The room went quiet as I finished writing my answer on the board. I looked up to the emperor and he, too, had a shocked expression. I thought he was already aware of who or what kind of baby I really am, so why is he having such an expression?
His mouth was opened as he stared at the board for a few seconds. He sounded confident earlier that I could answer so why is he so shocked?
A few seconds passed by and the emperor cleared his throat, “Oh, see that! That’s my granddaughter. A genius, a prodigy.”
Ronan also cleared his throat as he looked with amazement in his eyes at me, “I can’t believe it…”
His mouth is still slightly open as he looked at me as if I’m a rare species, “The-the princess... Your Majesty! This is so amazing!”
“What is amazing?” Ashwin walked towards us as he looked up at the board.
“Your cousin is amazing, Ashwin.” The emperor patted his head.
“What’s so amazing about that?” Nix folded his arms as he looked at me and the board.
“Well, you see, Prince Nix, the princess’ answer is correct,” Ronan explained to Nix.
“Well, of course, it’s correct. We’re talking about Ria here. She’s a genius, I once showed her a mathematics book and I can tell that she understood the book.” Ashnor spoke.
When we have our free time, Ashnor would show Ashwin and me different kinds of books. There were storybooks and educational ones fit for children. I did not know that he was observing me carefully enough for him to conclude that I’m a genius.
“What do you mean, Ashnor?” The emperor asked him.
“Well, there were times that I’m teaching Ashwin the basics and Ria would also be there. Ashwin most of the time, sleep through the lecture but Ria paid attention.”
“Hey, I do not sleep during lectures.” Ashwin protested as he looked at his brother then at the emperor.
“But your Majesty, with all due respect, is this normal, or is this even real?” Ronan asked the Emperor with hesitation.
“Hmmm, I also don’t know Ronan. But let me ask you, are dragons normal and real?”
“What do you mean, your majesty?”
“I’m asking if, years ago, during Emperor Benedict’s time, before he encountered the great dragon. Are dragons normal and real beings?”
“N-no, your majesty. They were considered a myth.”
“How about now, if you are living in a different kingdom or empire, are dragons real and normal?”
“N-no your majesty. Since only the Draconian Empire was given the blessings of the dragons.”
“Well, there you have it. We’ll now take our leave.”
The emperor went for the door but then stopped and looked at Ronan again, “Ronan what happened here today, do keep it a secret.”
Ronan bowed down, “Yes, your majesty.”
With that we left the room, the emperor called one of the knights standing on guard in the hallways.
“Take the princess to her room.”
The knight saluted as he took me as the emperor left.
*****
The emperor put on a calm expression as he walked back to his palace, but inside he was also in shock after he saw Flizeria write the correct answer.
“She will likely be in more danger if the public knows how much of genius she is.” The emperor mumbled to himself as servants and knights bowed down to him.
“I have always known that she was special, but I never thought that she was this special.”
He entered his room, “Prepare a bath for me.”
He instructed the maids as he went over the table on the balcony, overlooking the imperial grounds.
He sat down and sighed to himself, “What am I going to do Flizer? You trusted her to me. Am I going to make the right decisions this time?”
*****
When I got to my room, it was empty. I’m no longer sharing a room with the twins and Cecil and Ser Wayne were not here. The knight stood outside the door, maybe waiting for Ser Wayne to come back.
I bet Cecil was busy with the preparations for my banquet.
I walked outside the balcony and dusk was falling rapidly. I can now run and walk with ease, and can even talk properly, but I withhold myself from talking too much because it might catch some unwanted attention towards me.
The banquet is only a few days from now and starting tomorrow the capital will be filled with nobles that will be attending the banquet. All of the nobles have their own mansions inside the capital and another mansion in their respective territories.
“I wonder if Finnian would come.”
“Oh, are you acquainted with the young duke of the east?”
I almost jumped as I hear someone sitting on the branch of the tree in front of the balcony. I haven’t even felt his presence, are my senses becoming that dull after transferring to this body?
