Chapter 52

"It's morning already…?"

I opened my eyes to the sound of birds chirping outside the window. Sunrays sneaked past the curtains and shined right into my eyes, waking me up and making me feel alive once again.

Amelia was still asleep, curled up in her pillow and breathing softly while I sat at the edge of my bed, squinting and rubbing my eyes clear.

The morning seemed calmer and less hectic than I imagined. As I grabbed my pocket watch from my trousers pocket, I checked it and saw it wasn't even past seven.

Felix told me we would set off before seven to avoid any early morning conjunction. There was time to prepare but not sure how long.

I drowsily walked to my bathroom, focusing on my footing to not trip and fall. I grabbed onto the sink for dear life and turned on the tap, letting the water flow out.

The cold water woke me up and made me ready to start the day. I wished to not be awake at the moment but I had no other option.

When I walked out of the bathroom, I realised that Amelia was slowly waking up as well. She moved her head gently, trying to get comfortable and sleep in more.

"Wake up, sweetheart. We have to go today." I told her as I picked up my shirt from the table.

Her head perked up and she looked around frantically. "Wah! That was just a dream." She shouted out in telepathy.

"A dream?" I asked her as I put on my shirt. "Yeah! I had a strange dream today!" She exclaimed as she stretched her body awake.

"What was it?"

"I was in the body of one of my ancestors. I was soaring high in the skies and looking down at the land. It seemed to be way~ before the kingdom was even made."

She went back in time that far!? I could use her to make a history book.

"What else? I asked her, eager to know more about her dream.

"Then I forgot!" She exclaimed excitedly.

Disappointment dawned on me as she said she forgot the dream. "Well, that was anticlimactic. What was so interesting about the dream then?"

She seemed skeptical about why I wasn't finding it interesting. "Well, something interesting happened but I forgot."

I sigh and open the doors. "It's okay, let's go and find Felix now."

"Okay!"

We both walked out of the room and looked around for Felix. We spent a few minutes on the second floor trying to find Felix but he was nowhere to be seen.

After a while, we gave up and walked down to the first floor and lo and behold! Felix was standing in the foyer, overlooking the carriages.

"Ah, found you," I said with a smile on my face.

"Good morning, Artorius! Go and prepare his majesty's bath." Felix greeted and told the servant next to him.

I walked down the rest of the stairs and stood next to Felix. "So, when are we setting off?" I asked him.

"When everyone is ready."

His answer didn't satisfy me but I took it. All I could do was stand with him and enjoy the mundane view of the carriages being ready.

Just then I noticed Ron walk down from the carriage. He seemed to be in a happy mood today and ready to set off on another long journey.

Ron noticed me and bowed down respectfully. All I could do was stare at him as he bowed down and smiled at me afterwards.

"Seems like Ron noticed you," Felix says in a monotone voice. "He's going to be one of the chauffeurs?" I asked, out of topics to talk about.

"Yes, and two others."

"Why the two extra carriages?" I asked him.

"One for you and Lady Kathlyn, one for me and Vincent and the last one for luggage." Felix lists it down as if he's reading a script.

"Very well, I'll go and take a bath," I said, trying to find an excuse to do something more interesting.

"I'd suggest not taking too long today." He advised me as I walked away from him. "Yeah sure. I won't take long."

ALEXANDER'S POV

"Shit I'm late!"

I quickly ran down the stairs, nearly tumbling down the entire way. Only if I woke up earlier!

Father was waiting for me in the foyer and saw me rush down the staircase and his face showed his anger.

"Alexander! I told you to wake up early!" He shouted as I ran past him. "Sorry! I'll get going!" I said before running to the dining room to grab at least a piece of bread.

The table had everything laid out for me but I was in such a rush I couldn't sit and eat. I had to take whatever I could in my mouth and hands and rush to the carriage.

"Good morning, Alexander." Mother greeted me as I sucked up the steak from my plate.

"Good- morning-"

"Seems like you're in a rush."

I couldn't speak with my mouth full of food and just waved at her before dashing out with a piece of bread in one hand and a mouthful of food.

"God I'm such a mess…

Father looked at me with a stern gaze and our eyes met. "Stop." He said, stopping me in my spot.

I quickly chewed up my food and gulped it down. He walked over to me, staring at me as if he would rip me apart.

"Finish eating that bread and then go." He said with a straight but stern face.

Without wasting any time, I start chewing down the bread I grabbed from the basket and gulp it down. Suddenly I started choking and coughing which made my father even angrier.

