Did I just break a rule? Could it be so that the duchess knows about the incident at the garden? Aefia slowly walked towards her table as she picked up her hat and moved towards the door. "And where do I meet her?" She spoke politely while holding her hat low about her face.
"At the study." The guard replied while following behind. The entire of the palace was a puzzle that was hard to solve as it had multiple same doors and the same chandelier in the same looking corridors. Even the gate to the garden was the same as the gate to the exit or the entrance. The only different place was the large hall through where they enter the building.
The study was originally where the library was supposed to be, but later the castle was extended at the back and now there is a separate room for that purpose. The study was where the duchess would go if she were trying to seek clues and it was also where confidential information about the different nations of the three states were kept.
The room was filled with scrolls and maps, a larger map hung in the right wall of the study where all of the five three-states empires were and the names of their colonizer were written at the bottom of the map with colour coded keys. When all of the three states combined, they were named empire.
A question reflected back at Aefia's mind and she hesitantly decided to ask the guard about it. "May I ask you a question? You have heard about Earth haven't you?" She spoke while mendling with the chains tied to her coat's sleeves.
The guard nodded while speaking all merry-like. "Yes, and I have also heard about the stories that come from that planet about their people and populations. I have always thought about how they managed to suffer such a harsh reality and truth where we summoned those into my minds when we were born."
"That's actually an interesting hobby." Aefia spoke while clapping her hands. "Then about the question, what exactly is the link between Empire, Emperors, Dukes and all others in between?" She spoke with a slight regret in her voice.
"Well since you need to learn it anyway, Duke and Duchess are just the title most people keep before and after ascending the thrones. There are no mandatory rule where they are forced to take the title. For example, the late emperor preferred to keep the title duke and he was well-known as Duke Smod." The guard spoke while waving his fingers in the air.
"And what is the story behind Duchess Emily?" She spoke while slowly getting interested.
"The Duchess was the late emperor's middle daughter, the one older was murdered by their younger brother due to greed for the throne. The younger son had a potential of becoming the next emperor, but his pride and greed sent him to execution. But on the day there was supposed to be his trial, he fled the empire and where was no other signs of him in the other nations too."
That was little more information than I had actually expected. Aefia thought for a second before rushing to resume the conversation. "And in reference to Earth, what is the story behind the three states and nations or empires."
"Each nation has a name for itself, and the one we are currently residing at is called the Empire of Margenta. They used to say this was the nation of the selfish people who knew nothing except their pride because they were the biggest out of the five. For where on Earth, empires were meant for country, at Nikoan, empires are meant for continents.
"The main continent where the Emperors reside are all named after the rulers themselves. That was the reason why the capital of all three states is called Smod. If you can see right now, countries on Earth are equivalent to states in Nikoan." The guard blabbered on. "Anyway, that is enough of an information for now. We are almost reaching the study, so you might want to ask for shorter questions that are easier to explain."
"Well then, I have a much more intriguing question, but I don't know if you will know the answer to it." Aefia scratched the back of her head. "Why was I suddenly taken into the royal family and they made me the successor to the throne?" And why are you so rushed to answer my questions? You didn't talk much about anything.
The guard stared with shock at Aefia as a long moment of silence was stretched between the conversations. "That, maybe you should ask the duchess herself. But only one thing that I can say is how her element, the Lion, contains a skill where she can see who is best suited for which role." The guard spoke while stopping short to knock at the door of the study.
As soon as they were granted permission, the guard gestured for Aefia to get in and with a deep breath, she walked into the room with all expressions drained from her face. The duchess sat at the table with two of her sons beside her. And one of them was the troublemaker Lewis.
I knew he was going to snitch, and hopefully I didn't go against the rules. But there is a faint believe in me that I did cross the line for one of the rules where I left the estate without permission. Let's see if luck favours with me at this point, there is no Puppet to save me now.
Aefia stood with a blank face in front of the duchess as she silently put away her documents and stood up. "I have heard that there was an attempted robbery at a restaurant back on the day I had found you." She spoke while handing the scroll towards her.
Aefia moved forward to take it and stepped back from the table to keep her distance. She rapidly unfolded the paper and read the report of conversation a few investigators had with the six detained. She found all of the conversation centering their focus at one point, a girl with dark hair and dark eyes, who dissapeared in a short frame of time.
They did try their best to move back to how I was the person they were after and how I was also the person who might have killed their boss who called them. Brilliant, as I expected that they would try to twist the thing back at this point. Aefia folded it back and placed it in the table. "I am actually the person behind that incident." She spoke, not a confirmation but in a surrendering intention.
"And what was you reason for doing so?" The duchess placed her hand under her chin. Lewis seemed to be celebrating about how she might have finally been caught and laughed back at her. Aefia felt a surge of anger that told her to smack his face for the trouble he had caused back at the garden.
"They were in an intend of causing trouble and I decided that I would uproot the problem so it wouldn't start in the first place." She spoke while composed. Aefia noticed how Lewis was suddenly shuttered and George was patting his head.
