After Elsa left us, it was so ti before Elder Ileas announced that he was finishing my treatnt. When he announced that I was now perfectly healthy, the old man sent Maxie and on our way.
For so reason, he didn't want us to linger in his house. And before our last farewell, when I brought a whole bunch of thanks, the man was already looking pretty exhausted. But at the ti I just chalked it up to old age and didn't think about the seriousness of his condition.
I learned that the healer had died a few days after we left only a few years later. At that mont, though, it seed to that he just wanted to get rid of the intruding guests as soon as possible.
There was a sense of nostalgia in the sad look that Elder Ileas gave . A feeling I could never quite make out in him.
All the events that followed flew by as if in the blink of an eye.
Upon my return to the Marquis of Windsor's estate, he suddenly announced that I was no longer a servant in their household. Now that was an unexpected turn for sure. Especially since Razor had sohow managed to beco his apprentice.
When I t the boy after a long separation, I found that he was acting rather depressed. But when I asked him what had happened, he didn't answer and just smiled wryly. As if he didn't want to bother with it.
On the whole, it seed as if sothing very important had happened here without my and Maxi's participation. At the sa ti, both Razor and the Marquis Windsor were as silent as so partisans!
To summarize, from that mont on, my life in this place played with new colors. I went from being Maxie's maid to a guest who deserved to be treated properly. The size of my room increased, as did all other living arrangents.
What had suddenly co over the first knight of the Oberon Empire, I had no idea. But I certainly wasn't going to argue with it. And before the man changed his mind, I quickly accepted the new conditions.
At the sa ti, the Marquis did not change his original plans, and strenuously prepared for the coup. Which took place a year later.
Together with his entire subordinate army and allies, the knight made the most global changes to the country in a decade. The previous ruler of Oberon was quickly defeated because no one sided with him.
None of the neighboring countries dared to intervene in Oberon's state revolution, and even the Empire of Azeroth took no action. I was very much surprised by this, suspecting that the coup had sohow gone too smoothly.
The Marquis of Windsor managed to subdue the current governnt in just a couple of weeks, and Razor and I didn't need any help as hostages.
In spite of this, the second prince still took part in the battle to support the Marquis. And when people learned of his status, they were more willing to join the revolution. In this way, it gave the impression that the governnt of Azeroth was on their side.
I was very proud of my black rabbit, not believing that my best friend had managed to grow up so quickly. I never would have thought he could hold a sword at all.
After the successful completion of the coup, Rodrigue Windsor beca the first king of Oberon in his own na, and his consort Obelia beca queen. Maxie was given the title of Crown Princess, which didn't really inspire her much. By nature, the girl liked battles and battles as a knight more than learning royal etiquette.
However, this did not change the fact that the Marquis's main dream had finally co true. With his own resources, he was going to build for his native empire a new future in which there would be no place for oppression.
I could only rejoice at the man's ambition on the sidelines. The tragic story of the Windsor family was averted, and the heroine's ntor not only didn't lose her parents at an early age, she also beca a princess. Now I understand this is a dramatic change in the original plot.
However, all these events I rather followed under the guise of an outside observer. Because all my thoughts during this ti, were in a completely different place.
Two years had passed since Elsa had left and promised to co back. I hadn't heard from her in all that ti, and I was really worried.
Finally, when everything in the Oberon Empire was finished, I went to look for her. This decision was not easy for , but at the sa ti I realized that I had no other choice. If Elsa did not co to , I would find her myself. It was a choice I had made the day we had parted.
And now, without the slightest hesitation, I intended to get my girlfriend back, no matter what it took.
«Elsa, just wait for …!»
By that ti, the Marquis's influence in Oberon had already gained enough ground that he could safely let go. After all, in the anti we had developed a relationship of trust, if not friendship. Except that Maxie was clearly not thrilled when she found out about it.
The girl tried in vain to talk out of the idea, arguing that it would all be useless anyway. For so reason, she didn't believe in my success from the beginning, or that I would be able to find her.
However, my decision could not be changed.
In the end, after making sure that I still would not give up, the girl was very unhappy but volunteered to go with . Although Maxie was against it to the last, she was even more reluctant to let go on such a dangerous journey alone.
Razor also wanted to accompany us, but could not, as he had to complete his training as a knight. Even though the Marquis was already the ruler of this country, he was still the lad's ntor. And before formally conferring the new title, he was going to make sure he was qualified. Simply put, Razor was going to have to go through a difficult examination.
