I stared at the room full of books. I want to remain here forever, not minding what’s happening outside.
“Do you like it here, Princess?”
“Yes.”
Cecil guided me through the hallways and shelves, “Now where is Sir Librarian?”
Sir Librarian? I looked at Cecil with a questioning look.
“He’s the one in charge of everything inside this library.”
Then we heard something fall from the distance.
“Oh my!”
Cecil then carried me and swiftly walk towards the direction of the noise. Cecil hid in one of the shelves before walking straight ahead.
A man was picking up the books scattered on the floor.
“Sir, let me help you.” Cecil put me down and proceeded to help the man.
“Oh, no, no, no. It’s okay, I can handle these by myself.”
How is it that only one man is managing this entire library? Aren’t they too understaffed?
The man looked at me as his eyes went wide, “Oh my! Where are my manners?”
He hurriedly bowed down, “Greetings to the princess of the empire.”
“I wanted to show her around the library,” Cecil informed him.
“Oh, the storybooks are over there. Walk straight ahead and turn right, a lot of picture books arrived during lunchtime. So that area is still quite a mess.”
“I thought no one is allowed to go inside the imperial grounds?”
“Oh, it was from the Young Duke of the East. So they allowed it, though they were only given limited entry. The carriage and boxes were checked thoroughly and they only let one servant in.”
Young Duke of the East? Finnian?
“Why did the Young Duke give a lot of picture books?” Cecil asked the librarian.
The librarian only shrugged, “I also don’t know. I shall take my leave first. Just ring the bells located on the walls if you need anything.”
Cecil bowed down as he left. “Let’s go check these picture books, princess.”
A lot was an understatement as I beheld the mountain of books in front of me. They were neatly stacked, but not yet arranged on the shelves. Well, maybe that’s because the shelves no longer have any room for them.
“Do you want to bring some books to your room, princess?”
I nodded as I went closer to the stacked books.
“Be careful, princess. They may fall down, just wait over there as I pick books for you.”
I saw the same book Finnian and I read last night.
“Ce!”
“Hmm, what is it, princess?”
I pointed to the book, “Oh do you want this one?”
I stretched out my hand, letting Cecil know that I want to hold the book.
“Okay, sit there as I continue looking for other books.” Cecil smiled at me as she saw how eager I was to open the book.
I opened the book and saw a note sticking to it.
‘To my new friend. Enjoy. –F’
*****
Lucil walked swiftly through the hallways, opening every door she could find.
“Where is our little Flizeria?”
“We don’t know your grace.” One of the maids answered.
“Guards! Have you seen the princess?”
“We haven’t seen her, your grace.”
“Then why are you just standing there? Find her!”
Lucil was very excited after leaving the Emperor's study but her excitement vanished when she found no trace of Flizeria.
“Where could you have gone to? It’s time to tell you the good news. Oh, right. Where’s Blue?”
“She’s with the twins, your grace.”
“So where is the princess?”
A maid came running in the direction of Lucilia, “I’m sorry for running in front of you, your grace. But I came here to tell the whereabouts of the princess.”
“So, where is she?”
“She’s at the library, your grace.”
Lucilia smiled widely, “Oh, okay. Thank you.”
Lucilia almost ran towards the library before stopping herself.
“I’m a duchess, a duchess does not run.”
*****
The Emperor continued to sign the papers on his table as he sipped tea. When he felt a presence behind him, outside the window.
“Come in.”
The window open as the wind rushed inside and a man with red hair is now kneeling in front of the emperor.
“Your Majesty.”
“So, how is the princess, Alaric?”
“The princess..”
Alaric paused, hesitating for a moment.
“Well?” The emperor raised his eyebrow waiting for Alaric to continue.
“She’s different.”
“How different?”
“She can keep up with a conversation. There’s intellect behind her eyes as if she’s an adult, not a baby.”
“And?”
“And I have observed her since she came here, and can confirm that she is not a threat.”
The emperor was now deep in thought, “She’s not like this before.”
The emperor kept on mumbling about how different she was back then.
“She was a normal baby before, so what happened?”
“Is there anything else, your majesty?”
Alaric is the only living thing that can cut off the emperor since he is the emperor’s dragon and therefore someone who is of equal standing to him.
“No, nothing else came to mind. Thank you for your report Alaric, please do continue observing the princess.”
