Birthday Preparation.

[ 2 Years Later ]

"Princess, please slow down. We don't want you getting injured before your big party tomorrow," Themis spoke. Seeing me running on the Altair Palace's hallway. 

"But, I really want to show Daddy the flower crown I made for him! I also made for Brother Heli, Brother Aeli, and Brother Dae!" I replied. Asher is also with us, but he's just being quiet like an introvert person. I don't know what he's thinking at all.

"Princess, His Majesty and His Highnesses are currently in a meeting right now. I don't think it's the right time to visit them," I slowly stopped running and faced the two of them. 

"Aww...I was looking forward in showing them my flower crowns..." I mumbled and looked at the flower crowns on my hands. I made sure to put an odilia flowers here that I asked Asher to create. 

Their meetings usually lasts for three to four hours, so maybe I should wait...but the odilia flower only lasts for two hours before it withers. It's sensitive after all, and can only live in the garden of the temple...

"What's the problem? You can just barge in there, you know?" Asher finally spoke and the first thing he said is about his useless advice. As if I can do that! Dad and my brothers will definitely tolerate that sassiness, but the nobles with them wouldn't!

"That would leave a bad impression to the other nobles, Asher..." And they could even spread a rumor saying that the First Princess is impolite and got bad attitude! I don't want any of that. 

"Hmm? Who cares about the nobles? I can teleport us there if you want," he replied. This Astra really is an arrogant one. You think you can just do anything you want just because you're a God's incarnation?! 

I think the word 'humble' is not included in his vocabulary. 

"I-it's fine..." I replied and starts walking again. Maybe I can just make them again tomorrow, it's my birthday after all. I can give them the flower crowns during my birthday speech!

"Give that to me," I turned to Asher who suddenly appeared in front of me, spreading his hand. Is he telling me to give him the flower crowns? What is he going to do with it?

"What are you going to do with it?" I asked as I hand him the flower crowns. He made it float in front of him, and suddenly it gets covered by a blue barrier, and then the barrier slowly became smaller and was absorbed by the flowers. What happened?

"I cast a spell and put a magic that has the same mana particles that's flowing within the Holy Garden. This way, your odilia flowers won't wither away," he said. Wow, he's so considerate! He figured out I was worried about the flowers, huh? Asher's arrogance may not change but he's still nice!

"Woah---you can do that?" I asked. He lined up with me and crossed his arms again. 

"There's nothing I can't do," Still very arrogant...

"Yes, thank you very much, Almighty Astra ~" I replied as we all starts walking. Themis stayed behind me and Asher. We just came from the Callisto Garden, and instead of Asher playing with me, it was Themis who ended up doing it. 

Ryna and Ande who are supposed to be the ones in charge of playing with me aren't here because they've got their own things to do. And it was preparing for my seventh birthday tomorrow. 

Yes, I'm turning seven tomorrow, which is also the first day of the new year. 

My birthday is January 1, or should I say Jemara 1, since that's the official month name here in Lumia. 

It's been two years since I was transported here, and it's already been two years as well when that hellish experience happen. Even though I've already buried it at the back of my head, I would still dream of it from time to time. That's why Asher can't rest with all this overflowing mana and my nightmares. 

I enjoyed these past two years with my family and the servants here, let's include Asher as well. The friend who spoil me rotten and do whatever I asked him to do despite his few protests.

Also, these past two years. Asher leaves the palace every Sunday to look for a way to the Empire of Azrael in order to obtain the holy crystal that would help me with my curse. I don't really know how the holy crystal would be of help, but its name sounds really significant. I can't help him with his holy crystal search, so all I can do it so practice controlling my mana. Sir Abel's been teaching me, Asher recommended Sir Abel himself, he said he's lazy to teach me.

"Your Highness, a letter from Elda Region has arrived," one of the servants from the Altair Palace approaches us with a fancy envelope on his hand.

From Elda Region? That must be Ziel! 

I smiled at the servant and nod my head. I would like to receive it myself, but my hands is full of flower crowns for Dad and big brothers.

Ziel left the Center Empire on the second day of my welcome party. He told me that he delayed his trip for one day in order to confirm if I'm finally better after I fell unconscious when we were playing at the Callisto Garden. I felt guilty for being the reason of his delayed trip, but he told me that it was his choice. That kid really is a well-mannered kid.

Unlike our magician here!

"Asher, can you get it?" I mumbled. I heard him clicked his tongue and accepted the letter from the servant. See? Not really well-mannered. Total opposite of Ziel. The only thing that's good to him is his pretty face and his powerful divine mana. He still do what I ask him to do though...

