A Quality Time

"Should I employ it now, or should I not?" He had used it previously when confronted by Starael. However, it was crucial to note that Starael could still see Lucian during the temporal distortion.

Therefore, Lucian was uncertain how the time-altering artifact would affect normal individuals. The primary reason he had refrained from using it at the palace gates was due to his apprehension.

If he had employed it and had been seen by the guards during the temporal distortion, there was a risk that they might raise the alarm about an intruder in the palace.

Lucian wasn't just an ordinary person, they could jump into conclusions that he was Starael and that could mean trouble as they would try to capture or even kill him, Lucian was so determined not to attract unwarranted attention.

His sole objective was to enter the palace surreptitiously, retrieve the book, and depart without drawing any notice.

As Lucian held the Locket of Timelessness in his hand,his contemplation over the use was abruptly halted by a comment from one of the fellow prospective servants.

The words spoken by this individual shook Lucian back to reality. The individual inquired and continued "What are you thinking about? If you have any intention of stealing, I'll advise you, don't. We're in the great palace of Sibiah, and your punishment will be swift and severe if you were to be caught.", the individual warned.

Lucian regarded the person with a touch of scorn as he walked away from the door, walking back into the resting area. Inside his mind, Lucian wondered about the identity of this stranger who seemed overly concerned with his intentions.

Resisting the urge to engage in further conversation, Lucian decided to stay silent. His main objective was to avoid drawing attention or being involved in any discussions that might hinder his quest.

Lucian took a seat, leaning back on the provided beddings, and prepared to wait for the upcoming training session.

★★★★

After the court's dismissal, the Queen, accompanied by her maids and guards, returned to her chambers in high spirits. The court session had been productive, discussing various matters, including recent events that had impacted the kingdom.

Conversations about compensations, the prosperity of Sibiah, and the well-being of the townsfolk left the Queen content and happy.

As she entered her chambers, Ser Alanis, ever respectful, greeted her with a bow "Your Majesty" ,"Be at ease" the queen said,he stood properly as she inquired "How's my daughter?, Alanis assured the queen in calm and respectful tone "She's doing okay,your majesty".

Despite the positive news, the Queen couldn't shake a sense of longing for her daughter, she clearly missed her daughter. Feeling a pang of guilt for not being as present in Felissa's life as she wished, the Queen expressed her desire to see her daughter. She instructed Alanis "I want to see her, bring her to the usual place", Alanis accepted the command respectfully and left.

In anticipation of the meeting, the Queen instructed her maidservant to prepare a game named "Cloudstone Tumble" CT for short; a popular 2 players game with specific rules in the kingdom.

Cloudstone Tumble also known as CT had originated centuries ago when the King, a Go enthusiast, whom after catching a whiff of complaints about how hard the game of Go had been to the people, he sought to create a simpler game accessible to people of varying intellectual abilities. It became a beloved pastime for the people of Sibiah.

Game Name: Cloudstone Tumble (CT)

Equipment: A wooden board with a grid of 5x5 squares, five colored stones for each player (e.g., red and blue stones), a small bag of "cloudstone" tokens.

Objective: In Cloudstone Tumble, the objective is to be the first player to form a row of your colored stones (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) while avoiding the "cloudstone" obstacles.

Gameplay: Players take turns placing one of their colored stones on any empty square on the board. Once a player has four of their colored stones in a row, they win the game.

Players must also watch out for "cloudstone" tokens. These tokens can be placed on the board to block an opponent's move. On your turn, you can either place a colored stone or use one of your cloudstone tokens to block your opponent.

A player can win by forming a row with their colored stones before all the squares on the board are filled or by strategically blocking their opponent.

Scoring: The game ends as soon as one player forms a winning row. That player is declared the winner.

Having reached the secluded spot within the palace, the Queen, accompanied by her maid, reflected on the joyful memories of her daughter's infancy.

She longed for those carefree moments and wished time could be turned back. During those early years, her daughter was blissfully unaware of the complexities surrounding her birth and hidden existence.

