The Imperial Knights (2)

"Your tail is beautiful, My lady."

"My family owns a pastry shop; do you want cakes or cupcakes? I will bring it next time."

"You should give it when the princes and His Majesty are not around. They will get jealous if they see you."

They laughed as the female knight said it. Jealous? Why will they get jealous? I'm confused. If it is Papa, I get. But them? We are not blood related.

"Are you hungry, My lady?" asked one of the knights with an eye patch.

"I'm alright, Mister."

"You can call me Emil. Eat these cookies, my wife made it so I'm sure it's delicious," he said, smiling.

"Thank you, Emil." I ate the cookies and as he said; they were great! "It's delicious!"

"Like I said, my wife is the best."

I looked at Emil and wondered what happened to his eye that made him wear an eye patch. It was my first time seeing someone who wears an eye patch.

Emil noticed that I had been staring at his eye patch for a while so he explained, "My left eye was not able to see because of a certain accident. I was lucky that only my eye was gone. I'm forever grateful to His Majesty for saving me."

"That's sad. Can't it be restored?"

"Unfortunately, no," Emil said, hiding his sadness behind a smile.

"Brielle, come to Papa." Papa was walking toward me to carry me and get back to our place. Looked like he was done talking to Sir Helden. I glanced at Sir Helden, who was at the same place, and saw that he appeared a little bit pale.

"Is Sir Helden all right?"

"He's a grown up. Don't mind him," Papa replied as he carried me.

"Did you bully him?"

"Do you see your dad as a villain?" asked Papa, looking at my eyes.

"…Sometimes."

"Do you not like your Papa anymore if he is a villain?" He averted his eyes from mine like he was afraid of what I would reply.

"No, I cherish you more than anyone. Even if you're a villain, you're still my only Papa."

"That's nice to hear," Papa mumbled.

I said goodbye to Sir Helden and the knights as we left the training ground. We were on our way to our room when suddenly someone called us. "Atlas! Brielle!" I turned around to see who it was and I saw Brother Kye and Empress Helena coming towards us. They were dressed beautifully today. It's not like they were not dressed beautifully every day, it's just like it's somewhat special.

"Brielle, Atlas, why are you here? Are you going for a walk?" asked Brother Kye.

"We are about to return to our room," I replied.

"Would you like to go for a tea?" Empress Elena invited.

"Yeah, let's have tea!"

Papa and I couldn't say no because Brother Kye started to pull Papa's hand to the greenhouse and Empress Helena already instructed the maids to prepare for the tea time. And now, we were stacked in the greenhouse with the high-quality tea and sweets served on the table.

"Let me pour you tea," said Empress Helena.

"Where is Brother Ethan?" I asked as she pour.

"Ethan is in his literature class. He would be upset if he knew that we would have tea without him."

Brother Kye was munching some sandwich and said, "It would be hilarious. I'll surely inform him about this."

"What about Emperor Ian?" I asked.

"Father is busy in Empire affairs. Also, there is one girl in the Slave auction that has been centered on the meeting between the nobles. They say she has holy power and golden eyes."

Golden eyes? Same eyes like the princes and Emperor Ian? Then that girl is their sibling. Woah, it was like the fairy tale that the grandma read where the lost princess was found by the King and Queen for a long time.

"Then she must be your sibling," said Papa. So, we were thinking the same thing huh.

"It's not possible," replied the Empress.

"Why?" asked Papa.

"Because my daughter is already dead."

There was silence after she answered the question. Brother Kye's face that was full of liveliness a while ago disappeared, and the Empress looked broken-hearted. The princess is dead? That's unfortunate. Surely, they treasure her based on their reaction. And I know that they were a very loving family.

"Don't be sad." I touched the check of the Empress and wiped the tears that were about to flow. "You too, Brother Kye." 

"Thank you, Brielle. I wish you were my —"

Papa suddenly hugged me tightly, which shocked us. His eyes were full of rage. "Papa?"

"Don't you ever dream about it," Papa said, angrily. "Let's go, Brielle. Papa needs to rest."

***

Silence.

When we reached our room, Papa didn't say a single word. He must have been upset by what the Empress said. Yeah, I like them but it's not to the point that I would choose them over Papa. What made Papa think that way? What is he afraid of?

I gently caressed Papa's head, calming his tensioned heart. 

Again. Silence.

But now, it is different. Though Papa didn't say anything at all, he just hugged me with his big arms like he was releasing all the worries he had. That was better. Better than keeping it all inside.

"Don't be hurt again, Brielle. I'll do anything within my power to protect you from them," Papa said, with a shaky voice.

Why? Why do you keep saying that Papa? Has something happened in the past? I want to know. Really bad. "Papa, did some—"

The emperor and the first prince were standing at the front door of our room. 

"Why are you here?" Papa asked.

"We were just stopping by to see Brielle," replied the Emperor Ian. "I heard that Helena and Kye did something that upset you. I'm sorry if you found it unpleasant, it's just that they've been emotional."

Papa didn't reply. 

"By the way, my birthday is coming up soon. There will be a banquet, Atlas and Brielle, I'm expecting you to attend," Brother Ethan said, giving us the invitation letters.

The invitation letters had a golden lion seal on the center, and were covered with exquisite decorations. It was my first time receiving a birthday invitation, and he said a banquet? I want to go! But it's impossible if I still have a tail. 

"We'll see if we can attend," answered Papa.

Papa's short answer made Brother Ethan smile. Well, if it was Papa, that answer was positive itself. Usually, he rejected any help or invitations from others but somehow, now, he considers it.

"Then we'll get going. Rest well, Brielle and you too, Atlas," said Emperor Ian.