When we arrived at the palace, we were led by the same butler who announced the dinner earlier. Instead of leading us towards the dining area, he led us towards the Emperor’s guest area. Before opening the door he told us that this is where we’ll wait until the dining area is ready. So we’ll just help ourselves with snacks.
“Ria!” “Fifi!”
When we opened the door, the twins immediately greeted me. Their mother is also smiling at me as she stretched out her hands.
“We greet the Duchess of the North and Duchess of the South. We also greet the Empire’s princes and princess.” Ser Wayne and Cecil bowed and greeted everyone in the room.
Since Cecil is a maid and Ser Wayne is a Knight, they’re only standing at the corner together with the others’ maids and knights.
“I can carry the princess so that she can also enjoy the atmosphere around the table.” The twins’ mother offered her hand to carry me.
“Yes Your Grace.”
“Yey! Fifi will be seated next to me!”
“Now now, Ashwin, calm down or the princess will cry.”
“Ria is not easily startled,” Ashnor commented calmly.
“Yeah! Fifi is an intelligent baby.”
“She’s a commoner.” We all looked at the voice where it came from.
Duchess of the North – Emilia.
“Oh sister, she’s brother’s daughter. She’s not a commoner.”
“Pffft. You honestly believe that filthy baby is our brother’s daughter?” She laughed mockingly at me.
“I don’t want that thing to grow up together with my son and daughter.”
Beside her, her son, Nix, was also laughing mockingly at me. A baby girl was seated in a baby seat that was being fed by a maid.
“No dragon will choose her,” Nix commented.
“Oh yeah! I bet she’ll even be chosen by the red dragon!” Ashwin defended me.
“That’s a big possibility since she’s the crown prince’s daughter,” Ashnor added.
The Duchess of the North is glaring at the twins then at their mother.
“You should teach your children not to lie Lucil. Tsk tsk.”
“Kids calm down, just enjoy your snacks.”
“But they’re bad-mouthing Fifi!”
“Pffft, what is she? A Bird?” Nix started to mock me again.
I picked up a cupcake from the table. Nix is seated in front of me. Okay, this is a good way to test my arm strength. I don’t like how he laughs at the twins. I would not get scolded with this, right? I’m a baby after all.
So, I hit him with the cupcake, and yep, bull’s eye!
“Ouch!” Nix is now holding his right eye.
“Why you!” The duchess stood up and was about to hit me.
The twins’ mother only laughed.
“Oh, come on sister. You’re going to hit a baby? What would the public think about you, hitting a baby?” The twins’ mother feigns concern toward her sister.
The duchess looked around the room and saw the maids and knights that were gathered. So, she calmed down and sat down.
“Who’s her maid?”
“It is I, your grace.” Cecil came forward.
“You’re fired! How can you not teach her basic manners?!”
What? Cecil got fired? Can she do that? I looked at Cecil.
I’m sorry Cecil.
Cecil looked like everything collapsed.
“B-but your gra”
“Now, you’re talking back? No wonder, that thing lacks manner.” She looked at me with disgust.
Nix was smiling widely, enjoying the scene of her mother firing a servant.
Then someone cleared their throat.
“I’m afraid you cannot fire her, your grace. She’s employed under the Emperor, not under your duchy.”
The butler came in and interrupted what was happening inside. Cecil exhaled and clutched her chest. She then looked at me and smiled, assuring me that’s she was okay.
“Also, dinner is ready. Now, please follow me.”
The Duchess of the north hurriedly left the room, almost stomping her feet every step of the way. Her son ran behind her to catch up with her. She was followed by her servants.
“Your Grace, I can carry the princess on the way to the dining area.” Cecil offered.
“No need. I want to carry her. I really wanted to have a daughter.” She smiled kindly at me.
“Can we not just adopt Fifi?” Ashwin asked her mother, pouting.
“I’m sorry, I’m afraid we cannot… for now.” The duchess smiled.
“What do you mean by that mother?” Ashnor asked.
“Come on, we’ll be late for dinner.”
Our walk towards the dining area was noisy because Ashwin kept on asking his mother to adopt me ‘now’.
“Mother, you said for now. Meaning, can we in the future?” Ashnor asked his mother formally.
“It depends. We’ll see.”
When we arrived at the dining area, the duchess of the north – Emilia was already seated together with her son and daughter.
We sat down at the opposite of them.
I looked at the baby girl, she’s about the same age as me. What would happen in the future? Can we even get along?
“The Emperor has arrived.” The butler announced and the man from my first night here came inside.
His face is beautiful as the first time I saw him. Fair white skin, red curly hair. His regal face scanned the room as the two duchess, the twins, and Nix stood up. Everyone in the room bowed down. He was followed by a man with red hair and was wearing a red robe. I figure this is the emperor’s dragon.
“At ease.” The emperor held up his hand. “Be seated, my children.”
