章 34: Side Chapter: The Emperor and The Maid.
Side Chapter: The Emperor and The Maid.
Third person's POV
-After cleaning the broken shards at the broken council room-
…
The day of the return, old friends would be wise to catch up.
The former general of the army, who retired and under orders of the empress she was not allowed to leave the little one's side but it does not mean she cannot visit the ones she cared about in her provincial city.
The one who truly inflicted that rule, was the emperor.
Both stood face to face, Victoria had just finished doing her duties and she faced the ruler of the kingdom who was tired and breaking down in his seat in his private office.
"Victoria, have I gone insane? The lives we've lost- the mothers that will mourn their children that fought for my selfish desires… how will they curse my name?" The emperor began to bite his thumb, blood dripping down his skin and lip.
"Alastor-" (Victoria) wanted to comfort her friend, the father of the child she's taking care of. "I know how the war has taken a toll on all of us- just- maybe revenge and expanding the kingdom is not the right answer."
Emperor Alastor sighed, and held his head. The writhing agony he was feeling, the chest burning he couldn't explain what was happening.
It has only been a few hours since he has arrived, but without the usual screams he was hearing- his body has gone paranoid.
"Then what is-?! I have sinned, I tell you! Every royal sins in this family, dies a horrible fate or is making horrible decisions like mine?! What can I do to prevent it?!" He proceeds to pull his hair and ask Victoria many questions hoping she knows what to do.
"You were my adviser please… help me… what can I do to make everything better again?!" (Emperor Alastor) slammed the table, slowly going insane.
"The families of my kingdom are suffering from famine, the crime rate is high, and the nobles have been talking behind my back when I was out there defending our kingdom!" His pleas began sounding like howls of a wolf in pain, the man once known to have the charm to make people follow him in battle because the soldiers wanted to- was long gone.
Everyone wanted to abandon the emperor, because his cause for fighting became mudded. Unable to see the right, when has revenge been always right?
"What can I do- oh… what can I do…"
Bam!
Victoria knew the only solution she could think of.
She saw the princess, the future empress ruling her people fair and well. If anyone could break such a cycle it would be her. The little one she raised in all these years, the trust she gave was almost endless.
The girl knew empathy, decisiveness, and knew how to get along with commoners whom she will be caring for once she is crowned.
"Your daughter." she started, head looking down on her hands suddenly nervous.
"My… daughter?" The emperor remembered the girl that asked if he was his father.
"My daughter." He repeats, now he couldn't forget how she could look so similarly to his late wife, the former empress.
"It's been years since you've left, she's growing into a lovely person." (Victoria) smiles, chuckling about how it feels to see a child grow up day by day.
Being proud of their accomplishments and their effort.
It was weird.
Growing up in an orphanage this kind of thing was normal, she watched other children grow and be their own person.
However, Victoria feels happy and cares more than she should on the little princess.
"I believe with the proper care, attention and guidance teaching her how to properly rule- become responsible with the burdens of the duty of becoming the empress…" she knew in her heart the girl would become someone the people can respect.
Just like her real biological mother.
"You're right…" The emperor fixes his hair smiling, feeling like he hit the jackpot of an idea. "She needs a husband."
"What…?"
Victoria had to stop and think, how could a man like him think it would be proper to talk about marriage when the princess is not even of the right age?
"I have almost forgotten, I can still turn this around. There should be other countries and kingdoms that would consider an alliance!" (Emperor Alastor) stands up to shake Victoria's hand.
"Wonderful! Thank you, this is why you're my adviser-"
"My emperor, I suggest you rethink your decision- are you hearing yourself?" (Victoria) took her hand away, feeling disgusted with her old friend that has drastically changed after the experience of war.
He's become so desperate, he was willing to sell his daughter for some relation with another country or kingdom. "Arranged marriages are normal for us, Victoria. People born in nobility- it's just like this."
"It doesn't mean you have to follow- I'm not against arranged marriages because that's how it is in your world and I respect that-" (Victoria) wanted to tell him off, the princess is only a child. She kept her calm knowing that if she acted horribly her position as the princess' caregiver would be in danger.
This is not the same Alastor she knows anymore. "But at least consult it with your daughter first when she's of proper age!"
"She'll have to understand, her destiny has been set. Victoria I don't understand why you're upset-" (Emperor Alastor) shrugs knowing that this was just something normal for women kind, after all he as well found his beloved through it.
