CHAPTER 003: Curiosity killed the cat (1)

She witnessed all of her sufferings, shortcomings, happiness and desperations she experienced throughout the years she is by her side. But her will of serving and protecting not only her and the Princess as well will not falter even a little bit.

…

Feeling tired of constantly reading long and difficult lines, Bernice placed her history book she is currently reading in her side and stretched. She looked through the bedroom's window and noticed that it is already dark outside, indicating that it is nighttime.

As per what she said to Madame Roxanne, she will go to her mother's office herself if she cannot go back to her chambers tonight. True to her words, she stood up from her seat and fixed the place she previously sitting at. And then she proceeded to walk towards the door.

She looked at the opposite directions of the hallway and only a number of staffs can be seen. With a nod, she started her journey to her mother's chambers with a steady walking pace.

Her journey went to a halt when she heard some nearby voices that seem to be chatting and footsteps that are slowly getting louder and louder. Instead of going to the opposite direction to avoid them, she chose not to and looked for a way to hide herself well.

When she felt that those people are slowly approaching her, she quickly scanned her surroundings and luckily found a large flower vase that she can hide. She ran to the flower vase and hid herself carefully.

The moment the people in question can now be seen up close, Bernice saw that it was her father and his aide are the people she heard talking. Their chats can now be heard clearly.

"Morris, how is Adelaide and Fariel?" Fabian asked him with his usual cold voice.

"Both the Empress Consort and the Prince is in great condition. They are now in the chambers that you previously assigned me to prepare."

The Emperor nods at him before replying, "Good. Make sure that my wife and my child receives the treatment befitting of their position."

"Yes, your majesty." Count Morris Elion replied as a response.

Bernice is very shocked and confused at the words she indirectly heard from her father. She faltered and almost revealed herself from her hiding spot. She wanted to ask his father about it but is afraid of doing it. In simpler terms, she is very afraid of just his presence alone.

Her mistake made a loud noise for the two people to hear. She panics as she doesn't know what to do to escape this crisis.

Fabian and Morris stopped at their tracks to search the noise. Fabian gestured his aide to search for it and Morris obliged with a bow. He proceeded to walk towards the said vase and inspected it, only to find a trembling and silently crying small Princess that he deemed to be hiding.

In Bernice's eyes, his eyes are cold and seemed a bit tired. But despite his looks, he still have humility and kindness left within him that he chose to not spill the Princess' location to his tyrannical father.

He positioned himself to look as if he is still searching but in truth, he was whispering something to her; 

"Consider yourself lucky this time, your highness. I may won't be able to help you next time so please be careful."

And with that, he stood up again and looked at the window that is currently open. A gust of wind have entered in the hallway and it made the leaves of the gigantic flower vase rustle. But it is actually Morris' elemental magic, the wind magic. He closed the window to finish his act.

"Your majesty, it seems that a strong gust of wind is the cause of the rustling leaves." He reasoned as he walked back to the side of his master.

"Is that so…? Then let's go back. I can't afford to waste any more time to useless things."

Morris nods in silence as he follows his master's tracks from behind.

"Do you know the punishment of disobeying me as well as saying lies to me? It is a death sentence to be exact."

These words from the Emperor himself flowed back to his mind. But he chose to take the risk, hoping that she might be the key of saving this Empire from its tyrannical ruler.

After the two of are out of sight, she decided to come out from her hiding spot and proceeds to go to her destination. She walked with a steady pace but eyes were filled with tears that it blocks her field of vision.

After some time, she stopped at crying and her eyes are swollen. Luckily, she finally arrived at her mother's office.

She originally had one question in mind that she simply wants an answer. But now, her mind is now greatly confused along with the other emotions she cannot identify as of the moment, and also a bunch of questions that she badly wants to hear the answers from her mother herself.

…

After the both of them have recovered, Beatrice and Veronica went back to their respective works. They kept the scenario earlier as a secret that shall never be spread to the whole palace.

Nightfall arrived and the stacks of papers had decreased drastically on the previous hours. Only 1 stack of paper works are left to finish. But in the middle of them scribbling through the papers, a faint knock can be heard in the door. As usual, Veronica stood up from her table and walked towards the door. The moment she opened it, she was flabbergasted that no one is in front of her.

"Uhm… Miss Veronica, can I talk to my mother just for a moment…? Please…?" A shaky voice that came from a child has entered her ears. She quickly looked down and was surprised that it is the Princess Bernice herself standing in front of her, eyes are visibly swollen as if she cried while coming at their office.

"Your highness? What are you doing here in this late hour?" Her tone went high as surprise consumed her. The Empress heard this and decided to pause on what she is doing and look at the person in the door.

"Bernice? It's already nighttime, is there something that you want from me?" Beatrice asked her daughter, crouching down and checking up on her well-being.

Veronica closed the door after Bernice was guided into the sofa. The mother-daughter pair sitting comfortably while she is continuing Beatrice's work as per her request.

Bernice stayed silent for a while before reluctantly replying, "there is one question that I need to ask to you mother… Is it true that father also has one more wife, and they had a child just like me…?"

Immediately after she ask that, she went crying again and leaned to her mother's lap.

Both adults froze upon hearing the child speak. Neither of them are able to answer her question.

'How did she know about this? Did someone from our enemy's side told her?' Beatrice taught to herself with a slight panic.

She set aside her panic to help her child stop crying and comforting her. After a while, she went back to her normal state and is drinking water given to her by Veronica.

When she saw that the time is right, she asked her daughter with caution. "Bernice my dear… How did you know about this?"

She explained her past encounter with the palace staffs going busy, her decision of asking her personally about it, and her encounter with her father and his aide that helped her escape.

This time, Beatrice is the one who is crying. Veronica went to her side to soothe her. And then suddenly, she hugged her daughter tightly with tears tracing her face.

"Thank the lord Ureus and Count Elion for keeping you safe. Thank you for being safe Bernice." She says with her trembling voice.

'Thank you Count Elion for your deed. I am forever in your debt.' Beatrice taught to herself before letting go of her daughter.