The Jade Palace might not be located near the source of the Sacred River like the Mizuryuus’ Castle, but it has the serenity as it was. It has sa architectural grace, located atop of cliffs and from a distance they can see so the beautiful scenario of the realm.
On the front gate, the pillars are of wood and there beautiful patterns embedded in jade stones. The structure follows an elevated, open-air Japanese architectural style, reminiscent of ancient Heian-era palaces, with sweeping roofs, delicate wooden walkways, and bridges that stretch like silken ribbons across tranquil koi ponds and sacred gardens. Every important path has details in jade stones, making everyone rember the grace of the Peacocks.
The several gardens was what made Astri love the place more, and her spouses noticed that. They can sense that the Mizuuryuus’ Castle and the Spirit Tree Shrine are purer places in energy, but the Jade Palace is also a calm place.
"You can play around, children. I don’t mind." Seijuurou says to the children with a smile.
The younger ones walks away curious, Yuki stays next to her mother, but her brothers Elias and Kai go keep an eye on the younger ones, specially Albus who loves to go flying around.
"Thank you, Lord Seijuurou." Astri says.
"You’re welco. Children are bright little things. It’s been a long ti since there was little ones in here." Seijuurou says.
"GET BACK HERE, ALBUS!" Lee says, seeing Albus flying to the wall.
"But dad you’ve got to see this!" Albus says, amazed by the view.
"Get dressed. Why you’re only half dressed?" Elias asks Albus.
"To don’t rip the clothes with my wings. Duh."
Astri chuckles, watching her children being children. It’s sothing good to see. She could notice that all of them act more mature, and she was hoping that with ti they would relax more.
"That brat.. I apologize." Lee says, but also smiles to his son.
Everyone knows that Albus is the most energetic and playful of the children, but he never could use all his energy to play since everyone was always focused on finding Astri.
"It’s all right. But it would be nice for them to carry the royal emblems so the guards don’t worry." Seijuurou says, motioning with his hands to the guards of the walls to not worry.
"Albus, darling. We’re in a place where every movent is watched by guards to keep Lord Seijuurou safe. We need to be careful to not disturb their job, all right?" Astri kindly says.
"Yes, mom. Sorry." Albus says and flies down.
"How about we go to the Royal Varanda? There you can have the sa view." Seijuurou asks.
Seijuurou takes them to a wide balcony on the fourth floor of the castle. Everyone is amazed with the view.
"Every ti I co here is still breath taking." Renzai says.
"It’s true." Seiryuu smiles, also looking at the beautiful scenario of forests and the ocean far away.
Seijuurou announces to the whole Palalce that the Goddess of Nature is present, and that all of them should treat her and her family as royalty. Avoiding any female of the palace to mistreatnt. Astri doesn’t like to be called that way, but at least she will avoid a migraine due to jealous females.
Renzai ordered so serves to co along to teach Seijuurou’s servants to cook. While they wait for the feast, they stay at the Royal Varanda drinking tea and having small snacks. Astri, Yuki, Aurora and Atlas are concentrated drawing and painting the view, while the other children are playing with each other. Elias, Kai and Albus are playing with Reigan. Hopin is hearing his fathers talking about the strategies of security they’re noticing from the area.
It’s a very pleasant afternoon. When the night arrives, and the feast is ready, sothing not very pleasant happens. A male arrives followed by a female. He looks very much like Seijuurou, but a little older, and wears darker clothes. The female wears flashy clothes and accessories and also dresses provocatively.
Anyone can sense that their energies are not very pleasant to be around. Since they’re constantly around good energies, when soone that is not very good is around it’s quite contrasting the difference.
"Good evening, brother. I heard you have arrived and that we have a special guest." The male says, with a fake smile.
"Yes.. Lady Astri, this is my older brother, Masayori, and his female Lady Ayane. This the Goddess of Nature, Lady Astri, and her family." Seijuurou presents them, but they could sense that he was like walking on eggs around Masayori.