“Oh, and your majesty. She is fond of books, she’s inside the library right now.”
“Order the men constructing the Caelum Palace to construct a mini library inside the palace. Preferably, near the princess’ room.”
“Understood, your majesty.” Alaric stood up and was about to leave the room when the emperor snapped his fingers.
“Oh, Alaric please do observe if the princess is right-handed or left.”
Alaric was curious but did not ask any further. He only nodded and continue to leave the study room.
The Emperor stood up and rang the bell. Lord Earl came inside the room, “Yes, your majesty?”
“How are the preparations for Flizeria’s birthday banquet?”
“We are now contacting the people in charge of the preparation. Duchess Emilia is now starting to write the invitations. Duchess Lucilia already sent a letter to the boutique.”
“Good. Prepare to open the imperial grounds two days from now. We only have two weeks of preparation, I trust you to oversee the preparation.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
*****
The afternoon passed away swiftly. Lucil was so excited about my upcoming birthday banquet and ordered me to change my meal into something more nutritious and delicious for a baby as a preparation for my birthday. For me to gain weight and become healthier.
“How about let’s visit Sister Emilia, she’s the one writing the invitations. Traditionally, it’s the mother or the empress who writes invitations until you will come of age.”
We are now outside Emilia’s chambers as Lucil knocked on her door.
A maid opened the door and announced our arrival.
“Let them come in.” Emilia’s voice was filled with irritation, nevertheless, she let us in.
“I’m really busy right now. Why did he even give me the hard work? I’m more suited to pick dresses for her since I have a daughter. “
“Now, now, sister, it’s Father’s orders. Also, I’m here to help you. Flizeria can play with Fae. Is she around?”
“She’s inside her room.” Emilia signaled one of her maids to take me to Fae’s room.
“It’s a miracle that you’re allowing your daughter to play with Flizeria.”
“What can I do? Father considers her as family. I honor our family very much, and if she’s part of it then I will accept it.” Emilia then looked at me as the maid carried me.
“Well, until she makes one mistake that will dishonor our family, that is. Take her away.” With that, Emilia waved her hand and the maid carried me outside towards Fae’s room.
When we entered Fae’s room, Nix was with her.
“What is she doing here?”
“Duchess Emilia wants her to play with Princess Fae, your highness.”
Nix let out an annoyed sound got up and walked towards us.
“Move, I’ll be going outside.”
As much as I don’t want to see him being filled with anger at a young age, I just don’t like wasting my time trying to change his perspective towards me. I was not reborn to make other people like me, to make them accept me. So, I decided to just don’t care what Nix thinks of me. After all, it’s his life. Only Emilia can change him since she was probably the one who instilled hatred inside his little mind towards me.
I looked up at the maid and thought she seemed familiar. So I stared at her intently, why do you look so familiar?
“Ugh, you’re such a weird baby. Why can’t you be more like Princess Fae, over there?”
The maid put me down and sat on one of the couches inside the room.
“Do whatever you want, I’ll be taking my afternoon nap. Don’t you dare wake me up!”
Oh, that’s why she was so familiar, she was one of those maids who talked behind my back. That’s why I’ve never seen her again, she was now the maid assigned to Emilia’s children.
Then I heard a squeezing sound and laughter that came afterward. I turned to look at Fae, she was biting her toy.
Isn’t that dangerous for a baby? She may swallow that toy!
I walked towards her as she continue biting onto it. I took the toy before she can swallow it, but she cried.
“Ugh! What are you doing? Why are you now holding Princess Fae’s toy?!”
The maid forcefully took the toy off my hand, “Don’t steal other people’s toys! Well, of course, maybe your mother was a thief.”
I looked at my hand as it started to turn red.
“So what, are you gonna cry about it?”
She gave the toy back to Fae, as she went to the bed this time.
“The next time you’re going to wake me up, I’m going to hit you and tell everyone you fell on your face.”
Fae was now looking at the toy in her hand then at me, “Ngh?”
She gave me her toy as if telling me that I can have it.
So, I took it and she laughed sweetly at me. She stood up and ran towards her stack of toys.
“Toys!”
I heard that she’s already two years old, maybe that’s why she can already run, while I just learned how to walk.
“Toys!”
She urged me to see and play with her toys together with her, so I did.