The Queen cherished the memory of a playful, happy child unburdened by the weight of secrecy. The reality of the princess's circumstances only dawned on her as she grew older.

Meanwhile, Princess Felissa was seated in her chambers as Alanis walked in slightly bowing conveying the queen's command "The queen request your presence princess.". Although not particularly eager for the meeting, Felissa reluctantly acknowledged it with a dry nod.

Upon arrival, she was met with a surprising smile from her mother, a rarity that surprised Felissa, she couldn't remember when last she saw her mother genuinely smile.

Despite her reservations, she reciprocated with a feigned, polite smile when greeting her mother with a formal curtsy, greeting "Mother". Playfully, the Queen said "drop the formalities , you're my daughter afterall", Felissa then genuinely smiled briefly when her mother signaled her to sit.

Seated, Felissa, not one to ignore the atmosphere, remarked, "Mother, you seem happy today. I haven't seen you in this mood for a long time," expressing a blend of smiles and solemnity.

The Queen's mood shifted, mirroring her daughter's somberness as she said "I am sorry my dear, I know I have not really been a good mother to you but I promise you that I love you and I'll make it up to you" gently caressing her daughter's face.

In response, Felissa, attempting to uplift the mood, reassured her mother, "It's okay, Mother. I understand that being the Queen of this great kingdom comes with great sacrifices. I can not be a selfish daughter. You have greater duties that are way bigger than me, and I truly understand that."

While these words may have held a mixture of sincerity and understanding, the reality of her mother's absence still tugged at Felissa's emotions. As her mother mouthed a heartfelt "Thank you," holding her hand.

Felissa shifted her countenance yet again, noticing the change, Queen Amarissa inquired with concern, "What's wrong?" Felissa, revealing her inner turmoil, confessed, "Grandmother, I miss her.".

Queen Amarissa, feigning a smile, reassured her daughter, "She's okay." However, the underlying truth is—since the death of King Theophilus, the Queen Dowager, Felissa's grandmother, had not been the same.

Diagnosed with and Afflicted by senility due to old age and aggravated by grief, she often spoke to the air, also envisions her late husband in random persons.

Queen Amarissa hesitated to disclose the truth about her mother's senility to Felissa, aware of the emotional impact it would have.

Instead, she opted for a sudden change in demeanor, clapping her hands and putting on a positive expression. "Guess what, Princess," she exclaimed, catching Felissa a little off guard.

Curious, Felissa inquired, "What is it, Mother?" The Queen, breaking from the weightier topics, revealed a surprising proposition: "We are playing a game.".

Felissa, astonished at the notion that her mother, the Queen of Sibiah, had time for such leisure, responded with mild disinterest, asking, "What game?" The Queen clarified, "Your best game. I still beat you at it, though."

Felissa, not immediately recalling the game due to her prolonged abstinence from the game, expressed skepticism. The Queen signaled, and a maid brought forth the game, carefully wrapped in royal cloth.

Unveiling it, Felissa was utterly stunned and pleasantly surprised, realizing it was her favorite game, one she hadn't played in years due to her mother's responsibilities with kingdom affairs.

* Few Moments Later *

"Ah, Mother, you have reached your Cloudstone token limit. Why do you still use it continuously?" Felissa playfully complained after losing twice.

The Queen, with a mix of mocky arrogant energy, retorted, "Well, I am the Queen of Sibiah. I can do anything if I wanted to," and they both shared a laugh at the playful statement.

Felissa sighed and responded with a "Tsk... I used to wonder how you could beat me at this game even if I am better at it than you... now I know why."

"All of a sudden, Felissa burst into laughter, exclaiming, "Mother, you are cheating... now I know you're cheating..." Queen Amarissa, maintaining a mockingly innocent expression, joined in the laughter also.

The space they occupied echoed with the harmonious exchange of joyous voices between a mother and her daughter.

After hours of sharing quality time in playing games and laughter, Felissa was escorted back to her chambers.

As she settled on her bed, she flashed back to an earlier moment.