The enthusiastic faces of civilians were filled with motivated sarcasm, and the chance to see the princess surrounded by the rumors will not be repeated often.
"Spoiled Andromed Princess", "Arrogant", "Lover of Power"... The nicknames that stuck to Phillia in Rovel were countless.
"The coordinator of the dresses was punished violently because the design was not exactly as she requested,
The maid's hand burned with hot tea because she was late in bringing the cakes,
She stepped on the hands of the pianist and ended his future just because his playing did good for her."
These situations weren't just rumors. It's all really happened, but the hand behind it was not Philia's , but Beryl's hand.
Empress Rosnette covered the actions of Beryl, and used the name Philia as a front for leaked scandals, to move and inflate in Rovel.
The frequency of chatter increased after the appearance of coffins:
"Look at those tall boxes."
"Of course.. It's the princess's jewelry."
"I pity our knights from the trouble of carrying those for her."
"Is she trying to show off what she has?"
But the whispers suddenly quelled, when the intended princess looked. She leans gracefully on Dylan's hand, descending from the ship quietly and in balance.
The features of Philia, a pure combination of the beauty of the emperor with silver hair and red eyes, and the beauty of the late empress who seemed like fairies of stories, made her look like a painted painting that did not belong to reality.
Even in the hatred of Andromed, no one could deny the beauty of the imperial family.
But as soon as they caught their eyes on the black mourning dress she was wearing, their faces stiffened and their muscles contracted:
"She insults us with this outfit!"
"She refuse to engage, and declare it publicly!"
Their anger was ready, until they finally noticed that those coffins were not adorned... but there were bodies inside it.
Then, every face turned pale. They felt embarrassed, guilty, ashamed of the naivety of their judgments.
Philia passed between them with a firmness and steadfastness, without turning attention. Her gaze remained forward as she held Dylan's arm.
⸻
I was about to throw up when I faced the faces of civilians. I barely hid nausea, just to avoid being substance for their laughter.
I sat in the cart, which began to move towards the cemetery. After asking Dylan, I chose a place near the royal palace for burial.
It bothered me that I couldn't bury them in Andromed... They will be under the soil of a strange land, and no one from their family will be able to visit them.
I was exhausted. I didn't sleep all the way, my feeling of nausea increased, and the exhaustion crept into every cell in my body.
But despite everything, I couldn't restrain my curiosity about Rovel.
From the cart window, I saw the markets full of life, and the farms passed blue flowers that I had never seen in Andromed.
This is the secret of their superiority... Power, Order, and Their Just Emperor: Raymond William de Rovel.
He took power at the age of 20, and five years ago, the hadiths about him are still pure:
"Strong, handsome, kind, fair, loves his people."
But there is still one mystery...
He never approached a woman. He didn't have a girlfriend or a mistress."
People's tongues are not silent:
"Is he gay?"
Every service is men, and his assistants are men. But he denied nothing, and did not say anything.
I put my palm on my jaw, I sighed.
"Rumors don't always reflect the truth."
That's what confirmed to me today. If he is my prospective husband, that would refutes all those rumors. If it's his brother, the situation is completely different.
⸻
The cemetery... Heavy, suffocating, full of evidence.
I walked behind the knights whose heaviest burden carried coffins. I left walking around alone while washing the bodies inside.
My memory of the incident came back to me.
Is she the empress?
She is the only suspect. But she's not reckless, nor stupid. She always had a reason.
But why?
She was happy for me to leave Andromed... The limit of joy. Did she want to punish me?
Did she kill them to hurt me?
Then... A moment.
The scene of changing rooms with Rosie on the night of the incident, came back as a slap to my mind.
Oh my God... Rosie wasn't the target.
Nor Rodeon.
It was me.
My limbs trembled. My heartbeat doubled until it almost came out of my chest.
I was the target. And they were... Sacrifice.
I Walked In The Cemetery As If Swaying On The Verge Of Collapse.
Dylan, behind me, watching me silently.
The two coffins returned, placed in front of carefully carved tombs.
Dylan may have tried to atone for what he did to me before, the graves are carefully prepared, and their stones are masterfully engraved.
The priest was presented in the costume of the Rovel temple. An old man, his eyes are calm, sadness overflows.
"Greetings, Her Highness the Princess... I console you for your loss."
"Greetings, Your Excellency."
I lifted my dress, and threw the usual farewell words, without daring to look at their faces.
I couldn't stand it. My knowledge of truth made me hate myself more.
The priest began to pray, ask for forgiveness, and sprinkle holy water.
The coffins were taken down... they became under the dirt.
I didn't believe... Until I read the evidence:
Rosie Ascalve, Rodeon Alek .
That's how it became real.
My eyes turned red... But the tears didn't come down.
"Is the princess okay?"
Dylan offers his yellow embroidered handkerchief, his expression worried.
"Thank you."
I took it. I didn't refuse his initiative as I did. Maybe we won't meet again.
I wiped my face, inhaling the cold air saturated with the wet smell of the earth.
I hope this day ends quickly.
⸻
"I didn't find the emperor anywhere, you know where he is?"
The tall, elegant-looking man asked, the palace guard who looked confused.
"I can't reveal this information ..."
His colleague put him on the loin, and he jumped in fear.
"Ah?"
"I'm sorry, sir. This guard is new and he didn't recognize you."
His emerald eyes, despite his smile, were as sharp as swords.
"Hahaha, no problem. So, where is His Majesty?"
"He's in a tea session with the former empress. She asked for his presence."
He patted the minister on the shoulder of the big guard.
"Thank you for your hard work."
As soon as he was absent, the guard turned to his colleague and gave him a direct punch.
"! Why?!"
"Don't you know who he is? He is His Majesty's Minister!"
"A.. Minister?! He looks so young!"
"This is Nikolai Westash, the third son of the Duke Westach, who snatched the emperor's trust and surpassed his brothers!"
The guard expressed his admiration, and nodded.
Nikolai, a twenty-three-year-old young minister, with medium purple hair and narrow emerald eyes, had a strict face and a cold expression.
But at this moment, a mysterious smile was drawn on his lips.
"Looks like some exciting news is about to arrive..."
⸻
"I see that His Majesty the Emperor forgot about his mother?"
The beautiful lady said, sipping tea with honey in a glass greenhouse.
"I haven't forgottn, but I don't have time."
The man answered her in a reserved voice, which made the atmosphere of the servants tense.
Her fingers, decorated with jewels, played with her golden hair.
"That's how you treat your mother?"
Everyone was running out of patience.
The man grabbed the cup like a small toy, and fixed his blue looks in it.
"Is that why you called me?"
"No. I heard that the princess of Andromed will arrive today."
His shoulder winched when he heard the name, despite trying to act as usual.
"So?"
"Why do you refuse to marry her and you want to introduce her to Hugo?"
He hit the table with the palm of his hand, like a thock.
But the mother seemed to enjoy the cakes more than the discussion.
"Where did you hear that?!"
"Shouldn't you reward Nikolai for his effort?"
She replied with a wide smile, her blue eyes shining with excitement.
To be continued…
By: Mave