The coronation ceremony ended peacefully, except for that one time, when Benjamin had to hold me up for the blessings but the beast won't hand me over to Benjamin. Good thing there are a lot of people watching, so he gave in.
We are now at the second phase of the celebration, the birthday ball. Thankfully the Queen is quite busy socializing, or it is just these two royals are deliberately avoiding each other.
'It is a good idea in a way, but wouldn't there be another rumor? The King and Queen have marital issues, what a Royal scandal."
"Daddy!!!"
'Huh?'
I glanced at the blonde boy with bright blue eyes and I saw him running towards our direction. He then excitedly hanged himself on neck of the big human. I grasped his clothes tightly because it felt like the impact of the blonde boy's body might caused the big human lost the grip on my bottoms.
"Easy now. It nice to see you Soliard."
The boy jumped down and smiled proudly. Now that I am looking at him carefully, he looks like the Queen. The blonde hair and his blue eyes are the same hue as the Queen's.
"Where is Lunard?"
"Well you know that he is a slowpoke daddy! I missed you daddy! You should hear all my achievements in the academy! Also I-!"
"That would be great, I will hear you out tomorrow. You just got here, you must be exhausted with all this events."
"Ehh~ but it been so long daddy! Don't you miss me?"
The boy start puffing his cheeks and sulk. This scene gives me gibbies. The big human gently rub the boy's head.
"We have plenty of time, you will be staying for a week right?"
The boy smile a little bit with blushed and nods excitedly.
"Father I have returned."
This time a boy who is a little bit taller than the blonde one, entered our circle. He have a dark hair just like mine but his eyes are paler blue than the other boy.
'He is pretty'
"Welcome home, Lunard. It looks like you are getting taller."
The big human rub the top of the boy's head.
"I got taller too!"
The blonde boy, seems to want all the attention of this big human.
"Yes you do."
'Daddy, if you keep entertaining this behavior, he will grow into a conceited child.'
I look back to the dark haired boy. He is so pretty, I want to keep looking at him, then his eyes met mine and I can't help it but be mesmerized. His eyes are pretty but it feels like there are shadows behind them.
"Nice to meet you princess." The dark haired boy give out a hallowed smile.
I tried to be friendly and waved my little hands. Lunard shyly smile and waved back.
'He he he, my charms are working.'
The not so happy blonde boy grabbed Lunard's arm.
"You should greet your mother. You guys came and met me first, didn't you?"
"Eh~ but I like being with daddy more."
'What is wrong with this child? Daddy complex?'
"Mother will be upset if we do not informed her our arrival."
The blonde boy sulked and puffed his cheeks bigger.
"Daddy you promised that you will spend your time with me right!"
"Yeah, yeah, go on and look for your mother."
'You don't sound sincere daddy..'
I stared at his face to try and read his expression. It wasn't the same expression he gives me but it was the same expression he had when he looked at his oldest son, Kahel.
'Sons are better.'
"Let's slipped out."
'Eh?'
How you gonna do that with this big body of yours. Kaleid will throw a fit if you leave the ball too.
"Just stay still as you always do."
The arms that holds me suddenly felt cold and light. I looked at his face and the glint on his red eyes disappears too. He started walking with no trace of sound, and blended with the wind of the afternoon.
A little after, we reached the garden where he brought me back then. It is the Clover garden. Unlike the first time i saw the place, it is a lot cleaner and we'll kept. The wind welcomed us to the little sanctuary and the Acacia howls with it's leaves. He continued to walk and entered the shed. The little shed does not look shabby anymore and as he opened the door, I am surprised with the new look inside.
He put me down and he told me that I can look around. It was hard to walk at first because this man had been not letting me go for days and my baby muscles are stiffed again, bit I have to walk properly or else he will carry me around again.
I stepped on the simple rag on the floor. It was a really soft fur. I looked around, it wasn't too girly but the interior have a sense of modesty. He did not really replaced the wooden furnitures, he just added more stuff and repainted them. Though I wonder if he did this himself or Kaleid did?
"Happy birthday."
'Eh?'
"This garden and this shed is yours from now on."
'Wahh?! A garden for my birthday?'
"Ha ha ha, your eyes are sparkling, it seems you like it."
He rubbed my head with a soft expression. He does really look at me differently. I was lost on my thoughts that I did not hold in the sound of my stomach grumbling.
"Ha ha ha, are you hungry?!"
'Ahh! It is your fault! You won't let me go at all! You even ignored the maid Kaleid sent to feed me.'
I felt embarrassed and grabbed my grumbling stomach. I can feel my ears and cheeks heating up.
"Gahhh! Food! Food!"
Scarlet the raven entered the shed.
"Let's go hunting Scarlet. I will be back in a little bit, everyone is busy so nobody will come here. If someone did."
He stuck a moon shaped jewel on the side of my forehead.
"Don't remove it, the jewel will let me know if you are in trouble."
He stood up and locked the door outside. I am left alone in the shed. I stared on the door and sat on the rug. And then I pat the moon shaped jewel on my forehead.
I laid down and sighed loudly.
'I am tired!'
Being a Royal is a lot of hardwork. Plus that big human had not been giving me space to breath. I should be annoyed that he left a little girl by herself and locked her up but I am appreciating this moment of peace away from him.
I looked and enjoy the carvings on the ceiling. The carvings are the sun, moon and stars. There are some angels too and the four seals of the Empire.
'My dear father, this is a tiring new life you give me.'
"What, you do not like your life?"
The familiar voice surprised me.
'You! Why are you here?!'
"Because it is your birthday?"
'How you got here?'
"Hmm.... I followed your smell and the Clover seal?"
'Okay, the first one is kinda disturbing.'
"It's true though. Happy birthday."
' it is kinda rude with a mask noh?'
"Is it? But my father told me that I can only come here if I promised to keep my mask on."
'Surprisingly, you listen to him well.'
"Well, it was another agreement, for me to get this."
He pulled out a big hair clip with large jewels. The red jewels are embedded on gold and in the shape of dragonfly.
"I really wanted this because the jewels have the same color as your eyes."
Then he gently clipped the accessory on my hair.
"Happy birthday." Behind his mask I can see his lips smiling.
'Thank you, I'll treasure this.'
"Then from now on, that is your crown as a princess."
I was surprised. His word actually have an impact on my body. Technically this boy is the Diamond seal bearer and supposedly is the real Emperor. It feels like he just bestowed me the title. I smiled and pat the jewels on my hair.
"Gahhh! Gahhh!"
'He is back already?! You have to go!'
"Eh but I just got here." He whined.
'If he sees you, I might not be able to come into this garden again and we might not see each other again soon.'
The boy think for a while, and I get more nervous as the minute passed.
"I can visit you whenever if I leave now?"
'Yes!!' I nodded my head furiously and the child smiled eerily.
"Okay!" He bounced up and swung on the window. "See you soon, Dream."
Then he is gone.
'I only turned one today but I felt like I turned a lot older.'