Right after dinner, Lucil ordered the maids to pack our things for a four-day stay at the Meridiem mansion. I heard the Duke is arriving early in the morning, and Lucil wanted me to come with them instead of just staying at the palace, alone for the next four days.
I wondered what the twins’ father looks like. I assumed that he and Lucil only had a political marriage, considering that Lucil was only sixteen when she married him. But the way Lucil was so excited to meet her husband, I thought otherwise.
Nix bid farewell when Emilia also told him to get ready, since his father will also arrive tomorrow. Emilia only looked at us as Nix acted like we were always friendly with each other, but she did not say anything.
“Fifi! I know you are going to love Daaaad!!” Ashwin was now hopping while he was running towards the main door of the palace.
“Be careful Ashwin or you will trip.” Lucil chuckled to herself, seeing how her son is so excited to see his father.
“We are all excited to see him, but please do be careful. You don’t want to face him with a bruised face, don’t you?”
Lucil was now carrying me towards the main door where the carriage is waiting for us. Ashnor is holding unto his mother’s dress as we continue to walk.
“Are you okay, Ashnor?” Lucil asked her son since he was so quiet ever since Lucil announced that their father is coming.
“I’m okay, I’m excited to see Dad, too…”
“Hmmm? But?”
“But I don’t know how to act in front of him anymore.”
Lucil stopped walking and crouch so she can clearly see Ashnor’s face, “What do you mean, my dear?”
“I mean, we only exchanged letters. I can’t even remember what he looks like. The last time he was here was last year and that was only for a week. What if I will make a mistake when we meet?”
Lucil cupped Ashnor’s cheek with her hand, “It does not matter how you act in front of him. It does not matter if you will make a mistake since I know you will not. And I also know that your father loves you more than you can comprehend, my dear. Don’t think too much about it, okay?”
Ashnor only nodded and looked down and Lucil kissed his forehead.
“Ash!” I also patted Ashnor’s head so he looked up and smiled at us.
“What’s taking you guys so long? Hurry up! The carriage is here!”
“Let’s go?”
Lucil offered her hand to Ashnor and he grabbed hold of it and continued walking outside.
The ride towards the Meridiem mansion was filled with Ashwin’s constant jumping up and down with excitement. The carriage even rattled every now and then. There were knights from the Meridiem household and even from the imperial family, escorting us.
The emperor ordered a few of the imperial knights to come because of us, the children. Since one of us will be the next in line for the throne after we know who will inherit the red dragon, indicating that that child will become the next crown prince or princess.
I saw the Meridiem mansion loomed over at us as we grow nearer and nearer to it. The streets were now dark and quiet since it is already late in the evening but there were still people walking or passing by every now and then.
As I looked outside, I can suddenly feel eyes on me. Eyes that are filled with murderous intent, I know this feeling very well, since this is how I gaze upon my prey in my previous life. The only difference now is that it is directed at me.
Who is it? Where are you? Can no one from the knights feel it?
“Your Grace,” Suddenly Blue appeared outside the carriage and the carriage stopped.
“I scanned the surroundings everything was clear…” Blue became more cautious of the surroundings. Did she feel it too?
“Was? What do you mean by was?”
“No, nothing. Must have been my imagination. Sorry for troubling you, your grace. You may proceed, I will continue scanning the surroundings from above.”
As soon as Blue went towards the direction of the gaze, the murderous intent disappeared as if it was never there in the first place. Was it also just my imagination? It can’t be since I’m sure that Blue had felt it too.
“Mom? What was that about?” Ashwin snuggled closer to his mother.
“Nothing, my dear. Let’s continue heading towards the mansion so we can prepare for your father’s arrival.”
A few minutes later we arrived at the mansion. The carriage entered the front yard with servants lining up from each side of the path, bowing.
The mansion was grand, not as grand as the palace but still grander than any of the other mansions we passed by.
We stepped out of the carriage and a man greeted us.
“Good evening, your grace.” He bowed, “Please, come this way.”
Lucil put me down and let me walk together with Ashwin and Ashnor.
“That’s William, he is the butler assigned in this mansion,” Ashnor informed me.
“He manages everything here since we do not usually occupy this mansion,” Ashwin added.
When we arrive at the hall, Lucil suddenly stopped in front of us and Ashwin also stopped hopping.
“How are you, my love?”
I heard a man lovingly ask Lucil as she ran towards him and got enveloped in his embrace.
I stood there, watching them lovingly embrace each other. Lucil was filled with tears in her eyes as she can’t stop smiling. Why is Lucil crying but smiling at the same time?
The man looked in our direction, kneeled down, and offered his hand.
“Daddy!” I heard Ashwin and Ashnor shout as they ran inside the man’s arms.
Ashnor looked more at peace compared before. All of his anxieties dissipated as if it was not even there in the first place.
“How are my boys? Are you two doing well here in the capital?”
The four of them looked lovely as they exchanged hugs and kisses. I only stood there and admired the scene right in front of me. I believe that this man is their father.
He had the typical red hair color, but it is long and straight. Red eyes, and white skin features of a person with imperial blood. I was once curious. Since I was told that no person can survive having a child with someone of imperial blood – both for men and women if that person is not one. So, does that mean imperials marry their own relatives?
And the answer is right before my eyes, they do marry their relatives.
“Oh, and this must be the princess, you two have been talking about in the letters.” The man smiled lovingly at me, “Hello.”
He walked slowly towards me as if trying not to scare me and touched my cheek.
“Even with black hair, you resemble your father.”
My father? Are they close with my father?
Lucil picked me up, “Brother and Ashen are very close to each other. Ashen often visits the palace and even brother would visit him at the north.”
Ashen chuckled, “Yeah, we were sworn brothers. I was ready to devote my life to him when he inherits the throne.” Ashen’s reaction quickly became sad.
“Anyway, I’m happy to see his daughter alive and well.”
“My love, I thought you are going to arrive tomorrow afternoon?”
“After I informed the palace that I would travel at the break of dawn, I kind of decided to just leave right then and there. We have been a part for months, I was just too excited to see you three.” He laughed as he picked up the twins and carried them.
He is strong, he just casually picked them up as if they don’t even weigh a thing.
“Have you four eaten dinner, yet?”
“Yes, we have. We ate before leaving, have you?”
“Daddy! Did you know that Fifi is very smart?!”
Ashen laughed, “Really? Well, she really resembles Flizer even more.”
“Well, since it is getting late, let us all take a rest first. I know you are also tired, my love from your journey.”
Lucil affectionately touched Ashen’s arm as they smiled warmly at each other. She kissed the twins’ forehead and ordered the maids to prepare a bath for the three of us.
She handed me over to another maid and the twins were also carried by the others.
“Good night, you three.” Ashen also kissed the twins' forehead and touched my cheek once again.
He and Lucil walked towards their room first, “Oh, and also prepare a bath for me and Ashen.”
With that, we went our separate ways. The twins and I are sharing a room together and we stayed there as we waited for our bath to be ready. The room was designed for children, toys can be seen at one corner of the room and there is even a jar of candies on the bedside table.
The both of them kept on smiling to themselves until eventually, they fell asleep without even bathing for the night.
I guess both of them are already tired. I smiled as I looked at them sleeping peacefully, and I, too, closed my eyes.