Chapter Fifteen
_The Last Night of the Year: 2
"I don't want the Princess to harbor bad feelings towards me. I told you that so the Princess wouldn't pin her hopes on me and be deeply hurt. I don't wish to harm the Princess; rather, I wish her happiness..."
"..."
"Is the Princess alright?!"
I truly asked sincerely for two reasons: the first being that I swore I would never hurt a woman's feelings, and the other because I didn't want to gain enmity in this situation...
The Princess hesitated a little, but she looked at me with a sad smile and a slightly shaky voice:
"No, thank you, Your Majesty..."
She bowed and departed hastily. I hope everything is fine... I feel like I've ruined things...
I returned to the banquet and kept walking around, and fortunately, the time had passed for the Dragon rituals to begin...
All the guests headed to the Central Garden, and I went to the center, which was dominated by a statue of a silver dragon carrying on its back a piece of the land that represents the Cassian Empire. I approached the front of the dragon and stood before it to renew the Cassian Oath:
"Great Lord Cassian, today, as every year, we renew the covenant to protect your legacy and the honor of your victories...
Cassian's rule shall echo to the heavens, and the land shall be illuminated by the blessings of the Silver Dragon..."
High Priest Rookshan stood before me, holding a pure white torch in his hand, and sent his holy power around me. I felt something strange, but I ignored it. Then, I carried the torch and placed it in the dragon's heart, which shone like the
midday sun with a beautiful silver light...
* * *
"O people of Cassian and its friends...
As every year, we renew our vows to protect our land. Today, on the occasion of the Year of the Silver Dragon, I announce that the Imperial Palace will exempt everyone from winter season taxes... And regarding our allies, I wish to strengthen our relationship, and the Emperor will permit the acceptance of grants to the Great Cassian Academy."
I saw everyone's astonishment. Taxes deducted, and foreigners allowed to study at the Cassian Academy, the Closed Land's Academy. It was a real shock...
The Cassian Academy is the wealth of my father and grandfather, who revered science and knowledge. It gathered the most and rarest books in the whole world and the greatest teachers and priests for literature, history, politics, medicine, magic, and even holy power. I looked at a man standing, smiling and calm, with his red hair and cold blue eyes: Hugo Lyndon, my father's former advisor and the Academy's Head, the ingenious and most cunning man, and the man who oversaw my education since I was six...
"Ah! I remembered, Mister Lyndon... I am thinking of opening a new major called Herbal Medicine and Treatment. What do you think?! Will there be interest in it..."
I smiled gently and looked at Mister Lyndon, who adjusted his glasses and bowed with somewhat genuine gratitude:
"I thank Your Majesty for thinking of the Academy and for your great support for it, and what Your Majesty proposes is a great thing that deserves much appreciation..."
I smiled at Mister Lyndon, meaning, "What do you think?!", but he looked at me with a gaze I didn't understand, but as usual, I ignored the matter...
The clock finally struck twelve, and snow began to fall from the sky. I wonder if Aya is watching it now, or if she's asleep...
"Your Majesty, the Holy Water..."
I remembered it was the last point in the ritual. I drank the water in one gulp, despite the feeling that something bad was about to happen...
My expectations were not wrong, as only seconds passed before I felt my energy would explode, and I felt like I would choke from the mana conflict. I looked at the Patriarch, forcing myself, pretending that nothing had happened... Then I spotted Ivan nearby. I signaled him with my eyes and began moving with long strides out of the hall. Brian and Casper realized my departure and followed me. Before I reached Ivan, they reached me and bowed...
"Your Majesty! Is something dangerous happening?!"
Perhaps their long stay near me made them realize the error. I couldn't tell them, so I spoke firmly:
"I must leave quickly, and no one must notice my disappearance, especially the Temple..."
Casper smiled cheerfully, and Brian smiled with a confident face:
"His Majesty is still at the party and is enjoying it to the fullest... Understood."
I was about to set off to continue my way, but Casper spoke:
"Your Majesty!! You must change your clothes so you can leave without attracting attention."