A servant rushed to me with water as soon as I started choking. Father, on the other hand, seemed displeased and rubbed the bridge of his nose in disappointment.

"You're such a mess…" He muttered. "Is this really how you will show up at Artorius' estate?"

"No-" I said before pausing and finishing my water. "Not at all."

He walked closer to me which made me more nervous. "Then fix this." He said as he fixed my collar which I overlooked amid everything that I was doing.

"Sorry…"

"Now go. Enough time has been wasted."

I hand over the empty glass to the servant and dash out the front door. It was time to set off for the capital of the Rigel empire once more!

As I made it to the carriage I waved my father one last goodbye before stepping inside. I take my seat and lay back as I take in a moment of relief that I can make it in time.

"All set?" The chauffeur asks as he takes hold of the leash.

"Yep, let's go."

The carriage starts to move and gets further away from the estate before exiting the walls. I glance outside to see the shops still closed and the town sleeping.

Though I cannot overlook the extremely narrow roads. It's bothered me ever since Artorius visited and noticed as well. Even after multiple attempts of telling Lady Iris, she does not tend to it.

Her excuse for not making the roads wider is that it gets rid of space for the townsfolk, even though every other town outside of the Luxanor empire has wide roads no matter the village or town.

The chauffeur however drove through the narrow roads with great precision and soon enough exited the town and into the lush forests of the Triveni kingdom.

I slowly crawled to the window behind the chauffeur to spark up a conversation so I don't feel bored throughout the entire ride.

I opened the narrow window and rested my head on my arms. "Uncle Regulus, how long will it take?" I asked him.

"Not sure. I think five hours at this pace." He estimated off the top of his head.

Five hours!? At least it's a shorter trip than going to the Faunus kingdom, yet it's annoying to sit in one place for five hours.

"Huh!? Five hours? I exclaimed. "Can't it be any faster?"

Uncle Regulus stayed quiet and thought of an idea. "Well, I can try speeding up when the roads widen up a bit more. Here the roads are wet and narrow." He said, trying to figure out a way to satisfy my need to reach the estate faster.

Feeling satisfied with the answer, I smile and stare off at the trees on the side of the road that covers the entire area in their canopies. Their leaves were a beautiful dark green colour that matched everything surrounding them.

In such densely forested areas, the melodic chirping of a thousand birds can be heard throughout the forest, including the howls of animals that are hidden in the depths of the forest.

Water streams flow through the forest, abruptly stopping and creating a lake before starting again in another direction. Fallen tree trunks that have grown moss and fungi also house thousands of insects inside them.

As the carriage slowly trots through the forest I feel sleepy and close my eyes while hanging from the window.

"May I ask a question, Master?" Uncle Regulus speaks up after a long silence.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Since when did you start changing?"

I opened my eyes to how bewildered I was. His question was out of the ordinary, straightforward and amusing.

"Change? What changed about me?" I questioned him back. He lets out a soft laugh before speeding up a bit.

"Your behaviour, master. It's… different."

"How so?"

"You show emotions and smile. Something I haven't seen you do."

I stared blankly at the back of his head while trying to come up with an answer. "Master?" He asks after I left him hanging for too long.

"I don't think I changed much. You could say meeting Artorius made me this way. He opened my eyes to many things. I can't tell if it's for the better or the worse."

Uncle Regulus stayed quiet from my answer. "Very well," He said after a long pause. "As long as you see it as a good change."

"Why? Is there something wrong with change?" I asked him for a second opinion. "Not at all. It's something else."

"What is it?"

"Some barons and aristocrats have been spreading rumours of why you became soft."

"..."

I had no answer to give him. Uncle Regulus didn't bother finding any answers from me either. He continued to drive the carriage as I slowly fell asleep.

ARTORIUS' POV

I sat in the carriage while reading a book, waiting for Kathlyn to come. Amelia sat on my lap and read alongside me, though she was reading it at lightning speed, she still read along with me.

"What's the time?" Amelia asked, yawning from sleep. "Nearly seven," I answered her, trying to estimate the time.

She stops reading and tries to fall asleep. "Didn't have enough sleep?" I asked her, closing the book and pushing her aside.

"Nope~" She replied in a dead voice.

I heard footsteps coming from outside. I glanced at the window in front and saw Kathlyn finally coming. Felix followed behind her before stopping and going to his carriage.

"Took long enough," I said under my breath as I got up from my seat.