Alright, I admit he's nice and bearable sometimes.

"Thank you so much, Miss Lara!" I said cheerfully. Miss Lara bowed at me before she smiled at me. She turned around without saying anything. I heard that Miss Lara is Chef Morias' sister. 

Hm, wait. I haven't forgotten about that familiar-named chef yet. And I also won't forget the fact that I don't remember anything about Big Sis Kae despite my few knowledge about her background. That's really strange. 

"Should we go back to your room?" Asher asked. I nod my head and turned to Themis. 

"Themis, are you extremely busy today?" I know she is needed in the banquet hall to help with the preparations of my birthday tomorrow, but she chose to be here with me because of Dad's orders. 

"I don't think so, Your Highness," she replied. I handed Asher the flower crowns and walk towards Themis. I spread my arms in front of her and she didn't hesitate to carry me. I can see Asher's annoyed face carrying all those things. He has become my personal assistant yet again. 

"I know Themis is needed in the banquet hall. It's fine if you want to go! I'll spend time with Asher!" I said. But, I actually just want to have conversation with Asher about the holy crystal. Oh, there's something I am curious about as well.

"I would really like to help with the preparations, Your Highness. However, the Emperor ordered me to stay by your side," Yeah, well. She really can't disobey Dad. 

I pretended to yawn and wrap my arms around her shoulders, leaning my chin on the back of my hand. 

"Owki ~ but Themis, I'm feeling drowsy now because of all the fun we had at the garden..." I closed my eyes. I want to be alone with Asher, so we can talk about the progress of his search for the holy crystal.

I heard Themis chuckling.

"Is that so, Your Highness? Let's go back to your room now then. Can the Astra accompany us until we reach the Princess's room?" Themis asked. Her voice really is soothing and calming. That's why I'm still listening to her lullabies even after two years.

"You don't have to tell me. Wherever the princess is, I'm always there," Asher replied. The way he talk to Themis and my other maid friends here is really annoying. But, I think they're already used to it. And yeah, he's always where the princess go, he's even freeloading in my room.

"That puts my mind at ease, Master Astra," Themis started walking, and I stayed quiet.

Tomorrow is going to be my seventh birthday, and Dad decided to hold a banquet for one month to celebrate it. I am happy, but I didn't know how I will handle it either. This is my first time having this kind of party after all, because I've never celebrated any birthdays in my previous life.

My sixth birthday was simple, and we only throw a party in the Alphard Palace with only the servants as the visitors. Still, it was the best, and I really enjoyed it. But, now...is it really possible to hold a birthday banquet for one month?

I am worried about it. Just, how does Dad planned to make my banquet continue celebrating for one month?

Additionally, my birthday always reminds me that my time of finding a way to remove my curse is also decreasing. And I always remembers it every night after my birthday, making it difficult for me to sleep.

I still have a long way to go before I could be relieve from all the worries about my curse. I also need to think about how I would accept it once big sis Amara arrived here. If I remember it correctly, it would be the time that Big Brother Heli is celebrating his 21st birthday, which is the considered age for men to come of age. Brother Heli is 15 now, and is turning 16 next year...I only have five years....

After two years, I know now that Asher will stay by my side if ever I am cast away by my family once she arrived. But...imagining about it makes me sad.

I hope I can get along with Big Sis Amara...

---

'Dear Princess Alina,

Good day, Princess. How have you been? I apologize for the late reply, I was busy with my trainings. Please don't think you are bothering me by sending me letters, your messages are one of the important things I was looking forward to everyday. My training has been good and everyone here is nice to me. I'll introduce my new friends to Princess Alina if ever I got the chance to.

Now that I think about it, Princess Alina's birthday is in two days, isn't it? I'm sorry, I couldn't attend your birthday last year. But, I'll ask our captain if I can attend your banquet. There's a high chance that he will allow me because it's a special birthday of the princess. Please wait for me.

Laverde, Ziel'

I'm glad Ziel is doing alright. And I really hope he can attend my party tomorrow. It looks like Ziel wrote this the day before yesterday, because he mentioned that my borthday is in two days.

"What's with the pout?" Asher asked when Themis left the room, thinking I am already asleep. There's no way I can sleep with all these curiosities in my mind. I need to get answers from Asher.

"Nothing..." I replied.

"Upset because you couldn't give your flower crowns to your Dad and brothers?" He asked. I quickly shook my head to give him a respond. It's not because of that, really.

