Returning to the palace was fast and quick . Immediately as I returned and reached the main palace grand wood door I saw Joseph who stood there with a troubled looks.as we met him he bowed to me .
" Good to see you your majesty how was your day" he asked.
" Good " I said as I entered the palace" so what's going on " I asked
He sighed and said " as sharp as ever right "
" You bet he is" said Trevor who was trailing behind us
" The thing is um- um third pr- princess Valentina is " he fumbled with his words .
Hearing that name my face darkened and I halted my steps and then turned to look at Joseph with a dark face and then the memories started rushing back
" What happened to my sister" I asked with murder intent in my eyes that I rarely showed and this made both of them tense up
Taking a deep breath he answered " she returned from her trip from Blanca and has asked to see you".
I turned around and hurried to my study then opened the door with so much urgency that it startled even me. And there she was my younger sister the mistake born from my father's drunkenness she was nicknamed the 'stain of the royal family ' her mother the wife of my father was hoping for a boy so as to compete for the throne but to her disappointment my sister was born and named Valentina Cleo logan her name Cleo is an irony itself as it means 'father's glory' but to him she is a sin to his wife's memory.
She sat there in a blue skirt at calf level with an equally blue short to with her stomach and belly button showing her long blonde hair which reached her waist was let loose gold ornaments shimmered on her as she was covered in it then her green eyes like mine complemented her dressing .
She stood up and curtsied to me " nice to see you again brother,it's been too long" she said with a cold face gone was the little girl who always smiled at me so sweetly.
Composing myself I took a seat on my chair while Joseph and Trevor stayed outside. I picked up a document about the shadow Azure guild and started reading it while she took her seat.
" So why did you come back you know you are to be married in less than a year right " I asked her and her face darkened
"I see you are still the same right brother she said with a cold tone then looked up at me with determined eyes " I came back home because I want to annul this marriage I don't want to marry the crown Prince of Blanca"
I froze at her words " what did you just say " I asked her with anger rising within me "
" I said I don't want to marry him " she repeated " and I will never marry someone like him "
Standing up I looked straight into her green eyes and said to her " I refuse you are the only unmarried member of the royal family so you are the only means to establish a solid connection with Blanca and besides it was your mother who wanted this marriage so you will push through with ut wether you like it or not"
With tears in her eyes she said with a hoarse voice" why huh brother Victoria and Violet had the right to choose their husbands and are happily married but why huh why am I the only one pushed into forced marriage I repeat this brother I will not marry a cheat who slept with my maid and besides I know my one true love will come back for me ".
She turned around then my eyes went to her opened back and my eyes zeroed on the blue patches on her back which climbed up to her shoulders .
" What are those " I asked
" I just want you to know that the person who gave me this will come back for me and I will wait for him no matter what I will not get married to Xander " with this she marched out of the study . I sat down and looked at the ceiling with confusion then I closed my eyes to rest from today's activities.
**Dehlia
After I return from the palace I was filled with a new refreshing feeling in my heart this feeling is foreign to me but somehow I like it.
As we arrived home we met Tia who was taking care of ash after putting both her and Emmy to bed we all moved to my new study.
" Celestia can I have your report on the dessert shop profits "I asked
Taking out a book she handed it to me and I started reading it in just two weeks we got up to 8000 gold coins which was a whole lot from me .
In Sapline five copper coins is equal to I bronze coin ,ten bronze coins is equal to a silver coin and 20 silver coin is equal to a gold coin and a slve was worth atmost 10 silver ,and a medium sized castle with atmost 20 rooms was at least 100 gold coins.
I took out 2000 fold coins and then handed over the rest to Celestia to manage accordingly then I turned to ilariah " so how is sigma going"
With a wide grin she took out a small box and handed it over to me with a confused look I took it and then opened it and saw a silver ring with a dark black mana stone at the center . I put it on then looked at ila" it's beautiful"I said "how does this work "
" Just call it's name then it will turn on"
"Sigma" I called out then a blue screen appeared and then five empty cases where on the screen
" Here you just have to sayyour password and the ring will never open to anyone with a different voice or if you ever lose your voice you can enter the chosen password " sighing she took back the ring " unfortunately some things are still lacking but rest assured it will be completed soon and hey thank Michael for his quick work it helped alot"
Turning to look at Celestia and ordered " make a purchase of the abandoned mines of the West in Velt owned by count Velt and order Micheal to gather some of his men and send them to mine that one too and give them normal working hours and wages for both fairies and humans also purchase a palace at the outskirts of the capital which faces the sea right now it is being sold for only 500 gold coins although it has a spacious and large garden, 30 rooms and a clear view to of the sea order immediate renovatios to welcome people in less than a week and also Ila we are going to be invited to a teaparty so please my dress should be ready and also by Saturday we are going to be headed to the black market to purchase the available slaves"
As I was done speaking they all looked at me with surprise and confusion " how did she know all that " asked Luna.
With that they all turned to look at me once more and me myself didn't know how " I don't know I sort of saw it in a dream this night "
" That was crazy adjust as you went out a letter inviting you for atea party organized by Lady Eloise Martins arrived for tomorrow well if you really saw it all in a dream then I better get to work " said Tia as she turned then curtsied and walked away " I will help" said Luna as she and Ila followed suit and then Sally also walked out with them.
