A Season of Renewal (II)

After Kamaria settled down next to her mother, the emperor cleared his throat.

"I understand that you didn't find a banquet necessary for your eighteenth birthday but are there any other gifts you would like?"

Kamaria suddenly blanked.

Everyone could traditionally ask for something out of the ordinary for their eighteenth birthday.

The gift was usually presented to them at their birthday celebration, but Kamaria had chosen a family dinner to not overshadow Lady Fara's plans for her own son's birthday.

When she was younger, she took note of how certain people subtly made an issue of how tiresome it was to organise two birthday celebrations in such a short space of time.

As a selfless older sister, Kamaria gave up her own celebration to allow her brother to have an event and that's how it was every year since their sixth birthdays.

"That's right, since she didn't have banquet, it's only fair that little sister chooses an additional gift," said Velia with an encouraging look.

The empress and Lady Fara glanced at her while she thought about an answer to the emperor's question.

"Your Majesty…"

The words sharply sunk into the emperor's heart. Although most of his children did refer to him formally in public, when they wanted something or were being generally playful, they never used his title.

"Your Majesty, I don't need additional gifts, so my request hasn't changed from before. This Princess would like a crown of stars," she finally said.

There were a few laughs and giggles all around the table from her other siblings since they hadn't known about her request before.

She really was a strange young woman, already eighteen and still asking for such fanciful childish things. They all had multiple headpieces for different occasions. Why would this one be special?

There was a look of small concern on the emperor's face.

He knew that his daughter was quite reserved and somewhat whimsical, but this was a chance for her step out of her norm.

Her birthday had already passed so this was the only way he could make it up to her.

Perhaps she could even look at him with the warm excited eyes he once saw when she was younger and not the docile gaze that she had developed over the years.

It made her a gentle and quiet princess but sometimes he just wanted to see his daughter and not an imperial subject.

"That's quite enough from all you. You're all so much older and laughing at a baby. At least she didn't ask for some outlandish things," commented Empress Livinia with her eyes on her plate.

The siblings all instantly behaved and resumed eating.

Kamaria didn't say anything else after her initial statement but only showed a small smile that barely reached her eyes. She was clearly being polite unlike a young woman with a powerful father who could have just about anything in the world that she desired.

The emperor thought that there was nothing he could do if she had made up her mind, this type of stubbornness ran in the family.

"I'll have it arranged then," he finally said.

"Thank you, your Majesty," she said softly.

As they finished their conversation, an announcer stepped into the dining hall.

"The Imperial Army Commander, his Highness Grand Prince Yerlan."

It wasn't long before a tall, capable looking man strode into the hall. This time he was not in full armour as per his usual look.

He was younger than the emperor and had a completely different appearance even though the two were blood brothers. It was the same with Kamaria and her siblings since they had different mothers.

Although the man had a scar running down from just above his eyebrow to his cheek, when he sincerely smiled, he gave the sense of being a gentle giant. The emperor didn't miss the slight change in Kamaria's eyes as soon as the name was announced.

"I see everyone is here enjoying a meal without me," the commander commented jovially.

"The Commander never announces when he'll see us for purposes other than business," said the empress with a small smile.

The troops had returned a few days earlier and as the commander, he came to issue an imperial report to the emperor and officials. After that he went back to his town residence without a word of return.

"I wanted to rest more, but Madam General requested otherwise," he insisted while walking around to Kamaria's side of the table. He always playfully referred to his wife as the Madam General.

"Princess Zorya is here as well?" asked the empress.

"That she is, in fact she wanted to have a word with your Highness," he said after turning to the empress consort.

She turned to look at him with uncertainty.

"With me, Commander?"

"There's no mistake, she headed towards your Highness's Summer Palace. Of course, Princess could come in your Majesty's place as it's just a small matter about a few new plants that were brought back."

"Ah, I see. Kamaria, would you mind seeing to it?"

"Yes, Consort Mother," said Kamaria standing up and happened to stagger just a little.

