Dahlia was currently in her garden without anyone's knowledge. Doing what her guardian is instructing
"I am Dahlia Guillebeaux. Daughter of Duke Guillebeaux and 'a mortal assigned' to-"
"Your posture isn't well. You just need to put your hand to where your heart is. And don't lower your head. Held it high and speak with more confidence" Her guardian cuts her off
He was teaching her on how to greet other supernaturals besides him
"Urgh... but why do I need to learn this? It's not like I will meet any supernaturals now!?" Dahlia retorted
"You may not meet them now but, it's important that you learn all this. Just in case. It's not wrong in being prepared for everything, no?" He asked
"Well... that's true in being prepared but-"
"Then get back to learning" He cuts off Dahlia again in mid sentence
Dahlia groaned internally but physically she practiced a lot on training her etiquette, in greeting supernatural beings
4 hours later
"Ok, that's enough. I will teach you on how to use my powers through the gem tomorrow. So rest up" He said as his voice again vanished
Dahlia was exhausted as she finally slumps on grass. "Damn it... greeting thing is way difficult then our culture!" She internally thought
She was laying flat on ground. Gentle breeze brushing against her, making the grass sway gently. The gentle sunlight bathed her small figure making her long pink hair glow softly along with her pale skin and the white dress she is wearing
Peaceful silence
.
.
.
Until, someone stepping on grass was heard
Dahlia looked up and saw Jhony
"Hey, lil sis. What your doing here?" He laid besides her after setting his wooden sword aside. Indicating that he was just back from training swordsmanship
"Nothing, just felt like laying. It's relaxing you know" Dahlia said bluntly
"Haha, I get it" Jhony chuckled. He suddenly hugs Dahlia, making her squirm
"Let go!! You stink with sweat!!!" Dahlia gagged dramatically as she laughed
Jhony huffed dramatically as he hovered over Dahlia on ground. He feigned an annoyed look. "Stink? Huh? Then I will show you what is more stinky~"
He started tickling her
Dahlia gasped as she laughed, uncontrollably
"HEY!! STOP!!! HAHAHAHA!!! OH MY GOSH!!! BROTHER!!! I AM SORRY!!! SORRY!!! YOUR NOT STINKY!!! OKAY!! NOT STINKY!!!" She laughed as she needed breath
Jhony smirked as he stopped. He soon lays back down besides Dahlia
"You should think before speaking~" He whistled, bemusedly
"Ok ok..." Dahlia panted as she laughed a little. Still wheezing from the onslaught of tickling from her brother. But she won't let him off the hook now, can she?
After gathering her bearings. She immediately launched at Jhony. She started tickling him nonstop "Now it's my turn~" She said while smirking
Jhony gasped as it was his turn in laughing. He laughed far more then Dahlia as she tickled him mercilessly
After that
The two go back to the estate, clearly covered in dirt and sweat from tickling each other. Their faces flushed and still laughing cause of the lingering feeling on their sides
Jhony and Dahlia's mother
Douchess Guillebeaux
Looked at the mess of how her both children done to each other. With their Nanny who was laughing affectionately from the state Jhony and Dahlia were in
"You two really..." Douchess Guillebeaux spoke up as she facepalmed, clearly exasperated
"Mother, brother started it! Then I just got revenge on him!" Dahlia said blaming Jhony
"Yes, mother... I started it, sure. But she also tickled me so, I also got my revenge back on her by tickling her!" Jhony tried to reason his actions
"And the back and forth continued on, till you two got tired and gave up?" The Nanny remarked, laughing softly
Jhony and Dahlia went silent to the truth
"Jhony, your an older one here. You should be more responsible. That's not how an future heir of Guillebeaux, should behave" Douchess Guillebeaux said, sternly to Jhony
Douchess Guillebeaux soon turned to look at Dahlia,"And you, Dahlia. That's not how an lady should behave. You also should be more responsible" she said
"Right.. mother/ sorry mother..." Jhony and Dahlia said in unison
"Anyway, since you two are dirty. Let's get you two cleaned and dressed up" The Nanny said
"Dressed up? For what?" Jhony asked, confused
"Your father will be going to the palace. And since he is going, he will take you two with him to meet the crown prince as usual while he pays his usual visits to the king" Douchess Guillebeaux said, her voice on edge in mentioning the crown prince
"The crown prince..." Dahlia mumbled as she tensed up
"What- mother! Why didn't you said anything against it! It was okay if I go alone! But... Dahlia?!" Jhony said clearly angry
"Do you think I didn't say anything?" Douchess Guillebeaux pausing briefly. "I told him to not do it but... specifically the crown prince asked himself and his majesty also requested it..." She said again, her tone filled with irritation yet with an hint of tiredness
"Damn it... great..." Jhony groaned as he was irritated
"I am sure everything will go well... unlike last time so, let's get you two ready" The Nanny said , trying to lift up the mood
The maids soon leads Jhony and Dahlia away to take an bath. And get them dressed up
1 hour later
Jhony and Dahlia were both wearing the same colored clothes like white and light blue
Duke Guillebeaux was waiting for Jhony and Dahlia, outside the carriage with some bodyguards
Duke Guillebeaux noticed his two children coming and smiles slightly
"I am sorry, my children. It's his majesty's request, and besides you two just have to stay with the crown prince for only a while" Duke Guillebeaux said softly in a apologetic tone
"It's fine father... we both understand" Jhony said as he helped Dahlia on the carriage. He also got in along with Duke Guillebeaux
"Start the carriage" Duke Guillebeaux ordered his horseman as the horseman obeyed
The carriage left off to the imperial palace
.