"It’s an honor to et you, Lord Masayori." Astri says, bowing to Masayori slightly.
He can sense that Astri’s presence brings a different pressure on him. He looks at her family, and can also sense they’re different. He kneels and bows to her.
"So, it is true.. It is my honor to et you, Goddess." He says, with his head low.
The female is impressed, but quickly mimicked him. They weren’t believing on what they heard at first, but after Masayori saw Astri he could say that it wasn’t a rumor. He was hoping Seijuurou was tricked by soone to use it against him.
"Raise your head, Lord Masayori. Join us, please." Astri simply says.
"I suggest you to cover yourself better, Lady Ayane. If Lady Astri is not dressing this way, it doesn’t fit you to dress like this either." Seijuurou says to the female.
Ayane covers herself more, a bit ashad. They feast together, and once they’re done and it is ti to go to sleep, Astri says:
"Before I would like to talk to Lord Masayori alone. May I?"
She looks at Ayane.
"With your authorization, too, milady. I wish not to steal your male by any ans." Astri says, smiling calmly to Ayane.
"Yes, milady.. Sure." Ayane nods.
"Good. Thank you."
Everyone is wondering why she wants to talk him alone. Astri’s family quickly looked at Kangki and Claud trying to find answers.
"He’s envious of his brother. He was supposed to be the Emperor, but their father chose his younger heir to beco Emperor and that Masayori angry. She wants to make him choose the right path before he gets corrupted." Kangki says, after sighing.
"He’s not evil, but can beco soone evil if sothing bad cos." Claud explains.
Now everyone understands the reason. Seijuurou is grateful that she will try to put so good sense on his brother. When they were younger, they were best friends, but when their father chose Seijuurou to take the throne, Masayori beca distant and cold.
The courtyard behind the Jade Palace was still, lit only by the pale shimr of hanging lanterns swaying gently beneath blooming sakura branches.
"May I know why you wished to talk to alone, Lady Astri?" Masayori asks, his voice low and careful.
He’s not suspicious. He’s only reserved, like he was listening from a door slightly opened.
Astri turned to him, her expression calm. She gestures toward a nearby bench carved of ancient stone and veined jade. He sits, slowly, warily. She took the other side, keeping space between them, but letting silence settle gently first.
"I would like to tell you a story. Would you like to hear?" She calmly starts.
"Sure..."
"In a very distant kingdom, ruled not by one, but by two brothers. The younger wore the crown. The elder, the one everyone expected to rise, walked beside him, not behind him."
Masayori’s gaze flicked to her. His eyes were dark gray, unreadable.
"Many thought the older brother had lost his chance." She continued. "But he hadn’t lost anything. He had gained sothing greater. You see, while the younger brother ruled the people, the elder kept his heart safe. He advised him, protected him, and reminded him of humility. And in the end, it was the older brother who was also rembered as the soul of the kingdom."
Masayori looked away, as if the weight of her words stirred too much.
"And the younger brother?" he asked.
"He was loved, and respected. But it was the love he received from his brother that taught him how to be worthy of the throne." She smiles.
Silence fell again, broken only by the distant sound of wind brushing through bamboo.
"I know that you wished to be in your brother’s place. That you believe that your father made a mistake choosing your brother instead of you." She says, her voice now even lower. "But your value is not in what you were denied. It is in what you still have the power to shape. Your presence still holds weight. Your na still echoes. What will you do with that?"
Masayori’s hands, which had been clenched in his lap, slowly loosened. He sighs, feeling ashad of what he fed inside his heart towards his brother.
"They see Seijuurou as the moon." He quietly says, bitterness thinning into sothing more vulnerable. "And as only the night."
Astri leaned in slightly, her eyes full of unspoken compassion.
"But the moon cannot shine without the night."
He looked at her then. Really looked. And for the first ti in many seasons, Masayori did not feel judged. He felt seen.
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