It was a good point. I nodded yes to him, and before I could ask him about clothes, Brian used his own magic, and somehow clothes similar to a knight's attire—indeed, they were a knight's—appeared. I looked at Brian and Casper, and Brian spoke with embarrassment:
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, these belong to Damen. He is the closest to your Highness's size..."
"It's fine, I'll wear it..."
Before I could move, Brian spoke with a hesitant voice:
"Your Majesty! My transportation tool. I fear Your Majesty did not take your instant transportation tool. You cannot teleport here, but Your Majesty can move to the Front Garden and transfer with it..."
It seems Brian forgot that I am the one with permission to teleport everywhere, but their concern made me feel grateful. I took his instant transportation tool as a precaution because I feel like I might not be able to use my ability...
"Go now. Cover my absence, and let's see how skillful your tricks are..."
They bowed enthusiastically and said:
"Your command..."
They returned to the hall. I entered the nearest room, put on the knight's clothes, and headed towards one of the resting rooms. After making sure those inside had left and that it was empty, I moved to enter it, but the guard stopped me...
"Hey! What's wrong with you?! We are forbidden from entering the resting rooms..."
I had used magic to change my hair color to brown, and although my face hadn't changed, I kept it low so no one would discover me...
"The Lady asked him to look for a special accessory of hers. Let him enter."
The guard moved his hand away and clapped my back cheerfully:
"Why didn't you tell me, man?!"
"I was in a hurry..."
I feigned embarrassment and entered. Despite my calm appearance, I was sweating cold from holding back the urge to rampage. A powerful, suffocating energy was almost eating my soul. Ivan was the one who helped me, so I waited for him to enter...
Tshiiiik!!...
"Your Highness!!.."
"Ivan... I'm almost suffocating. I fear the power will escape and destroy the place..."
I turned to him, and my breath began to escape. Ivan approached with strange, complicated looks that I didn't understand, but he reached me:
"I felt that old man was planning something..."
He took out two strange, attached bracelets from his pocket and began to evenly arrange small, magic stones the size of a baby's fingernail around the two bracelets...
"This bracelet is for sharing magical energy. Put it on your left hand and..."
I didn't wait for him to finish his words. I put on one of the attached bracelets in a way that made you wonder how to wear it. Before I put my other hand in, he spoke:
"Your Majesty! No."
"..."
"The other person who will take your magic must wear it... I will wear it."
"And do you want to take my magic when you know it could kill you..."
I looked at him in confusion. This young man has always helped me for a long time, and he has risked his life many times for my sake... What is the reason?! ...
Ahhh... the energy started bombarding me. I put my hands on my head, looked at Ivan, and thought for a moment...
"Is it possible for me to specify the magic I want to give to the other party?!"
He looked at me in surprise, but nodded yes:
"Yes, anything."
And he pointed to the last two gems, so I took a deep breath:
"Healing magic. I want to share the healing magic with someone..."
Ivan was about to speak, but he closed his mouth, and I was not in a position to ask him about the matter..
Ivan placed the healing magic in the last gem by drawing formulas on the two bracelets while I was wearing them, and he looked at me in confusion about my next action...
"I will set off now. You must check on the matter..."
"Your command, Your Majesty.."
He bowed and looked at me with strange calm, then...
Splaash!!!..
The place was behind Arianna's door. It was a mistake to come at this late hour and without informing her. I knocked on her room door until I almost lost hope that she would open it, but she opened...
Upon seeing her beautiful face worried about me, and her warm blue eyes, my heart felt warmth and comfort, and I felt that I had abandoned my protection and surrendered... and it seems I lost consciousness...
.***
Raphael looked at the sleeping Arianna calmly with the bracelet on her hand. He thought...
