15 An Enemy enters the Palace (1)

It was already the next morning when the rain stopped, but the sun was not still shining. And this made Elizabeth very worried. She was afraid her "weird" feelings might come true.

She was staring at the window when she decided to prepare for the worst that would come, she turned to Alik who was leaning by the door.

"Call Frostbone for me, tell him, it's urgent," she ordered. Alik knew this was about the "weird" feeling that Ethan had told him and he knew that everytime Elizabeth has this kind of feelings, something bad is bound to happen, so he complied to the Crown Princess' order.

After Alik left, Isabel and Ruth came in with a tray of fresh tea and freshly baked pastries.

"Your Highness, Prince Edward said you didn't eat anything earlier. He sent these for you to eat," Ruth said as she bowed to the princess.

"I'm sorry girls, but I don't have the mood to eat pastries. Just put it there, I'll eat it later if I get hungry. For now, I need to talk to my grandmother," she said as she left the room.

After Elizabeth left, the two girls looked at each other.

"Damn that princess," Ruth said as she poured the hot tea outside the window.

"I spent a lot on that poison," Isabel muttered.

As she knocked on her grandmother's bedroom, she overheard her cousin and grandmother talking. But she decided to knock anyway. Her cousin opened the door for her.

"Cousin, what brings you here?" Ethan asked.

"I really can't be calm with knowing I had this bad feeling. I called for a Mage to help me with this problem," she said to her grandmother.

"Oh, well, that is actually the wisest thing you could do, my dear. Not knowing what to do with that "weird" feeling is really hard, it is wise to call someone who could prevent the worst of worst," Aleksandra said.

"I sent Alik so I came here. Grandmother, can you ask Empress Natasha to change my ladies-in-waiting, although I know it will be hard since their families are one of the most powerful clans in the Vetrai," Elizabeth said as she sat down on her grandmother's bed.

"Calm down, my dear. Why? You know very well it is very hard to choose your own ladies-in-waiting. The Emperor and Empress chose them," Aleksandra said.

"I don't know. I've never felt this fear in such a long time, the last time I felt an extreme fear for my life was when I was 6 years old. I don't know, I only want people I highly trust beside me," Elizabeth said as she rubbed her shoulders as if she felt cold.

Ethan understood this. It was highly unlikely for her cousin to feel fear since Elizabeth has never been afraid, but when she feels that someone might endanger her, her strange guts are always right.

"I'll tell Navyss to bring Lance's second dragon, Irina. Qeillith and Irina will replace your ladies-in-waiting if the Empress approves it," Ethan said.

"We still don't know if the Empress will permit it," Aleksandra said.

"Oh, she will, Grandmother. Her fiancee will convince his mother," Ethan said as he took out his dagger and started cleaning it.

After calming Elizabeth, Ethan proceeded to the stables where the Crown Prince usually stays.

"Ethan? Are you here for a rematch?" Edward said as soon as he saw Ethan.

"No, I'm actually here because of my dear cousin, Liz," Ethan said.

"Elizabeth? Why? Is something wrong?" Edward said as he heard Elizabeth's name, he stopped what he was doing.

"Yes. As you've known my cousin, you must know that she's a brave woman. The last time she feared for her life was when she was still 6 years old, and now, she is fearing for her life again. I hope you can do something about this," Ethan said as he stroked a griffin's head.

"What should I do?" Edward asked seriously.

"Your girlfriend has doubts with her ladies-in-waiting. What was their name? Isabel and --- the other one starts with an R," Ethan said.

"Ruth. Well, she's correct to be doubtful of those two. Those two girls are from two of the most powerful clans in Vetrai. Those two clans have been eyeing the Empress spot for a while now," Edward said as he faced Ethan.

"My cousin wants to replace them. I've sent for another female dragon to assist Qeillith to be her ladies-in-waiting. If she's going to secure her spot next to you in the future, she needs people that she trusts to surround her," Ethan said.

"What should I do to help her?" Edward asked, his voice was very determined.

"I need your help in convincing the Empress to replace her ladies-in-waiting," Ethan directly said.

Edward knew it was hard to convince his mother. It was hard for him to convince the Empress because he knows that his mother is one stubborn woman. Once she sets her mind to it, she will not budge from it. I wonder if she will do what he will ask since it concern's Elizabeth's safety.

"Elizabeth asked Frostbone to come to the palace," Ethan said.

Edward stared at Ethan, waiting for another information.

"A mage? Why would she invite a mage in?" Edward curiously asked.

"She decided to take her safety into her hands. She's not someone who likes to sit and let someone do the job of protecting her. With a mage on her side, no harm will try and come her way," Ethan said. "But, with a mage inside the palace, the entire palace will be put in a heavy atmosphere," he continued.

"I'll convince her. Don't worry. Here, continue brushing the horses," Edward said as he passed the brush to Ethan.

"Hey, I'm not a stable boy. I'm a prince!" Ethan said as he threw the brush away and ran after Edward.

Elizabeth was fast asleep in her grandmother's room, while Aleksandra was gently stroking her granddaughter's hair.

Still so young, and have to deal with all of these, Aleksandra sighed.