"Asher, do you know about my big sister?" It's been two years, but this is the first time I am mentioning my sister to Asher. Also, I remembered Mom saying something about her when we met inside that darkness. That she was stolen...by the black magician. Spmething that was never mentioned in the novel.

"Your big sister...the supposedly First Princess, Amara Euniq de Ciera?" Wow, he even knew her name?

"Is that her name? Sounds really beautiful..." I said. Pretending that I don't have an idea about it at all.

"Yeah. I know everything about this Empire, what do you wanna know?" Sometimes, I can't help but think how lucky I am to have this Astra here. Maybe he's the exchange of all those unluckiness I experienced.

"Hmm, well. I wanna know about my sister," I replied. Mom mentioned that it was because of a dark magic, that's why she died. I can't ask Dad about it, and it seems like my brothers had no idea about how our sister's death is related to the black magician at all.

"Why do you want to know about her all of the sudden?" Why can't you just answer my question? 

"And how did you know you have an older sister to begin with?" Right...dang it. I never told him that I know about my big sister, and Dad never told me anything about it either, my big brothers never mentioned anything about it as well.

"Mom mentioned about it when we met in the dark place before. I'm just curious..." I replied. Good thing my brain is working right now. 

"Amara Euniq de Ciera. She died right after she was born, all because of her fragile body and lack of mana. Mana is the most important thing a person have in their body after all, it's like a life force that shouldn't be removed from someone. Getting rid of someone's mana results to their death," Yeah, I already know about that. But what's the dark magic got to do with it? 

"And?" I asked. He cocked his brow and stared at me with suspicious face. What's with that expression? 

"What 'and'? That's it. Is there more you want to learn about? Your sister died the day she was born so, there's not much stories to tell," He's so blunt while saying it. 

"I see..." Looks like he's not planning to tell me how it relates to the dark magic. But, well...understandable. 

But, I probably won't have any other person to ask about it except Asher. I'm sure my Dad won't tell me anything about the truth of her death either.

In the novel I read, the imperial family buried the princess thinking she was dead, but then she came back during the First Prince's coming of age. At first, the Emperor and his sons were suspicious about it, but after investigating it thoroughly, they've confirmed that Amara really is their beloved younger princess that they thought had died. Who even had the audacity to dug the grave of a dead royalty? And...who was the one who brought Amara to the ball again?

Hmm, who took care of her when she was young? 

Why can't I remember it? Was it not written in the novel?

Should I ask Asher about it?

"What?" He asked when I looked at him. I shook my head. 

Nevermind...Asher will tell me about it if he wants to. I'll wait for him to open up. 

"How's your holy crystal search?" I asked. He sighed and closed his eyes.

"Hmm, I asked Creo for a bit of advice, and he told just told me a riddle. I haven't cracked it yet, I wanna rest," He said. If he puts his mind into it, he can solve the riddle right away. But...it really seems like he's exhausted.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help you with searching for the holy crystal," I spoke, which made him open his eyes. Why is he looking at me with that cocked brow?

"Not that I was expecting you to," I scowled at him and rolled my eyes. He's really a lost cause!

Here I am, feeling guilty because I can't help him with anything, but look at him not even trying to cheer me up! Why did I even expect him to!?

"What? Did I say something wrong?" I shook my head, and he just creased his forehead.

"I'm gonna sleep now, goodnight," I yawned and lay down on my bed as I cover myself with blanket. My eyes hurts, I want to sleep now.

"Yeah, night,"

I'm kinda excited for tomorrow's banquet, hehe.

"Oh, and happy seventh birthday," I chuckled before I replied.

"Thank you,"

He's always the first person to greet me every birthdays. Well, he's always with me after all.

---

[ The Next Day ]

"Your Highness, please make haste! We need to prepare for your birthday!" Huh...what's happening? Why is it so noisy? I can hear different voices all at once. 

"Have you prepared the bathtub?!"

"Yes!"

"The scented oil? Scented flowers? Have you warmed the water?"

"Make sure that the Princess's gown is ready as well!"

"And her ornaments!"

"Where are the brushes! The hair spray!"

"It's all ready!" 

They're all panicking! Why are they all so hasty?! Can't we do this calmly? Or did they woke me up late? But...the sun is not even fully set yet?

"Princess, let's bathe you," Ryna said, leading me to the bathroom. They're even pushing me gently just so I would hurry it up. 

Seriously, is it really this busy everytime there is a huge party?! I never knew it would be something like this!

