10 Let's go see Big Brother

After Leon went his way, I stayed rooted in the pavilion. Upon closer inspection, this place doesn't seem as magical as I had imagined it to be. It was a beautiful garden, but our mansion also had a garden that was as well pruned and well kept as well. This one was just slightly bigger. Maybe noon wasn't a time for this place to show it's potential.

I leaned back and closed my eyes, letting a slight breeze caress my hair, and the sun warm my face. Spring was just about to end, and the whole garden was in bloom, bringing a fresh scent of roses. I could hear the footsteps of servants rushing about, the metal of the guards' armour clanging from time to time when they walked past the garden. No one disturbed me since I was still a much-welcomed guest of the Royal Palace.

"How careless of me, I must still be asleep..." To almost blew it and ask that guy to go easy on me when nothing has yet happened. He must have thought I was paranoid.

I yawned as I was indeed very sleepy. I had to rise with the sun to be on time to the audience with the Royal Pair. Although it was still called a town estate, our villa was placed outside of town. Most nobles had their estates outside. That way, they would be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and had enough space to themselves. But of course, being granted a space this close to town, one has to be a trusted aide of the Royal Family like Father.

But a horse carriage was by no means a car, so to go from our estate to the Royal Palace, it took us more than an hour. Close to two if we had to wait at the gate like other carriages and travelling merchants. Thank God, a Duke's carriage was exempt from controls before entering and leaving.

"No wonder Father always takes the horse." If he went by carriage all the time, he would spend half his life inside a carriage, getting nothing done. Besides the Royal Palace, he would have to visit Highmount, which was a day away. And Northwall would even take a day and a half away by horse. If Mother and I were to go there, we would spend several days on the journey.

Talking with Leon made me think again about my situation. Mending the relationship had proofed to be rather easy. To take a clear stand definitely helped me to gain his trust. If he kept being unreasonable, I would have stick to the plan of playing the betrayed fiancée. But we somehow separated on good terms just now, so wouldn't things smooth out if I, the villainess, become an ally of the pair of destiny?

I wasn't worried that the King and Queen were against breaking up the engagement. Even if it were his parents this time who forced him and not me, he wouldn't hold back. Since it was Leon, he would find a way as he did before.

As time went by, Father came to pick me up, and Queen Marianna was with him to bid me goodbye.

"I'm sorry to keep your father for so long and made you wait."

I shook my head. A maid had brought me some snacks and tea. It was a fondant cake, a variety of cookies and a fruit tea which was slightly sweet and sour, apparently one of Dahlia's favourite brews. Its colour was of a slight shade of red that had a tint of pink to it. It smelled like flowers. It tasted good - not bitter, not too sweet, and it brought forth a long lasting taste. But to me, everything I tasted until now was outstanding. Since this world has no mass-produced goods and no modern technology to keep perishable products fresh, they tend to make the food when it's needed and used only seasonal products that were organically grown. I could understand now why some people were willing to pay five times the price for food on the farmers market. This taste was undoubtedly worth it.

"Do not worry, Your Majesty, I enjoyed myself very much, and your tea always delights me."

Yes, this tea wasn't any ordinary tea but one that was made for the Queen and she had ordered the servants to serve me some whenever Dahlia visited. Probably because Dahlia too would one day stand in her place as the Queen of Florencia.

"When the next fresh batch is ready, I will send you some, do enjoy it then with your mother," Marianna said magnanimously, smiling warmly. She had always treated Dahlia incomprehensively well. In the memories I had inherited, Queen Marianna had treated Dahlia like her own daughter the moment the two of them met for the first time. I had thought that she did so because Dahlia was the girl who was supposed to become the bride of her son. But even now, when Leon fell in love with someone else, and I had openly agreed to break up as well, she was still not treating me any different than before.

Storywise the Queen had been hostile towards Ellie, and I thought it was because Dahlia brainwashed her. But perhaps it was a personal matter. Maybe the Queen honestly had motherly feelings towards Dahlia, regardless of how things are going to turn out.

"Your Majesty, please come and visit us often, as Father and brother are seldom at home, we women feel lonely by ourselves."

"Then you two as well, come and visit me often - even if your Father is at home." She laughed at our farewell under the scrutinising gaze of Father. We never lost a word about Leon and the engagement until our arrival at the carriage. To have the Queen escort you all the way was a privilege only the Duke's household had ever received.

Back in our carriage, Father and I stayed silent until we left the city. Only at the outskirts, when no eyes and ears were near, Father broke the silence. He started right away with the main topic.

"We cannot break the engagement."

"I understand, Father."

I have guessed this far.

"But don't worry, I will find a way."

Father seriously considered my marriage above the safety of the nation. I was truly moved.

"Thank you..."

"Look at you. I've not seen you cry so often ever since you were five."

He sighed and gave me one of his rare smiles. Ever since I woke up in this world, I felt like this man was the one who would always take my side, no matter what happens. It felt more comfortable and more natural to call him my father the more time we spent together. And now it felt like I had known him forever. Like he has always been by my side.

"Papa, don't you worry about me." I smiled amidst teary eyes "Everything will be fine."

He said nothing more, and we spent the rest of the time resting.

Look at this man. Under this cold visage was a warmth no one could imagine. People think of him as a war hero, a bloody general, a ruthless man... he was the White Lion of the war front, but in my eyes, he looked like a cosy cat. I wondered how a man as calm and collected as he could imprint fear into the enemies heart. I wrote the story myself, but now I realised how little I knew about this world and my characters.

'I want to know more about you. And mother and everyone else', I thought.

When we arrived home, a steady stream of servants were busy loading bags and suitcases into carriages. Mother was there to give instructions.

Questioningly Father and I got off the carriage.

"Mother, what are you doing?" I asked.

"I am preparing for a trip." She smiled from face to face while Father seemed rather shocked at her words.

"Where are you going?" I asked quizzically. Had I forgotten something important?

"It's 'us', my dear. I got a letter from Eric: he will be back in Coronia soon. I plan on meeting up with him there. And you're coming with me." Oh... now I remember. After that audience scene where Leon was forced to keep up the engagement, Dahlia had left the country on vacation, still giving him the opportunity to meet up and deepen his relationship with his beloved. Of course, I had concentrated on the lovebirds, never really mentioned where Dahlia was heading to or what exactly she was doing all that time. It was only of importance that she was back when the new term of the Academy started to bully the heroine.

So this happened. Dahlia went with her mother to Coronia, a neighbouring country, to meet with her brother.

"Isn't Father coming with us?"

"Your father is busy all year round, when does he have the time to go on vacation?"

Mother harrumphed, and Father made a concession right away.

"I truly don't have the time to accompany the two of you. Things aren't calm right now."

Does he mean the border? Or my engagement? I can't tell for sure, but even if Father couldn't go with us, the anticipation rose the more I thought about it.

"Dahlia, you don't have to go if you don't want to." Mother seemed to think that I was reluctant, so she mentioned it just in case.

"No, I will accompany you, Mother! Let's go see Big Brother!" I immediately said.

Father seemed a little sad that we would leave without him, and I do feel bad. Although, no matter how sorry I felt, I really really wanted to see Coronia with my own eyes.