2 weeks passed, Lucifer, Bellatrix, Ilario, Beatrice, Augustine, Letitia, and knight escorts travelled to the capital since the early morning. We reached to a manor in the capital before dark.

There were butler and maids welcomed them in front of the main gate. We went inside a manor to take some rest after long travelled.

Fortis’s manor; the Gothic style goes to war building, 3 floors, nine-light windows reach across the facade. They used marble stones to build the house and used the rose golds which made from real golds to make the frames of windows and doors. Its style was similar to The Fortis Castle but different in size, building type and some of the details. There was also a glasshouse with plenty of roses inside. It was like Fortis’s signature style, they controlled the theme of building with white and rose gold and made the rose garden nearby the building.

The interior was more luxury, it was lavish decorated with white marble, rose gold, and premium materials. All the furniture inside were made at high grade. Everything looks so neat and tidy with the vibe of luxury.

The next day, Bellatrix called a hair stylish for Ilario, she could not stand his hairy hair. She told the maids to make the appearance of everyone outstanding, neat, and healthy skin before the birthday party. We had to spend time with the beauty treatments all day.

☆☆☆

On the day of party to celebrate The Crown Princess’s 13th birthday, which was holding at The Royal Palace.

There were many noble families who gathered and attended the birthday party that was held in honor of Crown Princess Elysia S. De Sapientia. It was the first time that everyone gets a chance to meet The Crown Princess officially. The noblemen were all dressed up the official suits and the noblewomen were all dressed up the luxury dresses and worn costume jewelries.

The Royal Palace; the Baroque Style Building, a center dome in the main facade, overlooked the court design, grand and beyond a word of luxury. — There were the symmetrical gardens and ornate fountain in front of The Royal Palace. — The interior was concave and convex surfaces outdoors, dramatic use of light with plenty of low-slung chandeliers, lavish decoration with golds and rich embellishments. The walls, they used the marble stones instead of painting wall. The decorative theme was white, lights and rich of golds.

The Royal Palace was the symbolic of wealth to The Royal Family. They were rich from gold mines since the ancient time and their fortunes were increasing from generation to generation.

There were procedures of royal etiquette, the highest status enters the grand banquet hall at last. The Fortis Family were lower status than The Duke Families and The Royal Family, but they were higher status than the other Marquess Families in Sapientia Empire.

Lucifer, Bellatrix, Ilario and Beatrice went inside the grand banquet hall.

“Marquess Lucifer H. De Fortis, Marchioness Bellatrix De Fortis, Earl Ilario H. De Fortis, Lady Beatrice De Fortis,” a royal officer announced.

Ilario could hear the whispers after he entered the grand banquet hall. It was the first time that he has attended the banquet. Many noble families acknowledged that Ilario had been missing for the past years.

“Look! He’s so handsome,” a Lady whispered to another Lady.

“Wasn’t he missing for years?” A nobleman whispered.

“I heard he has returned recently,” another Lady whispered.

…

Ilario heard all of their words, he was getting tiresome listening gossip in the noble society.

“How have you been?” A nobleman asked Bellatrix, he was in his mid-forties, his face was similar to Bellatrix, tall, neat brown hair, green eyes, formidable, elite, and elegant. He possessed wind magic power at high level.

“Brother Valerius! We’ve been better. As you may well be aware, Eli had returned. He was growing up and being mature,” said Bellatrix proudly. “Eli, did you remember your Uncle?”

“Hello, Uncle” said Ilario shortly. He run out of the conversation because he could not recall any memory of the real Ilario.

“It’s great to see you back,” Valerius said. The atmosphere was a bit cold.

“Ah, this is Beatrice. It’s first time you’re seeing her.” Bellatrix changed the topic of conversation to help Ilario.

“Hello, Uncle. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Beatrice greeted politely.

“Hello, Beatrice. Nice to meet you too,” Valerius said and smiled at Beatrice.

“Duke Marino De Mercatura, Duchess Cecilia De Mercatura, Princess Cordelia De Mercatura, Prince Benedict De Mercatura,” a royal officer announced.

The Duke of Mercatura, he was in his mid-forties, fat, short silver hair, violet eyes, tan skin. He looks like a villain boss in many movies, rich and high authorization.