“Oh, don’t be frightened princess, it’s me Alaric.”
The man jumped from the tree branch towards the balcony.
It’s the Emperor’s dragon, what is he doing here?
“I am here to check up on you.”
“Why?”
“Since your personal knight is not here?” He smiled innocently at me.
Really? I doubt that, I had a feeling that he’s been observing me for quite a while.
“The princess seems doubtful at my words.” He put on a hurt expression as he sat down on the floor.
“Come and sit on my lap, princess.”
“Why are you sitting on the floor?” I did not bother to hide that I can already talk fluently since I have a feeling that he already knew.
“I find it more comfortable. Are you not comfortable?”
Alaric looked young but he has the same eyes as the emperor, full of wisdom and power.
“Why aren’t you surprised that I can already talk?” I asked him bluntly.
“Oh, Princess, since I’m a dragon. I’ve seen and heard more surprising stuff than you speak.”
I still have a lot of questions about the dragons, like where do they come from? Why did they even choose to bless the imperial family?
Is it only because Benedict helped the great dragon? Is that really it? I doubt that.
“You have a lot of questions in your mind, princess.” He smiled again and tapped on his lap, telling me to me sit.
“Why are the dragons helping us?” I blurted out my question.
“Why can’t we not?” He chuckled to himself.
I remembered how the dragons resemble the personalities of their owners but I have doubts that the emperor is like this deep down.
“Oh, come on princess. You look so serious, you’ll age faster.” He no longer waited for me to walk towards him. He held me up and put me on his lap as he leaned on the balustrades and closed his eyes as he caressed my hair.
“What are you thinking?” I asked him.
“Nothing much.” He started humming as night came.
“I hope it’s always this peaceful.” He inhaled deeply and exhaled.
“Do you like peace, princess?”
Do I like peace? I recalled fragments of what the world during my previous life looked like. I can’t fully remember what the world looked like since the organization would give us a drug that let us forget. But I can still see fragments of the outside world every now and then and I can conclude that the world I came from was definitely not peaceful.
“Yes, I do.” I leaned on his chest as I calmed down.
“So are the dragons here to help maintain peace?” I asked him.
“Yeah, something like that. We are also affected if anything happens to this world.”
“I have another question.”
I can feel him chuckling to himself.
“What?” I pulled back and looked at him.
“This is the first time that you really acted like a child. Full of curiosity, and questions.”
I don’t even know how a child acts since I never once became one. I never experienced real emotions before. Is this how a child acts?
“Okay, so what is your question?”
“Can a dragon disobey the imperial they’re bonded with?”
“Hmmm at some point yes, but not entirely.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s have Blue as the example. She was instructed to keep you safe but she still brought you to the east.”
My eyes went wide, “You knew about that?”
He just smiled and continued talking, “She disobeyed but not entirely since Duchess Lucilia also wants you to enjoy an adventurous life. Blue knows how the duchess truly feels.”
I raised my eyebrow not really understanding it.
“Okay, for example. If the Emperor would command me to kill someone-“ He looked at me and remembered that I’m still a one-year-old baby.
“Go on, if he commands you to kill?”
“Okay? If he commands me to kill someone but his heart says otherwise, then I can disobey him.”
“So you’re saying that Lucil does not really want us to be safe?”
“What? No! I did not mean that.” I can see his calm expression breaking as he tried to explain it more clearly.
I laughed at that, “Okay, okay. I kind of get it now. Lucil wants us to be safe but she also wants me to have an adventure?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Fifi! Are you here?!” We heard Ashwin shouting from afar then Alaric made me stand up as he kneeled in front of me.
“I should get going now, princess. Thank you for accompanying me.” He smiled and kissed my hand then he swiftly flew away.
“Ria, why are you outside? It’s already dark.” Ashnor and Ashwin are standing at the door of the balcony.
“Let’s come inside the play, Fifi!” Ashwin held my hand as we walked inside.