My head starts to caress across the carriage roof as I try to squeeze past the seat and the table in the middle.

I put my arm forward to lend her a hand as she steps into the carriage. She blankly looks at it before smiling and holding onto my hand.

"Thank you." She said as she entered the carriage. "Anytime."

We both took our seats across from each other and I got back to reading my book.

Amelia on the other hand left my side and jumped over to Kathlyn's lap. I bite my lips from the disrespect but continue reading the book without paying much attention to my surroundings.

Not long after the carriage slowly starts to move with the entourage of the other two carriages. Felix and Vincent were inside the carriage behind us while the luggage-carrying carriage was behind them.

As the carriage exits the premise of the palace, I take a glance outside to see the soundless streets that lay outside the palace walls. It reminded me of when I first came to this world and saw how haunted and quiet the city was. The streets are still empty at such early hours.

I sigh from reminiscing and turn around to open the window behind me.

"Hey, Ron. How long will it take us to get to the estate?" I asked him, hoping for it to not be too long.

Ron pondered, estimating his answer. "About eight hours. I can cut it to six perhaps if the roads are clear and I can speed up more."

"Do so. I'm not spending that much time on the road with only six books!" I exclaimed to him, venting my issues.

Ron laughs and turns around to make eye contact. "I'll do my best to make it there in haste." He said as we came closer to the gate.

I turn around and sit properly. As I read my book the carriage stops for a few minutes before starting to move again.

I moved my leg back and forth as I turned back around and read my book. I accidentally kicked something under the seat and it caught my curiosity. Without thinking twice I bend down and start looking for it

"What was that?" Amelia asked as she noticed me bending down to find the object that I kicked.

"Not sure. Let me see."

Amelia jumped away from Kathlyn and ran under the seat. "What do you see?" I asked her. "Look at this!" She exclaimed from under the seat.

She drags something out from under the seat. It was a black box that was about thirty inches long.

"Goodness! What is this?" I exclaimed to Amelia in telepathy. She jumped onto my seat and wagged her tail, eager to see what was inside the box.

I slowly opened the box and it revealed to be a scabbard with Warrior's Ballad inside. But why is it here?

"A sword?" Kathlyn suddenly chimed in, confused and slightly scared. "My sword to be exact."

To make sure that it was Warrior's Ballad, I took it out of the box and unsheathe it from the scabbard. The recognizable cross guard already gave away that it was Warrior's Ballad. I only had to take out two inches of the blade to know what it was.

"Yep, Warrior's Ballad," I said before sheathing it again and keeping it inside the box.

"Was it passed down to you? I never knew!" She exclaimed. "I used to listen to how powerful it was! I never saw it in person."

I chuckled softly at her description of the sword. "Powerful? It's just a sword. The power lies in the wielder, not the blade. It's light so it can be handled by anyone."

I put the sword underneath the seat. The only answer I could come up with was that it was for safety, if anything were to go wrong I would have it right below my seat.

While figuring out the mystery of this, I glanced outside to see we are already outside the kingdom. Every time I see outside of this city… I always get amazed by how beautiful the world is. The multiple mills and farmlands right outside the kingdom with the snow-capped mountains make for scenery I've never seen.

"How pretty…" Kathlyn muttered as she gawked at the view to the right. "I forgot the view outside the city, it's been so long."

"Do you remember when you last went outside the city?"

She stopped and thought about her answer. "I'm… not sure. It's been too long."

All I could do was listen to her about her problems. I couldn't lend her a hand in such a situation, even though I wished I could.

Kathlyn's expression was melancholic as she stared out the window beside her. Without any topics to talk about, I continued to read my book but kept taking glances at her.

Suddenly she looks forward and I bury myself in the book, trying to not focus on her and read, though proving to be quite difficult.

"Um… May I also read a book?" Kathlyn asked me, making me panic and look around me to try and find the stash of books.

"Y-yes, here they are," I said as I pushed the small pile of books towards her. "Take whichever one you find interesting."

Kathlyn starts to look through the books on her own accord and I continue reading my book. Amelia mischievous smiles at me as I try to read my book.

"What?" I asked her. "Nothing. It's funny seeing you flustered." She replied, making me self-conscious.

I softly slap my cheeks, trying to calm down my face from turning red. "Get a hold of yourself," I said in my mind. "Why are you acting so shy? Is something wrong?" Amelia asked as I was acting strange.

"Nothing. It's just me overthinking."

I can't wait to get off this carriage…