Chapter 36:A close call

"swoosh" ria and Lucius were teleported at the forest near the capital, "good job" Lucius said and looks around "your majesty why are we here" ria was being cautious not wanting to let Lucius know that she can also Sense the golden mana that he was following "it's not your business to know princess, used your magic to look for a person in the pathway" he said so ria obeyed "yes your majesty" she said and used her wind magic

"Hmm" "there's a total of 2 person which is headed to the next town your majesty,they are far from one another and also far from us" she added "one of the two must be one of them, hmm can you tell their age and their gender" "i can your majesty, the other one is a girl and the other one is a man, the girl must be around 15-16 and the man must be in his 18-20" she said 'i can't lie to him since i knew very well that he can also sense them' she thought

"Hmm it must be the girl, can you follow where she'll be headed" he wasn't asking but was ordering "yes i can your majesty" she replied "good haah this is ridiculous I've been searching for them for the past 10 years and yet they were under my territory" he said like a madman and ria was feeling scared from this behavior "tsk they better hide well" he added and ria wanted to ask

"if if you find them what will you do your majesty?" "The woman who killed my mother shall be sentence to death and as for her children they'll be exile from the empire" he coldly replied and ria was quiet "hmm" Lucius felt that the mana was starting to disappear "where is that girl" he ask "she entered the town your majesty but her presence is fading, a barrier must have been casted at the town and it's a strong one your majesty" she added and Lucius gritted his teeth

"Let's follow her before she disappears" he ordered so ria hold his hand again and they vanished "your majesty it's gone" when they teleported near the large gate, ria exclaimed as she wasn't able to feel her presence the air that she breath was nowhere to be found like she died or disappeared, Lucius had his serious face, he knew that it was gone since he can't sense the mana that he was chasing

"Let's search for her" Lucius suggested and so ria teleport inside the town, she also uses her magic to make them invisible so they can move freely however they were unable to find her "your majesty" ria was on guard when she felt a strong magic power that was in the town, she knew that Lucius won't be in trouble but it might caused the town to be in danger and the one that they were trailing might be alarmed and will change their location

"Tsk we can't let them know that we found where they are hiding let's go back for now" he said and ria was relieved to know that Lucius was using his brain 'this crazy bastard emperor is also smart' she thought

"Your majesty, we were unable to loacte their hiding place" ria "that's fine we now have a clue where they are staying for the past years and I can already guess whose helping them" he said "i see" ria "let's go back you need to prepare for the banquet and you have to practice proper etiquette"."well I'm good at it so i should ve fine your majesty" "hmm we'll see about that" Lucius smiled ad they stared at the walls of the town

When ria and Lucius went back at the palace, a ruckus was heard at the front of the main palace. Lucius escorted Ria so when they went out of the carriage the noise had stopped and the servants as well as the troublemaker bowed "greetings your majesty" "what's the noise about" he ask while ria was holding into his shoulder, a woman with deep blue hair and violet eyes were staring at them while the maids and the Knights were at the front looking like they were stopping her from stepping inside the palace and beside her was a man with brown hair and green eyes

"Oh hi Your majesty" the man waved his hand "what are you doing here fabian?" He ask with an annoyed face. Fabian Delante was a friend of Lucius since young they weren't that close but he's one of the people that can treat Lucius like his best buddy "well i was escorting lady Ziana since she was unsure of the rumors that were circulating" he said with a smile

"Your majesty, is she the princess that you are about to marry, how can it be possible, you only left for a few months and when you returned you brought a wife, what change your mind and decided to marry your majesty" she ask like was calm but her eyes were ranging from anger "you have a lot of admirers your majesty, though i meet some but i didn't expect there were more" ria whisper so Lucius gave a deadly glare so she shuts her mouth "Princess Astria this lady is Zian Wilford one of the holders of the imperial bank of the empire, Lady Ziana this is princess Astria of Felice and she'll be engaged with me after she debut in the society"Lucius spoke with his poker face

"Ah" she seems to be shock hearing the truth from Lucius that she became dizzy "ah milady" Fabian holds her and ask Lucius "i didn't know that a day will come where you'll be married your majesty" he said and helped lady Ziana in standing "tsk why do you care,you should focus on your own life than mine fabian" Lucius said "hahaha i want a carefree life your majesty so i don't intend to marry at such age" he giggled and Lucius just frown "why your majesty, why are you marrying a princess that you never met, and she looks naive to be your match" she aska nd Lucius gave his deadly glare

"You have no rights to judge my choice lady Ziana and don't cause trouble at my palace, you should leave since i ordered for the main palace to be closed no visitors are allowed" he said and walks os he pulled ria and they walk pass through them "your majesty wait" she shouted "leave before i used force" he said "Fabian bring the lady back to her house and don't try to step inside of the palace" "but your majesty we also came here to discuss about the matters in the imperial bank"

"We can set a date to discuss about that matter if it's not that important you can just send me a message than coming here, go back" he said "ah yes your majesty" Fabian bowed and Lucius walks away "let's leave lady Ziana" he said and dragged the lady back to their carriage "aren't you being cruel your majesty" ria ask as they walk "why" he ask "i have the Rights to reject them and the main palace is closed for they are preparing for the ball so they can't enter without my permission" he added

"No i meant your being cruel on lady Ziana, I'm certain that you know that she liked you" she said "and what's the use of her feelings, I don't have time to entertain their petty feelings for me and they are not useful" he replied 'what a bastard he is' ria thought "still your crushing her fragile heart your majesty" ria "pftt hahahah will you even call her fragile when you find out that she punches her opponent in business" he ask and ria was surprised

"So she's strong" she ask "she is" Lucius "hmm you seem to have a good relationship with them your majesty so why didn't you chose a wife" "i consider them as my ally but that's it I don't have any thoughts of marrying either one of them knowing that they aren't capable in handling the Crown" he replied "hmm" ria just listened and when they were at the hallway where they will separate ria bowed "thank you for today's tour your majesty" she said "it was short so next time I'll allow you to enjoy your tour at the capital but for now i hope your prepared and do well in your debut princess" he said and smiled"i shall exceed your expectations your majesty" ria smiled as well and they went on their separate way ...