Chapter 43 - Emperor Ladwin’s Plan
Golden-horned horses moved swiftly toward Thonias City, the line of imperial carriages and their guards creating a grand spectacle in every place they passed. Inside one of those carriages, Aldrian was telling his stories to Princess Sylphia, with Eleine sitting beside him, listening as well. Not all the truth could be told, but he shared the interesting parts.
Sylphia listened intently, her beautiful face sotis expressing astonishnt, sotis sadness, and sotis happiness. Aldrian thought the princess was truly passionate about adventure. People might assu that Princess Sylphia was just an ordinary princess from a great empire, with her refined, beautiful face, back-length golden hair, and slender body.
But she had told him that she sotis ventured around the empire and even beyond its borders to gain experience. Her father supported these activities because it allowed her to experience the outside world, not just the palace or the capital.
She used her own disguise, so only a few people knew that she also liked to venture outside. To him, she was a rather unusual princess. Initially, he had thought princess Sylphia would avoid such activities and prefer to hear about adventures rather than partake in them, but Sylphia was truly an adventurer at heart.
In another carriage, Emperor Ladwin and Imperial Teacher Elthar sat face to face. Elthar watched the emperor with doubtful eyes because the expression on Ladwin's face could only be described as stupid.
"You've been grinning like a fool since we left the Forest of Despair. What's on your mind?" Elthar asked.
Emperor Ladwin kept his grin and responded, "Not much, I'm just in a good mood, Teacher."
Elthar narrowed his eyes, thinking. Suddenly, he realized sothing he had missed earlier. He hadn't paid much attention because what Aldrian had shown them was truly shocking, but now that he thought about it, there was sothing else significant that had never happened before.
The emperor's happiness about introducing his daughter to Aldrian was unusual. He had never seen Ladwin act this way before. Heck, even when princes and noble young masters from within and outside the empire were captivated by Sylphia's beauty and tried to approach her, her father would always drive them away with countless excuses.
Aldrian was also allowed to enter Sylphia's carriage, sothing no other male, aside from Ladwin, had ever done—let alone a human. For Emperor Ladwin to let Aldrian enter her carriage clearly had strategic implications.
"Are you trying to tie Aldrian to this empire through Sylphia?" Elthar asked. Emperor Ladwin rely smiled and not answering.
"Gosh, Ladwin, are you seriously considering that? Aldrian is only twelve, twelve! Are you planning to groom him into her groom? We don't even know what he thinks of this kind of relationship."
Ladwin frowned at the imperial teacher. "Why does Teacher speak as if I'm so kind of predator targeting young boys? Listen, we've already seen what he's capable of, correct?" Elthar nodded in response.
"Then, aside from his unknown origin, his qualities in everything seem flawless. Think about it, Teacher—he's only twelve! And he's already accomplished so much that even the nobles can't do anything to him. If we can tie him to our empire—no, to our family—it would be the best outco for us! With ti, his na will be known across the continent. Well, His unknown na has already beco a rumor because of Balin, so I have to try to tie him here, even if it ans offering him my daughter," Ladwin said.
"You're still not addressing the real issue. We don't know what Aldrian thinks or how he'll react," Elthar replied.
"We don't need to tell him! We can make him feel at ho here, and one way to do that is with a beauty trap. Despite all the abilities he's shown and how mature he seems for his age, he's still a male. With his looks and talent, it's only a matter of ti before many ladies from all over flock to him. I'm afraid Sylphia will have many rivals, so we should try to hook him now. With patience, Sylphia might make him fall for her. Who knows? Better to try than do nothing, right?" Emperor Ladwin explained.
Elthar found the reasoning plausible and sowhat agreed with it. He also felt it would be a sha if Aldrian went elsewhere to settle after his business here was done. It was better to take every chance to form a solid tie with him, and what better tie than family? However, he was impressed with Emperor Ladwin's determination, even willing to offer his precious daughter to Aldrian.
