บท 22: Chapter 4 - The Orange-Haired Princess
Part 5
Samantha
Royal Palace Ferrell – one of the palace reception room
Serious Gil near the right side of my Father ushered us to the reception room where the said envoy was waiting. Lazy Gil who was my retainer of the day stayed behind my back near the yellow wall as we walked into the reception room.
Since the room has big glass windows facing west, the orange tints of the afternoon colored the room. I saw immediately a man on his forties sitting on the round table with his chin on his hands. He must be the envoy. Seeing His Highness made his way into the room made the man stood and politely greeted His Highness.
"My sincerest apologies for coming without prior notice, King Nero of Ferrum Kingdom. I am Andrew El Ashid from The High Nation of Sicily. I am here on the behalf of my nation."
"King Nero Sylvan Ferrera. El Ashid of Sicily, you say... isn't your surname is too important to be a mere envoy?"
"Nay, King Nero. I am only from the branch family. Or to precise, I am just the distant uncle of the current heiress of the El Ashid's blue faction..."
I did not know what branch families they were talking about. But I knew El Ashid is one of the three prominent families ruling Sicily. Andradei, the family which is currently leading the nation and the other on the Family Louis. These three families built and raised the small nation together. They are in good terms, I guess.
I inadvertently looked at my father's back while he was having a greeting conversation with the envoy. It was so wide. The dependable back of a ruler, the back of a responsible king. I wondered if someday I will the same quality as my father. Not that wide back, for God's sake.
I have always admired my Father, though I am not showing it in front of anyone.
While I was pondering about these thoughts, a voice pulled me back to the current situation. It was Lazy Gil calling me.
"Young Miss, Envoy Andrew El Ashid had introduced himself. Young Miss, it's your turn." He said, whispering into my ears.
I noticed that even His Highness had turned his face on me, ordering I should start introducing myself. His heavy stares made me more flustered.
"Uhm... yeah... I mean. I am Samantha Auryl Ferrera, daughter of King Nero Ferrera of the Iron Kingdom, Ferrum. Nice to meet you."
I curtsied to the man who was earnestly looking at me.
"Pardon me. I-is there wrong at my face?" I meekly added since I became uncomfortable on the way he was looking at me. Though he was not leering or something at me.
"No, I deeply apologize, Princess Samantha. I did not mean to offend you." The envoy bowed apologetically. "It was just... I never thought that I would see the princess here. I was just admiring how pristine you are, Princess Samantha."
I bashfully waved my hands. "No need to go that far. Please raise your head."
"Thank you so much, Princess Samantha. I guess that the rumors about the princess of being timid aren't true. It was even widespread to our nation about Princess Samantha's Timidity."
'What's is this envoy talking about? A rumor about me?'
I laughed bitterly, displeased at his comment. I am not timid or something. Have they not considered that I just don't like going outside the mansion?
"But I think Princess Samantha should have more exposure on the outside world since she is the future queen of this kingdom. Plus, it would be a shame to let your beauty hidden, Princess Samantha."
I smiled at him, still keeping my composure. I looked at His Highness. He was looking at me at the moment but eventually turned to the envoy as I looked at him.
"It's an honor to be called a beauty even an ugly duckling as me."
"No, no, no. I am an envoy of the High Nation of Sicily. My mouth will speak not a lie. Besides, I see the princess wants to learn and succeed His Highness. May the bond between our High Nation and this wealthy kingdom strengthen more during your reign, Future Queen Samantha."
My ears twitched hearing those words. Isn't it too early for that?
And as I recalled, Sicily is an island nation whose excels at maritime trading and home of ship-building experts. It's also a center of remnants of the ancient nation called Pergasus.
Also, the small nation is wealthy enough to build first-class schools. Their culture is so diverse since the small island nation lies on the Causuasian Sea, between the Physalia and its neighboring kingdoms including Ferrum and the Erab's Kingdom and its neighborhood. Basically, the small island nation is in between two continents.
Moreover, since they are considered as the leading on maritime trading, it is not a surprise that their influence on other countries is apparent especially to its allies facing Sicily. The Small Nation becomes so wealthy in no time, and become one of those nations who loves literature. Great libraries and Sanctuary and Gardens of different Plants around the world are sitting right there.