The emperor and empress consort both reacted but the commander responded even quicker and grabbed her arm.

"Why did you stand up so quickly? Won't this make you dizzy? Plants can't run anywhere Princess."

"Forgive my big sister, Uncle. Everyone knows she can't let anything about her plants pass her by," suddenly commented Khayri and Kamaria turned to him with a blank look making him quickly look away.

Velia gave the empress a look, clearly meaning that she wanted to go along to see what the excitement was about. Princess Zorya always had interesting gifts to give.

The empress gave her daughter a sideways glance which made Velia disappointed but then her mother suddenly spoke.

"Won't she see the other princesses as well since she's already here?"

"Don't worry your Majesty, like I said, it's a small matter. We won't stay for long."

Kamaria then curtseyed to the emperor and his wives before the commander held out his hand.

"Shall we, Princess?" he asked, and Kamaria tried to contain her smile as she took his hand.

Raisa and Lili faithfully followed them out of the dining hall.

Before long before they were out of earshot of the maids and guards near the dining hall. Even so, they kept the volume of their conversation to a minimum.

"Look at you, just because you're now a young woman, you didn't even bother inviting me to your birthday dinner. I'm deeply disappointed."

"Even Uncle has learned to joke now, I know he was too busy to think of such silly things."

"But really Kamaria, you should have at least insisted on some grand old event. You only turn eighteen once."

"It's past already, there's nothing more to be done is there? They're already preparing for Khayri's event."

Her uncle gave her a worried look, never had he seen such a calm young lady.

Even when this excellent young woman was being utterly belittled, she always kept a composed demeanour. The calm manner sometimes scared him especially in someone so young.

He wished that she could be just a little selfish, impatient, and spoilt as other rich young women were. After a certain incident, it seemed she had grown up too fast.

She broke his train of thought when she playfully linked arms with him as they headed toward the garden.

"Don't tell me Uncle is still thinking of such important things. Besides I won't be turning nineteen next year, I'll only be celebrating my first eighteenth birthday anniversary," she insisted with a bright smile.

The man laughed at the brilliant answer. How he had missed her outstanding humour. He resisted the urge the pinch her cheeks as she would complain about her makeup getting ruined.

The weather was bright and cloudless, perfect just as the princess had predicted. The early blooms that surrounded them in various colours brought different fragrances that were carried by a certain crispness in the air signalling the last days of winter.

"The clowning duo finally arrive," gracefully said another woman's voice after she sipped on her tea.

Kamaria turned and saw the commander's wife sitting in a pavilion in the garden. She smiled, a smile that reached her brown eyes as she released her uncle.

"And just like that, I'm discarded. It's dangerous to run Princess!"

Kamaria however was already halfway to the pavilion and then threw herself into her standing aunt's arms as soon as she could.

The older woman could only smile at the silly girl. Everyone else thought she was so mature, but she knew better.

Kamaria might as well have been her own daughter. Maybe if she had been, she would have acted less like an old noble lady.

"My best girl," said Princess Zorya with a playful squeeze.

"Don't tell your cousin-sister I said that though."

Kamaria almost laughed as they sat down. Raisa and Lili finally made it to the pavilion as running after her or warning her not to run would not have made much of a difference.

"I see the two flowers are here as well, it's nice to see you girls."

The girls curtseyed at the acknowledgement and replied simultaneously.

"A pleasure your Highness."

"Officer Radka looking handsome out of uniform I see," commented Kamaria.

"It's nice to see the Princess," said Radka with a smile and a martial bow something not out of place for a battle maiden such as herself.

"Oy, stop trying to charm my officers and come eat. I'm sure you were hungry at that breakfast table," insisted Princess Zorya.

Kamaria gladly sat down, tasting a bit of each dish before fully digging in and savouring the delicious food.

The company in the hall honestly didn't make for a good appetite. If there was one thing that Kamaria did not need to be told twice about, it was good food.