23

"1.2.3…"

Marquis Fillan was doing pushup while using one hand. He's a Rara Avis but that doesn't mean that he's strong. He needs to practice and train his body. The Empire may be at peace right now, but you'll never know what would happen in the future. So instead of doing nothing, he hones his body to regain his instinct.

"M- Marquis!"

A butler appeared, he's running and he was sweating a lot.

"What is it?"

Marquis Fillan stopped his workout and stand. He took the towel and wiped his face.

"W- We received a letter from the Capital!"

"Hm? It's a normal occurrence. Why are you agitated? "

"T-t-t"

The butler agitated and started to stutter.

"Butler… breath in, breath out. Now, speak slowly."

The Butler followed his instructions. He inhaled and after that, he immediately says it.

"We received a letter from the Palace!"

"Letter? Who sent it?"

"The Emperor!"

"Eh? You're serious? Give it to me. "

The Butler gave the letter. Marquis saw that the emblem of the Emperor was stamped on the front. He opened the letter and read it. After finishing reading it, his eyes squinted. He immediately commands his butler.

"…… Butler dispatch our Knights! Guard every gates and inspect every carriages that will enter and exit-"

"Marquis!"

The Guards ran to him. They were the people that Marlon relay as his messenger. The commotion was now ended but another problem arised. They bow before starting their report.

Marquis eyes enlarge after hearing them.

"Immediately take the Princess here! Send our Knights and protect her. Butler! Accommodate a room for the Princess! I don't want to stress her anymore!"

"Y- yes!"

The Butler ran. He doesn't know what happened, but he followed his Master's order.

Marquis was now alone in the training ground. He massage his forehead and says.

"What's happening in the Capital?..."

He's thankful that Christopher and Marlon saved the Princess. If not, there's a possibility that the Emperor would declare martial law to enclosed the whole Empire.

He realised that there's a new crisis that the Empire would face.

…………………

Two days before Christopher visited the Fillan Family.

Princess Aria was in her room. She smashed everything inside. She's having a tantrum.

"P- Princess! Please stop this!"

Luze, the lady- in- waiting of Princess Aria was trying to stop her. However, the arrogant Princess continue her destruction.

"Luze! Don't stop me! I want to release some stress!"

Princess Aria used a sword replica and smashed a hundred years old porcelain vase. She's angry that her Father didn't accept her request.

"I want to watch the theatre act of Miss Peligrene!"

She shouted.

"Princess, the Emperor said that he'll call the whole theatre company to play in the Palace. You just need to wait in three days-"

"But I want it now!"

Princess Aria is the only daughter of the Emperor. She's the daughter of the late Empress and she resembles her mother a lot.

The Emperor cherishes his daughter than his three other sons. He reminds her of the late Empress that he deeply loves.

However, because of too much pampering. The Princess grew up as a spoiled brat. She would go to her father when she wanted something and the Emperor would always say yes a long as it's not outside the boundary.

Because of this, Princess Aria realized that she can get everything she wants as long as she's the Princess and the most cherish child of the Emperor.

She's a royalty but she doesn't act like one. The Royal teachers always lose their patience whenever they teach her etiquettes and manners. Yet they can't do anything because the Princess will whimper in front of the Emperor.

One time a teacher who's a noble blood tried to talk to her about her manners…… they never saw the poor guy after that. Perhaps the Emperor killed him, but it's just a rumor. They knew that their Emperor is fair and just but he's different in front of his daughter….

Anyhow, the Princess wanted to visit the theatre because she wanted to watch the newly open play called 'Bird Adorned' but her Father denied it. Instead, he settled a schedule for the company to act inside the Palace.

Princess Aria didn't like it, that's why she's doing her routine whenever she didn't get what she wanted. She destroyed everything inside her room.

*Crash! *

It's her own way of stress relieving. The maids were frightened, but they didn't get out. Luze watched her mistress, she sighed because she already was adapted to this kind of situation.

"Mistress how about we ask your brother?"

As her lady- in- waiting, Luze knew how to subdue the Princess using her tongue.

"Oh! I never thought about that! Brother can take me to the theatre! Luze, help me tidy my hair. "

"Yes, Princess."

Luze who's professional in her work was doing her best to pacify their ever-changing Princess.

As for the maids looked for dresses inside the broken wardrobe.

For now, the atmosphere was peaceful.

…………………

Princess Aria visited her brother inside his workplace. She looked at the guards gesturing them to open the door. The guards followed her.

Inside the room. She saw her brother reading papers. She didn't knew how his brother could face these hundreds stack of documents.

As a mischievous child, her head ached whenever she reads. So she found it hard to see her brother doing it nonchalantly.

"Brother!"

Prince Julian looked at his little sister. He already knew what would happen. The Princess always finds him whenever the Emperor declined her desire to do something.

"Aria… what is it, this time?"

Julian furrowed.

"Huh? I just want to see you! What are you doing brother...? "

Princess Aria tried to hide her intention and changed the topic, but the Prince was faster.

"I heard that the Emperor didn't accept your request... You want to go to the Theatre right?"

Julian sighed, though smirked thinking how his little sister was the completely different from his mother.

"N- No..."

The Princess evaded his look. The first Prince shook his head. He stood up. He knew where this is going. His sister will keep nagging him if he don'y accept. That's why he decided to take her to the Theatre.

"Let's go, but we need to return after, okay."

"Wah!! Yes, brother!"

The Princess hugged him. Julian asked his Knights to escort them.

However, Aria didn't return to the Palace.

…………………

After the theatre play. Princess Aria woke up inside a cage that she's unfamiliar with. She tried to move, but she's tied. Her mouth was covered and she couldn't speak.

She remembered that a group of people ambushed their carriage. She didn't knew if her brother was safe. The only thing she remembered was that the abductees put an incense of smoke inside the carriage and she fell asleep.

Now, she doesn't knew where she is.