Making a good bond with such a nation would be profitable. However,
'Why would Sicily, a nation allied to the nation of Physalia, send a messenger into a kingdom who's allied with Pantala Empire such as ours?'
Pantala Empire and Physalia are archenemies. The world knows that from the start.
I looked at my father out of my curiosity.
In the meantime, His Highness offered a seat to the envoy while I went to the corner to sit near to a shelf to listen to their discussion.
Lazy Gil was standing beside my seat. He was closing his eyes.
I coughed loud enough for only Gil to hear.
Upon hearing me, he lowered his face and whispered.
"What is it, beautiful Young Miss?"
I threw a frowning look at him. It was not time to play around, this Lazy Gil.
"Is he really from Sicily?" I whispered back to him.
"As he had said, Beautiful Young Miss, Yes." He looked at the man who said himself was an envoy. "His mouth could not attain to make a lie. I assure you that."
"Muu... stop that 'beautiful' thing already."
"But certainly, it's the truth, Beautiful Young Miss."
I sighed. This Lazy Gil... I think he needs to be punished.
"Whatever. I just wonder what business the Sicily wants from us. Well, all I need is to listen."
"Yes, Beautiful Young Miss." After replying, Gil returned to his previous position, standing straight beside me.
"Muu..."
"So, what business does an important nation allied of the Physalia have to a kingdom such Ferrum?"
I knew that it was not something as trifle as a simple business. I had my lessons with my tutor Johan about world history and its most darkest secrets. Therefore, it's not inevitable that sometimes we would talk about the business behind the scenes of some countries. For some reasons, my heart was racing. Perhaps I was excited to hear the business behind the back of their allies the envoy would propose.
"Go on, tell"
His Highness voice was firm and straight to the point. As expected to my Father.
"Uhm... it's a business proposal, King Nero." He looked straight into my father's eyes without blinking. It was as if there was something else the envoy wanted to tell.
Even I am a princess who loves planting myself inside the mansion like I had said I have my personal tutor Johan who teaches me various of thing including politics and relations between nation!
The relation between the Ferrum Kingdom and High Nation of Sicily is not bad neither good in spite both Nations are bound to their respective sides, their allied nations.
Sicily sending an envoy from an important family to this kingdom is a quite bold move and could lead suspicion in both Nations amongst their respective allies.
It must be the reason why this envoy did not send a prior notice for his visit. Of course, as the envoy set his foot on the front of the gates of Capital City Rio, there's a big possibility that my father had already known his arrival.
But to say he had come only for a business proposal... he must be trying to involve not me. I see. My timing was quite misfortunate. This envoy could not trust me enough and that's why he couldn't say the true nature for his unannounced arrival.
Since I was still sitting behind my father, it was natural for me to see his back.
The envoy started talking about his façade though it was unnecessary since I had seen already through his lies.
I saw my father's back.
It was a sad thing not to be trusted enough.
I wanted my father to stop the envoy's nonsense talking and tell him that I am good, that he, my father, trusted his own daughter.
But he did not. His Highness just kept on nodding while the envoy voiced his lies.
Now I knew that my father did not have enough trust in me to speak directly to the envoy and defend for me that I could be trusted enough.
I see.
I was holding them back.
I have learned two things from my father now. From the training earlier this morning, he was looking down on me and now he could not trust me enough.
I see.
Thinking about it, I had completed my assignment.
My fists clenched and I could feel something on my chest. Seeing my father's back, I only felt pain.
I couldn't bear another second to be here, hearing their deceptive talk.
I needed to be out of here as soon as possible. I needed to.
In the middle of their meaningless conversation, I sighed before I inserted my voice.
"His Highness... may you excuse us. I just remember something I need to do."
"But Young Miss..." Lazy Gil intended to stop me knowing my reasons why I came to the royal palace, why I wanted to stay near His Highness while he's doing his work. Perhaps he had already noticed I was getting out of place too.
However, His Highness approved it immediately, without even looking at me.
"You may go." He said shortly without concern.
