rights to defy my orders so whether she became my mage or wife she have to accept it do you understand" he ask "yes your majesty but it's best if you let her roam around the palace and the capital so that she'll be familiar with the places and the people around her" Evan suggested
"that's for me to decide,do what i told you and leave" he said "yes your majesty" he bowed and left the room 'he's a bastar* and will always be a bastar*' Evan thought and just gritted his teeth and went in his way "tsk he must be thinking of how a bastar* i am, he's easy to be read that dam* aide of mine" Lucius said "Gray" he called someone and a man wearing a black clothes suddenly appeared at his front and bowed
"your majesty" he greeted "what's that woman doing,i felt her mana roaming at the room earlier, she must have eavesdrop" he ask "the princess is trying to sneak out your majesty, I don't know where she went but the shadows are following her" he replied "hah it's only been a day since she arrived and yet she's doing something again, don't loose her" he said and he bowed "yes your majesty" he replied and Left 'she's a troublemaker i underestimated her when we first met but I can't let her meet some people that could endanger her' he thought and decided to pick her up ...