The Duchess of Mercatura, she was in her early forties, skinny, long blonde hair and tied up neatly, green eyes, she looks beautifully in contrast to her husband.

Princess Cordelia of Mercatura, she was in her late teens. Fortunately, she took after her mother, long blonde hair, green eyes, and beautiful.

Prince Benedict of Mercatura, he was in his early teens, short silver hair, violet eyes, tan skin. He looks like a tyrant and self-willed.

“Duke Darmacus De Ferrum, Duchess Laurentina De Ferrum, Prince Dominic De Ferrum, Princess Deverra De Ferrum, Prince Erastus De Ferrum,” a royal officer announced.

A royal officer was announcing continually. They were entering the grand banquet hall at the same time.

The Ferrum family were relating to The Royalty since the ancient time. Their identities were silver hair and ruby red eyes, but their eyes color changed to be fiery red since their ancestor, Prince Amias De Ferrum got Fire Magic Power from The Athena Goddess.

The Duke of Ferrum, he was in his late thirties, tall, Short Silver Hair, fiery red eyes, handsome at his age, he looks very smart. He had inherited high level of fire magic power.

The Duchess of Ferrum, she was in her mid-thirties, beautiful figure, long blonde hair and tied up neatly, green eyes, she looks calmly and kindly.

Prince Dominic of Ferrum, he was in his early teens, short silver hair, fiery red eyes. He took after his mother, he was beautiful even he was a boy. He was a twin brother. He had inherited high level of fire magic power.

Princess Deverra of Ferrum, she was in her early teens, she has the same face as Prince Dominic, long silver hair, fiery red eyes and beautiful. She was a twin sister. She had inherited medium level of fire magic power.

Prince Erastus of Ferrum, he was in middle childhood. He took after his father, handsome at the young age. He has blond hair and fiery red eyes. He had inherited high level of fire magic power.

All of The Ferrum Family came toward our position.

“Hello, Your Grace, The Duke, The Duchess,” Lucifer and Bellatrix greeted politely.

“You don’t need to be polite,” The Duke of Ferrum said.

The Duke of Ferrum talked to Lucifer, they were talking in business and work. The Duchess of Ferrum was talking with Bellatrix, she introduced Erastus to Beatrice.

The twins came direct to Ilario. Their appearances were outstanding, their faces were beautiful. But, Ilario thought of a girl whom he met at the festival in Artis, she was more beautiful and lovelier than the twins.

‘Eh? Why do I think of her now?’ Ilario thought to himself. He hoped that he could meet her in this banquet. She must be a lady from any noble family.

“Eli, you came back,” said Deverra happily.

“I have returned recently, Lady Deverra” said Ilario politely.

“Hah, since when did you have to be polite to me?” Lady Deverra asked.

“I think that it would be polite in the official banquet, Lady Deverra” Ilario said. He had no idea how close relationship between her and a real Ilario.

“Come on, Eli, we had been playing together since we were young,” Dominic said and asked, “how have you been?”

“I have been good, to be honest, I’m really busy recently since I had been missing for many years,” Ilario said with friendlier tone.

“Are you enroll at the academy next year?” Deverra asked.

“Yes, what about you two?” Ilario tried to talk to them as if he was a friend of them.

“Yes, we’ve applied the paper already,” Dominic said.

“We will see each other more often,” said Deverra happily.

Beatrice was talking with Erastus, she looks so happy to talk with a boy in the range of her age. The noble families have a tradition to keep their noble status by letting their children know each other and arrange the engagement since they were young.

It was fortunate that he had been missing since he was young, otherwise he might have a fiancée now. It would be awkward to marry someone without love, even though he has never been in loving relationship before.

***

“Empress Victoria S. De Sapientia, King Ignatius De Sapientia, Crown Princess Elysia S. De Sapientia, Second Princess Aurelia De Sapientia are entering,” a royal officer announced loudly.

Everyone in the grand banquet hall bowed their head. All of The Royal Family members walked on the red carpet to the seats that had arranged on the center of the grand banquet hall. Ilario could detect Holy Magic Power from 3 people. It was pure and given peaceful feeling. Their powers were different in level, one was outstanding in high level, she might be The Crown Princess that Athena Goddess had been mentioned, one was medium to high level, she might be The Empress and another one was lightly in low level, she might be The Second Princess.

