(#22) Lion's Palace

This is an extra long chapter, Enjoy

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I ran through the halls of the Palace.

I then spotted a maid. "Miss, please wait a moment." I said and she turned to me.

"What is the matter, Lady?" She asked, not recognizing me. "Where is my Fa- I mean, Lord Aesther's office?" I asked.

"It is in the Lion Palace." She said, looking at me with suspicion. "Anyway, who are you?" She asked. "How are you related to Lord Aesther?" She asked.

"Nothing of much importance. He is just my Father." I said.

"Oh... I thought-" It clicked for her, a bit late.

Suddenly, her face was filled with anxiousness and worry.

"L-lady Aeas-sther?" She started stuttering.

"It is alright. Just don't make the same mistake again. Treat every guest with politeness regardless of their origin. In the long run, it will only bring you goodness and wellbeing." I said.

"This lowly maid will remember and will forever follow it." She said, bowing again.

"It is for your own good. I don't have anything to do with it. Anyway, thanks for the information." I said.

"Belle, keep up with me." I said and ran to the Lion Palace.

"Once I reached the Lion Palace's entrance, I looked back for Belle. She was running, with great effort.

It looks like she will have to join the Aesther's army training.

"You didn't have to wait for me, My Lady." She said. "What non sense are you telling? This is the Lion Palace. Walk with gracefulness." I said.

I was sure that even though I said to walk with gracefulness, it didn't show in me, and I didn't have the time to look at others either.

"Hey, hey, hey." A man stopped me.

He seemed familiar to me. Familiar as in, last-life-familiarity.

"What is the matter? It better be important." I said.

"Of course it is important. This is the Lion's Palace. Walk with gracefulness, Lady." He said.

"As far as I know, this is the Lion's Palace, where strangers cannot get in easily, so, who might you be?" I asked.

He gulped. He was shocked. "You-you. You know what? I am not surprised-" I cut him off.

"Well, your facial expression, conveys the opposite." I said and he was shocked again.

"You are a child from the streets. No wonder you are so disrespectful." He said.

"You are telling that because ladies from the noble ladies don't dare to fight back and take their right. No wonder the men have become so arrogant these days." I said.

"You dare call me arrogant?" He asked.

"And think it is the opposite?" I asked.

"O-o-obviously." He said.

I scoffed. "Pity you. Even you aren't sure about it yourself." I said.

"Hey-" I cut him off.

"Look, I don't have time to bicker with you. My Father fainted and I am here to check on him." I said and walked past him.

He then caught my wrist. I heaved a sigh.

"Your Father fainted? So he is a worker in the Lion Palace? But your attire looks like you are of a baron's daughter." He said and eyed me suspiciously, head to toe.

Then his face lightened, as if he figured out the last puzzle piece.

"I get it. You are so stubborn that your Father had to spend so much money for your dress, even if he didn't want to.

And when he thought about it in a long term, he got a stroke and fell. And now you are visiting him." He said.

I sighed. "Worker, he is. After all, every one of the empire is worker even the King. But I don't think that my Father is that poor." I said.

"Yeah? Oh please, don't tell me you are the daughter of Count Welds." He said, sarcastically.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it." I said.

"Of course." He scoffed. "Normal people like you can't even dream of it." He said.

"I am just the daughter Lord Aesther." I said.

"Of course, you will only be the daughter of Lord Aesther-" Then only did he start to think.

"L-lord Aesther?" He started stuttering. I rolled my eyes.

I didn't have time to waste.

I strode past him. Then I saw my Father's office.

I got in. My Father was barely conscious. However, he smiled when he saw me.

"Father!" I said and I went and kneeled beside the sofa he was laid on, holding his hand.

"What happened?" I asked, uneasiness building inside me.

"Oh it is nothing." He said, smiling.

"Come on Father." I said and took his hand to my right cheek, to pass on the warmth.

"Nothing is not the reason for high blood pressure." I said.

"Lady, how did you know the reason for fainting was due to blood pressure?" The doctor, who I only saw then, asked.

"Fainting indeed has many reasons. But I know my Father. Relating to his lifestyle, increased blood pressure is most likely the problem." I said, bringing my attention back to my Father.

"Lady Aesther is indeed knowledgeable." The doctor said.

"Nothing worthy of praise. I just know important basics." I said and rubbed his hand against my cheek.

"Lady Aesther is sure being modest." The doctor said.

"You know I am not." I said. "No, no, no. The thing I spend some time, you just figured within no time." The doctor said.

"That's because I know my Father well. And that is not worthy of praise since it is the duty of every daughter." I said.

The doctor didn't say anything then.

"Belle, where are the things?" I asked and Belle handed me a parcel.

I opened it.

"Father, these are some leafy vegetables and berries. It is good for reducing blood pressure. Now be a good boy and eat it." I said.

"Lord Aesther, I don't think you need me, when you such a filial daughter." The Imperial Doctor said.

"Imperial Doctor, please don't mock me." I said, facing the doctor. "You know I am not. And I wouldn't dare to, too." He said and I smiled.

"These are the moments, that I regret only having two sons." I heard a familiar voice and looked up, to find King Adelouis and Crown Prince Lindon, looking at me.

I then quickly got up. "Greeting to your Highness, the Sun of the Empire." I said.

Then I turned to Crown Prince Lindon. Since the Imperial Doctor is present, I can't use his real designation. "Greeting to Sir Lin." I said and he smiled.

