BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Everyone looked at the gigantic golden doors when it opened, they were now welcomed by the Emperor himself with the Imperial Princess beside him. Nash's heart almost came out of his chest, yet he still tried and composed himself.

They walked their way in front of everyone, Emperor Adler gave them a satisfied smile and took a deep breath. "I am very fortunate to have a celebration like this. I also want to thank everyone who came to my special day. I also thank the God aboves that he has given me another year to rule the Empire and also to be a great Father to my daughter."

His eyes looked at his daughter, Ashleah. The Princess nodded her head and responded with a soft smile, well because she did not know what her Father would said next.

"I am also wishing that before I die in the near future, I would see my daughter getting married and having her own daughter or son—" Nash's breathing hitched, the Emperor chuckled and shook his head. "Of course I was kidding, I want my daughter to make her own life choices. Well then, let's proceed with the celebration shall we?"

Everyone almost laughed awkwardly and clapped their hands, as th Emperor sat on his throne, Ashleah did the same, the Princess pouted her lips and looked at her Father.

"You don't have to tease me like that, in front of all of your guests, Father." She said, making her Father giggle softly and nod his head. "Hey! I am being very serious."

"Okay, okay. I am sorry for teasing you like that, I was just— No, I had the reaction I knew would happen from—"

"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor lf Genry. Greetings!" Prince Blake greeted his Majesty with a huge smile on his face, he then looked at her highness and also did the same. "Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings!"

"Greetings Prince of Kahlo, Crown Prince Blake, oh the receiving of gifts already started huh?" The Emperor tried to sound like he was amazed or surprised making Ashleah giggle lightly and shake her head.

"Fortunately, yes. I am the first one to give you this wonderful gift that can only be found at out kingdom." The Prince snapped his finger and a butler with a not so large box walked his way to them. "This is just our own simple way with saying thank you to his Majesty's great way of handling the Empire."

The box finally opened, revealing a beautiful rose gold diamond. The people who saw it got their jaw dropped down to the floor. "My, my. Thank you so much for the gift, I am very delighted with it."

The receiving of gifts continued, Ashleah almost fell asleep not until she heard a familiar voice making her look up with a surprised expression plastered on her face. 'Oh, they're finally here huh?' She smirked to herself.

"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of Genry. Greetings!" Axis and Nash said in sync, Axis smiled at her and they both in sync again, greeted her. "Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings!" Nash gave her a look, making her furrow her eyebrows.

"Oh dear, I am quite excited with what the two of you would give me eh?" Emperor Adler stroked his chin using his right hand.

"My gift is also from the church. We do hope that his Majesty would appreciate it whole heartedly." Axis sweetly smiled as a small box was hand given to Emperor Adler, Ashleah moved her head and also looked at what's inside the box as her Father slowly opened it.

"Y-You.." Emperor Adler stuttered, Ashleah's heart dropped as tears started to form inside her eyes, she covered her lips with widened eyes, she looked at Axis.

"O-Oh m-my.. T-This gift." Her voice cracked, finally a tear escaped her eyes. "A-Axis, how did you create—"

The Emperor held the necklace and smiled, but his eyes held depths of sadness deep within it. The necklace was shaped circle, yet a painting of Ashleah's mother and the Emperor was in it, they were both surprised because of the gift.

"I don't know how you did this, but I am very happy with this gift, this will be treasured dearly by me. Ashleah, please do help me wear this." Other nobles who heard what his Majesty said had their eyes widened, Ashleah nodded and helped her Father wear the precious necklace around his neck.

The Emperor smiled and nodded his head, giving Nash signals that he should also give his gift now. The Duke cleared his throat and looked at his butler, Theo and nodded his head.

"This is also another simple gift from me, your Majesty–" Theo with a huge canvas that was covered with a white cloth. "–I do hope that his Majesty also appreciates this."

Theo slowly removed the cloth, Ashleah gasped loudly, Emperor Adler chuckled out in surprise. "Seriously, the both of you.. did you plan this out?" The Emperor blurted out, Ashleah yet again covered her lips with her trembling hands, as Nash's eyes landed on the Princess and smiled.

The painting was indeed simple, yet it was a painting of Ashleah and the Emperor himself giggling insde the garden, yet what made them shock was the Late Empress was beside them, and the idea popped inside Ashleah's mind that Nash might have made this to be customized, yet it was still beautiful as ever.

"There are no words that can explain how much this painting is sending me the shivers all over my body, Duke Deoncan. Thank you, thank you." Emperor Adler tried to contain the tears, as for Ashleah, she.. completely failed as tears streamed down her face.

The only good thing was Nash was a little close to her so he pulled out a small white napkin, and gave it to her. For a few seconds, she just stared at it and warmly smiled as she took it and used it to wipe the tears away from her cheeks. "You're ruining your makeup." He teasingly whispered to her.

After the receiving of gifts, the orchestra started to play. Emperor Adler stood up and reached out his hand asking for a dance with his daughter. "Of course, I will definitely dance with you." Ashleah giggled as they make their way to the dance floor, everyone has their eyes on them.

Ashleah took a deep breath, as she clasped her hand with her Father's hand, his hands was on her waist, her other hand was on his shoulder. They both smiled at each other as their body moved with the soft music.

"Oh my Father, I was very surprised with their gifts. This may be one of your best birthday's hmm?" She giggled making her Father shake his head with a smile on his face.

"I was too, it looks like they prepared very well for this day hmm?" He replied with that making Ashleah chuckle and nod her head, soon enough their dance finished, Ashleah was about to walk her way back suddenly Prince Enver asked for her to dance with him.

She did not decline, yet she chuckled and accepted it whole heartedly. "My, I do think that her highness already likes someone." Prince Enver quickly blurted out while they were dancing making her eyes widened.

"W-What are you even talking about Prince Enver? I do not like someone at the moment—"

"Okay, okay. I also have a personal gift for you, from me and Nicolai. I wrote him a letter and he was very surprised in hearing that you are going to do your best when you become an Empress and approve weddings like ours." He smiled like a child making Ashleah chuckle.

"Of course–" Ashleah stopped and she couldn't even finish what she was saying when Prince Blake tapped Prince Enver's shoulder with a soft smile on his face.

"I would also like to dance with her highness, is that alright with you Prince Enver?" He raised both of his eyebrows, Prince Enver and Ashleah looked at each and shrugged their shoulders.

As Ashleah and Prince Blake started to dance, the Prince cleared his throat and looked straight at her. Ashleah raised an eyebrow, obviously curious with what the Prince has got to say.

"I seriously am sorry if you feel any discomfort that suddenly this Prince from a kingdom inside your Empire wanted your hand in marriage—"

"I do think it is quite obvious that the King himself brought you here, but I am also very impressed the way you acted like you really came here because you want my hand in marriage–" She took a deep breath and she spinned around and faced Prince Enver again. "–Do not worry, after this celebration you can go back home without worrying about the marriage."

Prince Blake chuckled and shook his head. "I also think that her highness already has someone in her mind in marrying someone mmm?" Ashleah felt the blood rushing to her cheeks as she shook her head with an awkward smile on her face.

"Wh-What are you even talking about?" She stuttered, she bit her lower lip and tried to avoid the teasing gaze from Prince Blake, she was about to open her mouth when she saw the glaring gaze from Nash behind the crowd, as they spinned around Prince Blake smirked as he saw the dark gaze from the Duke Deoncan.

"Ha... That's some competition." He chuckled to himself.