Emperor Ladwin had six children with his only wife, the empress—five sons and one daughter, Sylphia. As his youngest child and only daughter, it was easy to imagine how much Emperor Ladwin doted on her. For him to finally relent and consider a relationship between Sylphia and Aldrian was significant.
"Sigh, well, I hope this turns out well. Even now, I feel Aldrian is too perfect, and Sylphia is not enough to be his partner," Elthar thought.
The entourage maintained their speed and finally reached the teleportation station in Thonias City an hour later. After bidding farewell to Duke Miralis, the ruler of the territory, they moved to the teleportation station to instantly travel to the imperial family's private teleportation station. The imperial family had a private teleportation station used only by them, so they were already within the palace complex when they stepped out of the teleportation formation.
Aldrian could still be seen talking with the princess, and their interaction raised the elves' eyebrows. They knew how Emperor Ladwin protected and doted on her, limiting her interactions with the opposite sex. Now, seeing the princess talk happily with Aldrian and the emperor not seeming to mind, they could sense a sche brewing. They more or less knew what Emperor Ladwin was thinking and could only wait to see how it would play out.
Aldrian didn't seem to mind the surroundings and kept talking with the princess until they reached the throne hall, where they finally assud a more formal deanor.
"Aldrian Aster, as our chosen one who will help us in the uncertain future, I extend my gratitude and also apologize to you for undergoing even unreasonable tests to convince so of us, even though we were the ones who invited you here. As compensation, I, Emperor Ladwin Evergreen, grant you full access to the entire empire, including our most sacred ground, the Shrine of the Heavenly Tree. We will also provide you with every convenience and accommodation during your stay. You are our empire's special guest, so please enjoy your ti here." Emperor Ladwin said from his throne while Imperial Teacher Elthar and Princess Sylphia, who were smiling at Aldrian, stood behind him.
"I, Aldrian Aster, give my gratitude for Your Majesty's generosity. I also express my gratitude to the esteed nobles who gave
the test. Because of that, I gained many valuable things." Aldrian said, bowing his head. The nobles who had initially made things difficult for him could only take a deep breath and exhale without showing much expression. Aldrian looked at them, wanting to tease them, but it seed they were very cautious due to the oath.
"Your character is truly comndable. And now, this marks the end of our assessnt period of our special guest. Dismissed!" With that, the nobles began to leave the throne hall, but one of them stood in front of Aldrian. Aldrian looked at him.
"Do you need sothing from , Grand Duke Maelis?" he asked.
All the nobles looked on, waiting to see what Grand Duke Maelis was up to. They then watched as the grand duke extended his hand to invite a handshake.
"Congratulations on your success, you truly deserve it," Grand Duke Maelis said.
Aldrian looked at the hand and accepted the handshake. "Thank you for your words, Grand Duke Maelis."
Grand Duke Maelis simply nodded and left the throne hall, followed by the other nobles. A handshake? Even Grand Duke Maelis had to admit Aldrian's capability, but the others did not bla him for it, as they also felt Aldrian deserved the recognition.
When the throne hall was empty, leaving only Aldrian, Eleine, Emperor Ladwin, Imperial Teacher Elthar, and Princess Sylphia, the atmosphere finally relaxed, and Aldrian sighed in relief.
"It's really done now," he thought.
"Aldrian, can you co with ? There's soone who wants to see you," Emperor Ladwin suddenly asked him.
"Soone who wants to see ?" Aldrian thought, puzzled, but he accepted the invitation and followed Emperor Ladwin to a deeper part of the palace. The five of them walked for so ti, passing through several large doors, until Aldrian saw a vast space he was sure lay beneath the World Tree. In the middle of it was a beautiful wooden structure surrounded by a flower garden and a water pond.
"Aldrian, welco to our most sacred place, the Shrine of the Heavenly Tree." Ladwin said.
Reviews
All reviews (0)