We continued answering as Ashwin and Nix would quarrel every now and then. Ashnor can only sigh as he calmed them down as he read a book.
“The two of you must act more mature, we are turning four this year,” Ashnor told them.
I don’t really know much about the development of a human person since I, myself, never experienced real childhood but I do know that four-year-olds are not supposed to be really mature. I also know that four-year-olds do not have the same classes as they have. Is this even healthy for them?
I know that I am an exception since originally I’m already sixteen, but my mental age is much older than that because of the drugs, experiments, and training the organization has put me through.
Ashwin and Nix continued fighting, I can’t even remember what they were fighting in the first place. But I touched both of their faces and both of them looked at me.
Nix blushed as he looked at me while Ashwin looked sad.
“Are you disappointed in me, Fifi?” Ashwin pouted, “I promise I will not fight again.”
I crawled to him and hugged him.
“Hey! I want Ria to hug me too!” Ashnor put down the book he was reading and crawled over to us and peeled me away from Ashwin.
“Hey! She was hugging me, don’t take her away from me Ashnor!”
Ashnor looked me in the eye as he pouted, “Can I also receive a hug from Ria?”
I smiled at him and hugged him too.
Nix only watched us as Ashwin and Ashnor started to argue. I crawled away from the two of them and towards Nix.
Nix looked at me carefully trying to understand what I was going to do. I stretched out my hand and touched his cheeks, causing him to blush again.
“Hey! Nix is stealing Fifi from us!” Ashwin shouted.
“What? I am not!” Nix held up his hands.
“Yes, you are!” Ashwin crawled toward us trying to take me away from Nix.
I sighed mentally, is this how children usually behave? I swear I’m never going to have any. But even though I’m complaining to myself, I can’t help but smile at them. I honestly agree with Alaric, I also hope that it’s always this peaceful. I crawled over to Ashnor, he no longer tried to stop Ashwin and Nix from arguing.
“Do you want me to hit them, Ria?” Ashnor put down his book and let me sit on his lap.
“No,” I smiled at him as I snuggled closer to his chest.
I don’t know why I was brought to this world and I no longer care but I do hope that this would last forever. It’s too good to be true, especially when my father died protecting me and Caelum Palace blew up days ago.
It kind of feels like those things never happened when I’m with these people, and honestly, I’m happy that Nix is starting to soften up towards me. In the end, he was still just a child.
The two of them continued fighting as someone knocked on the door and opened it.
A maid curtsied, “Your highnesses, dinner is ready. Please follow me.”
*****
The emperor is taking his dinner together with his two daughters at the dining hall inside the imperial palace. No one spoke as they continue to eat their dinner.
“What seems to be the problem, Father?” Emilia was the first one to ask.
“No, nothing really. So how are your preparations for Flizeria’s birthday?”
“It is going well, Father,” Lucilia answered as she took a bite.
“Thank you for taking care of this.” The Emperor looked at them with genuine gratitude in his eyes.
“No need to thank us, Father, I treat Flizeria as my own. It is the least I could do for Brother.” Lucilia smiled warmly at the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at Emilia, “I do hope you will learn to accept her as part of the family, Emilia.”
Emilia sighed, “Fae is very fond of her. I will try to see her in a new light.”
The Emperor smiled genuinely which cause Emilia and Lucilia to widen their eyes in shock.
“What? Are you not used to seeing your father smiling?” The emperor even chuckled, causing Lucilia and Emilia to look at each other questioningly.
The Emperor sighed and his face became sad.
“Do you want to know the last request of your brother?”
His two daughters immediately looked at him with longing in their eyes.
“Here,” The emperor put a letter on the table.
“It is the last time he contacted me,” He looked at the servants lingering at the corners, “Leave us.”
He waited for everyone to leave before opening the contents of the letter.
“I will read for you,” The Emperor inhaled deeply and exhaled.
“Dearest Father, How are you? I have been doing well. Well, we are doing well. Me and Flizeria, your granddaughter. I still cannot come home since I am not yet done with my investigation, but do not worry for I am almost done. It might have been a burden to you, sending the crown prince to handle the investigation alone, but we all know that it must be done by me, and no one else. It was what the dragons have directed, we might not know and understand now, but someday I know we will.”
“Other than that, I have been raising Flizeria alone since we all know what happens to the person not of imperial blood when a child is born through them. I never regretted my decision of having a child with her, even though she died. Of course, she meant the world to me, so it did cause me to mourn but our baby is the most important person right now. We knew the consequences, she knew the consequences and still chose to let the baby live.”
“When I am done, we will come home and I will bring my findings. I do hope you, big sister Emilia, and Lucilia will love her just like how much you loved the three of us. And even though Flizeria is considered as an illegitimate child, she is still my child and has imperial blood running through her veins.”
“Yours Truly, Flizer.”
The room was quiet again for some time as tears were visible in Emilia’s and Lucilia’s eyes.
“We never got to know what he found out since when we searched him, they only found a box but no one can open it. Maybe his findings are inside, but we do know that the child is his daughter. So I do hope you will grant him his last wish.”
Lucilia and Emilia both nodded, “Uhm, Father how did you know that her birthday is five days from now?” Emilia asked with sincere curiosity.
“Flizer had sent me a letter when Flizeria was born.”
“Oh, before I forgot, the Dukes of the North and South contacted the palace earlier. They will be leaving their respective duchy first thing in the morning. So, it might be better for you to go to your mansions in the capital and prepare to welcome them from their long journey.”
Happiness can be seen inside Emilia’s and Lucilia’s eyes when the Emperor mentioned the possible arrival of their husbands.
“Can we take the children with us tonight?” Lucilia asked.
“Yes, you may. I’m sure they missed their father greatly. I will also cancel their classes for the next five days until the banquet.”
“But, the princess will be lonely without them,” Emilia is now expressing concern for the princess.
“She may go with either of you if she wants to. They are probably having their dinner right now. Go and ask her after you two are done eating here.”
“I’m still trying to accept her, so I’m not that eager to invite her over. Lucilia can, her sons are fond of her.”
“Okay, then. I shall take my leave first and retire for the night.”
The Emperor stood up and Lucilia and Emilia curtsied, “Have a good night, Father.”
“Sister, we can go to cold spring together with the children and our husband, what do you think?” Lucilia excitedly invited Emilia.
“Hmmm, let me think about it. I’m going to ask Nix if it is okay with him spending time with the princess.”
Lucilia was smiling weirdly at Emilia, “Why are you smiling like that?”
“You never once called her trash again.”
“Of course, we are in front of Father.” Emilia looked like she is blushing.
“Whatever you say, Sister.”
*****
When we got to the dining hall, Emilia and Lucil were not there. Only Fae and the servants, even Blue was not there. Where are they?
I scanned the dining hall to look for Cecil and Ser Wayne but both of them are also not there.
A maid approached me and curtsied, “I will be the one assisting you tonight, princess. Miss Cecil is still preparing for your birthday banquet together with the Lady Florein and Lord Earl.”
I tilted my head indicating that I’m still looking for another person.
“Oh, and I heard Ser Wayne is doing extra training especially now that you are going to be introduced to the public.”
What does that have to do with training? Is it because more people will become aware of my existence? That he must be strong enough to protect me from harm?
The five of us continued eating as Emilia and Lucilia entered the dining hall.