" No Sally I have another job for you "
Sally paused then curtsied to me your wish is my command"
" I want you to find me two caretakers who are willing to raise any type of race of children and also can you prepare a reliable person to work under the guild as the doctor for my people two at least"
" If I may ask why don't you just use me "
" Because you are only my personal apothecary and physician so I don't want you to work far in case something happens and you are not around and besides aren't you working on you magical cream"
"Yes you are right have a good night Dehlia "
" To you too"
*****
The next day I emerald and Ila where headed to the residence of Duke Martin of the West for the tea party dressed in all pink.
As we arrived I saw the other ladies four in total seated and talking casually then when they saw me they all stood up and curtsied but I noticed Eloise glare and I remembered the way her plan to humiliate me failed but I silently hoped everything would go smoothly I was ushered to my seat to sit down and then the chatting continued now in voices I could hear .
Emerald was playing with the othernoble kids close to the lake with Ila watching her closely
" So how does it feel to be the empress of this land " asked a brunette girl whose I knew as lady mary Jose daughter of a count daughter asked
Taking a deep breath I said " not too good but I have gotten to understand that you humans more"
Smiling sweetly Rosine larn a marquise daughter said " I heard you where an abandoned princess how luck are you to taste luxury "
I am even sure she seduced the emperor as how could he abandon a sweet marriage candidate as lady Eloise here to marry such a useless being like her"
" I even heard she had no magic added lady Ellie prean a counts daughter
I sat there enduring all their insults while I saw Eloise smile with satisfaction
I know her daughter is the one tying his majesty to such a wench like her so ---"
At that same moment a maid passed and before I knew it hot water was splashed all over my arm . I let out a scream and Ila came running.
Holding my arm she asked" What happened"
" The maid in question was already on her knees begging for mercy then at that moment one of the maids scream from where the children were was heard
" HELP, PRINCESS EMERALD HAS FALLEN INTO THE LAKE " hearing this I felt this unbearable feeling in my chest and I started sprinting to the lake and without thinking I lived into the lake in an attempt to save my already drowning daughter as I took hold of her I tried frantically to swim but this heavy dress hindered me .
Am I going to die no I don't want to I want to see my daughter grow up and live a happy life. At the moment bi started losing hope and feel Emmy heart beat slowing down I saw a figure jump into the lake and then a bright light shown and then I saw it a girl with blue hair and with a fish tail swimming to me and grabbing us then with a powerful push of the tail we where up in an instant.
Coughing and jerking I turned my focus to my daughter whom Ila had started trying to expluse the water out of her chest . After a while a shattering cry broke the silence we where all in and then I hugged her only when the physician arrived did I release her.
After she was taken away I saw the Blu haired lady who bowed her head and I walked up to her and asked" what is your name "
" It's ney - Neyrida Martin your majesty"
Neyrida Martin I will like to sincerely thank you for saving I and my daughter lives I will like to offer you as a sign of gratitude a place in the palace as my assistant"
She looked at me wide eyes then bowed " I am sorry your majesty I can't accept this offer "
" No I will certainly insist with the Duke to let me have your services lead me to him" I said and she led me to the Duke we where closely followed by Eloise and her group and Ila who had followed Emmy was yet to return.
When the Duke saw me in my state he quickly ushered me in and Eloise and Neyrida followed and then the door was firmly shut .
" It's an honor to see you here your majesty what can I do for you" he said as the servant offered us tea which I didn't even glance as I was livid as truly mad
" Your grace I was invited here for a tea party organized by your eldest daughter only to be welcomed not only with insults and mocking about my race but also intentional splashing of tea by the personnel and to top it off an attempted murder on my daughter if not of Neyrida I and my daughter could be dead by now so how can you defend you and your daughter on the charges "
He turned to look at Eloise with Rage then to me he said"how can you prove all the accusations as everyone know that my daughter can never do such"
" Also everyone know how I love is lady Eloise here with my husband and with the burn on my body and the state of I and my daughter and the testimony of my maid who isn't going to believe me or even if they don't believe me the reputation of your daughter as she being angelic and kind will all vanish and also it's no secret that the emperor adores his daughter imagine if he finds out"
Sighing he asked me " what do you want "
With a smug smile I said " only two things first I want a general compensation of 10000 gold coins which I know is nothing much to you"
" Yes is that all" he said after thinking for a while
" Also I want lady Neyrida here to work for me as one of my own" is that going to be okay"
He looked at Neyrida quickly then quickly nodded" go get your things ready and leave this place and never return till you four job well" Neyrida's face lit up and scurried out " I hope this will stay between us "
" Yes of course " I said then left the office not before giving Eloise a death glare which seem to frighten her.
After half an hour Neyrida was ready to depart no one came to see her off except for an elderly woman and a little girl
" Bye nanny I will miss you " she said " you too Aleigha take care of nanny
" Please eat well and fulfill your duties and please never come back here" she said "remember your promise to your mom"
With a last wave she boarded the carriage with Ila while I was holding Emmy as if my life depends on it if something could have happened to her I didn't know what I could do but right know I need to concentrate on this Neyrida she too was not also human and also a mythical being