Born As The Emperor’s Daughter - Chapter 185

They were still in the garden, having their afternoon tea party. Alexander was still lost in his thoughts, thinking about what happened last week and his assistant’s report to him about what happened and how he knew what the man will do.

[Flashback]

After what happened back in the underground prison, the explosion and the man’s escape, doubled, no, tripled all of the work that he needs to do. This is so stressing, aside from his work is more than before, they also lost someone who holds pretty much valuable information for them. Aside from that, he also knows something about Alexandra and his bloodline because why else would he say that Alexandra’s existence is powerful and destructive and why would he ask if I knew about why our bloodline only has males? He thought to himself.

He let out a sigh and he leaned back on his seat. His elbows resting on top of the chair’s arms and the fingers of his hands intertwined together as he crossed his legs. The expression on his face was crumpled, you can’t completely describe it. It had a mix of confusion, anger, and exhaustion. One couldn’t easily describe what kind of emotion he is feeling inside based on the expression on his face.

What does he mean by war? What must we prepare from? Who are we going to fight with? What does he know about Alexandra? How many people are there who wields of dark and holy magic? Who is he under? Where did he come from? What is its purpose? Why did he come to us?

There are many questions inside his head. Every question that popped inside his head, the expression in his face gradually changed and became crumpled than before. He was also emitting an ominous aura, if some random person would walk in his office and saw his state, they might fall to their knees and apologize multiple times because of an unknown reason. Probably he was so intimidating and scary that it feels like he was going to kill the person who will walk in. However, Lysander and assistant who is pretty much used to it weren’t fazed and they just remained still in their position. Klaus was standing in front of Alexander’s wooden desk with a pile of papers stacked on top of it.

The stack of papers that were placed in his table, it looked like a paper forte or something. It resembled those tall buildings placed side by side. To think that even though Klaus already took half of his paperwork, there were still many left. Well, he’s becoming busier and busier especially this time of the month and for the next year. The celebration for the Winter Star, the ball for his son’s 18th birthday, the tutor for Alexandra and her coronation, his son’s graduation from the academy as well as Gilbert moving to the second cluster, Christian’s state in the academy. Even though Klaus still hasn’t met his daughter, he already got a clue about what she is like.

Well, since she is a member of the Everly Bloodline, she has blue eyes that sparkled like gems and long platinum white hair. Even though having white hair is the sign of old age and made young people look old and somehow ugly, it suited the members of their bloodline. It was like an accessory or gem that they wear which suited them perfectly. According to the people working in this palace, the little girl slightly resembled the empress and she also has a bright personality. That made him curious about her and wanted to meet her, although he was busy most of the time that’s why he can’t meet her anytime that he wanted.

“Klaus,” In the middle of his thoughts, Alexander suddenly called out to his assistant and lifted his head to look at him. His gaze stern and his eyes narrowed down on him. Klaus tensed up knowing that he will go through numerous questions and he has to answer it all, well, it’s not like it was a problem for him. He already practiced what he is going to say and answer in the possible questions that the emperor is going to ask him.

Klaus responded with a ‘Yes’, placing his hands on his side and stood still like a statue. He looked like a knight instead of an assistant because of how he acted and how he spoke. He was always formal and he even defended them from the explosion, he was also sharp, keen, and observant. It was probably because he was a son of a marquis and was trained yet here he is, being an assistant to the emperor. He was more like his right hand, the one who plans and guides him, and such although he was way younger than the emperor it felt like he was older.

“How did you know that he was going to use a spell?”

“I have enhanced my sense of hearing with magic, in case if he said something and you weren’t able to hear it or he did something funny. If I didn’t enhance my hearing, we could probably die from that explosion. It was a dark spell and dark spells are usually destructive. Aside from that, the magic circles that have appeared have what it seems like black smoke or aura coming from it which means it was a dark spell.”

“So that’s probably why we can’t seal all of his mana.”

“You’re correct, your highness.”

“Do you think he is working under somebody?”

“I think it’s possible that he is working under somebody. That person might have told him to appear in front of you and cause some havoc and such problems that have occurred when he appeared. Aside from that, if he is not under somebody, where else would he go to if he escaped?”

“Then what about the war that he is talking about?”

“He probably belongs to a place who is preparing for a war against us. However, I don’t which empire or kingdom as we are all in good terms with their rulers.”

“However, there is one empire, your highness.”

“Ah, that one.”

That one empire who are brave and strong enough to go against them. Along with that empire were 7 other kingdoms who were named with the 7 deadly sins, Wrath, Greed, Envy, Pride, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth. With the Kingdom of Wrath as their strongest and Sloth as their weakest. The name of that empire, Apollo. The God of Light. How Ironic.

They were their enemies, this land was a big one and they always argued with which territory goes to whom and they fought always. The Queenilia Empire and The Apollo Empire were two separated empires, with a long and tall mountain ranges between the two of them. As if that mountain range was made to separate them and prevent them from fighting over territories. They were their enemies in that Great War almost 200 years ago and it ended up with Queenilia Empire winning. The Dark Wizard, the most powerful one of them all was in their side after all. However, there were many casualties. Many kingdoms were destroyed and many lives were taken away in that bloody battlefield. Aside from that, the wizard disappeared without a trace after that war.