I then kneeled. "I apologize for not greeting you earlier, Your Highness." I said.

"No, no, no. I am actually very happy to see that you and your Father have a really great relationship." The King said and made me stand with his own hands.

"I thank Your Highness for your mercy." I bowed. "Don't mention it." King Adelouis waved it off.

"And Imperial Doctor, can you please give us a moment?" King Adelouis asked.

"Of course. After Lady Aesther came, my job got cut off in half. Let me tell you, Lady Aesther, if one I get kicked out of this job, it is all on you." The Imperial doctor said.

"Imperial Doctor, you have been buttering me up since I entered. Let me tell you, everything that I have, belongs to my Father. So if you want anything, please butter my Father, not me." I said.

Then the Imperial Doctor laughed along with others. Even Father chuckled a bit.

"Then I will be leaving." The Doctor said.

"Have a nice day ahead." I said. "Thank for the blessings, medicus." Doctor said.

"Doctor, I know hephercitus. You just called me Doctor." I said.

"Whoa, you are scaring me, Lady Aesther." Imperial Doctor said.

"Doctor, believe me. You don't even belong in the top three group who said that." I said.

"Yeah, and the first place goes to me." King Adelouis said and every one of us laughed.

Imperial Doctor soon departed from the room.

"I apologize for not able to greet you properly, Crown Price Lindon." I said.

"No, no, no. I am actually quite at ease because you addressed me in that way." He said.

"Where were you yesterday? I heard that you weren't at home." Crown Prince Lindon said.

"Oh, I went hunting with Kyle." I said.

"Kyle?" Price Lindon asked.

"The foreign Envoy from Gelna." I said. "It look like you both know each other personally." Prince Lindon said.

I smiled.

"And from the looks of it, it seems like you found something worthy of your interest in there." Prince Lindon said.

"That is... actually a secret between us." I said, smiling.

Suddenly, Prince Lindon's face turned a bit red. "Are you alright, Crown Prince Lindon?" I asked, and was about to touch his forehead when I stopped myself.

But then, Prince Lindon came forward and connected my hand to his forehead. "I am perfectly fine." He said, smiling.

"Oh." Was the only thing I could manage. I then pulled my hand away, and turned my face to a side, because of my light blush.

"Uh... then, it seems like both of you want to actually talk for a bit." King Adelouis said.

"Actually Your Highness. I wanted to ask you something, Your Highness." I said.

"I am all ears, dear." King Adelouis said, smiling.

"I know that Father requested a leave for two weeks starting next week. I wanted to prepone it to, I am afraid, tomorrow." I said.

"Actually, I was about to talk about it with Lionel too." King Adelouis said.

"Wait. No need for that." Father said.

"Father, right now, all you need to do is eat those vegetables and berries. The rest of the things, we will handle it." I said.

"Yes, dear daughter." Father said, smiling.

I then leaned forward and kissed my Father's forehead. "Get well soon, Father. You are my strength, Dear Father." I said.

"And you are mine." Father said. "Exactly. So listen to this daughter of yours." I said and ruffled his hair. "Like a good boy you are, Father." I said.

"Again, I regret not having a daughter." King Adelouis sighed and we all smiled.

"So, about the request I made?" I asked King Adelouis. "Approved already." King Adelouis said.

"Thank You, your Highness." I bowed. "Don't mention it." King Adelouis said.

"Now then, you both can take stroll outside." King Adelouis said. "If it won't bother the Crown Prince." I said.

"Not at all." Prince replied fast.

"And Father, by the time that I am back, you better finish these." I said. "Yes, my dear daughter." Father said and I smiled.

Then I turned to Prince Lindon. "After you, Crown Prince." I said. "Sure." He said and led me out.

We started walking around the Palace. And all this time, we didn't talk even a word.

"So, Crown Prince-" Prince Lindon cut me off. "It is Lindon for you, Ana." Lindon said. I blushed.

"But... wall have ears." I said. "Then you can never call me Lindon." He whined. "Exactly." I muttered.

"Then call me... Lin." He said. "Th-that's even worse." I said. "Nope. Everyone call me Sir Lin. So it is not." He said.

"Then... Lin?" I asked. "Exactly." He said and I blushed a little.

"So Ana, are you free today?" He asked. "Nope. I have to go pack and start packing." I said. "You can do that during night." He said.

"Where are you getting to, Lin?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face. Lindon smiled when I called him like that.

"You have to spend a bit of your time with me." He said. "How much is a bit if time?" I asked.

"Till sunset." He said.

"Sunset? It is not even noon yet." I said.

"Exactly. I want to spend some time with you. It is only fair that I get to. Considering Kyle already took the first chance." Lindon said.

"But he didn't take this much time." I sighed. "Are you telling that I should copy what others should do? No. If he does one, I do ten." He said and I sighed.

"What are you plans?" I asked.

"Eating lunch together. Visiting the Eastern Garden, Glass Museum, then having a coffee, watching the sunset together." He said.

"You seemed to have planned it ahead of time." I said.

"For you, Ana." He said.

"Seems like you won't take no for an answer." I said. "I won't." He said, smiling.

"Then Lindon, please take care of me." I said.

"Till the end of time, sweetheart." H

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note for Readers

This Chapter is my appreciation to all of the 500+ readers.

So please, continue supporting me throughout, by commenting, voting and sharing my stories.

So, till next chapter,

Luv Y'all 💕💕

Last updated on 21-8-2020