Ilario could not see their faces because he had to bow his head until all of The Royal Family members took their seats and The Empress gave the words.

In Sapientia Empire, The Empress was ruling the empire due to the inheritance of Holy Magic Power. The king married into The Royal Family as a King consort not The Emperor, they have lower status than The Empress. The Royal Family always gives the priority to The First Princess who inherited Holy Magic Power much more than The Other Princesses and The Other Princes in every generation. As the history record, The First Princess always inherited the highest power in every generation.

“Thank you everyone for attending The Crown Princess’s Birthday Party today,” The Empress said.

All of the noble families had attention toward The Crown Princess. The maids were serving drinks to everyone for celebrating to The Crown Princess.

“To The Holy Star of Sapientia Empire,” The Empress said while raising a glass of wine to celebrate The Crown Princess.

“To The Holy Star of Sapientia Empire,” Everyone said and raised their glasses to celebrate The Crown Princess.

After official celebration, The highest status was starting to celebrate in honor of The Crown Princess one by one.

“Eli, we have to prepare ourselves for greeting The Empress and celebrate to The Crown Princess,” Bellatrix said.

“Yes, Mother” Ilario said. He must greet and bow to The Royal Family. His father would be the one who say everything after that. It would be rude to say anything freely unless The Royal Family talked to them first.

After The Ferrum Family and The Mercatura Family finished their audiences with The Empress, it was time for The Fortis Family to have an audience with The Empress. Ilario followed their parents. Beatrice followed him, she was quite obedient in this kind of occasion, she really behaved well. All of the nobles must learn Basic Etiquette at the young age. They knew how to behave themselves in the official banquet.

Ilario wanted to see the face of The Crown Princess, he had stood far from the royal seats and could not see her face clearly in that distance. When Ilario walked closer toward The Royal Family, he could see the appearances of The Royal Family member clearly.

The Empress, she was in her late thirties, beautiful face and figure, ruby red hair, ruby red eyes shining with gold lightly. She was sophisticated, dignified, and majestic.

The King, he was in his early forties, tall, thin, blond hair, yellow eyes. He looks kindly.

The Crown Princess, she was 13 years old, beautiful, ruby red hair, ruby red eyes shining with gold brightly, she took after her mother, The Empress.

The Second Princess, she was in her middle childhood, blonde hair, red eyes, she took after her father, The King. Her appearance was looks like a doll.

The Crown Princess was looking at Ilario. Their eyes met directly at a moment. Ilario avoided her eyes instantly.

“Huh? Is it her? I mean that girl,” Ilario used ‘Telepathy’ to talk with both of Luna and Solaris after he saw The Crown Princess.

Ilario remembered her eyes accurately, even though her hair was ruby red not brown. He was certain that she was a girl that he had met at the festival in Artis.

“Exactly,” mind communicated Luna.

“Why I could not detect her power at that time?” mind communicated Ilario.

“She can use her power to block the detection,” mind communicated Luna.

While Ilario was using Telepathy, he heard the voice from The Empress.

“Is this your son who had been missing many years?” The Empress asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty” said Lucifer politely.

“It is an honor to meet The Holy Sky of Sapientia Empire, Your Majesty, The Empress” said Ilario politely.

“You had been through many things,” said The Empress kindly.

“I am grateful for the concern you have had for me, Your majesty” said Ilario politely.

“You must be the same age as The Crown Princess. You are allowed to escort her and be her partner for the first dance,” said The Empress kindly, her intention was so obvious.

“I’m grateful for your kindness, Your Majesty” said Ilario politely.

The first dance with The Crown Prince means the honor to their family, it was clear that The Empress gave him a chance to speak to The Crown Princess. In other words, it was a matchmaking.

Ilario knew very well that all the noblemen at the same age were waiting for this one chance in their life time, but even so, he did not want to get it right now. He still could not prepare his mind after he was well aware that she was The Crown Princess. However, it would be rude to refuse the kindness from Her Majesty, The Empress.

***