"Then, please excuse us. Mr. El Ashid... Gil." I curtsied, then I glanced at Lazy Gil.
"Please excuse us, Highness." Gil bowed and followed after me. He opened the door for me that led to a corridor that also led us straight to the main hallway.
As he already closed the door of the reception room, I let out a sigh.
"Young Beautiful Miss, another piece of happiness had slipped out from you."
"Muu... I told you to stop that already."
"But certainly Young Miss is beautiful, even more, beautiful than my late mistress."
I could not see Gil's face since I was walking ahead of him. However, to compare me to my mother, I stopped my feet. He must be trying to lift my feelings up. I turned around and faced him.
"Look, I am not like her. There's nothing my mother and I have in common." I said it to him.
Gil became silent. After a few seconds, while I was still facing him, he smiled.
"That's not true, Samantha. You're her daughter, after all. I had been with the Mistress since I was young or to be precise my other selves had been with her since the younger years, but I can assure you that you have the same essence with the late queen."
"What's with that?" I couldn't comprehend at all. I ought to laugh hearing this from Lazy Gil, but I did not. He said his other selves, and not exactly him, were with my mother but he was confident about what he had said. Moreover, this was the first time I had seen the usual inexpressive face of Gil wearing a proper smile.
"You can smile, I guess."
"O-of course, Young Miss." He immediately scratched the back of the head after hearing me. "So, Is Young Beautiful Miss feeling better now?"
I just looked at him while having an imposing stance, putting my hands on my waists.
"..."
"Besides, His Highness has his reason. He is just protecting his only daughter."
I let out another sigh again. It can't be helped.
Seeing him smile made me feel better somehow. Such rare occurrence should be enjoyed though I was sad for Johan for missing this.
"Hmm? What are you talking about?" I smiled back at him. It can't be helped if my father doesn't trust me enough then. Besides, I am still planning how to earn his trust in the first place. "Take me back to the mansion. Hurry."
Before affirmatively nodded, Gil let out a sigh. "So, that's your game, huh. Certainly, Young Miss."
I giggled while turning my head away from him to walk forward again. "You let a piece of your happiness vanished this time."
****
Royal Palace Ferrell – One of the Reception Rooms
After knocking and hearing an approval to enter, Serious Gil entered the reception room where His Highness and the said envoy were sitting on a round brown table or perhaps it was an oval table. He was the butler who ushered and was left behind when His Highness and his daughter together with the other masked butler, Lazy Gil, went to the reception room.
Naturally, the king's office room and the reception room was considerably far away from each other and even take several minutes to walk from one to the other. Having the masked butler magic however, it only took one door to reach.
Serious Gil, the other self of Gil who usually accompanied His Highness, bowed from the back of His Highness while giving his report.
"His Highness, Young Miss had already returned in the mansion."
Hearing him, King Nero nodded.
Seeing this, Andrew who claimed his self as an envoy from Nation of Sicily made an apologetic face.
"King Nero, I deeply apologize again for that. It's my fault why the princess acted like that."
He stood up to plead in front of King Nero.
"No. Lift up yourself. I should be the one who's apologizing."
Gil intervened. "If I were to speak my mind, Young Miss was bothered about your lie, Envoy Andrew but she was displeased by His Highness flowing with the façade."
His Highness slightly moved his head in Gil's direction. What he said was true which made King Nero sigh.
"I know that already. Nothing could be done. I just don't want my daughter to be caught up by my mess. So, let's get to the real topic here."
His Highness voice was bold and direct. He turned his eyes to Andrew El Ashid.
Andrew immediately nodded with agreement while grinning.
"I see. The Fiendish Nero I knew before is now a loving father."
The envoy put his right hand under his sleeves searching. Sooner, he laid out a letter in front of King Nero.
Witnessing the letter had a family seal of Yellow Rose, King Nero immediately knew the contents of the letter.
"It's that time already, huh?" He left his seat and walked close to the window. The sun was already setting by then and the shadows of the distant mountains quickly swallowed the capital city of Rio in whole.
Looking from him behind was Andrew, still planted on his seat.
"Yes, King Nero. It's time for us to move."
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