The number of people who can wield dark and holy magic decreased until only a few is left which can be counted with two hands.

Well, they were in good terms now but if they did something that will offend or harm their empire, there would be war once again but so far, nothing happened. Alexander was sure that he didn’t do something that offended them.

“What should we do, your highness?” Klaus’ question made him tighten the grip on his hands, it feels like oxygen on his lungs was knocked out of his body but he spoke. His voice was low yet serious, “Just let them be but investigate and prepare, gradually train everyone without telling them that there might be another war. That would be problematic if they panicked and they backed out knowing who our enemies might be,” He said and his eyebrows furrowed. There was a smile yet a grim one etched on Klaus’ lips before he spoke in a tone similar to the emperor’s, “Understand, your highness,” He said and bowed his head.

That’s what they can do for now. They must investigate and confirm things first.

[Flashback End]

Alexander, on his second cup of tea, took a sip from the cup before placing it down the table and let out a sigh as he closed his eyes. Alexandra was just silent the whole time, waiting for the right time to speak. The atmosphere that surrounded them lightened and her father’s features softened and became a calm one. Letting out a sigh of relief, she spoke right after.

“Daddy?” Her voice was gentle as the breeze and smooth as silk as she called out to him. Placing down the fork that she used to eat the cake on her plate which was now gone. “What is it, Alexandra?” Her father responded and fluttered his eyes open, his blue eyes boring on her face. Alexandra being used to his cold gaze didn’t look away or averted, to be honest, it looked gentle for her. Much less scary than before, she cleared her throat before she spoke once again. “When are my brothers going to arrive?”

“Next week, why do you ask?”

“I was just curious. What time will it be?”

“Probably the same as usual.”

“Should I bring cookies for them?”

“It depends on you,” Alexander suddenly yawned right after he spoke, he looked sleepy and tired the whole time. Alexandra’s gentle and calm expression was replaced with a serious and cold one, narrowing her eyes on her father. Her expression almost the same as his but there was still a trace of gentleness left on her current expression.

“Father.”

When Alexandra called her father ‘father’ and not ‘Daddy’, ‘Papa’, or ‘Dad’, this means that she is annoyed, irritated, or angry. Alexander not used on seeing that expression on her face was shocked, what is she angry about? The last time that I saw her make that kind of expression was when Chandler ate her share of the cake. I don’t remember eating her share, did I do it while I was spacing out? These are the thoughts of a panicking and confused father.

“Yes, Alexandra?”

To think that she can also make that expression, similar to her cold and always serious brothers except for Christian who always radiate a bright and gentle expression and aura. Well, she is my daughter, after all, we share the same blood and my genes are passed on her. Maybe a fragment of my personality is in her so it’s no wonder that she can act cold and scary sometimes. But I don’t like that, I am more used to her bright and happy expression.

“How many days did you not sleep?”

Ah, that was her question. I could just lie smoothly and I can escape this situation, I’ll just change the topic so that I could completely avoid it, he cleared his throat before he spoke. “Only two days, I slept yesterday for almost the whole day in my office,” He said, he took a sip from the cup of tea and close his eyes, savoring the taste. Alexandra just stared at him before she opened her mouth, “Lies,” She spat out like venom in her tongue.

“What do you mean by that, my daughter?”

“You didn’t sleep at all this whole week, right? And if you did sleep in your office, your back would be hurting right now and you would be in constant pain. I know how uncomfortable it is when you sleep on either your desk or the couch. Aside from that, Carlos told me that for the whole week that he is guarding my room during the night, he didn’t say you go inside your room except when its morning and going to take a bath. The bags on your eyes and how pale your face looks, you look more dead than the dead. But, that’s not the issue. I’m still glad that you are still alive after not having any sleep the whole week.”

Ah, how observant his daughter is. It’s terrifying, he thought to himself and let out a sigh of defeat knowing that he can’t avoid this any further. “I apologize. I know how angry you are but your father has been busy with the amount of paperwork on my desk. After that, I promise that I am going to go back to my normal sleeping schedule,” To think that the cruel and ruthless emperor would become soft and apologize to a little girl. Well, she’s not a little girl. She is his daughter.

Alexandra’s expression softened and her face brightened but it was different from her ice-cold response, “No. You are going to sleep tonight without doing any paperwork. I am going to tell your personal knight and assistant about that, maybe they need some rest too especially your assistant,” There was a small smile graced on her lips. “If you don’t, I am going to hide all of those papers that you need to work on so that you won’t do any work unless you get at least a night of proper sleep,” Alexandra said though she was threatening him, her voice was gentle and sweet. Like cupcakes sprinkled with poison.

“This is for your own good and health, okay, father?” She also said that with the same voice as before letting out a small giggle in the end. The smile on her face was still there and she was also giving him an eye-smile.

Terrifying. Daughters are terrifying.