I had my fingers in the air for the boy, for I believed he would definitely pull it off.
Maxie and I, anwhile, went on a trip around the world, which lasted already six months. During that ti we visited several countries and t a lot of different people. But none of them had ever heard of a person nad Elsa.
Such a long search made uneasy, and I had no idea where she might have gone.
It was as if Elsa had simply disappeared.
But even so, it didn't matter to how much effort I spent. Even if it took years or a lifeti, I wasn't about to give up until the last minute.
And the next destination for and Maxie was… the Kingdom of Azeroth.
It had been three years since I'd been back here. It was my birthplace, where I'd spent my childhood and adolescence. Needless to say, and far from these mories, it was far from my ho…
Azeroth was my ho, and I was forced to leave it because of certain circumstances.
And now, after all this ti, I was about to return here.
It was a little scary and exciting at the sa ti. Should I visit my father as soon as I arrived? He must have been terribly worried all these three years.
Maxie and I made it to the border of the Kingdom of Azeroth from a neighboring country fairly quickly. And we were already standing in front of the main gate of the capital Kronos when the guards checked our badges.
Two n in armor verified that the badges were authentic, and were about to let us into the city when suddenly… One guard whispered sothing excitedly to the other.
The other one turned his attention to , and they looked at each other strangely.
— Is sothing wrong? — Maxie asked quietly, «Can we go on?»
— Wait a minute…!
The man suddenly took out a rolled up portrait of himself. And holding it out in front of his face, he began to compare it to . It took just a couple of seconds to make sure that the girl with erald hair in the picture was an exact copy of .
— I beg your pardon…» the guard hissed uncertainly, «You're Lady Ashford, aren't you?»
— Yes,» I was a little surprised that they knew so quickly, «is there anything wrong?»
— No, nothing! — He waved his arms in a hasty manner so as not to frighten ,» «There's sothing… Could you co with us to the throne room for a mont now?»
— What?
Maxi and I were both taken aback at the sa ti.
— Why?! — Maxie stepped forward in indignation, — What grounds do you have to detain her?
— Y-You've got it all wrong…! It's just that… er… the Archduke's daughter is such an important person! Before she enters the city, she needs to greet our ruler.
— Ruler?
The n stamred and couldn't answer properly. It all seed very suspicious, which Maxie noticed at once.
— We refuse! — She announced firmly, «Let us through at once. If you don't… You can bla yourself later.»
Maxie grabbed my arm, about to force her way through the guards on her own, but they locked us in a tight ring. It looked like an obvious ambush.
Sensing the danger, I tugged excitedly at her sleeve.
— Don't…! — I asked quietly, «You're the Crown Princess. How can you make a scandal in front of the main gate?»
— What else do you suggest? — Maxie said indignantly, «Are you really going to go with those bastards?»
I sighed deeply, having no idea why Philip wanted to see . After all, he was the one who was supposed to take the throne now, after his father. I thought the boy had grown up enough since then, and now he was only involved in matters of state.
Could this really be so kind of welcoming ceremony I hadn't heard of before?
After Philip took the throne, I never once congratulated him. It must be my failure, really, as the daughter of the first Archduke.
— It's all right,» I said, «I'll just say hello to him, that's all.»
— So you're really going? — Maxie was surprised.
— They said it wouldn't take long… You can wait for outside the gate.
— Oh, no! I must go with you and keep an eye on things.
The guards heard this and hastily declared:
— Unfortunately, the lady can only go by herself.
— Why is that?!
— We can't help it. Those are the rules.
Before Maxie could get angry again and get into a fight, I hastily held her back.
— It'll be all right,» I reassured her, and she wouldn't go along with it.
But in the end, I managed to convince her to wait outside while the guards escorted to the imperial palace. The first and last ti I'd been there was years ago. I would probably rember the Christmas Ball and the experience for the rest of my life.
And yet, I had never been in the throne room before. It was kind of exciting to et Philip after all this ti.
I hope he really let go of our past, and just wanted to see an old acquaintance.
Walking through the luxurious corridors of the palace, the guards stopped in front of the ceiling-high golden doors. As I realized, this was the place.
The n politely parted to give way.
— Here you go, lady.
As I pushed the doors open, the gold and other luxuries of the throne room lood before . It was the main room in the entire palace.
I took the first step, not yet knowing what lay ahead of .
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