.
.
The carriage stopped when it arrived at the imperial palace
Duke Guillebeaux, Jhony and Dahlia got off the carriage
There were an old man and old woman standing outside the imperial palace with the guards and some maids, clearly waited for the three's arrival
"Welcome Duke Guillebeaux, his majesty is waiting in his study room. And please don't worry about the young Lord Jhony and lady Dahlia. The head maid shall guide them to the crown prince" The adviser of the King said to Duke Guillebeaux, his tone filled with neutrality and formal
"Alright" Duke Guillebeaux said shortly as he was leaded away by the King's adviser
"Please follow me Lord Jhony and Lady Dahlia" The headmaid said, keeping neutral face
Jhony and Dahlia were guided towards the crown prince's room
The headmaid knocked on the door, "Your highness, Lord Jhony and Lady Dahlia has come to meet you" she said
Silence for a moment
.
.
.
"Come in"
The crown prince said from inside his room, his tone cheerful
The headmaid opens the door and steps aside for Jhony and Dahlia to go in
As Jhony and Dahlia goes inside the room
They were greeted by an dark combed short haired, amber eyed boy
It was the crown prince
Valdemar Damir Dandirium
He is 11 years old with an astounding appearance
Valdemar gives Jhony and Dahlia a soft smile, "Pleasure meeting you two... especially..."
Valdemar eyes Dahlia as his smile widened. "Lady Dahlia, we meet again after so long..."
"We have... your highness..." Dahlia smiles back awkwardly
Jhony clears his throat, "Uhm... how has your highness been doing?" he said trying to divert Valdemar's attention from Dahlia to him
Valdemar looks at Jhony
"Ah! Nothing much, just playing chess... what can an sickly prince like me can do anything besides this?" Valdemar chuckled slightly
Jhony and Dahlia didn't say much as the two stayed silent and wary
Valdemar soon looks at the headmaid
"What your doing here? Shouldn't you be preparing snacks for my friends?" Valdemar said smiling
"I will bring them. My apologies, your highness" The headmaid said as she lefts the room
.
.
.