"I was left to care for her! And you ask why I'm upset? If the late empress sees you doing this to her daughter-" (Victoria) shouted, mentioning the empress it shocked the emperor before exploding in a fit of rage.
"Don't even mention her. She's not here, how would you know?!" (Emperor Alastor) had to hold back his anger, but honestly his patience was running out.
"Because she loves this girl! Your daughter meant the world to her! You know that the most Alastor!"
…
The two were met face to face, with different opinions and perspectives on how to raise the princess.
"I see you've lost your touch, general." (Emperor Alastor) shakes his head feeling disappointed with Victoria. "Have you gone soft after only taking care of one little girl?"
"Your girl is special, you would know if you spent just- more time with her." (Victoria) sighs taking her time to let the adrenaline out of her body. "She's been asking me about you and… Amelia often."
"I didn't know what to say on most days. It hurts, I feel so guilty I'm not even her mother- but she is just-" The maid would recall all of those moments that the princess saw her as the mother figure, her heart felt guilty yet happy every time it happened. "I feel like I'm taking something I shouldn't."
"Hmph, so that girl sees you as her new mother?"
"I suppose so, so don't wonder why I feel so overprotective around the girl. Marriage is something that needs to be consented." (Victoria) was about to have another headache coming, the emperor only having a few things to cope with how things are now- takes a fresh sealed tobacco out of one of his drawers and handed them to Victoria.
"Care for a smoke?" He asks, Victoria quit smoking because she was afraid children would see and copy it… but feeling stressed she couldn't help but give in just once.
"Just… think about what I said." (Victoria) replied holding the cigarette and lighting it up with the help of a fire stone, both not having the affinity for fire they had to use an alternative.
"I'll think about it then, but I'll give you a new state order."
"What is it?" The skin of the tobacco slowly burned, the smell of burnt herbs was relaxing and she hoped she wouldn't go back to smoking.
"Stop getting close to my daughter."
Victoria almost dropped the tobacco into the ground hearing the new order she was given.
"Alastor you can't just do that and jeopardize my postition-"
"Follow orders, you've turned soft and it's because of my daughter. Show me this side of you again, and I'll be removing you completely out of her life." (Emperor Alastor) was not playing around, he was serious on replacing Victoria if he opposed any more of his new found plan that would surely work.
He takes another puff out of the tobacco, seeing Victoria's expression being afraid.
"You've changed." (Victoria) takes out her half done tobacco and presses the burning tip into the emperor's ashtray giving him a, 'Ill remember this day.' look.
"Who doesn't?" He retorts, but now at least he made sure the future is settled. "Am I clear on the order, general?"
"Former general, I'm no longer part… nor will I be back in any military affairs you'll offer."
Victoria served the empress first, and she will until her very last breath.
She knew she needed to follow Alastor's order or else she'll be forcefully taken out, no matter how good of a fighter she is- getting tailed by knights is not a good image for the princess to see.
"I'll follow your orders."
Victoria didn't know how long she could do that though.
"You'll still see her everyday, but leave the education to me. I heard you're the only one teaching her but- I'll find new scholars that will do better." (Emperor Alastor) proceeds to list all the subjects that the princess will be learning.
"?!"
Victoria is not familiar with some of the subjects, almost ten courses- "This feels like too much for the princess-"
"I had the same amount when I was little. She'll be fine." (Emperor Alastor) replied and Victoria became livid.
Victoria knew some of these might now interest the princess, besides she's only a child!
The reason she agreed for her afternoons to be spent in the library, was for Princess Elizabeth to find her own calling and have alone time on her own.
To find her own interest, hobbies that might make her happy- like the topic about agriculture the princess is deeply passionate about because she wanted to help her kingdom suffering from famine… was not there.
After seeing all the courses she needs to take, it was all too much for a five year old girl to take.
"Alastor she won't have time to sleep with this education plan- she'll barely have time doing anything else." (Victoria) was concerned about how princess Elizabeth will make friends if she won't have the time and energy to do it.
"If I can do it, she can too." He told Victoria, eyes glancing to her like he was annoyed with all of her yapping about a daughter that's not even hers.
'You don't know her like I do.' (Victoria) thought to herself, clenching her fist. "There won't be anything that can change your mind, is there?"
"None."
Not a moment of hesitation, he answered.
"Alright, I'll tell the princess… soon." (Victoria) was worried how the princess would take the news of her future being built by the emperor. "Have a nice evening… and welcome home emperor."
She knew in her heart, this was a path she wouldn't need at her age.
But she's just her maid.
And he's the emperor.
What else can she do?
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