'How did she know what she had to do?! She is truly an amazing girl, but was she hurt?!... '
Raphael was very worried about her, so he placed his hand on her head and found that her temperature was normal and her breathing was normal. He looked at her face, her forehead, her eyes, her nose, and even her lips. His heart pounded wildly, and his face and ears turned red. He removed his hand and quickly fled the bed, heading to the bathroom. He washed his face with cold water, but the heat in his face did not cool because its source was his heart. He washed his face several times until he calmed down a little, then came out and found Arianna awake and out of bed. The crazy pounding returned to his heart, so he held his chest and tried to control his pulse...
He felt a gentle touch on his arm and sky-blue eyes twinkling with worry. He stammered, and the words couldn't find a way out...
***.
Arianna, who woke up when she found Raphael was not there, quickly got out of bed to look for him and check on his health...
Tshiiiik!!!
When Arianna turned around, she found Raphael coming out of the bathroom calmly, but he was acting strangely and holding his chest...
'Is he still tired?!'
She approached him and gently held his arm, worry squeezing her heart, as she had never seen him in that condition before..
"Raph! Are you alright.?!"
Raphael, who finally composed himself, smiled at her with a complicated feeling:
"I'm fine..."
Arianna sighed in relief and said:
"Thank God, I was worried... We should have breakfast now... Come with me, and you must tell me everything..."
Raphael found himself easily dragged by Arianna and sat at the table in front of her. Arianna smiled with a kind of embarrassment in front of him and rang the bell. It was only a minute until Marianne came, pulling the food cart. Raphael looked confused because the food seemed to be for one person, but Marianne started placing the food first in front of Arianna, which was her usual portion: a large bowl of creamy cheese soup, bread, and an egg. Then she moved the curtain on the cart and took out another portion for Raphael, which was double Arianna's share. Marianne felt a little embarrassed and spoke:
"Forgive me, the young Miss asks me to eat with her often, and so that no one in the house knows, I hide the other dishes..."
Raphael laughed cheerfully and said:
"Thank you, ah, and thank you for the dessert too.."
"It is I who thank you, sir, for always taking care of my young Miss. It is the least I can offer you, sir."
"Marianne is my best friend and takes care of me like no other..."
Arianna spoke sincerely, so Raphael smiled gratefully at her and said:
"Thank you for taking care of Aya..."
Raphael looked at Arianna with a warm gaze, and Marianne smiled when she saw the warmth and intimacy between them...
***.
When I woke up as usual at sunrise, I put on my servant clothes and headed to my Miss's room. Usually, she would call for me at this time! But she didn't, so I rushed quickly to her room, ignoring the maids who looked at me with a kind of envy, malice, and a lot of disdain. My mistress had always been kind to me, but because my mistress was the secluded girl, many despised her. I didn't want her to know, so I didn't tell her; it wasn't something important for her to know...
I finally reached the third floor and knocked on the door several times, but she didn't answer, so I worried about her. So I opened it, and it was a surprise. My mistress was sleeping in an uncomfortable position, sitting on the edge of the bed with her upper body asleep on the bed, or so I thought. But when I got closer, the matter became clear. The Miss's friend was sleeping on his back on the bed, and my mistress was sleeping with her head resting on his chest. It was strange...
I approached, hoping to wake them, but I backed away. I shouldn't interfere. I don't know the type of relationship they have, but I believe in one thing... that it is a sincere and warm relationship for my mistress's heart, a person she is very happy to talk about or be with, a person who takes care of her and cares for her unconditionally...
I don't want to speculate, but I think they love each other without knowing it. But... is he someone the Miss won't face problems being associated with?! I truly don't know the matter... I hope their story ends with something beautiful and happy...
I quickly left the room and headed to the kitchen. My Miss would ask for breakfast when she woke up, so I went to the kitchen and started preparing her food myself as usual. I prepared a large extra portion... Knights eat a lot, and of course, it must be nutritious, and also, I must make good food for the Miss. Her appetite has improved somewhat, so I must hurry...
I finished preparing the food while ignoring the stares of others that almost bore into my back. I had gotten used to the stares, and they had gotten used to me ignoring them...
In the past, I was subjected to a lot of bullying, but my mistress was the person who always protected me, so I must return the favor...