Shairah carefully poured a warm water to me and all I can do is to close my eyes and feel the relieving feeling of being in a hot tub. 

It looks like this day will be a very busy day. 

---

"Hey, you can sleep. I'll use magic to support your head," Asher said. He's here with me as the servants fix my hair. Well, like he told Themis yesterday, he's always where the Princess is. But, his habit of making himself invisible to the other people still hasn't changed.

'I'm fine...' Since I can't talk to him out loud because of the maids here, I just used telepathy to give him a response. Yep, I can use telepathy now! Sir Abel taught me. He said he wasn't busy because there's no one at the tower except him, and that I am his only one desciple right now.

"Are you ready for your party though? There'll be a lot of people later," Asher asked. I nod my head once and yawn. He knows now that I'm still not used being stared at by a lot of strangers.

"Your Highness? Are you feeling sleepy?" Lianne asked. I smiled at her before answering.

"I'm fine, Lianne..."

"I told you. I can use magic to support your head, I'll even make sure your neck won't hurt," Is he being nice because it's my birthday today? Well, if that's the case, I can finally have a rest from his rudeness.

'It's fine. Anyway, are you going to attend my birthday? Dad invited you and Sir Abel,' I asked. He didn't go to my birthday last year and when I woke up the day after, there's already lots of presents beside my bed. All from him and Sir Abel.

"Don't know. I also have to watch over the whole banquet venue and check if the visitors are here for the party or for you," That's kinda confusing, don't you think? Well, it's my birthday, and they're probably here for me and the party?

'I don't get it,' I spoke. He shrugged his shoulders and lay down on my bed. The audacity...

"What I mean is, if the visitors have no ill intention at all," Oh. That's what he meant? I see. The black magician's target is me after all.

'Hmm ~ so you're going to guard the venue?" He nod his head. Somehow, I feel sad for him, not being able to attend a party all because of his Astra duties.

Oh, wait.

'Asher. If you and Sir Abel are here, plus Auntie Ashley in another world...who's taking care of your Empires?' Didn't he told me that they were caretakers of the Three Empires of the Gods? Which is also known as Holy Lands?

"As of now, it doesn't really need someone to take care of it. That's why we're here. Also, it's not like normal people can just go in and out of the empires. We locked the portal, and the keys are within us as well," Woah--the keys are in them? Like inside them!? Did they swallowed it?

"Your face shows unimaginable things," Huh? He's looking at me, with disbelief all over his face. Though he's still lying on my bed and only lift his head to give me that annoying look.

"They keys are not in any of our organs, Princess. It's in our divine core," Oh...I see, I see. Of course.

'I already know that,' I closed my eyes and refused to look at him.

Why did I think they swallowed it?

"Your expression says otherwise," I looked at him from the mirror's reflection. This jerk's been freeloading here in my palace ever since we met, I wonder where he stays at everytime he leaves?

"Anyway, just do your best out there later. If someone bothers you, blow them up with your magic," Seriously? Do you relly think I'd do something like that?

'Not the very best advise. But thanks,' I said.

'I really hope you could attend though ~' I added, still looking at his reflection from the mirror.

"Well, if I secured the whole venue, maybe I can check on you once in a while," Seriously? Well, at least he gave me his words. I just want him to enjoy the party, since he's been working really hard to watch over me despite his complaints.

'Hmmkay ~' I replied. I'm glad he's not being so mean right now. Probably because it's my birthday that he's trying not to be so annoying.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the party later. But, I'm also nervous...

"Just hold onto your father tight and you'll be fine. Your whole family is escorting you anyway," Right...they even had a conflict on who's going to escort me. Dad said it should be him because he's the Father. While the sons said it should be the three of them, because they were the ones who met me first and saved me.

And then this jerk of a magician involved himself by saying 'Shouldn't it be me since I'm the one who saved the Princess?', referring to when I drowned, it caused everyone to glare at him, and that satisfied him. And then he suggested that the four of them should just do it, so there won't be any mess, which they agreed. I wonder of he altered their memories just so they would agree?

'Yeah...you're right,' I replied.

"I'll be leaving now then. I have to cover your palaces a barrier to avoid being trespassed by any unwanted visitors," He lift his body from my bed and then walk towards the balcony. I can still see him from my peripheral vision.

'Thanks...don't push yourself too much...'

"Yeah yeah,"

And then he disappeared. Looks like I'll really end up sleeping now because no one's talking to me. Maybe I'll just talk with the servants.

***