"Explain from the beginning..." The duchess spoke while picking up the report Aefia had placed on the desk earlier.
"I was just there with my foster siblings when their boss threw an object at me. Knowing about these bandids for a very long time now, I knew they were already in a will of trying to cause trouble with me and the rest too. So then I threatened him by saying that I was an investigator and he moved away.
"I had my doubts so I followed him and there, I discovered about the rest of the gang members and he discovered about me, so I had to silence him out before he could notify the oncoming gang members. Therefore, I killed him and hid the evidence by taking out the bullet. Using his own phone, I contacted the police and set a trap for the others." Aefia explained in details.
"And those gaps in between your sentences is where you used your magic?" The duchess placed the report back on the table which she had been writing on about the things that Aefia had spoken. She nodded while her hands slightly shivered, although she knew there wasn't a way for her to have broken a rule.
"If thats all that was required, may I take my leave?" Aefia asked after a short time had passed and played with the seams of her sleeves. It was something she did when she was nervous about the current situation. The duchess took out another envelope from a pile of them and tore it open.
"There is just one more thing that needs to be done." The duchess stood up as she held the letter and walked outside. "George, look after Lewis and Henry. We are going over to the gang members' prison." She spoke as she grabbed Aefia's wrist along with her.
She felt Lewis smile at the way she was being dragged away by the duchess. To herself, it honestly felt like she was getting dragged along towards the place she was about to get executed. Once outside, she managed to get back in her feet and her wrist was let go by the duchess as she instructed multiple guards to do many individual things.
Aefia signed at the sight. Someday, that role will be passed down to me and I would be asked to manage the stress that comes alongside with it. The duchess looks like a tough person who can hold her composure during stressful times like this, but that is definitely not me.
The duchess spoke to one of the guards. "Gather the carriage departing towards the Robertstown City Police Station." And then to another one, "Inform the head of the unit to clear the way for an immediate visit." Both of the guards bowed and some of the maid servants came running in with her coat and hat while passinf by Aefia without even looking at her.
And I almost forgot how invisible I am actually in this castle. Siblings aren't just the problem, the maid servants and guards are too. Although, the only one guard who has acted friendly enough to me was the one who escorted me towards the study. Maybe if I get a little bit out of the Duchess's trust, I may as well be able to have that Guard by my side as a fixed?
Aefia rubbed her head with that thought, recalling how far apart she was from the woman who picked her up from the street that day, and forced her into this life she never wanted. Am I supposed to act or just be myself? I am not going to survive this palace if anyone just leaves me to be.
Suddenly, a familiar face appeared among the maid servants and walked right up to Aefia with a wet cloth. She softly lifted her chin and wiped the side of her eyes and her mouth before smiling and walking away. That was the servant I helped hand over the dish, wasn't she? Looks like I am starting to get a little professional at this task, that's a huge progression then!
She happily walked behind the duchess, which caused her to spin around to notice the odd expression. In a swift movement, Aefia used her palms to cover her face and make it seem as if she was itching her eyes instead. The lady turned away with a narrowed eye at her while proceeding to order the guards to carry out many other tasks around the household.
Some were asked to handle the monthly salaries while others were asked to check that the cabinets didn't have spider webs inside them. It made Aefia realize just how much unnecessary task needed to be done before leaving the house and just how little effort is necessary.
I guess she is preparing for a guest? The banquet is around the corner so it could be possible that she just wants to invite the other members of the houses over to discuss a few matters? And it will be lucky enough if I didn't need to attend.
They reached the exit to find two carriages already arranged. The one in front was filled with a few guards who were dressed formally and those Aefia acknowledged as bodyguards instead. The one behind it was empty and it were the carriage they were going on.
I know I am just adjusting, but I have no doubt that this is still more embarrassing then walking. I would have intentionally walked my way there if there were no 'royal' involved in my name. And I know that there isn't actually a 'royal' in my name either, so apparently I am just overthinking my situations a little worse then it really is.
***
The officer bowed upon their arrival and was shocked to see that there was someone else accompanying her around this time. Every now and then, when they opened their mouth to ask the duchess about Aefia, she would silence them and ask them for directions.
Aefia was happy that no one was able to give a head to what or who she was, and they acted normally to her as if she were just a citizen. I think this environment is much comforting than the time they had me guarded along the way towards the exit of the palace.
At the lowest end of the hallway on the third underground floor, Aefia noticed the six members who were there to confront her on the day of the incident. One of them bared their teeth at her as she pointed at him and spoke out to the duchess in a loud and playful voice. "Mom! This one was the one who had cut my wrist!"
The other officers turned around as the duchess walked over to the cell door. The head of the police station walked over as he added, "yes your majesty, he has been causing trouble around the prison too."
Aefia smirked at the prisoner while acting all proud as he slumped back down and bowed his head. Soon afterwards, the duchess declared to the entire police station. "I want them executed in front of the royal palace a day before the banquet."
No wait!...this changes everything! Aefia thought as she broke into a cold. I was planning on doing something else with this matter!