The Miss asked for me, so I quickly went to her, and when I found her, her friend was not there. I gave her water to wash her hands and face, which I had previously prepared for her warm when I entered earlier. After that, I looked at her calmly, and she smiled at me and said in a gentle voice:
"Prepare the food. Raph will be hungry... His health was very bad yesterday..."
It seems I started to somewhat understand what happened yesterday. I quickly bowed to her and went very quickly to fetch the food for them, and I didn't forget to hide Mister Raph's portion because it was larger than the Miss's portion, and someone might suspect something, so I hid them well...
Mister's face was complicated at first, but he eased that and thanked me. I was the one who was grateful for what he did for my mistress, so I thanked him more and felt proud of my Miss's sincere words. I looked at their warmth together and felt comfortable, so I left them and departed, almost flying with happiness for them. They are very suitable for each other... I wish them happiness...
Before I went down from the third floor, I found Mister Elliot heading to the first floor. I bowed to him and prepared to descend..
"Did my sister have her breakfast?!"
"Certainly! I left the young Miss eating the food."
I looked at him and smiled, wanting to descend quickly. He nodded his head, then descended before me calmly. I looked at his broad back and sighed:
'Why does he act so coldly in front of the Miss, if he cares so much about her?!'
I put my doubts aside, quickly dropped the thought, and descended to complete my work...
***.
They ate their breakfast calmly, stealing glances at each other, and when their eyes met, the curious Arianna and the tired Raphael, he sighed and said:
"You certainly want to know what happened?! Right?!"
"You know what I want. Why the evasion?!"
She smiled cheerfully. Raphael sighed and began to tell Arianna everything in boring detail, even what happened with the Princess, except for her question...
Arianna looked at him with scrutinizing glances and felt a kind of annoyance at the mention of the Princess, but she ignored the matter...
"Raph, let's organize things first..."
"Start..."
Arianna smiled cheerfully, then seriousness returned to her face:
"You showed the kind face to your people, you showed openness and goodwill to your neighbors, and you lit the first ember of the cold war fire against the Temple, and in a smart way.... I'm proud of your mind... But..."
"..."
She smiled slightly, making Raphael feel flattered, but she shattered it in a moment:
"Why did you act like that with Duke Silviano?! The Temple will exploit the matter in their favor, the head of the Noble faction, and the person who has power and influence over the nobles..."
"..."
"Raph, you are the Emperor, but in an Empire controlled by the Temple... If the nobles rebel against the Emperor and the corrupt Temple, it will be a strong and justified cause. We must take every justification in our favor...."
Raphael laughed cheerfully at Arianna's mood swings because of his mistakes and said:
"Why don't I put the crown on your little head instead of me?!"
Arianna frowned and said:
"Raph! You know that my words are things you might think of, and even if I didn't say them, you would have said them..."
She looked very frustrated, so Raphael laughed a little and said with a gentle face:
"I admit my mistake, that's why I always tell you to help me..."
Arianna's mood improved a little, then she said with a complicated feeling:
"And regarding the Princess, the words were reckless... You must gain allies, not enemies... You must gain King Nathan's favor.."
She said her last words with a little hesitation and looked at Raphael with a complicated feeling and a heart pounding with worry...
"Should I accept the political marriage?! Do you think it's the solution?! Is that what you want?!"
"Certainly, I don't want you to marry...."
Raphael asked with a kind of confusion and an annoying feeling, so Arianna became nervous. She didn't know what to say; she had answered hastily and without thinking, which made Raphael look at her with confusion and doubt. Arianna thought as much as possible, then finally came up with an idea...
"Raph! Is there a deal King Nathan intensely desires, besides the political marriage..."
Raphael placed his hand under his chin in thought, while Arianna looked at him with a kind of anticipation and worry, then he remembered something:
"There is!"
"What is it?!"
"That we lower the price of the magic stones, which are extracted from the land of Bolymer... They are stones that have many uses: lighting, heating, preserving warmth, supporting barriers, and much more..."
"I've heard the term magic stones a lot in the novel; maybe it will be useful."
...... To be continued ......