"Friends?..." Thought Jhony and Dahlia together
"Say... why didn't I get an invitation on Dahlia's birthday that happened 5 days ago?" Valdemar asked keeping his smile
Jhony and Dahlia tensed but remained calm
"We thought that your highness would find the birthday party boring and all, so we didn't send an invitation. Besides we asked his majesty, but he refused-" Suddenly a tea cup was thrown at Jhony which he somehow dodged it
He hid Dahlia behind him, protecting her as the cup shatters by hitting the door
"Boring? My father refused? Is this your excuse?" Valdemar said keeping his smile
Dahlia stayed behind Jhony as she was scared but stayed strong
"It's not like that your highness-" "Then what is it, huh?" Jhony was again cut off by Valdemar
"It's... his majesty really refused! You can ask him! He is worried that you might grow sick- no... we all thought that you might not like the environment there since there were a lot of people... it might overwhelm your highness so... we didn't invite you..." Jhony said as he tried remaining calm
"...Really, Lady Dahlia?" Valdemar asked Dahlia
Dahlia collected herself as she soon nods
"Use. Your. Words. Lady. Dahlia" Valdemar said keeping his smile as his tone became cold as ice
"Y-Y..." Dahlia signed shakily as she looks over to Valdemar from behind Jhony. "Yes, your highness... we were all worried for you so... we didn't invite you- But next time when it's my birthday! I will give you the invitation myself!" Dahlia said as she tried her best in remaining calm
"Really?" Valdemar asked as his cold smile return to the warm smile
"Yes, really-" Jhony said but soon the headmaid comes in with snacks
"Your highness, Lord Jhony and Lady Dahlia, the snacks are here" The headmaid said
"Ok, but... before snacks let's play chess" Valdemar said as he chuckled
Jhony, Dahlia and the headmaid tensed up
"Uhm... your highness... they should first eat then play-" "Did I say that you can speak?" Valdemar asked coldly
"No..." The headmaid lowers her head. "My sincerest apologies-" She was cut off as a tea cup was thrown at her by the crown prince. It had hot tea in it. As it hit her, she fell down with blood trickling down her head as the tea burned her skin
The headmaid screamed in pain
It was an terrifying sight
Jhony immediately covered Dahlia's eyes as he was shaken up a lot
"Leave, your fired" Valdemar said bluntly
The headmaid immediately got up and ran off the room
"What an nuisance" He soon looks at Jhony and Dahlia. "Let's play chess" he said cheerfully
Dahlia and Valdemar plays chest. It's been 30 minutes
Dahlia made sure that she loses the game
"Are you losing on purpose?" Valdemar asked coldly
"What? I am not... Your highness, is just too good on chess" Dahlia replied blankly
"Hmm... I remember when I lost the game. I gave you a great present by giving you a head of an servant. He was one of my favorite collections cause he was pretty" Valdemar said as he chuckled. He soon pondered. "Was it from that moment that you stopped visiting me?" He asked innocently
"Your highness, you seem to be forgetting that Dahlia was sick. Which is the reason why she couldn't come" Jhony spoke up immediately, diverting the attention to him from Dahlia again
"Ah! I seem to be forgetting that Lady Dahlia has an weak body" Valdemar chuckled. "Pardon me for not remembering it" He said smiling
Dahlia only nods, she is grateful that Jhony backed her up
But it's short lived
"Say, since you lost the game. What you have in mind in giving me something? Or..." Valdemar smirked coldly. "Should I decide myself?" He asked
Dahlia and Jhony were stuck
Cause if they decide themselves then it has to be equal on what he previously gave Dahlia
But it has to be to his liking which the two don't know off, of what is to his liking
Making them end up in a bad position
And if they let Valdemar decide then he will make a demand of wanting something that's impossible for them to give
Jhony finally thought of something that might be priceless and something that Valdemar will like
"I will give your highness an priceless item" Jhony spoke up which peaked Valdemar's attention
"What is it?" Valdemar asked curiously
Jhony soon extends his hand
Light appeared on his palm
As the light fades there was
A pure mana gem was on his hand
(A mana gem was an priceless item. Basically only powerful mages can create it. Few of the swordsman that can create this are pretty rare. If an swordsman can create this then the swordsman has the quality to become an "Swordmaster")
Valdemar was surprised but soon smiled as he takes it
"I didn't know you could do it..." Valdemar examines the gem. "Young people really are bright..." He mumbled
He was about to say something but Duke Guillebeaux arrived with the king
"Children, we'll be leaving now" Duke Guillebeaux said
Jhony and Dahlia were relieved seeing him
"Had fun, son" A man with white shoulder length hair and amber eyes. Wearing royal attire, it was the king
King of Dandir
Adelio Famir Dandirium
Valdemar only nods smiling
"We shall take our leave, your majesty" Duke Guillebeaux said again
"Ah! Yes, I will be looking forward to your next visit, Duke" King Adelio said smiling
"We hope, your majesty and his highness stays in good health forever" Duke Guillebeaux, Jhony and Dahlia said in unison
Soon Duke Guillebeaux leads Jhony and Dahlia away
.
.
.
In the Guillebeaux's carriage
Jhony explained what happened in Valdemar's room as Duke Guillebeaux's expression hardened
When he was done
Silence filled in
.
.
.
"You two were brave. And Jhony, I am proud that you handled the situation well..." Duke Guillebeaux spoke up as he pats Jhony
"I hate the crown prince... he is an psycho... with two personalities... I just hope I never see him ever again..." Dahlia thought as she looked out the window of where the carriage was travelling