When we became seated, everyone waited for the emperor to take the first bite. When he did, we then followed.
For me and the other baby, we were being fed by our personal maids.
“Princess.” Cecil came forward and smiled at me.
I reached out my hand to caress her face to say I was sorry about earlier.
“So! Ry!” I whispered to her.
“It’s okay my princess. You did nothing wrong.”
“So how are the north and south?” The emperor asked his daughters.
“The north is preparing for winter,” Emilia answered.
“The south got their fresh harvest and are now stocking everything for the people.” Lucil made her own report.
“That’s good. That’s good. Tell Lord Occidens if there’s any problem.” He nodded towards the butler.
“Will do, your majesty.” Both bowed their head down slightly.
“You can drop the titles inside the dining area. We’re here as a family. This is not an official meeting.” The emperor lightly chuckled.
“How come my own children are so stiff around their father? Only Flizer dared to be comfortable around me.” The emperor chuckled but was immediately followed by pain and sadness.
The emperor sighed. “Oh, Flizer. May he rest in peace.” Then he looked at me and smiled.
“Well, at least his daughter is safe.”
“Pfft. I’m sorry father, but do you honestly believe that that ugly thing is his daughter?”
“Watch your language, Emilia. She’s your brother’s daughter because he said so himself.”
“Why do you still hold him in your highest regard, when he turned his back on this empire years ago.” Emilia was almost shouting at the emperor.
“Emilia, although I told you to be comfortable that doesn’t mean you can raise your voice towards me.”
The room was quiet with a heavy atmosphere.
“So when will we be able to know what truly happened, father?” This time Lucil calmly asked the emperor.
“We want to know what happened to Flizer.” Unlike Emilia, accusing the crown prince, Lucil only wants to know the truth. She even looked like she was on the verge of tears.
The emperor only sighed.
“It’s too soon for you all to know. Just know, he left for the empire, not because he turned his back on it.”
“Did you also know that he’s not going to come back alive, father? That’s why you called the children here?” Lucil asked.
“At some point, yes. I know he’s not going to make it. That’s why I called them here.” He looked at us one by one.
“This is the first time in the imperial family to let the grandchildren participate in the Vinculum Ceremony. Traditionally, only the children of the emperor will be given that chance.”
“Though, I, myself, don’t even know if the family of the red dragon will show up. Until Flizeria came into the picture.” He looked at me with hope.
“That’s absurd. It’s not even proven yet if she’s truly a member of the imperial family. Her skin, her hair, her eyes, are all screaming otherwise.” Emilia started to be dramatic again.
“Sister, calm down,” Lucil told Emilia.
“Well, if she’s really my grandchild then she’s the most possible candidate to have the red dragon. Since Flizer was the crown prince. He would’ve been the emperor.”
What are they talking about? I remembered what Ser Wayne told me about the Vinculum Ceremony. If I would fit the little information altogether, I can only conclude that those who are chosen by the red dragon will become the crown prince or crown princess. And that answers why the portrait of my father has a red dragon with him.
“And as agreed, if the children are not chosen by the red dragon, they’ll leave this palace at the age of fourteen and will be called by their titles in your respective dukedoms.”
Lucil then slightly raised her hand.
“Father, may I ask you something?”
The emperor only nodded.
“I would like to ask for your permission. If ever the red dragon will not choose Flizeria, can I have custody over her? I’ll adopt her into the family.”
The emperor raised his eyebrow.
“Why would you do that?”
“I want to do something for my brother, too.” She answered sincerely as she looked at me.
I looked at Ashwin as he waited for the emperor’s answer. I’m amazed how he’s really behaved in front of the emperor.
Ashnor on the other hand was eating calmly as if he already knew the emperor’s answer would be a yes.
“I can’t do that.” The emperor stated simply.
Ashnor almost coughed up the food he ate while Ashwin was pouting, forcing himself not to go on a tantrum in front of the emperor.
“May I ask the reason, father?”
“It’s simple, I’m planning to raise her as a princess in this palace.”
“What!?” Emilia slammed the table. “Are you planning on making her the crown princess, still?”
“It depends. When the red dragon chooses the crown prince or crown princess out of these children, of course, she can’t be the crown princess. But, if the red dragon chooses none, then maybe.”
“How can you decide something like that?! We don’t even know if a dragon will choose her nor will respond to her blood!” Emilia stood up.
“We will know soon.” The Emperor answered calmly.
Emilia left the room without finishing her dinner. Everyone looked at how the emperor will respond to that behavior, but he only sighed. Nix and her servants followed her.
“Please continue to eat your dinner, I’ll be going on ahead.”
We only bowed down as the emperor stood up and left the room.
“Oh, and before I forgot. I’m planning on holding a ball for the 4th birthday of the princes. Let’s merge the date of the celebration for Nix, Ashwin, and Ashnor’s birthday. Lord Occidens will give you an update later on.” With that, he left the room.