We are now three years old.
We've lived a quiet and peaceful life, and until now, we haven't seen the Emperor.
One day, while we were in our room during one of those calm mornings, our nanny Silvana walked in and said:
— "Your grandfather, the Duke, would like to meet you—if you're willing."
I looked at Valencia in surprise and said:
— "Grandfather? We have one?!"
By then, we had already mastered the language of this new world.
Valencia answered calmly:
— "We have no reason to refuse... but who is he?"
Silvana smiled and replied:
— "Yes, you have a grandfather. He's the father of the late Empress Mariette. He'll be visiting next week, and I'll inform him of your agreement."
I asked:
— "Is he important?"
She responded confidently:
— "Of course. He's the Duke of the North and rules an entire kingdom. He's tried to meet you before and even attempted to take you to his side."
As she turned to leave, she added:
— "Would you like some light snacks?"
We both answered in unison:
— "Yes, we would!"
Silvana and Laura, the maid, laughed:
— "You really do seem like one person, both in looks and personality."
A few minutes later, the snacks arrived.
Valencia and I sat on the couch.
I said:
— "Let's talk. What do you think? Why does this grandfather want to take us to his side? And why hasn't he succeeded before?"
Together, we both answered:
— "Either for personal gain... or because of the Emperor."
Valencia pondered aloud:
— "Maybe he hates the Emperor... or maybe he hates us? After all, we are the Emperor's children. He can't do much, even if we're his grandchildren. Plus, one of us is already the imperial heir."
I added:
— "Speaking of Rafeal, he hasn't come today."
Valencia nodded:
— "True. Do you think the Emperor deliberately blocked the Duke from taking us? I felt like Silvana was hiding something."
I asked:
— "Is there a conflict between the Emperor and the Duke of the North? Remind me—what's the Duke's symbol again?"
She answered:
— "The yellow Rodo bird. I also heard from the servants that the Duke still has incredible magical powers, and the bird never leaves his shoulder. The Duke of the East has a red peacock named Akari, and the Duke of the West owns a black cat called Sera."
She paused, then added:
— "The last beast is the white tiger, White, and it belongs to the Emperor himself."
I gasped:
— "I never knew that! I had no idea the imperial palace housed magical beasts like the Shinsu."
Valencia chuckled:
— "Let's drop it for now. We'll see him soon—maybe we can use him somehow. For our greater plans, you know."
I smiled:
— "I hope so. Now, eat this."
Suddenly, Rafeal burst into the room, panting:
— "How are you, little twins?"
We both replied:
— "You came!"
He grinned:
— "Heh, did the servants tell you our grandfather is visiting?"
I said:
— "Yes, they told us. What about it?"
He quickly said:
— "Nothing really. Just thought we could go together."
We both agreed:
— "No problem, as you wish."
Rafeal smiled:
— "I missed you both. How about a walk in the garden?"
We both said:
— "That's boring. No, we don't want to."
He laughed:
— "True, you've never left the Butterfly Palace before. How about a trip to my palace—the Platinum Palace?"
We looked at each other, shocked:
— "Impossible! If the Emperor finds out, he might think we have hidden motives. And only the heir is allowed inside that palace!"
Rafeal blinked in surprise:
— "My goodness, for a moment, it felt like adults were speaking to me! How did you both say the same thing, at the same time?"
He smiled again:
— "Yes, the palace is for the crown prince... but what makes you think of the Emperor this way?"
Valencia said:
— "We're sorry. We didn't mean to offend you—or the Emperor. We've just heard things... Don't mind it."
Rafeal reassured us:
— "No need to apologize. I didn't mean to interrogate you. Let's forget it. What if I bought you a gift? Tell me—what do you want?"
Valencia smiled:
— "Hmm... Nothing special. Anything from you would be precious to us."
Rafeal grinned:
— "And what about you, Valencia?"
Falsina corrected him:
— "No, I'm Falsina—and she's Valencia. I want the same thing you give her."
Just then, we heard the head butler Devand yelling:
— "Your Highness! How many times must I tell you not to run off after your lessons?!"
Rafeal sighed:
— "Ugh, I have to go."
He kissed us both:
— "I love you. Goodbye. So, as agreed—we'll meet that old man together."
---
Early on the day of the Duke's visit, our nanny entered with a group of maids and said:
— "Princesses, it's time to wake up! There's much to prepare!"
It took forever—baths, hair, clothes, and accessories.
Then Silvana clutched her cheeks and gasped:
— "Ooooh! My princesses, you look like little angels! This long blonde hair looks like pure gold!"
We glanced at each other, both stunned.
The servants weren't exaggerating—we truly looked like dolls.
Our beauty was astonishing. Having two of us made it even more magical.
Same expressions, the same cold stares, the same calm... unlike any child their age.
Rafeal entered the room—he actually knocked before entering.
Valencia raised an eyebrow:
— "Brother? Are you okay? You actually knocked!"
The servants giggled, and Devand scolded them:
— "Enough! No laughing while on duty!"
Rafeal smiled:
— "Yes, I'm fine."
He then bowed before us and said:
— "May I escort you, my princesses?"
He extended both hands. We placed our hands in his, and left the room with him.
---
We headed toward the main palace—the Emperor's palace.
Valencia was to Rafeal's right, and I was on his left.
We were like the cheerful trio. Servants bowed as we passed.
We saw another side of Rafeal—he walked like a true Emperor, though his gentle side with us never faded.
Everything seemed fine...
Until we suddenly saw him—
No... It couldn't be... the Emperor!
He looked at Rafeal and asked:
— "What are you doing here?"
Rafeal replied:
— "I told you—we're meeting the Duke today."
The Emperor's eyes turned to us:
— "And what are these little bugs?"
He glared at us like he wanted to kill us.
Valencia thought to herself:
— "Falsina and I don't care about him. But we don't trust time to keep us safe as small bugs. In the end, he doesn't know who we are. Does he really think we'd fear his gaze?"
At that exact moment, we both bowed—but without lowering our heads.
We looked straight into
his eyes, with cold gazes and blank faces.
Maybe it was rude to the Emperor...
But no—it didn't matter.
---